John Sutton, whose seal is illustrated above, was a member of a family with a long association with Tintern de Voto, the earliest reference being 1231×1234 (Roger a freeholder) and the latest in the Extent of the abbey’s possessions taken in 1541 (William a lessee) following its dissolution in 1536.

The seal depicts a figure of the Virgin Mary holding the Child and bears the legend,

S[I]GILL … [ . COM] VNE MON[ASTE]RI DE- TYTO.

The seal is recorded as number 17388 and dated 1494 by W. de G. Birch as the Common Seal used by Abbot John Sotoun (Sutton) and is described as:

‘Red : injured by pressure, edge imperfect. About if in. when perfect. [Add. ch. 15,426.] A half-length representation of the Virgin Mary and Child within a niche with trefoiled canopy and ogee arch. In an oval niche in base the abbot with crozier, lifting-up his hands in adoration. Backgrounds diapered lozengy, with a small quatrefoil in each interstitial space. Within a six-foil panel, ornamented along the inner edge with small quatrefoils; a detail which is also introduced on the inner edges of the niches and on the cushion on which the Virgin is set’.

The ‘style of the decoration and the use of Lombardic lettering suggest a much earlier date for the manufacture of the seal and indicates that this seal was in use for a very long time’.¹

The text of the original document confirming the date and seal along with an image of part of it can be found in Philip Herbert Hore’s ‘The History of the Town and County of Wexford, v.2’ (London E Stock, 1902). pp.68-71

¹ W. de G. Birch, Catalogue of Seals in the Department of Manuscripts in the British Museum (Vol. IV, London, 1895), p. 718 No. 17, 388, Pi. XII.