Molland - Descent of The Manor - Molland-Champson - de Champeaus

De Champeaus

"Robert de Chaumpians" was a witness to a donation made in the Devon County Court on 23 November 1192 by Martin Oisun to Martin de Fissacre. Many of the other witnesses are North Devon names, such as De Punchardon, Peverel (see Whitechapel Manor), Coffin, and it appears to relate to North Devon affairs.

In the deed dated 28 January 1196 which solved the dispute between the de Tracy and Braose families, both heirs to the feudal barony of Barnstaple, the subsidiary manors of the barony were split between the two, and listed. One of the manors which went to Oliver de Tracy, the son of Henry de Tracy, was "Loxbeare", which was then described as held by William de Champels for the service of one knight's fee.

In 1202 a law-suit is recorded in the Devon Feet of Fines in which Oliver de Tracy, feudal baron of Barnstaple, demanded feudal service of seven knights from William de Champeaus in respect of the following manors held by him from the barony:

  • Bonlege (Bondleigh)
  • Stodleg (Stoodleigh, perhaps memorialised today by "Chample's Farm")
  • Modland (Molland-Champson)
  • Aiwis (Huish Beaupel, Instow)
  • Hamtoneford (Handsford, Ashreigney)
  • Bettenden (Bittadon)
  • Anestinges (Anstey Money in West Anstey)
  • Lockesbere (Loxbeare)
  • Pedehill (Peadhill, Tiverton)

William replied that under the terms of his feudal tenure he owed his overlord de Tracy the service of only four knights.

A further legal suit heard before the Justices Itinerant of King Henry III at Exeter on 24 April 1219 is recorded between John Malherbe and Sibilla his wife, and widow of Nicholas de Champellis, against William de Champellis, presumably her son or step-son and Nicholas' heir. She claimed as part of her customary dower (comprising 1/3 of her husband's lands) the township of "Harewde" (West Horwood) and "Moulande". William paid her 4 marks of silver to settle her claim and retained possession of the lands.

A later legal case is recorded, heard before the Justices Itinerant at Reading on 5 July 1248. Robert de Champeaus had granted by gift a moiety of the manor of "Stodlegh" (East Stoodleigh) to Robert FitzPain under the tenure of grand sergeanty comprising the payment of one pair of white gloves or 1 penny due annually on the feast of St Michael, and also of performing the overseas military service which was due by the holder of the manor to the king. The dispute was settled by payment of 100 shillings sterling by FitzPain to de Champeaus.

The 1285 landholdings of Geoffrey de Camville (d.1308), jure uxoris feudal baron of Barnstaple included under the heading "hundred of South Molton: "Champeleston, 1/2 a knight's fee in capite. The name of his tenant was not given. Robert de Champeaux (d.1325), possibly descended from this family, was Abbot of Tavistock.

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