 He was a major landowner in south and west Devon.After his only child, Walter, died at the age of eleven, Hele decided to bequeath a number of his estates for "some godly purposes and charitable uses".A deed was signed on 9 January 1632 between Elize Hele, John Maynard, later Sir John Maynard, John Hele and Elize Stert in which Elize Hele dedicated his estate to charitable and godly use.