Fay Sampson’s Family History
This site is a work-in-progress. There is a massive amount to cover. I have included both male and female lines, and some go back 30 generations. Keep coming back for more.
I have numbered the generations working backwards from my own as (1)
ROBERT DE PIDEKESWELL (22)
“The manor of Georgeham was, in the reign of Henry III [1216-1272], the property and residence of Sir Robert de Pickwell; in the succeeding reign, of Sir Mauger St. Albyn.”[1]
This must refer to the father of Isabella Pidekeswell, who married Mauger St Aubyn.[2] His birth date is given as 1235 , in the reign of Henry III.
Sir Robert de PIDEKESWELL Knight 1 was born 1235 in Overhamme, Devon, England.[3]
Ham was the earlier name for Georgeham.
He would appear to be the son and heir of an earlier Sir Robert de Pidekeswell.
There was a stone-built church in Georgeham in Robert’s time. The Pidekeswells no doubt played a prominent part when the 13th century work on the church was being done.
THE CHANCEL
The discovery of a doorway and flight of steps behind the Pulpit leads to the theory that a Rood Screen with loft once crossed the nave and was probably removed in the 18 century. The 13 century stone carving depicting the Crucifixion, now on the North Wall was found behind this door. The … small window above contains the oldest examples of glass in the Church.
There is also evidence that a north aisle existed possibly as part of a 13th century building. The north wall is considerably thinner than the south wall and during Victorian restorations and the digging of a grave in 1975, traces of wall and paving were uncovered 15 feet outside the present north wall. These approximate to a continuation of the line of the outer wall of the Vestry.[4]
Robert had at least one daughter, Isabella. Her daughter’s dowry included a moiety of the manor of Pickwell. This suggests that Robert had no son to inherit, or at least, none that survived him. Isabella may have shared the manor with a sister.
Robert is thought to have died before 1261
[1] From: ‘Parishes: Farringdon – Goodleigh’, Magna Britannia: volume 6: Devonshire (1822), pp. 237-250. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=50578
[2] 21. ST AUBYN-PIDEKWILLE.
[3] www.cpedia.com
[4] Denise Smith and Brian Harris, St George’s Church, Georgeham. 2007. Genuki/DEV/Georgeham/GeorgehamChirch.html. Photo: www.jenbryant.co.uk/images
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