he was the son and heir of walter wrey of north russell by his wife bridget shilstone, daughter of robert shilstone. a branch of the shilstone family (which took its name (originally "de shilston") from the manor of shilston, anciently "shilfeston", in the parish of drews teignton, devon) was seated at this period within the parish of bridestowe, near north russell. elizabeth shilstone (d.1605), the only daughter and heiress of (another) "robert shilstone of bridestowe", married sir peter courtenay (d.1552) of ugbrooke, sheriff of devon in 1548/9, 2nd son of sir william iii courtenay (1477–1535) "the great", of powderham. pole also mentions, without context, a certain "sir robert shilston of woode", who bore the same arms as shilston of shilston: "ermine, a saltire azure between four cross-crosslets(/patées) fitchée sable".