 family were from Pilland in the parish of Pilton near Barnstaple and Robert Brett (died 1540) was lord of the manor of Pilland and the last steward of Pilton Priory before the Dissolution of the Monasteries The Brett family was from Whitestaunton in Somerset and had married the heiress of Pilland late in the 15th century.The Brett family is today represented by Viscount Esher.William I Venner "of Chittlehampton" (son), who in 1578 at Chittlehampton married Elizabeth Copleston, daughter of Humphry Copleston of Instow, a great-grandson of Philip Copleston of Copleston in the parish of Colebrooke, Devon, Sheriff of Devon in 1472.