John Hele (died 1608)

Sir John Hele (c.1541–1608) of Wembury in Devon, serjeant-at-law, was a Member of Parliament for Exeter and was Recorder of Exeter (1592-1605). He was one of Prince's Worthies of Devon (1701). He built at Wembury one of the grandest manor houses ever seen in Devon, called by his near contemporary Risdon (d.1640): "A magnificent house, equalling, if not exceeding, all other in these western parts, for uniform building; a sightly seat for shew; for receipt spacious; for cost sumptuous; for sight salubrious". It was already a ruin by about 1700, and was finally demolished in 1803. He founded a boys' hospital in Plymouth. His monument and effigy survives in Wembury Church.

He was born in about 1543, the 6th son of Nicholas Hele of South Hele in Devon, by his second wife Margery Dune, daughter of Richard Dune (alias Down) of Holsworthy, Devon. His mother Margery Dune married secondly to Ellis (alias Elizeus) Warwick of Holbeton and of Batsborow, in the parish of St Budeaux, both in Devon, whose daughter and co-heiress from his earlier marriage, Mary Warwick, would become Sir John Hele's wife. One of his elder brothers was Thomas I Hele (d.1613) of Exeter and of Flete, Holbeton, Sheriff of Devon in 1600-1. The Hele family had originated at the estate of Hele in the parish of Cornwood in Devon.

He entered the Inner Temple as a law student and eventually became Lent Reader of the Inner Temple. He served as Member of Parliament for Exeter from 1592 to 1601, and was Recorder of Exeter from 14 July 1592 to the beginning of 1606. In November 1594 Hele became a serjeant-at-law and on 16 May 1602 was appointed Queen's Serjeant to Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603). At the beginning of the reign of her successor King James I (1603-1625) his patent was renewed, and he was knighted. In November 1603 Hele was employed as King's Serjeant at the trial of Sir Walter Raleigh. On 8 February 1608 Hele obtained a dispensation, on grounds of age, from attendance as serjeant.

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