Sampson Manaton
Sampson Manaton (1553-1627) resided at Combeshed and held tenements at Burraton and Toggehill all in Climsland Manor. Sampson married Judith, the daughter of William Hawkins of Plymouth. Through this marriage the Manatons would become associated with the ship captains who sailed against the Spanish Armada. Judith was the daughter of William Hawkins who commanded the Griffin in the fight against the Spanish Armada and was several times Mayor of Plymouth. Judith’s uncle was Rear Admiral Sir John Hawkins who commanded the Victory. Sir Francis Drake was a cousin to the Hawkins family and was raised in their household. As Vice Admiral he commanded the Revenge. Ambrose Manaton, brother to Sampson, commanded the barque Mannington in that action.
Sampson and Judith Manaton left a monument in Stoke Climsland church to their two daughters who died prematurely. The inscriptions in Latin read:
Sampson and Judith Manington, bewailing their very dear daughters, Clare and Mary, who were taken away by savage death at an early age
O father, O mother, why do you mourn the bodies of your dear offspring, why thus are your eyes wet, now we are proceeding to heaven and in the place of riches we spread praises to God with a joyous mouth