Name Richard Coffin | Role 1456-1523 | |
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Richard Coffin (1456–1523) of Alwington and Heanton Punchardon in North Devon, was Sheriff of Devon in 1511.
Contents
Origins
He was the eldest son and heir of William Coffin of Alwington (d.1486) by his wife Margaret Giffard, daughter of Thomas Giffard of Halsbury in the parish of Parkham, North Devon. According to the Devon historian Tristram Risdon (d.1640) the "manor (of Alwington) hath been in the name of Coffin even from the Conquest, whose dwelling house is at Portledge within the same parish". This was somewhat of an exaggeration as the tenant of Alwinetone in the Domesday Book of 1086 is "Hamelin", whose overlord was Robert, Count of Mortain (d.1090). The family remained lords of the manor of Alwington until 1974, albeit in a branch descended from a female line in the early 18th century.
Marriages & progeny
Richard Coffin married twice:
Lands held
Besides his paternal estates, Richard Coffin held leases from the Beaumont family of Shirwell of the North Devon manors of East Haggington in the parish of Berrynarbor and of Heanton Punchardon. During his tenure of Heanton Punchardon the overlordship of the manor was inherited from the Beaumonts by Sir John Basset (1462-1528) of Umberleigh. In this connection he and his widow, and his son and his widow, are mentioned several times in the Lisle Letters, the correspondence addressed to Basset's widow Honor Grenville, Viscountess Lisle (d.1566).
Death & burial
Richard Coffin died in 1523 and was buried in Heanton Punchardon Church, in accordance with the wish expressed in his will. In the chancel of the church survives his Easter Sepulchre tomb.