The Risdons of Bableigh, in Parkham and Winscot, came originally from Risdon in Gloucestershire, and settled at Bableigh in the reign of Edward I. Of this family, Thomas Risdon, a barrister in the reign of Elizabeth, was a person of some distinction in his time. He studied at the Inner Temple, and became Treasurer of that Society in 1580. Having obtained considerable celebrity at the Bar, and acquired a handsome independence, he purchased Sandwell, an estate in the parish of Harberton, where he afterwards resided. He died in 1641, and was interred in Harberton church, where was the following inscription on a plain stone in the south aisle.
"Thomas Risdon Armiger obiit nono Die Oct. Anno Dom. 1641. Fuit et vixit Immo est et vivit Profectio est quam Tu putas Mortem"
Tristram Risdon, the author of the "Survey of Devonshire," was born about the year 1580, at Winscot, in the parish of St. Giles, adjoining the town of Torrington, and was the eldest son of William, who was the third son of Giiles Risdon, Esq., of Bableigh, by Johan, the daughter of George Pallard, of Langley, in this county; which Johan was the relict of Michael Barry, the last male heir of the Barrys of Winscot, who died in 1570, leaving a daughter, Thomazin, married to John Tripconey, of Gulvall in Cornwall, who died without issue, and devised the estate and manor of Winscot to Tristram Risdon, who was her brother by the same mother. Having received a preparatory education at Great Torrington, Tristram studied at Pembroke College (then called Bradgate Hall), Oxford, He left the University without taking any degree, which Prince supposes to have been occasioned by the death of his sister, when he became possessed of the estate at Winscot, which required his personal attention. Retiring to this spot for the rest of his days, he devoted his time to the study of antiquities, especially those of his native county; and the fruit of his labours was the "Survey." He died at Winscot in 1640, and was interred in St.Giles's church, having no monument but his work, to perpetuate his name, although in this church there were inscriptions to his mother and his daughter.