Sir John d'Abernon

from

http://www.elmbridgemuseum.org.uk/e-museum/?document=100.040.010

Sir John D'Abernon Notes on the D'Abernon family from the museum's archive.

The D'Abernons came to England as knights retainers to the Clare family, who served William the Conqueror. For their part in the Conquest the Clares were given lands in Surrey and Sussex some of which they passed on to their followers. At first the D'Abernons had two manors, one in Molesey and one in Albury. Later they acquired the Manor of Stoke and went to live there, giving it the name of Stoke D'Abernon.

Three knights all called John D'Abernon, are buried in Stoke D'Abernon Church which was partly rebuilt when the first Sir John died in 1277. His son, Sir John died in 1327 and the third Sir John, son and grandson to the other two, died in 1350. Originally they all had brass portrait plates over their graves but the brass of the third Sir John is now missing.

This model is of the second Sir John and he is dressed in the clothes he would have worn at home. Over a linen shirt he wears tights and two tunics all made of wool. The under tunic has very long sleeves that wrinkle over the arms for extra warmth. This tunic shows below the over tunic which is sleeveless and has bands of embroidery at neck, armholes and hem. His shoes are also embroidered.

When Sir John is dressed in his armour he will look like his portrait in the Church. Over his shirt he wears a "Hawberk", a leather tunic covered with rows of small pieces of metal. His stockings, with feet, are also made of leather with similar metal strips and he wears "Demi-plates" of metal on the fronts of his legs and sides of his arms. Over this is another sleeveless tunic called a "Cyclas". This is split up the sides and is shorter in front so that the long back part spreads out over his horse’s back when riding.

There are no gloves on the church brass, but when he was fighting Sir John would have worn leather and metal gloves to match his footwear.

On his head Sir John wears a leather hood set with metal strips and a metal helmet called a "Bascinet". The Shield is made of metal and would have been enamelled in dark blue with a gold chevron.

=========================

Stoke D?Abernon, Surrey: Only brass of a knight with a lance. Has coloured enamel shield

Marriage 1 Maude Gifford b: in Clovelly, Devon.

Children

1. William D'abernon d 1358. Married Elizabeth Uvedale

Links

• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=ancestors...