(247) Atwood of Littlebury Hall

Atwood of Littlebury

William Wood, alias att Wood or Atwood, married Alice Salyng in 1547. Alice was the widow of Augustine Salyng (d. 1546), who had been lord of the manor of Littlebury in the Essex parish of Stanford Rivers, and whose heir was his only daughter Alice (d. 1551). When Alice died as a child, the manor reverted to Augustine's two sisters, Elizabeth Rolfe and Katherine Johnson, and in 1553 they, together with their husbands, settled the manor on William Wood and his wife. The Woods may have been responsible for the rebuilding of the manor house at Littlebury. In the years up to 1562, they produced seven sons, five of whom survived to adulthood. The Littlebury estate was settled on their eldest surviving son, John Wood alias Atwood (1550-1623) at the time of his marriage in 1594. John, who was perhaps a lawyer or merchant in London up to then, settled in Stanford Rivers and, with his much younger wife Dorothy, produced an even larger family of eleven children. From this time onwards the family surname is always Atwood rather than Wood. When John died in 1623 his eldest son, William Atwood (1596-1647) was just of age. He was active in the Parliamentary cause during the Civil War, not as a soldier but as a local official raising funds for the support of the Parliamentarian army from taxes and fines on Royalists whose estates had been sequestered. He died relatively young and his widow, Elizabeth, seems to have taken control of the estates until her son and heir, William Atwood (c.1630-78) came of age. William also died relatively young, and his widow Ann (1637-1706) and their son, William Atwood (b. 1662) joined forces in 1701 to sell the Littlebury estate, ending the family's connection with the property.

Broomfield Hall, Essex. Image: John Tildesley.

The second son of John Attwood (d. 1623) was John Attwood (1599-1672), who was trained for the law and became a barrister in London. His father left him an estate at Writtle (Essex) and in 1642 he married the heiress to Broomfield Hall in Essex, to which he retired at the end of his life. He produced two sons, both of whom became lawyers, and two daughters. His elder son, John Atwood, inherited Broomfield Hall; the second, William Atwood (d. 1712), was a Whig barrister who published many pamphlets on topics of constitutional law, including The Fundamental Constitution of the English Government, 1690, which set out a defence of the legality of the transfer of power from James II to William & Mary. In 1700 he was appointed Lord Chief Justice of New York, but quickly fell foul of the local politicians, being dismissed by the Governor, Lord Cornbury, and having to scuttle back to England in fear of his life.

Littlebury Hall, Stanford Rivers, Essex

A mid 16th to early 17th century hall house with a brick ground floor with a timber-framed upper story.

Ordnance Survey 6" map surveyed in 1871-73, showing site of Littlebury

Only a part of the original house survives, comprising a two-bay hall and the north cross-wing. The hall has two original windows with moulded brick jambs and hood-moulds, a moulded oak door-frame, and some original glass. The cross-wing to the north was remodelled in the early 19th century and has a Georgian doorcase flanked by two wide bay windows, with sash windows above. Internally there is some 16th century panelling and moulded woodwork. In the middle of the 19th century it was said of Littlebury Hall that more than 20 rooms (presumably including the southern cross-wing) had been taken down in living memory, and in 1921 foundations were observed to the east of the house, showing that it was at one time of greater extent. The house is now unoccupied and in poor condition, and on Historic England's 'Heritage at Risk' register.

Descent: Richard Salyng (d. 1528); to son, Augustine Salyng (d. 1546); to daughter, Alice Salyng (d. 1551); to aunts, Elizabeth Rolfe and Katherine Johnson, who with their husbands settled the estate om Augustine's widow Alice and her second husband, William Atwood (d. 1600); to son, John Atwood (1550-1623); to son, William Atwood (1596-1647); to son, William Atwood (c.1630-78); to son, William Atwood (b. 1662; fl. 1701), who sold 1701 to John Bull; to widow, Mrs. Bull (fl. 1729); to daughter, wife of Timothy Graves (fl. 1767)... Joseph Waylet, sold 1811 to Timothy Phillips... J. Kynaston (fl. 1842), who let to E. Phillips...

