English: 1581 benchends in the Stafford Chapel (south aisle) of Dolton Church, Devon, commissioned by John Stafford (d.1599) of Stafford in the parish of Dolton. The northernmost (left-most) displays on an escutcheon the arms of Stafford (Argent, two grozing irons in saltire sable between four Kelway pears proper) between the date "1581" in chief and the initials "IS" (Latin: "Iohannes/Johannes Stafford") in base. The middle one shows the arms of Stafford (unusually shown twice in pale, unheraldic usage, not quartering) impaling Copplestone (Argent, a chevron engrailed gules between three leopard's faces azure), with chevron charged with cadency mark of a mullet to denote a third son. The right-most shield shows Stafford (again twice) impaling Prouse (Sable, three lions rampant argent). These represent heraldically the marriages of some of John Stafford's ancestors. His great-grandfather was Thomas Stafford/Stowford alias Kelloway (d.1502/3) of Stafford, who married Anne Coplestone, 3rd daughter of Thomas Coplestone of Luccombe, Somerset, younger brother of John Coplestone (d.1433) of Coplestone, Devon. (The Kelloway family of Stafford changed their surname to Stafford) His great-great-great-great grandfather was Thomas Kelloway who married the daughter of .... Prouse, and heiress of her brother Hugh Prouse of Gatcombe, ( ? in the parish of Collyton ?), Devon. (Source: Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, pp.510, pedigree of Kelloway; p712, pedigree of Stowford; p.224, pedigree of Coplestone). Below the arms are Renaissance grottoesque motifs with human and animal heads. The benches to which these bench-ends are affixed were originally the "squire's pew" (or "manorial pew") a private area where the most important family of the parish sat, with their household servants. The manor of Dolton was however never owned by the Stafford family, but by non-resident lords of the manor. The benches are today located against the east wall of the Stafford Chapel (south aisle chapel), on the floor of which survive three inscribed ledger-stones of the Stafford family, including that of John Stafford himself (whose stone is inscribed: "Here lieth the body of John Stafford ,Esquier, who dyed the xxii^th (sic) of J.... (Anno) Dom 1599. As you are so were wee, as wee bee so shall ye: erth. Sic transit gloria mundi") and that of his wife Margery Arscott (d.1589) (whose ledger stone is inscribed: Here lyes the body of Margery, daughter to John Arscott (of) Dunsland & wife to John Stafford of Stafford Esquier. Shee d(ye)d the xvii^th of March 1589. Disce quid es, q(uid er)is ("learn what you are, what you will become")) This is not the original position of the benches as an altar used to exist against this wall, as is evidenced by a piscina surviving in the wall. (See: Wadland, Shane, St Edmund's Church, Dolton, Devonshire, 2004 Edition, p.12 (Church guide booklet)