Thrale history

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succeeded Stephen Gosson, Vicar of Sandridge from 1586 to 1592, and well-known as a writer and in particular for his pamphlet The Schools of Abuse, containing a pleasant invective against Poets, Pipers, Plaiers, Jesters, and such Caterpillars of a Commonwealth'. Gosson was quickly followed by William, brother of John Westerman, schoolmaster of St. Albans. When chosen for Sandridge he was not even ordained, but was made a deacon, instituted to Sandridge and ordained priest, all within thirty-three days. In 1593 it was reported that the vicar is of good learning: he hath served the cure in his own person and preacheth there and catechizeth diligently ever since his induction: of good life and con-versation: never detected of any notorious crime'. As the country was still under arms, Mr. Westerman followed the custom of his predecessor in providing a calyver for the home guard. In 1595 this weapon was not in use, as no one could be found to fire it. The same year the vicar provided a piece of armour called a corslet, Mr. Westerman received a certain amount of fame for his sermons at London, his sermons being published in 1608.⁴ John Thrale, the son of John of Fairfolds, had held Sleapside, actually in the parish of St. Peters, and although at the time of his death in 1609 he left a young family,⁵ no further descent can be traced.

Other brothers of Thomas of Sandridgebury were Alban Thrale and William Thrale. The former shared Sandridgebury with his brother and his last testament indicates relationships with the Roberts, Clarke and Grunwyn families. One Grunwyn left his son three acres formerly of Robert Thrale called Phillipsmith land lying in Tolman Brache as shown in a court roll of 1607. Many of Alban's legacies were in the form of ewe sheep, and Westerman is shown as a witness.⁶ The other brother William Thrale was generous to his nephews, and left to Thomas 'the Read Lyon over agaynst the Crosse, and the other house called the Pecocke situate in the Town of St. Albans'. Both these public houses, although not in original form, still exist, one in the Verulam Road and the other in Hatfield Road. Another nephew Ralph received Batchwood 'conteyninge fower score and eleven acres in the parish of St. Michaels', these ninety one acres now being part of the municipal golf course. His loving friend was William Grunwyn, a family at least twice inter-married with the Thrales, and a witness was Stephen Gosson.⁶

The family of Thomas Thrale of Sandridgebury was important in that one son Ralph was the first to hold No Mans Land, and from another son John the branches at Marshalswick, Streatham, and present-day St. Albans were to stem. Their father had died in 1603, and careful

Footnotes

4. Historic Sandridge E. Giles, R.W. Thrale.↩︎
5. Archd. St. Albans Reg. Clapton fo. 262.↩︎
6. P.C.C. 31 Harrington.↩︎