Nobody can really prove what was fact and what was fiction.
A Mr. Beeton at Hunstanton had a number of Doone relics, including a 'Journal of Rupert Doone'. Most of his curios were lost in a fire at his house in 1902. Folowing the fire an antiquary examined what was left, and came up with the view were indeed very old and connected with a Scottish Doone family. It would seem likely that Blackmore heard simlar stories as a child This Doone family were said to have come to Exmoor in 1620, and returned to Scotland in 1699. Legend claims they were disinherited Stuarts who had to flee Scotland, and were later invited to return The sort of local stories that existed about local robbers and rustlers is illustrated in a handed-down story told by a Mrs Tucker, who, years ago, lived at Court Barton,Parracoombe.