Knowstone
Knowstone is a village and
The village lies on the route of the Two Moors Way and Celtic Way Exmoor Option.
History
Knowstone appears to have included several separate manors at the time of the Domesday Book in 1086. It was within the jurisdiction of South Molton Hundred.
Historic estates
The parish of Knowstone included three notable historic estates:
- Beaple, the home of the de Beaupel family, also of Landkey.
- Shapcott, the original home of the Shapcott family;
- Wadham, Knowstone the original home of the Wadhams, who took their name from the manor, later of Edge, Branscombe Devon, and then Merryfield, Ilton Somerset, the most prominent of whom was Nicholas Wadham (1531/2– 1609), who with his wife Dorothy Wadham was the co-founder of Wadham College, Oxford.[2]
Domesday Book
In the Domesday Book of 1086 Knowstone has four entries:
- Chenuestan, held by Rolf from the overlord Walter of Douai, feudal baron of Bampton, Devon and of Castle Cary, Somerset, formerly held by Algar (1/2 a hide, 7 ploughs);[3]
- Chenuestan, held by Rolf from the overlord Walter of Douai, formerly held by Leofwin (3 furlongs, 4 ploughs);[4]
- Chenudestane, held from the king by Algar, who held it before 1066 also, listed in the section covering the King's thanes (1 virgate, 3 ploughs)[5] This holding was thought by O.J. Reichel (1894) to represent the later named "Shapcote", but he provided no evidence for his opinion.[6]
- Wadeham; A fourth separate entry exists for the apparently separate manor of Wadham, held from the king by his thane Ulf both before and after 1066 (1 virgate, 3 ploughs).[7]
Mediaeval period
Beaple
- Isabel,(d. 21 August 1400) who married twice:[citation needed]
- Firstly to Sir William Cogan before 1382.
- Secondly, in about 1383, to Sir Robert Harington, 3rd Baron Harington (1357–1406), son of John Harington, 2nd Baron Harington (1307–1363), by Joan de Bermingham. Isabel's son by her second marriage was John Harington, 4th Baron Harrington (1384–1418), whose very high quality and well-preserved alabaster effigy exists in the Church of St Dubricius, Porlock, Somerset.
- Margaret, the wife of John Peyvre of Tuddington (Toddington) in Bedfordshire.
On the division of Loring's lands between his co-heiresses Beaple fell to the lot of Lord Harrington, whose heiress brought it to the family of
Shapcott
Shapcott family
Thomas Shapcote (d.1665), Lord of the Manor of East Knowstone, of Shapcott in the parish of Knowstone and of Exeter, gentleman and attorney was accused during the Commonwealth, together with his son Philip Shapcott (1621–1703), of being delinquents (i.e. staunch Royalists) and were required to declare their assets and income. These included the estate of Shapcott, which was worth £45 per annum and the tithes from the parish of Ashburton, worth £110 per annum. He declared his total estate to be £575 8s 8d and was fined £328. He was summoned again by the Committee in 1651 and fined a further £300, which was not however enforced. He married Urith Sotherin (d.1660), who was buried in Exeter Cathedral in 1660. Thomas died in 1665 and was buried in Exeter Cathedral beside his wife.[13] He had the following children by his wife Urith Sotherin:
- Philip Shapcott (1621–1703) had also been a Royalist and was fined £40. He served as Recorder of South Molton for 45 years, Town Clerk of Plymouth for three years and was Deputy Recorder of Totnes in 1681. He died at Knowstone aged 82, where his gravestone is displayed in the vestry (formerly the Shapcott Chapel) of Knowstone Church, inscribed: Hic Reconditur quod mortale est Philippi Shapcote de Shapcote Armigeri qui obiit 31 Aug Anno 1703 Aetatis suo 82 ("Here is concealed the mortal remains of Philip Shapcote of Shapcote, Esquire, who died on Aug 31 in the year 1703 of his age 82"). He married four times:
- Firstly at Barnstaple in 1649 to Hannah Tuckerin (d.1653/4).
- Secondly at Stoke Damerel in 1660 to Anne Martyn
- Thirdly in 1668 to Catherine Bowden.[14]
- Fourthly to Elizabeth Lynn (d.1700), as her third husband, widow of James Courtenay (d.1683), as his second wife, of Meshaw, 2nd son of John Courtenay (d.1660) of Molland[13] Elizabeth was the daughter of William Lynn of Southwick Hall, 11 miles SW of Peterborough, which family resided there between 1442 and 1840.
- Mary Shapcote, married Thomas Southcott (1615–1663) of Calwoodleigh, Devon.