Atwood family of Littlebury Hall

Atwood alias Wood, William (d. 1600). Parentage unknown. He married, 27 May 1547 at Stanford Rivers, Alice, widow of Augustine Salyng (d. 1546), and had issue:
(1) William Atwood alias Wood (d. 1550), died in infancy and was buried at Stanford Rivers, 24 August 1550;
(2) John Atwood alias Wood (1550-1623) (q.v.);
(3) Edward Atwood alias Wood (b. 1553), baptised at Stanford Rivers, 29 January 1553; living in 1623; 
(4) Thomas Atwood alias Wood (b. 1556), baptised at Stanford Rivers, 4 March 1555/6; died young;
(5) William Atwood alias Wood (1557-1636?), baptised at Stanford Rivers, 31 March 1557; perhaps the man of this name buried at Stanford Rivers, 24 August 1636;
(6) Thomas Atwood alias Wood (b. 1560), baptised at Stanford Rivers, 25 August 1560; living in 1623;
(7) Richard Atwood alias Wood (b. 1562), baptised at Stanford Rivers, 11 October 1562; living in 1623.
He acquired Littlebury Hall through his marriage and settled it on his son John in 1594.
He was buried at Stanford Rivers, 28 February 1599/1600; his will was proved in the Essex Archdeaconry Court, 16 June 1600. His wife's date of death is unknown.

Atwood, John (1550-1623). Son of William Atwood (d. 1600) and his wife Alice, widow of Augustine Salyng, baptised at Stanford Rivers, 3 January 1550/1. He married, 15 May 1594 at St Stephen Walbrook, London, Dorothy, daughter of William Walter of Wimbledon, and had issue including:
(1) Elizabeth Atwood (1595-1634), baptised at Wimbledon, 14 September 1595; married, 28 January 1610 at Stanford Rivers, William Lake (d. 1646), gent.; buried at Stanford Rivers, 1 December 1634;
(2) William Atwood (1596-1647) (q.v.);
(3) Dorothy Atwood (b. 1598), baptised at Stanford Rivers, 2 July 1598; probably died young before 1604;
(4) John Atwood (1599-1672) of Broomfield Hall (Essex), baptised at Stanford Rivers, 24 August 1599; educated at Queens' College, Oxford (matriculated 1615) and Grays Inn (admitted 1624); inherited an estate at Writtle, Willingale Spains and Willingdale Doe (all Essex) from his father in 1623; barrister-at-law; a Parliamentarian during the Civil War (DL 1643) and a member of the county sequestration committee; married, 17 August 1642 at Broomfield, Elizabeth (c.1622-75), daughter and co-heiress of Patrick Young of Broomfield, and had issue two sons and two daughters; buried at Broomfield, 27 June 1672;
(5) Rev. Walter Atwood (1600-35), baptised 29 September 1600; educated at Queens' College, Cambridge (matriculated 1618; BA 1621/2; MA 1625); curate of Wetherfield (Essex), 1632; vicar of Warminster (Wilts), 1634-35 and Stratton St. Margaret (Wilts), 1635; died unmarried, November 1635 and was buried at Warminster, where he is commemorated by a monument; will proved 22 December 1635;
(6) Ann Atwood (1602-68?), baptised at Stanford Rivers, 26 January 1601/2; unmarried and living at Woolverstone (Suffk) in 1635; perhaps the person of this name buried at Writtle (Essex), 22 October 1668;
(7) Katherine Atwood (1603-75), baptised at Stanford Rivers, 27 November 1603; married, 28 January 1629, Francis Ram (1606-36), draper of London, son of Edward Ram; probably the person of this name buried at Hornchurch (Essex), 11 January 1675;
(8) Dorothea Atwood (b. 1604), baptised at Stanford Rivers, 1 November 1604; living in 1623;
(9) Edward Atwood (1605-11), baptised at Stanford Rivers, 23 March 1605; died young and was buried at Stanford Rivers, 1 June 1611;
(10) Richard Atwood (b. 1607), baptised at Stanford Rivers, 7 April 1607; living in 1623;
(11) Francis Atwood (1608-62), baptised at Stanford Rivers, 6 November 1608; living in London, 1635; probably the person of this name who was buried at St Bartholomew the Great, London, 4 February 1661/2.
Littlebury Hall was settled on him on his marriage in 1594.
He was buried at Stanford Rivers, 28 April 1623; his will was proved 7 July 1623. His widow apparently married 2nd, [forename unknown] Latham, and was living in 1630.

