Frances BLOMFIELD (BLOMEVIL) [3018]

  General Notes:

Frances's (Lady Temple) Will was proved 9 Aug 1646 (copy on file)., The Visitations of Bedfordshire of 1566, 1582 and 1636 say - Frances, daughter of (Simon) Blunvillal's Blomfiled of (Monks Illey) in Suffolk now the relict of Sir John Temple of Stannton co. Bucks. Knight.
She is commemorated with a marble monument on the North side of the Chancel of Odell Church BDF, which is inscribed: "Here lies interred Francis the wife of Tho Alston of Polstead. Gent. who was buried at Newton in the said County by whom she had issue four sons William Thomas Edward and John and one daughter Francis She was after married to Sir John Temple of Stanton in the County of Bucks being daughter of Simon Blomfield She died Sept xi 1644".

"The History of the Parish of Bildeston in the County of Suffolk; with pedegrees and genealogical notices of the families of Alston et al" by GROWSE, Frederic Salmon. Private, 1892. 942.64BIL
Under BLOMFIELD page 45/6, It say that Frances Blomfield was born in 1612, which conflicts with her marriage date of 1606 which is clearly in the Newton Register although she is spelt Blumfield. She was baptised at Coddenham, 8th September 1612 - This requires ratification.

Their Arms: Quarterly per fess indented argent and azure, a bend gules

A Suffolk Family by Reginald Blomfield R.A. includes pedegree's from the Tanner MSS - photograhed 2003
Ref Ips R O QS 929.2 BLO.

EARL OF PETERBOROUGH (sic) v. ALSTON.
Answers, 1649 and 1650, of Sir Thomas Alston, bart., and of Edward Alston, Doctor in Physic, William Blomefeild and Joseph Alston, esquires, to the complaint of Elizabeth, countess dowager of Peterborough.
All the defendants believe their names are used as trustees of the manor of Grafton for Lady Temple and the Viscountess Monson. In 1639 or 1640 Sir Thomas received a certain sum of money on behalf of Lady Temple, but knows not what other money she has received or ought to receive from the Earl of Peterborough, etc etc.
Whittington, 2. 1649/50
Alstoniana Pg 199


The Manor of Mount Bures ESS was alienated by Richard Weston Esq. to Lady Temple who granted it to her son by her first husband Edward Alston Esq. (sic) it afterwards passed to George Creffener.
Ref: History of the County of Essex. Rev P Morant Vol II ERO

Manor of Bures:
1614 Richard Weston inherited who sold to Frances Alston of Polsted to hold in trust under the Will of her husband Thomas Alston for their sons William and Edward.
In 1639 Frances by then the widow of Sir John Temple released the manor to the surviving son Edward who in 1657 sold it to John Wiseman. (His son-in-law [3083] ?)
Victoria History of Essex Pg 71

Manor of Gernons (Garnons)
Part the Barony of Stisted Mount Fichet.
. . . . . 1623 Humphry Winch sold to Francis Alston of Polsted who passed same on to her son Thomas, he to William Hale before 1685.
Victoria History of Essex Pg 300

Essex Record Office D/DMh/T36
MAJENDIE FAMILY OF CASTLE HEDINGHAM
Dates of Creation 1621/2
Scope and Content Deed of messuage lately sold by Peter Greene to Richard Ward sen. decd., in occupation of [blank] OnterDeboys, Colchester Inc. assignment of judgement from Francis Alston, widow, re property of Peter Greene inc. tenement in Colchester.
Placement uncertain ELF 2004.

Temple Dame Frances of Gt Woodhull alias Odell Beds. widow Will (182 Fines) pr Aug 9th by son John Alston P.r. son Edward Alston.
Probate Acts 1647.

  Research Notes:

IGI shows the marriage 8 Sept 1612 Coddenham and 12 May 1626 Polstead!

See also John Alston [842]

The manor of MOUNT BURES was an estate of 1 hide held in 1066 by Ulmer and in 1086 by Roger of Poitou, lord of the honor of Lancaster. (fn. 28) The descent of the overlord ship, which was recorded until 1488, was the same as that of Bergholt Sackville manor, West Bergholt. (fn. 29)

