Haccombe church Devon - a photo on Flickriver

Sir Stephen de Haccombe 1200- 1243 lies between the chancel & the north chapel . Once under the arch between the chancel and the aisle , the tomb was described by Prince, in his Worthies of Devon: “Sir Stephen de Hacham cut in stone to full proportion, and all in armor, finely flourished with black, cross-legged, and spurred in token of his knighthood; and that he had actually been, or vow’d himself a soldier in the Holy Land; having on his breast his shield Argent, charged with 3 bendlets Sable.” The Exeter Diocesan Archives Society Transactions adds: “The material is hard, red sandstone on which is a coating of plaister, a quarter of an inch thick, beautifully moulded into the form of chain mail, once gilt, and having a black foliated pattern running over the whole of the armour; this pattern is not raised, and was therefore, most likely only painted on the gilding, and did not form any pattern worked in the mail itself. The only portions of the plate visible on the figure are the poleyns, or steel coverings for the knees, which first appear in the middle of the 13c.” Gilded chain mail is said to be a sign that the wearer was a Knight Banneret a commoner of rank who led a company of troops during time of war under his own square-shaped banner, unlike the tapering pennon flown by lower-ranking knights. He ranked higher than a knight bachelor, who fought under someone else’s banner. The rank of knight banneret could only be conferred by the sovereign on the field of battle.

The de Haccombes were Norman French and were granted the manor by William the Conqueror. His ancestor another Stephen had kept 40 sheep here at the time of the 1086 Domesday Survey
Sir Stephen, who possibly spent 5 years in the Holy Land when in the army of the Bishop of Exeter, Walter de Branscombe, swore to build a parish church, should he return safely home . His homeward journey, took him to Rugasa where he visited the Cathedral of Mary & St Blaise and it is thought that he named the church in its honour (Jones 2014). With his manors located in a wool rich area, dedicating a church to the Patron Saint of Wool combers, would have seemed sensible. On his return in 1233 he fulfilled his oath and originally It may have been primarily a household chapel. It stands only a stone’s throw from the manor house. In the Taxation of Pope Nicholas it was valued at 20/-.
The improvement work, to create an Archpresbytery – a chantry of priests overseen by an Archpriest, was approved and started before Sir Stephen's death . It was modeled on the Archpresbytery at Whitchurch. A living was provided for 6, salaried chantry priests plus the archpriest, also the parish priest and 2 lay clerks appointed as assistants and general servants. The Archpresbytery was endowed with the tithes of Haccombe and a couple of Cornish manors, belonging to Sir Stephen . The priests were requested to pray for the souls of the late Sir Stephen, John Grandisson – Bishop of Exeter, Sir John and his family and the Earls of Devon. They also assisted the Archpriest in his parish duties.
Sir Stephen was the son of Jordan de Haccombe.
In 1241 Stephen was said to be “in possession of Haccombe, Clifford and Ringmor”. These are manors the Haccombes had owned since the Domesday Book.
Sir William Pole says: “Stephen de Haccomb holds 1/3 fee in Haccumb of John de Curtenay of the Honour of Okemeton.” Courtenay was his feudal overlord, to whom he owed military service.

Stephen m Joan 1286 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/S9QqP9D45y co-heiress daughter of Robert de Boson / Bozon and Joan daughter of Henry St. George of Ilton by Alice de Bretvillem , Marlborough, and of Bozumzeal in Dittisham; Joan m1 or m2 William de Cheverston having a son named John - her co-heiress sister Alice 1295 m Hugh son of Sir William de Ferrers 1280 flic.kr/p/2o3rL9f & 2nd wife Isolda 1235 - 1301 daughter of Andrew de Cardinham and Isolda Soligny; & Widow of Thomas de Tracy
Children;
1. Jordan / John de Haccombe m Cecily daughter of Warin de Penpol Cornwall (their son Stephen de Haccombe 1328 enlarged the church then consisting of a nave and chancel only probably adding the north aisle and chantry wherein his wife Margaret Poltimer lies www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/6kjA67Jjf4
2. William who obtained a licence of non-residence for three years from 11 Sept 1261 to study law in Paris. “Parisius, Juro Canonico”. In 1281 he was still rector of Stoke Fleming.

Grandson Stephen's enlarged church was dedicated by Bishop Grandisson of Exeter "with its two altars and burial ground" in 1328. The estate including the Church passed to his daughter Cecily MON wife of Sir John Archedekne / L'Arcedekne who c1337 carried out father's wishes by establishing a foundation of "Archpriest and 5 Chaplins . . . celebrating divine service daily . . . for the souls of . . . John and Cicely and their ancestors."
The estate then passed from Sir John and Cecily to their son Sir Warin Archdekne whose daughter Philippa m2 (3rd wife) Sir Hugh Courtenay and brought Haccombe to the Courtenays. Joan their daughter and heir m1 Sir Nicholas Carew bringing it to the Carews m2 Sir Robert De Vere. She died before 1465 and was buried here

The figure is carved in hard red sandstone, covered with a coating of plaster, with is moulded into the form of chain. The head of the figure lies on two cushions, and wears a coiffe de maille, allowing the face to be seen, but covering the neck. On the body is a tunic fastened round the waist with a narrow belt.
On the left arm is a shield, bearing the arms of Haccombe. A wide buckled belt hangs loosely from the waist for the sword, which is broad and short. The left hand holds the sheath, and the right rests on the handle, as if the sword had just been sheathed. The legs are mailed and crossed, and the feet, which rest on a lion, have spurs on the heels.

faysampson.co.uk/family-history/fay-sampsons-family-histo...

www.geni.com/people/Sir-Stephen-de-Haccombe/6000000001257...

Taken on: August 31, 2015

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Sets appears in: • Devon 1

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