- Urith Shapcote (b.1617), wife of Sir Courtenay Pole, 2nd Baronet (1619–1695) of Shute, Devon. The arms of Pole impaling Shapcott (Sable, a chevron between three dovecotes argent) are shown in the east window of the north aisle of Shute Church.
According to Hoskins the last of the Shapcotts died at Exeter in about 1770 when the estate was sold out of the family.[12] In 1810 the manor of Knowstone was owned by "George Courtenay" of Molland[15] i.e. Sir George Courtenay Throckmorton, 6th Baronet (1754–1826), who inherited the baronetcy from his brother in 1819 and who had adopted the surname Courtenay, from which family the Throckmortons had inherited Molland, discontinued by his descendants.
Another contemporary branch of the Shapcott family settled at
Monument of James Courtenay (d.1683) at Meshaw
In the church of Meshaw is a mural monument with the following wording: To the memory of James Courtnay (sic) Esq.r. 2d son of John Courtnay of Molland in this county, Esq.r. who died at Meshaw House 27 March 1683 & was buried among his ancestors in Molland Church in ye grave of his first wife Susanna ye daughter of Henry Sandford of Ninehead Flory in ye county of Somers.t, Esq.r. His 2d wife & relict (being also relict of Lewis Rosier of Swymbridge in this county, Gent.) was Elizabeth daughter of Will. Lynn Esq.r of Southwicke in Northha.ton.re who to ye lasting memory of her Lord did this too slender monument afford, for in her judgement she could scarce approve so mean an offering for so great a love. Were it as great and lasting too as she could wish ye me(m)ory of his love should be, this marble would out live eternity.
The gravestone of his first wife Susanna Sandford can be seen in the floor of the north aisle of Molland Church. She was the daughter of Henry Sandford (d.1644) of Nynehead Court, Somerset (whose gravestone exists in the chancel floor of Nynehead Church), by Mary Ashford, heiress of Burlescombe, Devon.[18] The originator of this monument at Meshaw was James Courtenay's second wife Elizabeth Lynn (d.1700), daughter of William Lynn of Southwick Hall, 11 miles SW of Peterborough, which family resided there between 1442 and 1840. Elizabeth had married James Courtenay as her second husband, having first married Lewis Rosier (d.1676) of Swimbridge, whose monument can be seen in St James's Church, Swimbridge.[19] After James's death she married thirdly Philip Shapcote of Knowstone. Elizabeth was buried, according to her wishes, in the same tomb in Molland Church as her second husband James Courtenay, who had already been buried therein together with his first wife Susanna Sandford. This is made clear by her mural memorial tablet of stone covered with slate-coloured gesso in Molland Church on the east wall of the north aisle which reads as follows: To ye memory of Mrs Shapcote ye wife of Philip Shapcote of Knowstone Esq. who was second wife & relict of James Courtenay Esq. and now lyes in (thistle?) interr(ed) in ye same grave with him according to his passionate desires & her pro(mise) to him in testimony of their mutual love. Obiit 12.o [20] Nov. 1700. On the base of the tablet are engraved the arms of Shapcote Sable, 3 dovecotes argent[21] impaling Lynn Argent, a demi-lion gules within a bordure bezantee[22] The crest over the escutcheon, which would normally be that of the husband, is here a demi-lion rampant, clearly a repetition of the Lynn arms.[23]
Wadham
Wadham, according to
St Peter's Church, Knowstone
The church tower is said to have been built by Elizabeth Lynn (d.1700), the wife of Philip Shapcott Esq., one of Their Majesties Justices of the Peace for the County of Devon. It was in situ by 1691.[27] Ever since the churches of both Molland and Knowstone had been given to Hartland Abbey by William de Bottreaux, which grant was confirmed by King Richard I in 1190,[28] the two churches and parishes were under the care of a single priest. Two mural monuments exist in the parish church, one in memory of Rev. John Culme (d.1691), on the south wall of the chancel, the other to the young Philip Shapcote (d.1690):
Culme monument
The Culme family held the sub-manor of Great Champson in Molland and acquired
“In memoriam Dom(inus) Johannes Culme …. huius pastoris vigilantissimus qui doctrina pietate suavitate moruit. Generosum Culmorum stemma ex quo oriundus erat dum vixerit adornavit qui non longum asperimum, vero emensus iter inter vola preces. Gemitus monita et suspiria sancta beatissimam Eucharistiam illibatam fidem et spem extaticam piam animam exhalavit Nov. 26 A.D. 1691. A.M.”
