Background
He was the son of William Helyar by his wife Alice Veale and was baptised on 8 January 1559 at Saint Budeaux, Devon.
He was the son of William Helyar by his wife Alice Veale and was baptised on 8 January 1559 at Saint Budeaux, Devon.
He graduated Master of Arts
From Exeter College, Oxford in 1587. His later clerical appointments included: Vicar in 1577 of Bickleigh, Devon Rector in 1582 of Dunchideock, Devon Rector in 1588 of Charlton, Devon Canon of Exeter Cathedral in 1596 Vicar in 1602 of Heavitree, Devon Archdeacon of Barnstaple from 1605 Rector of North Tawton, Devon, between 1610 and 1645 In 1616 he purchased Coker Court, the manor house of East Coker, Somerset, from Sir Edward Phelips. He started the construction of the Helyar Almshouses in East Coker in 1640, but died before their completion.
During the Civil War,on 19 January 1642, he was dragged at midnight from his bed in Exeter by Roundheads and carried on board a ship, where he was detained until he consented to pay the sum of £800 (£123,962 as of 2016).
He received a copy of the protection thus purchased: "Whereas Archdeacon Helyar has submitted and sent eight hundred pounds to the parliament upon the propositions. These are therefore, to require all the forces of the parliament to take notice thereof and to protect him in his person, family, and goods, strictly charging and commanding that no man henceforth, molest or trouble him.
January 19, 1642, signed, Jo. Northcote, Sam. Rolle” etc et cetera