Richard Coffin (1456-1523)

Richard Coffin (1456–1523) of Alwington and Heanton Punchardon in North Devon, was Sheriff of Devon in 1511.

He was the eldest son and heir of William Coffin of Alwington (d.1486) by his wife Margaret Giffard, daughter of Thomas Giffard of Halsbury in the parish of Parkham, North Devon. According to the Devon historian Tristram Risdon (d.1640) the "manor (of Alwington) hath been in the name of Coffin even from the Conquest, whose dwelling house is at Portledge within the same parish". This was somewhat of an exaggeration as the tenant of Alwinetone in the Domesday Book of 1086 is "Hamelin", whose overlord was Robert, Count of Mortain (d.1090). The family remained lords of the manor of Alwington until 1974, albeit in a branch descended from a female line in the early 18th century.

Richard Coffin married twice:

• Firstly to Alice Gambon, daughter of John Gambon of Moorstone in Devon, by whom he had the following progeny:
  • John Coffin (d.1528), eldest son and heir, who married Elizabeth Hingeston.
  • Sir William Coffin (by 1492-1538), a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to King Henry VIII and Master of the Horse to Queen Jane Seymour, elected MP for Derbyshire in 1529.
  • Jane Coffin, married John Bury (1481-1533), lord of the manor of Colleton, Chulmleigh, Devon.
• Secondly Richard Coffin married a lady named Jacquet, who survived him

Besides his paternal estates, Richard Coffin held leases from the Beaumont family of Shirwell of the North Devon manors of East Haggington in the parish of Berrynarbor and of Heanton Punchardon. During his tenure of Heanton Punchardon the overlordship of the manor was inherited from the Beaumonts by Sir John Basset (1462-1528) of Umberleigh. In this connection he and his widow, and his son and his widow, are mentioned several times in the Lisle Letters, the correspondence addressed to Basset's widow Honor Grenville, Viscountess Lisle (d.1566).

Richard Coffin died in 1523 and was buried in Heanton Punchardon Church, in accordance with the wish expressed in his will. In the chancel of the church survives his Easter Sepulchre tomb.