Manor of Mt Bures
By 1119 the demesne tenancy was held by Robert Sackville, and subsequently descended with that of Bergholt Sackville until 1614 when Richard Weston inherited it. (fn. 30) Richard sold it to Frances Alston of Polstead (Suff.), to hold in trust under the will of her husband, Thomas Alston, for their sons William and Edward. In 1639, Frances, by then the widow of Sir John Temple, released the manor to the surviving son, Edward Alston. Edward sold the manor in 1657 to Richard Wiseman of Torrells Hall, who sold it in 1662 to John Cressener (d. 1696), a wealthy London grocer and brother of George Cressener of Earls Colne. (fn. 31) John was succeeded by his eldest son Edward and then by his second son and fellow grocer George Cressener (d. 1722), who left it to his son, Edward (fn. 32) (d. 1733 or 1734) of Hamburg, a merchant. Edward's widow Mary married Stephen Wolfenden, another merchant of Hamburg. Following Mary's successful defence of a suit against Edward's brother, George, (fn. 33) the Wolfendens sold the manor in 1750 to John Hanbury. He was succeeded by his son Osgood Hanbury, and then by Osgood's son, Osgood, who sold it in 1790 to Abraham Newman. Newman's father Thomas had been the tenant of the demesne farm since 1733. Abraham (d. 1798) was succeeded by his daughter Anne (d. 1829), wife of George Caswell, from whom the manor passed in 1830 to their daughter, Maria, who married Maj. Gen. James Bourchier. Their son Charles Bourchier inherited the manor in 1862 and divided the lands into four lots which he sold in 1863. The lordship was sold separately and in 1996 was held by a local person. (fn. 34)

The manor house, The Hall, has a low building at the north-west corner which was probably the 16th-century service range to a hall which lay to its north. A large red brick house was built to the south and east in the earlier 19th century and there is a late 19th-century block on the presumed site of the hall. The garden is now to the south and east, but a platform to the west of the house and church may have been the early hall garden, mentioned in 1506. (fn. 35) That perhaps served the early house whose main fronts pre- sumably faced east and west.
Ref: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=15162&strquery=John%20Alston

Manor of Wormingford.
The manor descended with Little Horkesley until 1623 when Humphrey Winch, one of the justices of common pleas, (fn. 26) sold it to Frances Alston of Polstead (Suff.), from whom it passed to her son Thomas Alston. (fn. 27) William Hale of King's Walden (Herts.) acquired it before 1685, (fn. 28) and c. 1690 sold it to the Drye family of Milton (Northants.). (fn. 29) In 1791 George Nottidge bought it (then described as a farm called Garners). (fn. 30) He or another George Nottidge died in 1855 and it remained in his family until 1884 when James Inglis bought the estate, no longer described as a manor. (fn. 31)
Ref: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=15290&strquery=John%20Alston

  Other Records

1. Frances Temple Dame: Will, 3 Aug 1642, Gt Wodhull BDF.
Will Dame Frances Temple. Pg.282 Probate Acts PCC 1645-49. NZSOG.
PROB 11/201 9 Aug 1647

Frances Temple: Will, 1642, Great Wodhull, Bedford
THE WILL of DAME FRANCES TEMPLE of GREAT WODHULL
Dated 3 August 1642
The Will of Dame Frances Temple 3rd of August 1642 of Great Wodhull (alias Odell) co. Bedford widow (dioc. of Lincoln).

I desire to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors.

The right honorable John Carle of Peterburgh by indenture dated 4th of November 1642 hath demised, granted, bargained, and sold to me the manor of Grafton alias Grafton Underwood with the appurtenances in co. North. excepting the advowson of the church and parsonage of Grafton aforesaid for the term of 99 years from the last feast of Saint Michael the Archangel before the above date, which interest and term of and in the said manor and premises I have by my deed indented dated the first day of this month of August for and in satisfaction of £4,320 granted and assigned unto Frances Alston my daughter for all the residue of the said 99 years therein then and yet to come.

I do hereby ratify and confirm the said premises to my said daughter Frances Alston accordingly.

And whereas the said Carle hath after the said grant by him to me of the said manor and premises as aforesaid made, conveyed, and assured the reversion and inheritance of the said manor and premises unto two of my sons Edward Alston and John Alston and their heirs which said assurance was taken in the names of the said Edward Alston and John Alston of and upon trust for my benefit.

I do hereby will, devise, and declare that the said Edward Alston and John Alston and their heirs do and shall at the request and charge of the said Frances my daughter her heirs or assigns grant and convey the said reversion and inheritance of the said manor and premises unto such person or persons and their heirs as Frances my daughter shall nominate, appoint, and require for and to her benefit, for my meaning is that she shall have the benefit of the said reversion.

I give and bequeath to my daughter Frances £2,700 to be paid to her by my executors within six months after my death, upon condition and trust that she, within one month next after reasonable request be made to her, make, seal, and deliver to my executors a good and sufficient release in the law for her right, claim, interest, and demand in and unto any part of the estate of Thomas Alston Gent. her father deceased or the estate of William Alston my eldest son late deceased or my estate and of and from all actions and demands either in law or equity against my executors for any matter or thing concerning any part of her father's estate or my son William's estate or my estate so as such release extend not to discharge or release any legacy hereby given or intended to her or any debts owing or that then shall be owing to her or any security given for the same.

