side as described by Clarendon in his History of the Rebellion: "Devonshire was left in a very unsafe posture: there being only a small party at Columb-John, a house of sir John Ackland's, three miles off Exeter, to control the power of that city, where the Earl of Stamford was; and to dispute not only with any commotion that might happen in the country, but with any power that might arrive by sea". The Royalist position improved in 1643 and Columb John ceased to be an isolated Royalist outpost when Prince Maurice and his army reached the area in the summer of that year. Acland was awarded a baronetcy, of Columb John in the County of Devonshire, and was appointed Sheriff of Devon by King Charles I in 1644. In 1645 Sir John was one of those present in the City of Exeter during the siege by Parliamentarian forces commanded by Generals Cromwell and Fairfax, who made Columb John their headquarters during the siege. The Parliamentarian troops were " a civilised lot, who paid for what they took, and ... knew how to behave like gentlemen even to their enemies. Sir John Acland's wife wrote to Cromwell as follows: "I received such ample testimony of your love when you were pleased to quarter at my house as that I cannot sufficiently express my thankfulness for the same". Whilst quartered at Columb John Cromwell and Fairfax offered very reasonable terms to the City that it surrendered on 13 April 1646 and all civilians and soldiers, including Sir John Acland, were permitted to march out honourably with colours flying, provided they laid down arms and took the national covenant of loyalty to Parliament. Acland was fined heavily for his delinquency, at £1,727 (later tripled), which was the fourth largest fine suffered in Devon. Upon his death in 1647, he was succeeded by his eldest son Sir Francis Acland, 2nd Baronet, who survived his father only a short time. He died unmarried so the estate passed to his younger brother Sir John Acland, 3rd Baronet (d. 1655). In 1654, he married Margaret Rolle, daughter of Denys Rolle (1614–1638) of Stevenstone. His son and heir, Sir Arthur Acland, 4th Baronet died as a minor in 1672 and was succeeded by his uncle Sir Hugh Acland, 5th Baronet. He demolished the mansion house at Columb John and made adjacent Killerton his principal seat, which house