By the early 1300s, the Manatons had become vassals to the Ferrers. The Ferrers held one-third of the feudal barony of Trematon from the earls of Cornwall. Earl Richard of Cornwall (1209-1272) and his son earl Edmund (1249-1300) had demised the local feudal baronies in Cornwall and annexed some of these lands. In the place of the local feudal barons there arose several knightly families powerful for their land ownership and local influence. These families included the Ferrers, Carminow and Champernowne families. The Manatons would intermarry with all three families.
The Manaton relationship to the Ferrers might have had its origins in the Ninth Crusade. The Ninth Crusade, sometimes called Lord Edward’s Crusade, was a military expedition to the Holy Land under the command of Edward, Duke of Gascony (future King Edward I) in 1271-2. It was an extension of the Eighth Crusade and was the last of the Crusades to reach the Holy Land before the fall of Acre in 1291 brought an end to the permanent crusader presence there. Sir Reginald de Ferrers, Sir Roger de Carminow and Sir William de Champernowne all were crusaders. Richard de Maneton, Hospitaller, who is recorded in 1266 on an errand for the King at the time of preparations for the crusade may also have been a participant.
We can trace the relationship between the Manaton and the Ferrers from Thomas Manaton who witnessed a grant made by Reginald de Ferrers in 1293. The Ferrers were the lords of the borough of Callington from a charter granted in 1263. This same Reginald de Ferrers made the presentation to South Hill in 1270. Reginald married Margaret, the daughter of Henry Dennis of Pancrasweek. By this marriage Reginald acquired in 1291 control of Margery’s interest in the Devon manor of Manaton by settlement of her brother Robert le Dennis. Greator Manaton was held of the sub-manor of Pancrasweek of the head manor of Orleigh. It was likely during Reginald’s lifetime that the de Horton alias de Manaton male line expired at Manaton in Devon.
Among the sons of Reginald de Ferrers can be distinguished one at Bere Ferrers, the eldest line, and one at Callington. Reginald’s younger son Nicholas de Ferrers was pardoned in 1306 for acquiring, in fee simple, from his father, a messuage, a mill, 300 acres of heath, and 50s rent in Calyton [Callington], and the advowson of the church of Suthhynle [South Hill], co. Cornwall, held in chief. During the lifetime of Nicholas, Adam Manaton, heir to Thomas Manaton, was enfeoffed by Nicholas de Ferrers of certain land in Callington. The Manatons would remain vassals of the Ferrers until about 1400 when this line of the Ferrers became extinct.
Two other noteworthy observations about the influence of the Ferrers family on the Manatons. The barton of Manaton manor, Lower and Higher Manaton, are tenements within the Duchy manor of Climsland, but these lands were annexed into the parish boundaries of South Hill rather than Stoke Climsland. If the boundaries were set in the 13th century or late 14th century when the Ferrers were acting as patrons of St. Sampson’s this might have occurred under their influence.
During the time when families were adopting their coats of arms, the line of the Ferrers founded by Reginald gave for theirs argent on a bend sable, three horse shoes. The Manatons adopted for theirs argent on a bend sable three mullets. The mullet was a representation of the spur. Perhaps the similarities in colours and equestrian allusion are merely coincidence or maybe they are more than that.
Ilbert de Manaton married a daughter of the Carminow family
Sir Roger de Carminow (d. 1308) married Joan Dinham and has issue Sir Oliver de Carminow, son and heir, and Matilda de Carminow. These siblings also married siblings from the Ferrers family: Isolde de Ferrers married Sir Oliver and Matilda married Sir William de Ferrers (d. 1306). A probable chronology places Ilbert de Manaton and his Carminow wife, in this generation.
The family relations between the crusaders were solidified by the marriage of their offspring. If two siblings from one family marry with two siblings from another family then their offspring share all four of their grandparents in common and one hundred percent of their ancestors. They are first cousins, but twice, or double cousins. Double first cousins share their most recent grandparents and have strong connections to both sides of the family.
In 1328, Sir Oliver Carminow, exercised the right of presentation for Southill. There is a suggestion then that Nicholas de Ferrers had died prior to 1328 and his son John was in minority. John’s date of birth may have been about 1314. Sir Oliver would have been great uncle to John de Ferrers.
Sir Oliver de Carminow was married first to Elizabeth Pomeroy, by whom he had issue, and their descendants became extinct in the heiress who married Arundell and Trevarthian. By his second wife, Isolde, there were also two daughters and coheiresses to the families of Petyt and Berkeley.
The family of Carminow is recorded in Cornwall at least by the 12th century, inheriting the manors of Tintagel and Hornicot by marriage, and possessing an estate of ten manors and the advowsons of Ladock, Boconnoc and Menheniot in Cornwall and attaining prominence in the second decade of the 14th century.
Adam de Manaton married a daughter of the Roscarrock family
During the lifetime of Nicholas de Ferrers, Adam Manaton, heir to Thomas Manaton, was enfeoffed by Nicholas of certain land in Callington. In 1337, the Duchy of Cornwall was created for the Black Prince. Adam de Manaton was recorded for the manor of Climsland. In the 1347 assession of Climsland Manor Adam took lands in Horledon as a conventionary tenant. Adam probably died in the years between the manorial assessions at Climsland in 1371 and 1385. Adam Manaton might have been cousin to Sir Oliver Carminow. And, the Ferrers were the in-laws to Adam’s Carminow cousins.
William Manaton married a daughter of the Champernowne family
He would have been born by at least 1364, as William took lands at Horledon in 1385 in Climsland Manor.
William Manaton, son of Adam, married a daughter of the Champernowne family. William would then have been second cousin to Sir John de Ferrers. William’s wife was likely the daughter of John Champernowne who was the son of William Champernowne (d.1304). The sister of Reginald de Ferrers, Joan, married William Champernowne (d. 1304). William Champernowne was of Ilfracombe & Warcombe, Devon and Otterham and Tywardreath, Cornwall. William Champernowne was the son of Sir Henry Champernowne, son of Ela Cardinan.
The land in the tenure of the Manatons in Beer Ferris may have come through this marriage to a Champernowne heiress who was grandaughter to Joan Ferrers, daughter of Reginal Ferrers of Beer Ferrers.
