Thrale history

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£50 a year that won't let for £20!' Such a lament has echoes through the centuries to our own times.

For the branch of the family being discussed, the manorial roll details are very full and provides much of the following chronicle. Thomas Thrale, after the debacle at Cell Barnes, went to Sandridge Street Farm and died there in 1736. He had married Anne Goldsmith, and in 1728 Anne and her sister Mary Deamer, were admitted to a cottage called a Well in Sandridge as co-heirs of Soloman Goldsmith. Ten years later, Richard Thrale, eldest son of Anne, inherited this property in Sandridge Street, Richard being by that time of Childwickbury. Four years previously to this Richard of Childwickbury had been admitted to the Farm House in Sandridge Street and to Butt Field, Dell Field, Hether Butt Field and Bentsley Field by the will of his father Thomas, who had been the son of Richard Thrale of Sandridge. The will was produced at the Court Baron of Sarah Duchess Dowager of Marlborough, and it was declared that Thomas had been liable and settled a heriot; his son Richard paid the Lady of the Manor £43. 5.0. for admittance.

Examination of the will of Thomas¹⁴ confirms the foregoing and in addition shows that Richard's brother William had five children. These children received £10 each, and there was a charge on Sandridge Street Farm so that Richard had to assist with the education of his nephews. William also received all stock in husbandry including corn, grain, cattle, waggons and carts, household goods and furniture. A further charge was made for a bond of £60 which had been made with Mrs. Wethered on Richard's behalf by Thomas: Richard was to repay this and the money directed to William. Thomas's daughter Anne received a ring, and her husband Francis Howe whom she had married in 1722 at Abbots Langlie were absolved from all debts.

In a most interesting series of reports by Mr. Feeling, who was Steward to Duchess Sarah, details of Thomas's heriot are given. Intermingled with these details are references to the family farming Marshalswick, which has just been described. The reports were made in 1736, the year of Thomas's death, and on the 25th February it was reported that the sum of money Feeling received for the corn of Thomas Thrale that grew at Marshalswick was £120. On the 17th May Ralph Thrale was reported as promising to pay the last year's Tithe in a week's time, but on the 25th May it seems that Ralph could still not pay, but would be sure to pay two years tithe before he cut any of his corn. The 17th May letter also shows The following situation: 'The best that you gave me concerning the

Footnotes

14. Archd. St. Albans Reg. 1718-43 fo. 305.↩︎