Atwood, William (1596-1647). Son of John Atwood and his wife Dorothy, daughter of William Walter of Wimbledon, baptised at Stanford Rivers, 21 December 1596. Educated at Queens' College, Cambridge (admitted 1614) and Middle Temple (admitted 1616). He was an active Parliamentarian during the Civil War (DL 1643), sitting on various county committees raising funds for the Parliamentarian army; appointed a member of the county sequestration committee, 1643. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Mole, and had issue including:
(1) William Atwood (c.1630-78) (q.v.);
(2) John Atwood (b. c.1634; fl. 1649); apprenticed for eight years to Henry Spurstow (1609-76) of London, merchant, 1648/9;
(3) Mary Atwood; married, 1668 (settlement 1668), Rev. James Speering (c.1629-71), rector of Colne Engaine (Essex) and St Martin Vintry, London.
He inherited Littlebury Hall from his father.
He was buried at Stanford Rivers, 22 September 1647. His widow was living in 1668; her date of death is unknown.

Atwood, William (c. 1630-78). Son of William Atwood and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of John Mole, born about 1630. Educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge (matriculated 1647). He married, c.1658, Anne (1637-1706), daughter of William Glascock of Stanford Rivers, and had issue including:
(1) Mary Atwood (1660-1717), baptised at Stanford Rivers, 14 January 1660; died unmarried and was buried at Stanford Rivers, 6 March 1717;
(2) William Atwood (b. 1662; fl. 1701) (q.v.);
(3) Elizabeth Atwood (b. & d. 1663), baptised at Stanford Rivers, 23 September 1663; died in infancy and was buried at Stanford Rivers, 9 October 1663;
(4) Jane Atwood (b. 1667), baptised at Stanford Rivers, 2 January 1667/8.
He inherited Littlebury Hall from his father. At his death he left his wife a life interest in the estate with reversion to their son.
He was buried at Stanford Rivers, 14 February 1678. His widow was buried at Stanford Rivers, 20 November 1706.

Atwood, William (b. 1662; fl. 1701). Son of William Atwood and his wife Anne, daughter of William Glascock of Stanford Rivers, baptised at Stanford Rivers, 19 September 1662. 
He inherited the reversion of the Littlebury estate from his father in 1678, but joined with his mother in selling it in 1701. He may subsequently have lived at Lovings, Chipping Ongar, which was sold in 1723 and became the rectory house.
His date of death has not been traced.

Sources

VCH Essex, vol. 4, 1956, p. 215; J. Bettley & Sir N. Pevsner, The buildings of England: Essex, 3rd edn., 2007, p. 735.

Location of archives

Atwood of Littlebury: a small group of deeds, 1662-1703 [Essex Record Office, D/DQ 55/78]

Coat of arms

Quarterly, first and fourth, Argent, on a fess raguly azure three fleurs-de-lis or ; second and third, Azure, three roses or.

Can you help?

Here are a few notes about information and images which would help to improve the account above. If you can help with any of these or with other additions or corrections, please use the contact form in the sidebar to get in touch.

• Can anyone supply an historic or contemporary photograph of Littlebury Hall that could be used to illustrate this account?
• Does anyone know what happened to William Atwood (b. 1662) after he sold Littlebury in 1701? Can anyone confirm that he was the man of this name who later lived at 'Lovings', Chipping Ongar?

Revision and acknowledgements

This post was first published 13 January 2017.