Richard Hankford facts for kids
Sir Richard Hankford (born around 1397, died 1431) was an important person in Devon, England. He gained control of large areas of land, called "baronies," through his marriage. These lands included parts of Bampton and Barnstaple.
Biography
Early Life and Family
Richard Hankford was the grandson of Sir William Hankford (who lived from about 1350 to 1423). William was a very important judge, known as the Chief Justice of the King's Bench. Richard's father, also named Richard Hankford, passed away in 1419. This meant that when his grandfather William died in 1423, young Richard became the main heir.
The Hankford family had lived for a long time at their family estate, also called Hankford. This estate was near Bulkworthy in Buckland Brewer, North Devon.
Military Service and Knighthood
Richard Hankford served as a soldier in France during the Hundred Years' War. He was part of the group of people who worked for his brother-in-law, Thomas Montacute, 4th Earl of Salisbury. Thomas Montacute was a powerful noble.
Richard was made a knight at St Albans sometime between July and October 1429. At this time, he was about 32 years old. Sadly, he died just two years later in 1431, when he was around 34.
Marriages and Children
Sir Richard Hankford was married two times.
His first marriage was before 1420 to Elizabeth FitzWarin (who lived from 1403 to about 1428). Elizabeth was the daughter of Fulk FitzWarin, 6th Baron FitzWarin. She was also the only heir of her brother, Fulk FitzWarin, 7th Baron FitzWarin. Because of Elizabeth, Richard gained control of the lands of Bampton and part of Barnstaple. This included the main family home for the Barnstaple lands, called Tawstock.
Richard and Elizabeth had two daughters:
- Thomasine (born 1422 or 1423, died 1453) was the older daughter. She inherited the lands of Bampton and Tawstock from her mother. Thomasine married William Bourchier, 9th Baron FitzWarin.
- Elizabeth was the younger daughter. She passed away when she was very young in 1433.
Richard's second wife was Anne de Montagu (who died in 1457). Anne was the daughter of John Montacute, 3rd Earl of Salisbury. She outlived Richard and married two more times after he died. When Anne passed away, she was buried with her third husband in a church in City of London.
Richard and Anne had one daughter:
- Anne Hankford (born about 1431, died 1485). She inherited the Annery estate from her father. Anne married a very wealthy man named Thomas Butler, 7th Earl of Ormond.
