This booklet was compiled by members of the Devon Family History Society in co-operation with the Devon Records Office. The booklet provides an extract of some information and further details may be obtained from the Devon Records Office. This school was founded as a charity school in 1719 by Lady Elizabeth Modyford/Modiford, the widow of merchant and colonial agent Sir James Modyford, who lived at Maristow. Before marriage she had been Elizabeth Slanning. Her husband died in 1673 while she was still in her 30s, and she was a widow for 51 years, before dying in 1724. She is buried in Bickleigh parish church This register of applications for admissions to the school is the earliest known original record which now exists. It was begun in 1845 by schoolmaster Edward Courtis Cooper, and is written in a simple exercise book. It records the applications of parents for their children to be ‘put on the Foundation’ – that is, to be granted free education at Lady Modyford’s School. Besides giving names and ages of children, parents’ names and addresses, numbers of children in the family and date of actual admission (if any), it also gives the father’s occupation. Children were obviously drawn by this time from other parishes like Sampford Spiney and from the village of Horrabridge. A number of these children later emigrated with their families, mainly to the United States. The first log book commenced in 1869, and collection 2302C at the Devon Record Office also contains this document, as well as other log books, admission registers, attendance registers, summary registers, evacuees register, time-tables and other papers. These include a printed history of the school, which celebrated its 250th anniversary in 1969, and is still known as Lady Modiford’s Primary School. The information shown is this booklet includes child’s surname and forename, age, parents names, occupation, residence, number of children, date of application, date of admission and notes