John, William and Richard Sherman

Date of Brass:

1638

Place:

Ottery St Mary

County:

Devon

Country:

Number:

I

Style:

Marshall

Description

June 2025

The town of Ottery St Mary lies on the River Otter, a few miles from the coast, but the brass plates that make up this memorial to a father, son and grandson of the Sherman family were probably laid locally. Their effigies are in the style of Edward Marshall, the London tomb sculptor and engraver, but the usual black Belgian marble used at the time for inlaying brasses has been replaced by limestone. Whether the plates were sent from London to Devon by road or by sea is open to question. If by road, it echoes what was done in 1533-4 by Lady Lisle’s representatives when they sent the plates for the Bassett brass to Umberleigh, Devon by carrier. Umberleigh, however, is rather further inland than Ottery.

Above the heads of John and William are labels giving the years of their deaths, 1542 and 1583. That above Richard is lost, but would have read 1638. A rectangular plate between the heads of the two lower figures is lost. It perhaps showed the arms of Sherman.

The Shermans of Ottery were connected to the Shermans of Yaxley, Suffolk. The heraldic visitation of 1620 records that Robert Sherman of Yaxley married the daughter of William Sherman of Ottery St Mary, a dyer, and their son and heir, John, was born around 1460. (Robert had probably married a distant relative.) John had an eldest son of the same name who died without children and is the grandfather on the brass. His younger brother William, born around 1500, is the son on the brass. He acquired Knightstone in Ottery, probably in the 1550s. Richard, the grandson on the brass, was the son of William’s second wife Joan Malloch and was born in the 1550s.

It was Richard's older half-brother John who inherited Knightstone. He died in 1617 and has a memorial on the wall of the south-east chapel of Ottery St Mary, close to the brass. 

Beneath the figures on the brass is a large plate with an Latin inscription in Roman capitals. The transcription and translation are those of W.H.H. Rogers:

Aeternae Memoriae

Joannis Sherman, generosi, Guilielmi filij eivs,
et Richardi nepotis qui ex ipsorum voto, vna requiescunt.
Tres tegit hoc vnum marmor : virtutibus omnes,
Vt tumulo, meritis, sangvine, lavde pares.
Hic pater, hic natusq', neposq', propagine clara
Shermanni, Ottræo nomina chara solo.
Sancta Dei cultu; curaq' celebria egenum,
Qveis pia subsidij hic munera in æva dabant.
Quilibet octo annos decies prope vixit, at avla
Vivit iam æterna spiritus orbe decus.
Hic una ex voto, recubant ; vna vnde resurgant,
Ac vna a Christo lavrea parta beet.

Translation :

To perpetuate the memory of John Sherman, gentleman, William his son and Richard (his) grandson, who by their own wish rest together.

This one monument covers the three, all equal as in (their) tomb (so) in virtues, worth, birth, aud praise.

This same father, son and grandson, of the renowned race of Sherman, (are) celebrated names in Ottery from (their) piety, and distinguished care of the destitute for whose assistance for ever they here bestowed pious gifts.

Each lived near eighty years, and now lives in the eternal mansions an ornament of the world of spirits.

Here together according to their wish they lie, hence together may they rise, and together be blessed with the crown promised by Christ (himself).

 

 

Copyright: Text and Photos: Jon Bayliss