Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Bampfield, Coplestone
BAMPFIELD, Sir COPLESTONE (1636–1691), the eldest son of Sir John Bampfield (created baronet in 1641), of Poltimore, Devon, was born at that place in 1636. He was sent to Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and distinguished himself, according to Prince in his 'Worthies of Devon,' by his 'splendid way of living,' and by his munificent present of plate. On settling in his native county he took an active part in promoting the restoration of Charles II. When the gentlemen of Devon met at Exeter in 1659 and declared for a free parliament, Sir Coplestone Bampfield was one of the number. When Monk advanced into England with his army, Sir Coplestone presented to him a petition for right on behalf of the county, and for this action was confined to the Tower for a short time. In the parliament summoned for 27 Jan. 1659, he was member for Tiverton; and from 1671 to 1679, and from 1685 to 1687, he sat for his native county. He was one of the twenty-seven Devonshire justices who determined, in 1681, to put the laws in execution against all dissenters, and next year he joined with those who expressed their desire to harass the dissenting ministers in boroughs. Under James II he was ejected from the commission of the peace, but he was so dissatisfied with the succeeding government that he refused the payment of any new-made rates and taxes, and they were levied on his goods. He died at Warlegh, not far from Plymouth, in 1691, and was buried at Poltimore. His first wife was Margaret, daughter of F. Bulkeley, of Burgate, Hampshire; his second wife was Jane, daughter of Sir Courtenay Pole. His grandson succeeded him in the baronetcy. The family name is now spelt 'Bampfylde,' and his descendant, Sir George Warwick Bampfylde, was in 1831 created Baron Poltimore.
[Prince's Worthies, pp. 121–5; Burke's Peerage; Hamilton's Quarter Sessions, Elizabeth to Anne, pp. 185, 191.]