Edward Chichester (died 1648), Effigy inEggesford Church, Devon. He wears theCoronet of a viscountArms of Chichester of Eggesford:Chequy or and gules, a chief vair a crescent sable fordifference
Edward Chichester, 1st Viscount Chichester (1568 – 8 July 1648), was an English peer.
1608strapwork plaster escutcheon of fourquarters in upstairs bedroom ofRuxfordBarton, near Crediton, Devon, with initials "EC" and "AC" for Edward Chichester, 1st Viscount Chichester (1568–1648), and his wife Anne Copleston (1588–1616).Detail of Chichester escutcheon, Ruxford. Armorialsquarters 1&4:Chequy or and gules, a chief vair a mullet for difference (Chichester); 2:Argent, a chevron engrailed gules between three lion's faces azure a crescent for difference (Copleston of Eggesford); 3:Gules, a pair of wings conjoined ermine (de Reigny of Eggesford)
Firstly in 1605 to Anne Copleston (1588–1616), the sole daughter and heiress of John Copleston Esq., (died 1606) of Eggesford by his wife Dorothy Biston (died 29 July 1601).[4] They had the following children:
Lt-Col. Edward Chichester (born 1611), a Royalist during theCivil War,[7] who married Elisabeth Fisher, 5th daughter of Sir Edward Fisher, Knight,[8] the latter who in 1611 had obtainedletters patent from King James I for extensive lands inWexford, Ireland,[9] from which he ejected the local population by force of arms[10] and formed into the "Manor of Chichester", and in 1617 renamedFisherstown, with his seat at "Fisher's Prospect".
Mary Chichester, younger daughter, who married firstly Thomas Wise ofSydenham in the parish ofMarystow, Devon, and secondly John Harris of Radford.[12]
Secondly after 1616 and before 1626, as evidenced by a date stone on Eggesford Barton bearing the inscription: "E.C.M. 1626",[13] to Mary Denham.
Monument to Edward Chichester (1568–1648), 1st Viscount Chichester, and his wife Anne Copleston (1588–1616), Eggesford Church, Devon. Theheraldic achievement above shows an escutcheon of Chichester impaling Copleston, with thesupporters of Chichester, two wolves and the Chichestercrest of a heron rising with an eel in her beak proper.[14] The Latin motto of Chichester is:Invitum Sequitur Honor, literally translated as "Honour follows against one's will", rendered generally as "Honour is awarded when unsought"Heraldicescutcheon from monument to Edward, 1st Viscount Chichester (1568–1648), and his wife Anne Copleston (1588–1616), Eggesford Church, Devon. Arms of Chichesterimpaling Copleston:Baron: Chequy or and gules, a chief vair a crescent sable fordifference (Chichester); Feme: Argent, a chevron engrailed gules between three lion's faces azure (Copleston), surmounted by thecoronet of a viscount showing 9 of its 16 pearls. The difference of a crescent indicates the arms of a second sonAlabaster effigies of Edward, 1st Viscount Chichester (1568–1648), and his wife Anne Copleston (1588–1616), Eggesford Church, Devon
Lord Chichester has a particularly fine alabaster effigy and monument against the north wall of the north aisle (Chichester Chapel) in Eggesford Church, Devon, to the immediate west of which stood his manor house, Eggesford House, demolished in 1824. The monument shows recumbent effigies of himself and his first wife with two tablets above inscribed as follows:
"Here rest in hope of Resurrection the body of the Right Hon.bl Sr. Edward Chichester knt., Lord Chichester, Barron of Belfast. Viscount Chichester of Carrickfergus, governor of the same &c., and one of His Majesties most hon.ble Privy Counsell for the Kingdome of Ireland, sonne of Sr. John Chichester of Rawleigh knight; and the body of Dame Anne his wife sole daughter and heire of John Copleston of Eggesford Esq.r. who had issue Arthur his eldest sonne now Lord Viscount Chichester, Earle of Donegall &c, who first married Dorcas, daughter of John Hill of Honnely in Warwickshire, Esq. and had issue by her one daughter; afterwards the Lady Mary eldest daughter of John, Earle of Bristol and had issue by her six sonnes & two daughters. John his second sonne who married Mary, eldest daughter of Roger Viscount Rannelagh and Edward his youngest sonne who married Elisabeth daughter of Sr. Edward Fisher knight; Elisabeth his eldest daughter who married Sr. William Wrey knt. & Barro.ett; Mary his youngest daughter who first married Thomas Wise of Syddenham afterwards John Harris of Radforde Esq. Hee departed this life on the 8 and was buried on ye 13-day of July Anno 1648. Shee departed this life on the 8 and was buried on the 11-day of March Anno 1616. This monument was prepared by himself in his lifetime but now erected and finished by the said Arthur Lord Viscount Chichester, Earle of Donegall, January the 11 Anno Domini 1648".
On a lunette above, probably the text planned by the deceased himself:
"In memory of Edward Lord Viscount Chichester & Dame Anne his wife and in humble acknowledgement of the good providence of God in advancing their house".
"Fam'd Arthur Ireland's dreade in armes in peace, Her tutelar genius Bellfast's honour wonne, Edward and Anne, blest payre, begott increase, Of lands and heires: Viscount was grafted onn, Next Arthur in God's caus and King's stak't all,
And had to's honour added Donnegall".
On the wall to the right above the monument is a black stone tablet inscribed as a memorial to Anne Copleston's parents:
"Here lyeth buried ye bodies of John Copleston Esq., & Dorothie his wife daughter to Sr. George Biston ofBiston Castel inChelshere, knight. They had issue Anne their sole daught. & heire who is now maryed to Edwarde Chichester Esq., one of ye sonnes of Sr. John Chichester of Rawleigh, knight, in whose memory the said Edwarde Chichester their son in law hath erected this monument in ye yere 1614. She departed ye 29 July in ye yere 1601 he departed ye 11 of ... in ye yere 1606, living together 30 yeres in much peace w.th God & lovinge societie e.ch w.th other".
Sir George Beeston (c. 1520 – 1601) of Beeston House nearBunbury,Crewe, Cheshire, acquiredBeeston Castle from the Crown shortly before his death. He was a naval captain who commanded theDreadnought against theSpanish Armada in 1588, and was knighted at sea on board theArk Royal byLord Howard of Effingham theLord High Admiral. He served as MP forCheshire in 1589. His wife, and Dorothy's mother, was Alice Davenport (died 1591), daughter of Thomas Davenport Esq., of Henbury. Sir George's effigy and elaborate monument exist against the north wall of the sanctuary inSt Boniface's Church, Bunbury.[15]
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