| Richard Bampfield | |
| Office1: | Sheriff of Devon |
| Term1: | 1576 |
| Birth Place: | England |
| Relatives: | Nicholas Wadham (grandfather) Francis Fulford (grandson) John Bampfield (grandson) |
| Spouse: | Elizabeth Sydenham |
| Children: | 12, including Amias |
Richard Bampfield (1526–1594) of Poltimore and Bampfylde House in Exeter, both in Devon, was Sheriff of Devon in 1576. He began construction of the Tudor era Poltimore House in 1550, and completed the building of Bampfylde House, Exeter, along with The Great House, Bristol one of the finest Elizabethan townhouses in the West Country, in 1590. He is the ancestor of the Bampfylde Baronets and Barons Poltimore.
He was the eldest son and heir of Sir Edward Bampfield (died 1528) of Poltimore by his wife Elizabeth Wadham, the widow of John Warre of Chipleigh (see Chipley Park, Somerset), second son of Sir Richard Warre of Hestercombe, and a daughter of Sir Nicholas Wadham (died 1542) of Merryfield, Ilton in Somerset and of Edge, Branscombe in Devon.[1] The Bampfield family had been seated at Poltimore since the 13th century.
Bampfield's father died when he was two years of age, and the 18th-century genealogist Thomas Wotton related this tradition about his childhood:[2] However, the editor of the 1771 edition of Wotton's genealogy added "Having received no account from the family, concerning this particular, I do not presume to give it as authentic."[3]
He married Elizabeth Sydenham (died 1599), daughter of Sir John Sydenham of Brympton d'Evercy, Somerset,[4] by his wife Ursula Brydges,[5] a daughter of Sir Giles Brydges (c. 1462 – 1511) of Coberley, Gloucestershire, and sister of John Brydges, 1st Baron Chandos (1492–1557). Her niece Elizabeth Sydenham was the wife of Admiral Sir Francis Drake (c. 1540 – 1596).[6] By his wife he had three sons and nine daughters as follows:
Henry Hurdinge of Longe Breedy in Couy. Dorset, Esqr was buried here the 28-day of Febr. 1627 who had by Gartrude Bampfyld his first wife 2 daughters. By Eliza Snowe his 2 wife, 2 English, Middle (1100-1500);: sonns 2 daughters.
"Hee that from home for love was hither brought",
"Hence is brought home to bliss that God hath wrou(ght)"
On the cornice of the monument to Richard Bampfield in Poltimore Church, are displayed 8 painted escutcheons depicting the arms of 5 of his sons-in-law, each impaling Bampfield, and 3 sons-in-law of his son and heir Sir Amias Bampfylde, each impaling Bampfield. Left to right on cornice:
1:Fulford of Great Fulford: Gules, a chevron argent
2:Argent, a bend sable
3:Gules, two bars wavy ermine
4:Argent, on a chevron azure three roses of the field
5:Cary of Clovelly: Argent, on a bend sable three roses of the field
6:Dodderidge of Bremridge (son-in-law of Sir Amias Bampfield): Argent, two pales wavy azure between nine cross croslets gules
7:Hancock of Combe Martin (son-in-law of Sir Amias Bampfield): Gules, on a chief argent three cocks of the field.
8:Drake of Buckland Abbey (son-in-law of Sir Amias Bampfield): Sable, a fess wavy between two pole-stars Arctic and Antarctic argent
Richard Bampfield's monument, erected in 1604 by his son Amias Bampfield, survives in the south transept of Poltimore Church. It comprises two recumbent stone effigies, of Richard Bampfield and his wife, under a low canopy supported by arched openings and columns.[14] A view of the monument is obstructed by pews in front and by the balcony above forming the manorial pew of the Bampfield family. The 8 painted escutcheons on the cornice depict the arms of 5 of his 8 sons-in-law, each impaling Bampfield, and the 3 sons-in-law of his son and heir Sir Amias Bampfylde, each impaling Bampfield.