Richard Coffin (1456–1523)

[2] He was the eldest son and heir of William Coffin of Alwington (died 1486) by his wife Margaret Giffard, daughter of Thomas Giffard[3] of Halsbury in the parish of Parkham, North Devon.

His first marriage was to Alice Gambon, daughter of John Gambon of Moorstone in Devon,[5] by whom he had the following children: Coffin's second marriage was to a lady named Jacquet, who survived him.

[6] Besides his paternal estates, Richard Coffin held leases from the Beaumont family of Shirwell of the North Devon manors of East Hagginton in the parish of Berrynarbor.

[8] During his tenure of Heanton Punchardon the overlordship of the manor was inherited from the Beaumonts by Sir John Basset (1462–1528) of Umberleigh.

[9] Coffin died in 1523 and was buried in Heanton Punchardon Church, in accordance with the wish expressed in his will.