John Acland (died 1553)

John VI Acland (died 1553) was described as "the first of the (Acland) family to emerge from the shadows of history as a visible human being". His great-grandson was the Royalist colonel Sir John Acland, 1st Baronet (d. 1648) of Columb John. Little if anything is known of his life and career, he was possibly a minor Tudor official, but he is chiefly remembered for his surviving portrait which is displayed at Killerton House, the earliest surviving image of an Acland and the most cherished in that family's former collection, now owned by the National Trust. He was seated at Acland Barton in the parish of Landkey, near Barnstaple in North Devon, which had been the family's seat since 1155. The Acland family is believed to have migrated to England from Flanders soon after the Norman Conquest and were in the late 20th century probably the oldest surviving landed family in Devon, which by the 19th century possessed a huge estate in the West Country of almost 40,000 acres.

He was the eldest son and heir of John V Acland of Acland by his wife Elizabeth Cruwys, daughter of John Cruwys of Cruwys Morchard, Devon, another ancient Devon family that survives today and still occupies its ancient manor house. John V had pre-deceased his own father John IV Acland (d. 1539) and thus John VI at the age of about 17 inherited his grandfather's estates.

John Acland married Margaret Radcliff, a daughter and co-heiress of Hugh Radcliff of Stepney, near London. Margaret remarried to John Brett of Whitestaunton Manor, Somerset and also lord of the manor of Pilland in the parish of Pilton, near Barnstaple, Devon. Robert Brett (d. 1540) was lord of the manor of Pilland and the last steward of Pilton Priory before the Dissolution of the Monasteries In 1536 following its dissolution, Robert Brett purchased the Prior's House (now called "Bull House") next to Pilton Church. The Brett family is today represented by Viscount Esher. By Margaret Radcliff he had the following progeny:

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