Item I give to my son Sir Thomas Alston all the furniture which shall be in the chamber called the matted chamber where he currently lodges.

Item I give and bequeath to Edmond Temple and Purbeck Temple two of John Temple's sons respectively my late husband deceased £200 to be paid to them each within one year after they shall each attain the age of twenty-one. If either or both shall die before that time, then I give and bequeath the £400 in equal amounts to the living children of Sir John Temple.

Item I give and bequeath unto my kinswomen and servants Anna Alstone and Frances Parke £40 each to be paid within one year of my death.

Item I give and bequeath unto my kinsman John Blomefeild son of Symon Blomfeild late of Codenham Gent. deceased £20 to be paid to him within one year after he shall attain the age of twenty-one.

Item I give and bequeath £10 unto the poor of Odell, £5 unto the poor of Steventon, and £5 unto the poor of Pavenham.

Item I do will and appoint that my executors do and shall within convenient time after my death erect or cause at their charge to be erected and set up in some convenient place within the chancel of the church of Great Wodhull a decent monument for a memorial of my son William Alston deceased whereupon shall be expended £100 at least.

And I do hereby will and declare that all such legacies and sums of money which are herein by me given or mentioned in any codicil to be annexed shall be duly paid, delivered, and performed by my executors out of my personal estate.

And I do hereby revoke all former Wills by me made, and do hereby make and appoint my sons Edward Alston and John Alston my executors of this my last Will and testament after my funeral is performed and all my debts and legacies paid and discharged.

I give and devise to my sons Edward and John all the rest and residue of all my goods and chattels and other personal estate whatsoever to be equally divided between them. And my will is that such monies together with the damages and forbearance thereof which are due to me upon any leases, bonds, bills, etc. or other securities taken in my name or any other name for the payment of any sum unto me or for my use are by me reputed and accounted.

And I desire and direct that the same shall be reputed and accounted and to be part of my personal estate and subject and liable to this my Will.

Item I do give and bequeath unto Sir Thomas Alston my son all the hangings, tables, carpets, etc. and other furniture of the great dining room in my dwelling house of Great Woodhull alias Odell.

Item I give and devise to Edward Alston, his heirs and assigns, all my lands and tenements of inheritance and fee simple as well as of leasehold in Carsey alias Kersey and Linsey or in any other town adjoining in the co. of Suffolk.

Item my meaning is that my executors shall not have to meddle with the lease or premises of Grafton but that the same shall go to my daughter Frances.

In witness whereof I have signed, sealed, and published the date first above written,
Frances Temple.

Signed, sealed, and published by Dame Frances Temple as her last Will and testament
in our presence:

William Melestone
Henry Neg
Simon Woodfeild
Richard Fisher
Walter Watson

Memorandum that I Frances Lady Temple, by the above written date, do add this codicil to my last Will and testament.
I have given by my said last Will to my daughter Frances Alston £2,700 (payable six months after my death) and the manor of Coraston - this is to stand firm - and my further Will to add to this is that my executors shall pay her £1,000 more of current money within two months after my death to increase her portion.

Where I have given by my last Will to my sons-in-law Edmond Temple and Purbeck Temple £400 (£200 each), I have already paid £150 to Edmond and £100 to Purbeck which is to be deducted respectively from the said legacies.

September 10th 1644, witnesses hereunto:

Margaret Duckod
Frances Parker
Mary Stoakes
L. Maidwell

So that my Will is that my daughter Frances Alstone shall have £9,000 in the
whole.

L. Maydwell
John Waine
Anne Maidwell

Transcribed and summarised by C. L. O'Sullivan, 28.09.2022

Frances married Thomas ALSTON of Gedding Hall Polsted [3017] [MRIN: 1015], son of William ALSTON of Siam Hall and Sible Hedingham ESS [2813] and Margery HOLMSTEAD [2815], on 28 Apr 1606 in Newton SFK. (Thomas ALSTON of Gedding Hall Polsted [3017] was baptised on 16 Nov 1572 in Newton Nr Sudbury SFK, died on 21 Jan 1619/20 in Newton Nr Sudbury SFK and was buried on 25 Jan 1619/20 in Newton Nr Sudbury SFK.)

Frances next married Sir John TEMPLE of Biddlesden BKM [3093] [MRIN: 1016], son of Sir Thomas TEMPLE 1st Bart. of Stowe. [10032] and Hester SANDYS [10033], on 16 Feb 1625/26 in Polstead SFK. (Sir John TEMPLE of Biddlesden BKM [3093] was baptised on 10 Nov 1593 in Stowe BKM, died on 23 Sep 1632 in Stowe BKM and was buried in Stantonbury BKM.)