CHAMPERNOUN OF MODBURY, DEVONSHIRE - PART 1 of 2
RBodine996
following account of that branch of the family seated at Modbury, Devonshire.
Individuals appear in register format, with each identified by a unique number.
Sources are cited throughout. My thanks to Todd Farmerie who provided the
necessary motivation for me to become obsessed with sorting out who was who by
delving into as many original records as possible in order to prove, and too
often disprove, the only complete pedigree of the Champernouns ever published,
in J. L. Vivian's The Visitation of the County of Devon, Comprising the
Herald's Visitations of 1531, 1564 and 1620. Exeter: H. S. Eland, 1895. It
is my intention to also submit similiar accounts on the early Champernouns and
that branch of the family seated at Ilfracombe, Devonshire.
GENERATION 1
1. Sir RICHARD CHAMPERNOUN, of Modbury, Devonshire. As "Richard de
Chambernon, son of Dom Henry de Chamb'noun," he terminated a Plea brought by
him in City Court against Master Henry de Bollegh, Archdeacon of Cornwall, 4
Oct 1286 (DCNQ, 8: 132). In 1275/82, as Ricardus de Chambernun, he was
recorded as a tenant of the manor of Inswork (Book of Fees, II, p. 1298).
Married to Joan, half-sister of James de Okeston, of Modbury. Sir James
de Okeston presented to Modbury Priory Sept 1321 (Stapledon, p. 235). It has
been suggested that Joan had remarried by 1300, in which year Peter de Fissacre
was holding Inceworth, as per the IPM of Edmund, Earl of Cornwall, and that
Joan, wife of Peter de Fissacre, put in a claim in 1316, endorsed on the final
concord of Modbury (RTDA, 67: 269-270, 280-282). Joan apparently died soon
after as in 1319 her son Richard was holding Inceworth.
Children:
2. Richard Champernoun, m. Elizabeth Valletort.
GENERATION 2
2. Sir RICHARD CHAMPERNOUN. Died shortly before 26 Nov 1338 when Bishop
Grandisson recorded the testamentary probate of Lord Richard de Campo Arnulphi,
Knight (Grandisson: 894). The will itself was not recorded in the register and
is now lost. In 1285, by commandment of Edward I, James de Okeston conveyed
Modbury to him. On 13 Apr 1315, a plea of covenant was summoned wherein James
de Oxton acknowledged the manor and advowson of Brideford (Bridford) to be the
right of Richard as by James's gift, to be held by James for his life upon
payment of a yearly rose, and after his death the manor and advowson would
revert in its entirety to Richard (Devon Fines, 2: no. 1023). On 20 Jan
1315/6, James de Oxton and Ida, his wife, acknowledged the manor of Modbury and
advowson and priory of Modbury to be the right of Henry de Lappeslode as by
James' gift, that Henry granted the manor and advowson to James and Ida for
their lives, and after their deaths, the manor and advowson shall remain in
their entirety to Richard de Campo Arnulphi and his heirs (Devon Fines, 2: no.
1031).
On 25 Sept 1319 he received a grant, at the request of Edmund de
Woodstock, the King's brother, for a weekly market on Tuesday at his manor of
Inneswerk, co. Cornwall, and a yearly fair there on the vigil, the feast and
morrow of St. Michael (Cal. Charter Rolls, 1300-1327, p. 415). Knight of the
Shire for Devon Oct 1324 and Sept 1331 (Parliaments, pp. 71, 94). On 7 July
1324 he was a knight liable for military service against the Scots (RTDA, 71:
292, 294). On 28 Aug 1325, he was commissioned to pursue and arrest disturbers
of the peace and on 28 Feb 1326 was appointed a commissioner of the peace in
co. Cornwall. On 20 Mar 1326, he was appointed arrayer for co. Cornwall (Cal.
