CHAMPERNOUN OF NORTH TAWTON, DEVONSHIRE
RBodine996
Champernouns of North Tawton are a bit more difficult to place. Vivian (p.
160) calls Oliver the son of John Champernoun and grandson of Sir William
Champernoun, of Ilfracombe, who died in 1305 and appears as No. 3 under
Champernoun of Ilfracombe. However, insofar as Sir William's son John was a
cleric whose church career covered the period from 1309 until his death in
1335, it does not seem likely that he was Oliver's father.
The 1422/3 IPM of Oliver's grandson, Otho Champernoun, is quite extensive,
and being childless, and an only child himself, names a number of relatives as
his heirs. Included among several aunts he names a cousin, Alexander son of
Richard Champernoun. It should be remembered that by this time the
Champernouns of Ilfracombe had died out long before in their male issue and
only the Modbury family was still flourishing.
But where could Oliver fit that would make some sense? It is my belief he
was a younger brother of Sir Richard Champernoun, of Modbury. Consider that
Oliver was already an adult by 1332 and he was married to Egelina de Valletort,
a daughter and co-heiress of Hugh de Valletort of North Tawton. Her sister,
Elizabeth, was the wife of Sir Richard Champernoun of Modbury. Whereas Richard
was not a name that appeared in the Ilfracombe family, it certainly does so in
each generation of the Modbury line. As the brother and brother-in-law of a
Richard Champernoun, uncle and great-uncle of other Richard Champernouns,
Oliver also named one of his sons Richard. The 1332 Devonshire Lay Subsidy
assigns only property in North Tawton to Oliver Champernoun and this came to
him through his marriage, thus there appears to be way to connect him to
property he may have received from his father. The rationale, though logical,
is admittedly weak and any other alternatives are welcome.
Sources are noted throughout. For more complete citations please refer to
Champernoun of Modbury, Part 2 of 2.
GENERATION 1
1. OLIVER CHAMPERNOUN. Appears at North Tawton on the 1332 Devonshire Lay
Subsidy (DCRS, n.s., vol. 14 [1969], p. 77).
He was married to Egelina de Valletort (DCNQ, 20: 294). She survived her
husband, as Sir Richard Stapleton held the advowson of the church of North
Tawton of Egelina Champernon in Edw. III's time (Pole's Devon: 427). She was
still living in 1346 (Feudal Aids, 1, p. 422).
Children:
2. Otho Champernoun, d.s.p. Known only from Vivian, p. 160.
3. Hugh Champernoun, d.s.p. Known only from Vivian, p. 160.
4. Osmond Champernoun, d.s.p. Known only from Vivian, p. 160.
5. Richard Champernoun, m. Agnes Dodescombe.
6. Johanna Champernoun, m. Richard Atwood.
7. Elizabeth Champernoun, m. William Gilbert.
8. Margaret Champernoun, m. Thomas Stonehouse.
GENERATION 2
5. RICHARD CHAMPERNOUN. Died by July 1377. The IPM of Hugh de Courtenay,
Earl of Devon reports that Richard died in the earl's lifetime and his son Oto,
a minor, was holding North Tauton (CIPM, 14: 318).
He was married to Agnes, daughter of John Dodescombe, and widow of William
Gorges and Adam Branscombe Her share of her father's lands amounted to one
fifth of one third of the manor of Legh Peverel and the advowson of one fourth
of the church there, which lands descended to her son Otho (IPM of Otho).
Children:
9. Otho Champernoun, m. Agnes Hydon.
6. JOHANNA CHAMPERNOUN. Wife of Richard Atwood, her son, William Attewode
(Atwood) is named as an heir in the 1422/3 IPM of her nephew, Otho Champernoun.
7. ELIZABETH CHAMPERNOUN. Wife of William Gilbert, her son William Gilbert
is named as an heir in the 1422/3 IPM of her nephew, Otho Champernoun. On 6
July 1380, Elizabeth, widow of William Gilbert was granted administration of
her husband's estate.
8. MARGARET CHAMPERNOUN. Wife of Thomas Stonehouse. Her great-grandson,
William Bykebury, is named in the 1422 IPM of her nephew Otho Champernoun.
GENERATION 3
9. OTHO CHAMPERNOUN. A minor in July 1377, he was holding North Tawton as
one knight's fee and called Oto son of Richard Chambernoun 14 Aug 1377 (Cal.
Close Rolls, 1377-81, p. 13). He was exempted for life from all public
offices 18 Oct 1390 (Cal. Pat. Rolls, 1381-5, p. 313), 17 Aug 1393 (Cal. Pat.
Rolls, 1391-6, p. 324) and 10 Feb 1402 (Cal. Pat. Rolls, 1401-5, p. 43);
license granted to Otto Chambernoun, William Gilbert and Richard Gilbert to
receive 100 pilgrims in their ship la Charite and to ship them to Santiago to
pay their vows and to bring them back, 8 May 1394 (Cal. Pat. Rolls, 1391-6, p.
408). As Lord of Clyst Hydon, he presented there to the church in June 1399
and March 1408/9 (Stafford, p. 156). Ordered to be arrested, 11 Feb 1407 (Cal.
Pat. Rolls, 1405-8, p. 419), the problem appears to have been resolved in his
favor as on 20 Dec 1407 he was appointed to a commission to inquire what lands
Philip Courtenay, chivalier, deceased, held in Devonshire and its value (Cal.
Pat. Rolls, 1405-8, p. 419). By charter of 9 June 1408, he and Agnes, his
wife, were demised the manor and hundred of North Tawton (IPM of Otho).
He died 2 Jan 1422/3. Having left no issue, his IPM names as his heirs the
descendants of his three aunts, Margaret, Elizabeth and Joan, as well as his
cousin, Alexander Champernoun (IPM 1 Hen VI) and other relatives.
He was married to Agnes Hydon, who died 10 Jan 1430/1 (IPM 9 Hen. VI, file
49 (41)). Through his wife, Otho Champernoun came into possession of Clyst
Hydon. Agnes may have been the daughter of the Richard de Hydon who presented
to the rectory in 1362 (Grandisson, p. 1475). Agnes, herself, presented to
Clyst Hydon in Feb 1427/8 and July 1430 (Lacy, p. 109, 127).
Ronny Bodine
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