Memorial monument to Mary Pole (nee Periam) (d. 1605) in St Andrew's church, Colyton.
The monument is to Mary Pole who died in 1605 aged only 38 and yet married for 22 years. She had 9 children, four sons and 5 daughters.
It depicts her kneeling behind her 4 surviving sons and in front of her 5 surviving daughters.
" Mary Poole formerly Periam aka Pole, Peryam, Periham
Born 30 Apr 1567 in Colcombe, Colyton, Devonshire, England
Daughter of William (Periam) Peryam and Anne (Parker) Periam
Sister of Elizabeth (Periam) Bassett, Jane (Periam) Docwra and Anne (Periam) Williams
Wife of William Poole MP — married 20 Jul 1583 in Shobrook, Devon,
Mother of John Pole, Mary (Pole) Courtenay, Katherine (Pole) Southcote, Elizabeth Pole, Anne (Poole) Walrond, Periam Pole, Arthur Pole, William Pole, Eleanor Pole and Francis Pole
Died 2 May 1605 at age 38 in Colcombe, Devon, England
Father Sir William Periam, Justice of the Common Pleas, Chief Baron of the Exchequer b. c 1534, d. 9 Oct 1604
Mother Anne Parker b. c 1541
Mary Periam was born on 30 April 1567 at Colcombe, Colyton, Devonshire, England.
She married Sir William "the Antiquary" Pole, Sheriff of Devonshire, Burgess of Bossiney, Justice of the Peace for Devonshire, son of William Pole, Esq., Burgess of Lyme Regis, Bridport, & West Looe and Katherine Popham, on 20 July 1583 at Shobrook, Devonshire, England.
They had 6 sons (William; John; Periam; Capt. William; Arthur; & Francis) and 5 daughters (Mary, wife of Nicholas Hurst, & Francis Courtenay; Katherine, wife of Thomas Southcott; Elizabeth; Anne, wife of Edward Walrod; & Eleanor, wife of Anthony Floyer).
Mary Periam died on 2 May 1605 at Colcombe, Devonshire, England, at age 38.
She was buried on 8 May 1605 at Shute, Devonshire, England."
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The inscription on the monument reads -
Heere lieth ye body of Mary late ye wife of Sr. Wm. Pole of Shute knig. beinge ye
eldest daughter & one of ye foure heires of Sr. W. Periham of Fulford knig. Lo.
Chief Barron of ye Kinge majesties Exchequer. She left behind her 4 son(n)es
& 5 daughters unto her saide husband viz John, Periham, Wil., & Franncis, son(n)es,
Mary, Katherine, Elizabeth, Ane & Elioner, daughters. She brought unto him
also 2 other son(n)es viz Wil., her first child & Arthur being on(e) of ye 3 son(n)es
wi.ch she brought at on(e) birth & perished by an unfortunat fall. She dyed
ye 2 of May in ye yeere of our Lord 1605 being then of th'age
of 38 & on(e) moneth & maried unto her husband 22
yeeres tenn monethes