He was the second son of Roger Prideaux of Soldon in the parish of Holsworthy, Devon, by his wife Phillippa Yorke, daughter of Richard Yorke, Serjeant-at-Law, and widow of Richard Parker. The Prideaux family is believed to be of Norman origin and to have first settled in England at some time after the Norman Conquest of 1066 at Prideaux Castle, near Fowey, in Cornwall. It abandoned that seat and moved to Devon, where it spread out in various branches, most notably at Orcharton, Modbury; Adeston, Holbeton; Thuborough, Sutcombe; Solden, Holsworthy; Netherton, Farway; Ashburton; Nutwell, Woodbury and Ford Abbey, Thorncombe. Another branch built Prideaux Place in Cornwall in 1592, where it survives today. It was one of the most widespread and successful of all the gentry families of Devon, and as remarked upon by Swete, exceptionally most of the expansion was performed by younger sons, who by the custom of primogeniture were expected to make their own fortunes.
Career
Few records concerning his career have survived, and even his principal biographer John Prince remarked: Prince added: It is known however that as a younger son he chose as his career the Law and for that purpose entered the Inner Temple in London. In 1598 he was appointed Autumn Reader and in 1608 became Treasurer. In 1615 he was Double Reader, the next step to the degree of Serjeant-at-Law. He was created a baronet by King James I on 17 July 1622, which title in 1810, held by his descendant the 7th Baronet, was the premier baronetcy in Devonshire.
Thirdly in 1606 to Mary Reynell, daughter of Richard Reynell of East Ogwell, Devon, Sheriff of Devon in 1585, and sister of Sir Richard Reynell, Member of Parliament for Mitchell in Cornwall, builder in 1610 of Ford House, Wolborough, and widow of Arthur Fowell of Fowellscombe, Ugborough, and mother of Sir Edmund Fowell, 1st Baronet. One year after his marriage to Mary Reynell he built Netherton Hall.
Death, burial and monument
He was buried in St Michael's Church, Farway, where his monument showing under a recessed arch his recumbent effigy dressed in lawyer's robes, with hands together in prayer above his chest. A semi-recumbent effigy, possibly of his son, is below, shown fully dressed in armour with his bare head resting on a plumed helm. Above Sir Edmund's effigy is a tablet inscribed: On top of the monument is a sculpted escutcheon of arms with nine quarters, above which is the crest of Prideaux.
