Sir Amyas Pollard, 3rd Baronet facts for kids
Sir Amyas Pollard, 3rd Baronet (1616–1701) was an important English gentleman from Devon. He held the title of baronet, which is a special hereditary title, like a knight but passed down through the family.
Not much is known about his daily life. However, we do know he was a very strong supporter of the King during the English Civil War. This was a time when England was divided, and supporting the King was quite risky. A special message carved on his tombstone says he "durst the King & royall cause still own, In times when doing it was so dangerous known." This means he was brave enough to support the King even when it was dangerous.
Sir Amyas was the last male in his family line, the ancient Pollard family of Bishop's Nympton. He became a baronet after his older brother, Sir Hugh Pollard, 2nd Baronet, passed away. His brother had left the family's lands with many debts. Because of this, Sir Amyas had to sell the main family estate at Bishop's Nympton. He then moved to a smaller family property called Abbots Bickington and made his home at Court Barton, right next to the small church there.
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Who Was Sir Amyas Pollard's Family?
Sir Amyas Pollard was the fourth son of Sir Lewis Pollard, 1st Baronet (who died in 1641). His father was also from King's Nympton, Devonshire. Sir Amyas's mother was Margaret Berkeley. She was the daughter of Sir Henry Berkeley, a knight from Bruton, Somerset.
Did Sir Amyas Pollard Have Children?
Sir Amyas Pollard never officially married. However, he did have a son named Thomas Pollard (1681–1710) with a woman whose name is not known. Thomas inherited his father's name and the family estate at Abbots Bickington. But because he was not born within a marriage, he could not inherit his father's baronet title.
Thomas Pollard married Sarah Prideaux in 1702. She was the daughter of Jonathan Prideaux. They did not have any children. There is a special monument in Abbots Bickington Church that Sarah had built to remember her husband, Thomas.
Monument for Thomas Pollard
Inside Abbots Bickington Church, there is a beautiful monument dedicated to Thomas Pollard (1681–1710). It has been repainted recently. The monument is a rectangular panel with an arched top, placed between two tall columns. Above it is a broken classical pediment, which is a triangular shape often seen in old buildings.
The inscription on the monument says: "Here under lyes ye body of Tho: Pollard ye son of Sr. Ames Pollard Bart. who departed this life Decem(be)r ye 9th 1710 ye 29th year of his age. He had to wife Sarah ye daughter of Jonathan Prideaux of Thu(borough) Esqr. who by ye order of her dear deceas'd husband hath set up this monument in remembrance of him & doth desire to be laid here her selfe when it doth please God to take her hence."
This means that Thomas Pollard, son of Sir Amyas, died on December 9, 1710, when he was 29 years old. His wife, Sarah, put up this monument because he asked her to. She also wanted to be buried there herself one day. On the monument, there are angels holding shields, and one shield shows the Pollard family's shell symbols.
When Did Sir Amyas Pollard Die?
Sir Amyas Pollard passed away in 1701. He was buried in the very small church of Abbots Bickington, right in front of the altar. His special tombstone, called a ledger stone, is still there. It has a poem and family symbols carved into it.
Sir Amyas Pollard's Tombstone
The ledger stone of Sir Amyas Pollard (1616–1701) is located in Abbots Bickington Church. It says: "To the memory of Sr. Ames Pollard, Barron(e)t, who departed this life June the 5th 1701 and was here interr'd the 7th of the same in ye 85th year of his age." This tells us he died on June 5, 1701, and was buried two days later, at 85 years old.
Below the inscription, there are symbols of the Pollard family. It shows a shield with the Pollard family's main symbols: a chevron between three escallops (shell shapes). It also includes the Red Hand of Ulster, a symbol often used by baronets. Above the shield is the Pollard family's crest, which is a leopard's head.
Underneath these symbols, there is a poem that praises Sir Amyas: "If birth & parentage be an ornament, His may be rank'd w(i)th those of best descent, If constant stedfast loyallty be a praise, His was unshaken in the worst of dayes, Who durst the King & royall cause still own, In times when doing it was so dangerous known, If love to friends to neighb(ou)rs & to peace, When constituted justice may increase, And raise his charact(e)r all this lets us see, How much we lost in being depriv'd of thee."
This poem highlights his noble birth, his strong loyalty to the King even in difficult times, and his kindness to friends and neighbors. It suggests that he was a greatly missed person.