(In memory of John Culme, the most vigilant pastor of this flock, who died gently in pious doctrine. Whilst he lived he adorned the noble stock of the Culmes from which he arose; Who not a long harsh groan did he exhale, in truth freed from errors, prayers, warnings and sighs towards the most blessed Eucharist.....He breathed forth undiminished faith and hope his pious spirit....on Nov. 26 A.D. 1691)
Shapcote monument
Monument to the 6-month-old infant Philip Shapcote (jnr) (d.1690), erected by his step-grandmother Elizabeth Lynn (d.1700):
“This monument was erected by Elizabeth the wife of Philip Shapcote Esq.r To the memory of her beloved grandson Philip the son of Thomas Shapcote Esq.r and Elizabeth his wife who dyed the 30th day of Jan. 1690
He tasted life and lik't it not but chose
Mary's good parl which he shall never lose
Six months he liv'd then went to Heaven blest
To see the Father and with him to rest"
Notable residents
- Rev John Froude II (1777-1852), Vicar of Molland-cum-Knowstone, an extreme example of the "hunting parson".
External links
References
- ^ Per his biography by John Prince, Worthies of Devon
- ^ a b Hoskins, W.G., A New Survey of England: Devon, London, 1959, p.422
- ^ Morris, John, (ed.), Domesday Book, vol.9, Devon, vol 1, Chichester, 1985, chapter 23, entry 10
- ^ Morris, John, (ed.), Domesday Book, vol.9, Devon, vol 1, Chichester, 1985, chapter 23, entry 11
- ^ Morris, John, (ed.), Domesday Book, vol.9, Devon, vol 1, Chichester, 1985, chapter 52, entry 41
- ^ Reichel, O.J., Some Suggestions to Aid in Identifying the Place Names in Devonshire Domesday, published in Transactions of the Devonshire Association, 26 (1894), pp.133–169; Quoted by Morris, John, (ed.), Domesday Book, vol.9, Devon, vol 2, Chichester, 1985, chapter 52, entry 41
- ^ Morris, John, (ed.), Domesday Book, vol.9, Devon, vol 1, Chichester, 1985, chapter 52, entry no.40
- ^ Pole, Sir William (d.1635), Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon, Sir John-William de la Pole (ed.), London, 1791, p.463
- ^ a b Risdon, T., Survey of Devon, 1810 edition, p.303
- ^ Sanders, I.J., English Feudal Baronies, Oxford, 1960, p.64; Book of Fees, p.793, quoted in Morris, John, (ed.), Domesday Book, vol.9, Devon, vol 2, Chichester, 1985, chapter 23,10–11
- ^ Warwickshire Archives, DR5/380 25 April 1653 (www.nationalarchives.gov)
- ^ a b Hoskins, p.422
- ^ a b "6a Misfortunes of Thomas Shapcott". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
- ^ at the Faculty Office (London?) in 1668
- ^ Risdon, T., Survey of Devon, 1810 edition, 1810 Additions, p.426
- ^ Robson, Thomas, The British Herald, gives Lynn with tinctures reversed: Gules, a demi-lion rampant or
- ^ Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.353, Courtenay Earls of Devon
- ^ Collinson, John. History and Antiquities of the County of Somerset
- ^ "North wall north aisle large wall monument with small urns flanking achievement above shouldered surround with puttis to each side and winged skull below to Lewis Rosier d.1676 with original painted decoration". Text of English Heritage listing.
- ^ Duodecimo (12th)
- ^ Arms of Sir John Shapcote, as depicted in stained glass, Bampton church Sable, 3 dovecots argent; see also Shapcott family website. These arms can also be seen on the memorial tablet in Knowstone Church erected by Elizabeth to her grandson Philip Shapcote
- ^ Tinctures of Lynn arms as seen on Rositer monument in Swimbridge Church. Tinctures given differently as Gules, a demi-lion rampant or. by Robson, Thomas, The British Herald. Burke's General Armory gives other versions
- ^ The crest of Lynn is given in Burke's General Armory as: A lion's head erased (p.633). The crest of Shapcote is there given as : A goat's head erased(p.916)
- Hoskins, W.G., A New Survey of England: Devon, London, 1959 (first published 1954), p.422
- ^ Thorn, Caroline & Frank, (eds.) Domesday Book, (Morris, John, gen.ed.) Vol. 9, Devon, Parts 1 & 2, Phillimore Press, Chichester, 1985, Part 1, 52,40
- ^ Risdon, Tristram (d.1640), Survey of Devon, 1811 edition, London, 1811, with 1810 Additions, p.303
- ^ Shapcott family website
- ^ Chope, R. Pearse, Devon Notes & Queries, vol.2, Jan. 1902 – Oct 1903, p.168 (author of definitive history of Hartland Abbey)
- ^ Lysons, Magna Britannia, Vol.6, 1822