He was the eldest son and heir of Sir Edward Bampfield of Poltimore by his wife Elizabeth Wadham, the widow of John Warre of Chipleigh, second son of Sir Richard Warre of Hestercombe, and a daughter of Sir Nicholas Wadham of Merryfield, Ilton in Somerset and of Edge, Branscombe in Devon. The Bampfield family had been seated at Poltimore since the 13th century.
Career
Bampfield's father died when he was two years of age, and the 18th-century genealogist Thomas Wotton related this tradition about his childhood: However, the editor of the 1771 edition of Wotton's genealogy added "Having received no account from the family, concerning this particular, I do not presume to give it as authentic."
Giles Bampfield, eldest son and heir apparent, who died childless during his father's lifetime on a voyage to Ireland.
Sir Amyas Bampfylde, second and eldest surviving son and heir, of Poltimore and North Molton, Devon. He was Member of Parliament for Devon in 1597, Sheriff of Devon from 1603 to 1604 and a Deputy Lieutenant in 1616. In 1576 he married Elizabeth Clifton, daughter of Sir John Clifton of Barrington Court, Somerset. His monument and effigy survive in North Molton Church. He is the ancestor of the Bampfylde Baronets and Barons Poltimore.
Richard Bampfield, third son.
Daughters
Elizabeth Bampfield, eldest daughter, who married George Cary of Clovelly, Devon, Sheriff of Devon in 1587. Without children.
Ursula Bampfield, third daughter, wife of Sir Thomas Fulford of Great Fulford, Dunsford, Devon. Her effigy with that of her husband survive in Dunsford Church.
Susanna Bampfield, fourth daughter, wife firstly of John Hays of Myll in Witheridge and secondly of Simcock.
Gertrude Bampfield, sixth daughter, wife of Henry Hurding of Long Bredy, Dorset, by whom she had two daughters, including Elizabeth Hurding who married firstly John Coffin, of Portledge, lord of the manors of Alwington and Monkleigh, and secondly Hugh Prust of Annery, Monkleigh. She is depicted on her husband's surviving mural monument in Monkleigh Church, Devon, etched as a kneeling lady with four kneeling girls behind, on a slate tablet inscribed:
Anna Bampfield, seventh daughter, wife firstly of Christopher Morgan of Maperton, Berkshire, secondly a member of the Luttrell family.
Katherin Bampfield, eighth daughter, unmarried.
Margaret Bampfield, ninth daughter, wife of William Lacy of Hartrow, Somerset.
Heraldry of female descendants
On the cornice of the monument to Richard Bampfield in Poltimore Church, are displayed 8 painted escutcheons depicting the arms of 5 of his sons-in-law, each impaling Bampfield, and 3 sons-in-law of his son and heir Sir Amias Bampfylde, each impaling Bampfield. Left to right on cornice:
1:Fulford of Great Fulford: Gules, a chevron argent
2:Argent, a bend sable
3:Gules, two bars wavy ermine
4:Argent, on a chevron azure three roses of the field
5:Cary of Clovelly: Argent, on a bend sable three roses of the field
6:Dodderidge of Bremridge : Argent, two pales wavy azure between nine cross croslets gules
7:Hancock of Combe Martin : Gules, on a chief argent three cocks of the field.
8:Drake of Buckland Abbey : Sable, a fess wavy between two pole-stars Arctic and Antarctic argent
Monument in Poltimore Church
Richard Bampfield's monument, erected in 1604 by his son Amias Bampfield, survives in the south transept of Poltimore Church. It comprises two recumbent stone effigies, of Richard Bampfield and his wife, under a low canopy supported by arched openings and columns. A view of the monument is obstructed by pews in front and by the balcony above forming the manorial pew of the Bampfield family. The 8 painted escutcheons on the cornice depict the arms of 5 of his 8 sons-in-law, each impaling Bampfield, and the 3 sons-in-law of his son and heir Sir Amias Bampfylde, each impaling Bampfield.
