John Chichester (died 1569)
Sir John Chichester (1519/20-1569) of Raleigh in the parish of Pilton, near Barnstaple in North Devon, was a leading member of the Devonshire gentry, a naval captain, and ardent Protestant who served as Sheriff of Devon in 1550-1551, and as Knight of the Shire for Devon in 1547, April 1554, and 1563, and as Member of Parliament for Barnstaple in 1559, over which borough his lordship of the manor of Raleigh, Pilton had considerable influence.
Arms of Sir John Chichester shown within a strapwork surround from his monument in Pilton Church: Chequy or and gules, a chief vair
Small monumental brass (c. one ft high) in St Brannock's Church, Braunton, Devon, of Lady Elizabeth Bourchier (died 1548), daughter of John Bourchier, 1st Earl of Bath & wife of Edward Chichester (died 1522) of Raleigh, Pilton. She kneels at prayer before a prie dieu on which is an open book. Gothic text inscription under: "Here lyethe Lady Elyzabethe Bowcer daughter of John Erle of Bathe & sumtyme wyffe to Edwarde Chechester Esquyer the whyche Elyzabethe decessyd the XXXIIIth day of August in the yere of O_r Lorde God M Vc (i.e. 5*c)
Heraldic escutcheon on the monument to Sir John Chichester (died 1569) of Raleigh in Pilton Church, Devon. Showing arms of Chichester impaling Bourchier (Argent, a cross engrailed gules between four water bougets sable, here restored incorrectly as gules), representing the marriage of his parents
Heraldic panel on monument to Sir John Chichester (died 1569) in Pilton Church, showing his children and their marriage alliances
The historic manor of Raleigh, near Barnstaple and in the parish of Pilton, North Devon, England, was the first recorded home in the 14th century of the influential Chichester family of Devon. It was recorded in Domesday Book of 1086 together with three other manors that lay within the later-created parish of Pilton. The manor lies above the River Yeo on the southern slope of the hill on top of which stand the ruins of the Anglo-Saxon hillfort called Roborough Castle. Part of the historic manor of Raleigh is now the site of the North Devon District Hospital.
Arms of Sir John Chichester (d.1569), Pilton Church, Devon
Ledger stone of Richard Chichester (d.1496)
Mural monument in Fremington Church to Mrs Jane Barbor, widow of George Barbor