Patent Rolls, 1321-4, pp. 228, 285, 222). In 1332, he was holding lands in
Brixton, Compton and Egg Buckland, Highampton, North Buckland, and Modbury
(Devon Lay Subsidy of 1332, p. 12, 15, 65, 81, 100). Holding Modbury of John
de Dynham, 20 June 1332 (CIPM, 7, p. 327).
On 1 June 1334 he received license to crennelate Modbury Manor (Cal.
Patent Rolls, 1330-34, p. 554) and on 1 Feb 1335, he received a grant, of
special grace, of free warren in all their demense lands of Modbury, co. Devon
and Inneswerk and Ledeweyn, co. Cornwall (Cal. Charter Rolls, 1327-1341, p.
322).
By May 1316 (VCH, Somersetshire, 6: 92) he was married to Elizabeth
Valletort, coheiress of Hugh de Valletort, of North Tawton, and widow of
Richard Tremenet (DCNQ, 20: 294).
Children:
3. (Sir?) Richard Champernoun, m. Emeline Brankescombe.
4. John Champernoun.
5. Thomas Champernoun, m. Eleanor Rohant.
GENERATION 3 (nos. 3-5)
3. (Sir?) RICHARD CHAMPERNOUN. Named in a fine of 27 Jan 1336/7, wherein
Richard Paz, Canon of Crediton, granted to Richard de Campoarnulpi and
Elizabeth, his wife, tenements in Carvyle during their lives and after their
deaths to revert to their son Richard and the heirs of his body (Cornwall
Fines, 1: no. 544). It must have been he who served as Sheriff of Devonshire
from May 1355-May 1356 (Cal. Fine Rolls, 1356-68, p. 19). He may also be
identified with Richard Chambernon, kt., deceased in 1377, when Northtoft,
Northamptonshire was held of his heirs.
Married to Emeline, daughter of Walter and Margery Brankescombe, who were
granted tenements in Compton Giffard, in Plymouth, for life and after their
deaths the land would go to John Champernoun, son of Emeline, daughter of
Walter and Margery, and Richard (Devon Fines 1272-1369, 2, no. 415).
Children:
6. John Champernoun.
4. JOHN CHAMPERNOUN. Named only in Vivian (p. 162).
5. THOMAS CHAMPERNOUN, Esq. As Lord of Modbury, he presented to Modbury
Priory in June 1345, June 1349, April 1350/1, March 1361/2 and June 1375
(Grandison, pp. 1347, 1390-1, 1416, 1480; Brantyngham, 1370-1394, p. 37); as
Lord of Bridford he presented there to the church in June 1349 and Jan 1358/9
(Grandison, p. 1391, 1450). Collector of the 10th and 15th for Devonshire, 1
Aug 1357-15 Sept 1357 (Cal. Fine Rolls, 1356-1368, p. 44, 46); appointed
Sheriff of Devonshire 20 Nov 1362 and 26 Nov 1367 (ibid., p. 237, 359) serving
a one year term in each instance. In Apr 1369, he quit-claimed his rights to
the Rohant lands in Worthington, Leicestershire; Estcoton, by Gildesburgh,
Northamptonshire; and Combe Real and Portesmouth, Devonshire to his son,
Richard (Cal. Close Rolls, 1369-74: 84).
Appointed escheator for Devonshire, 15 June 1369, serving until 16 Feb
1371 (Cal. Fine Rolls, 1368-77, pp. 9, 109). In that capacity, he was
appointed on 20 Nov 1369 to guard the temporalities of the Bishop of Exeter,
now void, and in the King's hands (ibid., p. 44); appointed collector of the
10th and 15th, 6 Dec 1373 and again 14 Nov 1374 (ibid., pp. 229, 269); writ of
supersedeas issued May 1379 in favor of Thomas Chambernoun, Esq. for a demand
for his homage which he has done (Cal. Close Rolls, 1377-81: 256); exempted for
life from assizes, juries, etc., by letters patent of 9 Nov 1378 (Cal. Patent
Rolls, 1377-81, p. 346); appointed collector of a tax in Cornwall (Cal. Fine
Rolls, 1377-1383, p. 54). The last reference to him occured on 12 Nov 1387
when he was serving on commission of road inquiry in Devonshire (Cal. Close
Rolls, 1385-9: 391).
