William Clevland (1664–1734)

Captain William Clevland (1664–1734), (alias Cleuland[a]) of Tapeley in the parish of Westleigh, North Devon, was a Scottish-born Royal Navy commander who served as Controller of Storekeepers' Accounts (23 April 1718 – 24 May 1732).

[1] In 1704, he purchased the estate of Tapeley which today is still owned and occupied by his descendants (via two female lines) the Christie family, also of Glyndebourne House, East Sussex.

[2] The family claimed descent from the ancient Scottish clan of Cleland (alias Cleuland) of Faskine,[3] Lanarkshire, south-east of Glasgow, with which it shares similar armorials.

[12][13][self-published source] He died on 2 June 1734[e] aged 70 and is commemorated by a surviving mural monument erected by his eldest son in Westleigh Church, which is inscribed thus: Sacred to the memory of William Cleuland of Tapley Esqr descended from an antient family in Scotland.

John Cleuland his only surviving son in perpetual testimony of filial duty to his dear father hath caused this monument to be erected.Below is a relief sculpted white marble escutcheon showing the arms of Clevland impaling Davie: A ship with two masts or the sails trussed up and twisted to the masts argent adorned with flags charged with the cross of England on a chief of the second three cinquefoils pierced gules.

Arms of Clevland of Tapeley: Azure, a hare salient or collared gules pendent therefrom a bugle horn stringed sable . Detail from memorial stained glass window to Archibald Clevland (1833–1854), Westleigh Church. Motto : Fortuna Audaces Juvat (" Fortune helps the Bold ")
Mural monument to William Clevland (1664–1734) of Tapeley in the parish of Westleigh , North Devon. Westleigh Church, east end of north aisle
Arms of William Clevland (1664–1734) of Tapeleigh, Westleigh, Devon, [ b ] impaling arms of his wife Anna Davie (1689–1726). [ c ] Above is crest of Clevland. [ d ] Detail from his mural monument in Westleigh Church