Meshaw
Encyclopedia
Meshaw is a village and civil parish
in the North Devon
district of Devon
, England. Its nearest town is South Molton
, which lies approximately 5.9 miles (9.5 km) north-west from the village. The village lies just off the B3137 road. Meshaw also lies on the same B3137 road as Witheridge which is approximately 4.7 miles south-east of the village. In 2001 the population of the civil parish of Meshaw was 151.
Meshaw is a closely knit community with good links to the A361 via Gidley Cross. The local primary school is South Molton Junior School, with primary schools out of catchment such as Witheridge
, East Worlington and Bishop's Nympton Closer. The local secondary school is South Molton Community College which has an 'Outstanding Ofsted Report'.
in this county, Esq.r. who died at Meshaw House the 27th of 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.
John Courtenay died on 26/2/1660 and his mural monument can be seen in Molland Church. 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. 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. After James's death she married thirdly Philip Shapcote of Knowstone
. Very curiously 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 slate memorial tablet im 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 Nov. 1700. On the slate are engraved the arms of Shapcote 3 castles impaling
Lynn Gules, a demi-lion rampant or. The crest over the escutcheon, which would normally be that of the husband, is here a demi-lion rampant, the crest of Lynn.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the North Devon
North Devon
North Devon is the northern part of the English county of Devon. It is also the name of a local government district in Devon. Its council is based in Barnstaple. Other towns and villages in the North Devon District include Braunton, Fremington, Ilfracombe, Instow, South Molton, Lynton and Lynmouth...
district of Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England. Its nearest town is South Molton
South Molton
"Molton" redirects here. Or see Molten or Moulton.South Molton is a small town in Devon, England. It is part of the North Devon local government district. The town is on the River Mole. According to the 2001 census the civil parish of South Molton had a population of 4,093.The town was one of...
, which lies approximately 5.9 miles (9.5 km) north-west from the village. The village lies just off the B3137 road. Meshaw also lies on the same B3137 road as Witheridge which is approximately 4.7 miles south-east of the village. In 2001 the population of the civil parish of Meshaw was 151.
Meshaw is a closely knit community with good links to the A361 via Gidley Cross. The local primary school is South Molton Junior School, with primary schools out of catchment such as Witheridge
Witheridge
Witheridge is a village and civil parish in the North Devon district of Devon, England. In 2001 the population of the parish was 1162. Its name is derived from the Old English for "Weather Ridge", probably as a result of its exposed location on the top of a hill, which means it and surrounding...
, East Worlington and Bishop's Nympton Closer. The local secondary school is South Molton Community College which has an 'Outstanding Ofsted Report'.
Courtenay monument
In the church is a mural monument with the following wording: To the memory of James Courtnay (sic) Esq.r. 2d son of John Courtnay of MollandMolland
Molland is a civil parish and small village located on the southern slopes of Exmoor in North Devon, England.The former manor of Molland, largely co-terminous with the parish boundary, continues in existence as a large private estate under the ownership of Mrs Clare McLaren-Throckmorton, of...
in this county, Esq.r. who died at Meshaw House the 27th of 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
Nynehead
Nynehead is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated on the River Tone, south-west of Taunton and north-west of Wellington, in the Taunton Deane district. The village has a population of 416.-History:...
in ye county of Somers.t, Esq.r. His 2d wife & relict (being also relict of Lewis Rosier of Swymbridge
Swimbridge
Swimbridge is a village in the English county of Devon. It is situated south-east of Barnstaple and twinned with the town of St.Honorine Du Fay in Normandy, France. The name Swimbridge originates from the clegyman Sawin Birige. Sawin was a founder of a chapelry at Swymbridge in Saxon times...
in this county, Gent.) was Elizabeth daughter of Will. Lynn Esq.r of Southwicke
Southwick, Northamptonshire
Southwick is a small village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England. It is approximately north of the town of Oundle and is set in a valley of the river Nene. The village falls within the Non-Metropolitan District of East Northamptonshire, which itself lies within the East Midlands region...
in Northha.ton.re
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
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.
John Courtenay died on 26/2/1660 and his mural monument can be seen in Molland Church. 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
Nynehead
Nynehead is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated on the River Tone, south-west of Taunton and north-west of Wellington, in the Taunton Deane district. The village has a population of 416.-History:...
, Somerset (whose gravestone exists in the chancel floor of Nynehead Church), by Mary Ashford, heiress of Burlescombe
Burlescombe
Burlescombe is a village and civil parish in the Mid Devon district of Devon, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 911. The village is about south west of Wellington in Somerset....
, Devon. The originator of this monument at Meshaw was James Courtenay's second wife Elizabeth Lynn(d.1700), daughter of William Lynn of Southwick Hall
Southwick, Northamptonshire
Southwick is a small village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England. It is approximately north of the town of Oundle and is set in a valley of the river Nene. The village falls within the Non-Metropolitan District of East Northamptonshire, which itself lies within the East Midlands region...
, 11 miles SW of Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
, 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. After James's death she married thirdly Philip Shapcote of Knowstone
Knowstone
Knowstone is a village and civil parish situated in the North Devon district of Devon, England, halfway between the Mid Devon town of Tiverton, Devon and the North Devon town of South Molton.The hamlet of East Knowstone lies due east of the village....
. Very curiously 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 slate memorial tablet im 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 Nov. 1700. On the slate are engraved the arms of Shapcote 3 castles impaling
Impalement (heraldry)
In heraldry, impalement is the combination of two coats of arms side-by-side in one shield or escutcheon to denote union, most often that of a husband and wife, but also for ecclesiastical use...
Lynn Gules, a demi-lion rampant or. The crest over the escutcheon, which would normally be that of the husband, is here a demi-lion rampant, the crest of Lynn.