Married to Eleanor, daughter of Sir Roger Rohant and heiress to Aston
Rohant, Oxfordshire and Woodleigh, Devonshire. She was dead by April 1369 when
her husband quit-claimed his rights to her inheritance in favor of their son
Richard (Cal. Close Rolls, 1369-74: 84; VCH, Oxfordshire, 8: 21).
Children:
7. Sir Richard Champernoun, m 1) Alice Astley, 2) katherine
Daubeney.
8. Edmund Champernoun.
9. Cecily Champernoun.
GENERATION 4 (nos. 6-9)
6. JOHN CHAMPERNOUN. As Johannes Chambernon, he served as Member of
Parliament from Liskeard Borough, co. Cornwall 11 Mar 1335/6 (Parliament,
p. 108). On 16 Aug 1344 and 25 Oct 1344, John son of Richard Chaumbernon was
named in a complaint, with William and Oliver Chaumbernon (Cal. Patent Rolls,
1342-45, p. 399, 418). On 17 May 1346, John Chaumbernoun was appointed to a
commission of inquiry (Cal. Patent Rolls, 1345-48, p. 115). Living 13 Oct
1360, when named in the fine to inherit tenements in Compton Giffard from his
grandparents.
7. Sir RICHARD CHAMPERNOUN. According to a inquisition of proof of age made
at Jevelchestre on 6 Aug 1366, he was born 29 June 1344 at the manor of Suddon,
Somersetshire and baptised in the church of Wyncaulton. On the occasion of his
baptism, his great-grandfather, Sir Richard Lovel, gave a celebration (CIPM, 7:
91). On 27 Nov 1368 he was appointed Sheriff of Devonshire in succession to
his father (Cal. Fine Rolls, 1356-68, p. 392). In Nov 1377 he paid homage and
fealty to the King for the manor of Ashton Rowhant, Oxfordshire (Cal. Close
Rolls, 1377-81, p. 22). As a knight he was appointed assessor of a tax in
Devonshire, 27 May 1379 (Cal. Fine Rolls, 1377-83, p. 142 and was again
appointed Sheriff for a one-year term on 1 Nov 1381 (ibid., p. 270) and 18 Jan
1387 (Cal. Fine Rolls, 1383-91, p. 152). In 1395 he was holding Stokkinchurche
Manor, Oxfordshire (CIPM, 7: no. 476).
In 1393 and 1394 Richard Chambernon, Kt. and Catherine, his wife, received
indents from the Catholic Church to make confessions, obtain a portable alter
and celebrate mass. (Cal. of State Papers, vol. 4, 1362-1404: Entries
Relating to Great Britain and Ireland, pp. 483, 489, 494, 497, 498).
As Lord of Portelmouth, one of the Rohant manors, he presented to the
church there in Jan 1383/4, Sept 1399 and May 1405 (Brantscombe, p. 86;
Stafford, p. 195); as Lord of Dodbrook, another Rohant manor, he presented to
the church there in Mar 1383/4, Mar 1403, June 1405, Nov 1409, and Nov 1410
(Brantyngham, p. 87, Stafford, p. 163-4); as Lord of Modbury, he presented to
Modbury Priory in March 1398/9, Feb 1406/7 and Jan 1415/6 (Stafford, p. 188);
and as Lord of Bridford, he presented there to the church in Sept 1399
(Stafford, p. 150). On 14 July 1402, Richard Chambernon, "chivaler," was
appointed a commissioner of array for Devon (Cal. Patent Rolls, 1401-5, p.
114). On 1 Jan 1412, he and others granted 40 acres in Wodelegh to the parson
of Wodelegh in exchange for 40 acres in the same town (Cal. Patent Rolls,
1408-13, p. 368).
