Christopher Lethbridge (mayor)

The origin of the Lethbridge family is ascribed by legend (due to the "fancies of mellancholly monks", according to the historian Sir Winston Churchill (1620–1688), father of the 1st Duke of Marlborough[10]) to have been in the person of "Lethbroke, a noble Dane", who having lost his hawk whilst out hunting by the sea-shore, got into a small boat to follow it and was blown onto the coast of Norfolk at Rodham.

During one of his many raids on the north-east coast of England, he was shipwrecked off Norfolk, and captured by the local population, who killed him and whilst dragging his body around in derision, "called him in scorn Lothbroc, meaning "leather-breech", from the material of his trousers.

"Like young rooks drove from their nests, they took that bird for their cognizance, which being embroidered by their vestal sisters in a banner, consecrated after the horrid rites of their paganish superstition (which rendered it, as the vulgar believed impossible to be taken) they sate it up as the royal standard, calling it by the name of the "Reafan", i.e. the raven".

The Raven standard inspired the invaders with "more than humane courage", but was insufficient to defeat the English at the battle which is supposed to have taken place at Hubbleston or "Hubba's Rock", between the villages of Northam and Bideford in North Devon.

In the words of Prince: "He was brought up in the City of Exeter at the gainful trade of a grocer, in the exercise of which he thrived so very well, by God's blessing upon his industry, that he 'rose as to considerable wealth and riches".

By his will he also left an annuity of £5 10 shillings arising from his manor and barton of Broad Nymet (near Nymet Tracy)[23] with which the churchwardens were to purchase "a middle sort of bread" every Lord's Day to 24 "poore of the parish of Bowe al(ia)s Nymett Traceye (who) go to the church and stay there every Lord's Day during the time of divine service and sermon (if any be)".