Josias Calmady

Josias II Calmady (10 October 1619 – March 1683) of Langdon, in the parish of Wembury, Devon, was Member of Parliament for Okehampton in the Convention Parliament of 1660.

Origins Josias II Calmady was the third son and eventual heir of Sir Shilston I Calmady (1585–1645) by his wife Honora Fortescue, daughter of Edmund Fortescue of Fallapit, East Allington, Devon, and widow of Sir Humphrey Prideaux of Soldon, Holsworthy. Sir Shilston I Calmady of Langdon was knighted in 1618 at Theobalds Grove and was killed during the Civil War at the siege of Ford Abbey, Devon, on 13 February 1645, and was buried in nearby Membury, Devon parish church, where survives his monument.

Career In 1660, Calmady was elected Member of Parliament for Okehampton in the Convention Parliament.

Marriages and children Calmady married twice: of Portledge, Alwington, Devon, by whom he had two sons, who both died as children, and a daughter: Josias Calmady (1656–1668) Shilston Calmady (1659–1668) Elizabeth Calmady (1657–1678), who died aged 21 having married John Narborough, later in 1688 created Sir John Narborough, 1st Baronet (d. 1707), of the Royal Navy, survives in Wembury Church.

Death & legacies He died at the age of 63. He was concerned with relieving the poor and left several charitable legacies in his will. Bridestowe, Devon (son of Shilston Calmady (1621–1688) of Leawood, Bridestowe and brother of John Calmady, MP for Okehampton in 1660), who in 1680 also became MP for Okehampton and was Sheriff of Devon in 1688.