Thomas Rowley's Sale of Land to
Burwood Park
A lot of links in this
page were dodgy by 2024 but I have left them in as starting
points if you wander this way
Les Rowley
Meaghan Bare found a reference
in
the Surrey Archives to a land sale by Thomas Rowley to
Burwood Park, and wondered if it was our Thomas. The Surrey
Archives provided copies, and a summary follows.
Part of the collection THE
FREDERICK FAMILY OF BURWOOD PARK, WALTON ON THAMES: DEEDS AND
PAPERS, 1558-1913,
held at Surrey History Centre
Land bought from Joshua ROWLEY 183/8 [n.d.]
(1) Pedigree; Title of Thos. Rowley to
estates in Hersham 183/8/1 nd
[1769]
Firstly a
little family tree
William Hatfield
Son Edward
Daughter Ann Married Erasmus
Saunders
Son
Hatfield Saunders
Daughter Eliza (or Eliz A?) married William
Rowley
Son Thomas Rowley,
living in 1769
!725 land (10 Acres) passes from Edward to Erasmus and Ann
1759 Erasmus dies without descendants, and land passes to Thomas
Rowley, eldes son of his sister
(2) Offer to purchase; Letter from Jo.
Frederick to Thos. Rowley 183/8/2 3
Jan 1769
This is to Thos Rowley at Bath. Property is
6 or 7 acres including a cottage.
Offer mentions an allowance for arrears in rent
(3) Concerning his title; Letter from
Rowley to Frederick 183/8/3 5
Jan 1769
This document not in the file
(4) On title; Letter from Joshua Rowley
[nephew of Thos.] to Frederick 183/8/4 13
Jan 1769
Joshua Rowley has received a letter "from
my uncle at Bath". His address is just "Argyle St".
Confirming that Joshua's lawyer has checked out the pedigree of
the land
(5) On rents; Letter from J. Rowley to
Frederick 183/8/5 27
Jan 1769
Confirming that there is 10 years rent in
arrears on the land
(6) On admissions; Letter from J. Rowley
to Frederick 183/8/6 29
Jan 1769
Captai Rowley (Joshua)
(7) Letter from J. Rowley to
Frederick 183/8/7 12
Feb 1769
Frederick's address is Great George St
Westminster, Captain Joshua proposes waiting on him. Captain J's
address is Argyle Buildings
(8) Letter on the manor ct; J. Rowley to
Frederick 183/8/8 17
Feb 1769
Similar to (7)
(9) Request for reply to Letter; Rowley
to Frederick 183/8/9 nd
[c1769]
Undated
(10) Bond of Indemnity; Rowley to
Frederick 183/8/10 24
Feb 1769
Joshua Rowley indemnifying John Frederick
against title problems to the tune of £760
on behalf of "Thomas Rowley of the city of Bath", "by
virtue of a letter of attorney in that behalf"
Land is "about ten acres". Period of indemnity is ten years
(11) Bill & receipt; Legal expenses
on admission of Jo. Frederick to John Ashe steward of manor of
Moulsey 183/8/11 24 Feb
1769
Expenses to the tune of £17/8/0
(12) Bill & receipt, legal expenses;
Frederick to Lough Carleton 183/8/12 1
May 1769
More Expenses, very confusing due to all
the lawyers involved
(13) Account of purchase money paid to
Rowley 183/8/13 1769
Payment to
Joshua Rowley £380, (purchase £300 + back rent for
nine years £108, less expenses)
Conclusion
From the pedigree, this Thomas Rowley is not
the son of George Rowley, our prime candidate. Also he seems to be
too old to be the Australian Thomas (In 1769 the Kingston Thomas
would be only 22).. Though it is interesting to see a "Captain
Rowley" (Joshua) turn up. What we do have is documentation of a
clear tie between Rowleys and Burwood Park, which seems to
strengthen the case for our Thomas coming from the Kingston area.
So I think this leaves us with a strong case our Thomas came from
the Kingston/Burwood area (90% confident), but not quite so strong
a case that he was the Thomas born in 1747 (70% confident)
Hersham is about five miles from Kingston on Thames, and one mile
from Walton-on-thames. Burwood Park is less than a mile from the
centre of Hersham village (Surrey St Directory)
Update from Meaghan
It seems the
Bath Thomas may have been consdered a lunatic. Google
Books Reference. He may have been in Bath trying to get
treatment.
LR Comment. We don't know the date of his stay in the asylum. But
the book abstract states "with the complete text of John Monro's
1766 casebook". Could all be consistent with Joshua handling
the transaction, ten years arrears in rent, and event Joshua's
reference to unavailavility due to a sprainrd ankle. (He could be
reluctant to divulge the fact that Thomas was in an asylum.)
Update - Thomas Rowley will found by
Glenis Crocker
Dated 5 Jan 1768
. Will was proved 12 January 1775. Thomas was
"late of Bath". See the discussion of this will on the Anthony Rowley page
Research Notes
Using
LDS, FHO and Genes Reunited, I have been unable to establish any
connection between the tree in Document (1) and the George Rowley
family in Kingston, but I was only looking in Surrey. Try
Bath perhaps
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