Thrale history

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Richard the elder had also had a daughter however who had pre-deceased him in 1653. This was Rose Thrale who had married William Hill of Watford at Harpenden in 1649. Steele who visited Sandridge in 1715 stated that she was laid at rest near the chancel rails of St. Leonards. Rose's brother Richard had married a kinswoman Susan Thrale in 1650 at Watford, probably from the home of his sister, and although we know Susan died in 1675 we do not know from what branch of the family she came. The same year Richard's daughter Susan died, and it is very likely that the poor mother died in childbirth.⁶ Also like his father he had to give evidence about the Farmhouse of Berrysted of Sandridge when he was 'thirty years and upwards' in 1657.⁷ He stated that the farm buildings were not in good repair and that it would cost £20 to make them wind and water-tight: that the tenant of the farm had not felled any trees and that Richard Jennings received the rents of the farm and lands late in the occupation of himself and his late father. For some reason the word 'late' was then crossed out.

It is worthy of note at this point to record the future destiny of Sandridgebury. It still remains as charming a Georgian country residence. In 1951 the Earl Spencer of Althorp offered the estate for sale by auction which included the house, Bury Farm and five enclosures of arable land. It then became Aylesford House School, which had moved from the London Road in St. Albans. Later Aylesford House was absorbed by Hardenwick School, and two generations of Thrale children attended both the London Road and Sandridgebury establishments. When Richard died in 1690 he left a large family and a substantial estate. His will⁸ described him as Richard Thrale the elder of Marshalswick for his eldest son was Richard likewise. When he came to Marshalswick is not known, but he like his grandfather left a legacy to the poor of the parish. One son William received £400 and the bedstead in the chamber called the Maids Chamber, two feather beds, two feather boulsters, one cover lid, two blankets, one flock bed, six pairs of sheets, his mother's coffer, the long table and from the kitchen, the form, four joint stools, and other items. Another son John received similar articles which were at the house of yet another son Thomas, and exactly the same sort of items were left to yet another son Ralph. The remainder of the estate went to the eldest son Richard.

Of these five sons, all lived to full maturity. Richard carried on the Marshalswick branch for another two generations, and Marshalswick itself both its house farm and estate will be the subject of greater detail

Footnotes

6. Gough Herts M.S.S. 8 Bodlein Library c. 1700.↩︎
7. Chancery Proceedings C23/811.↩︎
8. Archd. St. Albans Reg. Eling fo. 42.↩︎