His will of 26 Feb 1418/9 was proved 3 Apr 1419, naming his wife Katherine
and sons Richard and John. He requested burial in the parish church of
Dodbrooke by the side of his wife Katherine (Stafford, p. 422-3).
Vivian (p. 162) reports he was married 1stly to Alice, daughter of Thomas,
Lord Astley, and 2ndly to Katherine, daughter of Sir Giles Daubeney. For
confirmation of Alice as a Astley see following, under Joan Champernoun (no.
11) where, Joan's Chudleigh descendants impale the arms of Champernoun and
Astley (RTDA, 31: 92). Alice would consequently be a daughter of Thomas de
Astley, of Astley and Bentley, Warwickshire, 3rd Baron Astley, and his wife,
Elizabeth de Beauchamp, a relationship accepted by Paget in his Official
Baronage (no. 9). Katherine was apparently the daughter of that Sir Giles
Daubeny, who was the 3rd Baron Daubeny, of Kilmersdon, Somersetshire, who died
24 June 1386, and his wife Eleanor Wyllington, herself a Champernoun
descendant, though no daughter is named among their children in Lord Hylton's
Notes on the History of the Parish of Kilmersdon [Taunton, 1910].
Children (by 1st wife):
10. Alexander Champernoun, m. Joan Ferrers.
11. Joan Champernoun, m. 1) Sir James Chudleigh, 2) Sir John
Courtenay.
Children (by 2nd wife):
12. Richard Champernoun, m. Isabel Bonville.
13. John Champernoun, Margaret Hamley.
14. Margaret Champernoun, m. Robert Hill.
8. EDMUND CHAMPERNOUN. Thomas Chambernoun presented Edmund Chambernoun as the
rector of Bridford on 4 Jan 1358/9. His tenure was brief, his successor
being installed 6 Oct 1362 (Grandison, pp. 1391, 1450). The relationship of
Edmund to Thomas is not stated and is presumed to be that of son and father,
though any other relationship is just as likely.
9. CECILY CHAMPERNOUN. Married to Simon Fleming. Cecily and her marriage is
known only from Vivian (p. 162).
Todd A. Farmerie
>
>
> GENERATION 1
>
> 1. Sir RICHARD CHAMPERNOUN, of Modbury, Devonshire. As "Richard de
> Chambernon, son of Dom Henry de Chamb'noun," he terminated a Plea brought by
> him in City Court against Master Henry de Bollegh, Archdeacon of Cornwall, 4
> Oct 1286 (DCNQ, 8: 132). In 1275/82, as Ricardus de Chambernun, he was
> recorded as a tenant of the manor of Inswork (Book of Fees, II, p. 1298).
> Married to Joan, half-sister of James de Okeston, of Modbury. Sir James
> de Okeston presented to Modbury Priory Sept 1321 (Stapledon, p. 235). It has
> been suggested that Joan had remarried by 1300, in which year Peter de Fissacre
> was holding Inceworth, as per the IPM of Edmund, Earl of Cornwall, and that
> Joan, wife of Peter de Fissacre, put in a claim in 1316, endorsed on the final
> concord of Modbury (RTDA, 67: 269-270, 280-282). Joan apparently died soon
> after as in 1319 her son Richard was holding Inceworth.
> Children:
>
> 2. Richard Champernoun, m. Elizabeth Valletort.
Have you then concluded that Oliver Champernoun, grandfather of Otho
belongs elsewhere, for example the Ilfracombe branch as Vivian
suggested, or is this still in limbo?
taf
RBodine996
Clistwick, later called Clist St. George or Clist Champernoun, in Devonshire
was in possession of his son Henry Champernoun's widow, Rose, living 1237, and
was a property held by her grandson, Sir William Champernoun at his death in
1305 according to his IPM. I expect to have my material on the Ilfracombe
branch ready for posting in the next few days.
Ronny