His tenant was Ralph Spridel, who also held "La Forsen", probably a constituent part of the Domesday Book manor of "Spredelestone". The chief seat of the Ferrers family of Devon was Bere Ferrers, formerly just "Bere", which they held also from the Honour of Trematon. They held also Newton Ferrers, formerly just "Newton", also from the Honour of Trematon, and Churston Ferrers, together with many other manors held from other superior lords. The Devon historian Pole (d.1635), states: "Spridelston hath given name & dwellinge unto a famylye" and proceeds to give the descent of Spridleston in the de Spridleston family as follows: William de Spridleston dwelled there in 1242 and was followed by Walter de Spridleston, Raph de Spridleston (who lived there in 1295), Roger de Spridleston who lived there in 1314 and 1345; William de Spridleston (1347) and Walter de Spridleston in 1364. Spridleston was next held by the Fortescue family who acquired it by means unknown. The first mentioned holder according to Pole was John Fortescue of Whympston in the parish of Modbury, Devon, the earliest recorded English seat of the Fortescue family. He was the eldest son of William Fortescue of Whympston (by his wife Isabel Falwell, daughter and heiress of John Falwell, of Falwell (today "Velwell") in the parish of Rattery, Devon) elder brother of John Fortescue (died after 1432), of Sheepham in the parish of Modbury, Captain of the captured Castle of Meaux, during the Hundred Years' War (ancestor of Earl Fortescue). He was a Member of Parliament successively for Totnes, Tavistock and Plympton. John Fortescue, MP, married Jane Preston (d.1501), who survived her husband, daughter and heiress of John Preston of Preston in the parish of Newton Ferrers in Devon. By his wife he had three sons:  John Fortescue (d.1538), who was given Spridleston by his father. He married Alice Cockworthy, a daughter of John Cockworthy of Cockworthy (today "Cogworthy") in the parish of Yarnscombe in Devon.