Wednesday 29 December 2021

(504) Beale of Heath House, Leintwardine

Beale of Heath House
This family, lawyers through many generations, can be classed among the 'new men' of the Tudor court, although they never achieved the eminence of the families to whom the term is more usually applied. The earliest member of the family who can be identified with certainty is Robert Beale (d. 1548), a London mercer, whose wife was probably a daughter of the humanist scholar and diplomat, Sir Richard Morrison (d. 1556). His eldest son, Robert Beale (1541-1601), was probably educated at Coventry - the first of several connections with that city which suggests that the family may have originated there before moving to London. During the reign of Queen Mary he studied in Strasbourg, and from 1564 he was employed on diplomatic missions at home and abroad for Queen Elizabeth. He was appointed Clerk of the Privy Council in about 1572, and was closely associated with Sir Francis Walsingham, even deputising for him as Secretary of State in 1578. In 1581-84 he was employed in negotiations with Mary, Queen of Scots, and in 1587 he was a witness to her execution at Fotheringhay Castle (Northants) and wrote an account of the event. He was first elected as an MP in 1576 and served in five parliaments. Although personally a Puritan in religion, Beale supported toleration and published two tracts 
impugning the right of the Crown to fine or imprison people for ecclesiastical offences, and condemning the use of torture to induce confession. He also challenged the inquisitorial practices of the bishops in a speech in Parliament which gave so much offence to the Queen that he was commanded to absent himself both from court and Parliament in 1593, and was not fully rehabilitated until 1597.

The genealogy below begins with Robert Beale's nephew, Bartholomew Beale (c.1583-1660), one of three brothers whose father was probably William Beale, one of two sons named in the will of Robert Beale (d. 1548): his brother John was a leading stationer in London and Theodore (c.1596-1653) was vicar of Ashbocking (Suffk) until ejected in 1644. Bartholomew was educated at Grays Inn and became a barrister, and then in 1635 Clerk of the Patents in the Attorney General's office. From these employments he accumulated sufficient funds to purchase the manor of Walton in Buckinghamshire in 1622. He seems initially to have borrowed part of the purchase money from the vendors, but by 1636 had cleared the estate of incumbrances. His religious views seem to have been more orthodox than Puritan, and after his brother Theodore was ejected from his living at Ashbocking, he presented him to the parish church on his estate at Walton. Bartholomew died in 1660 and since all three of his surviving sons - Henry (c.1614-72), Bartholomew (c.1620-74), and Charles (1631-1705) - appear in the records as having dealings with the estate, it may be that they were all left an interest in the property. Henry seems to have died without issue, and Charles, who had no regular profession (he acted as manager to his wife, one of the first female professional artists), was always short of funds and may have sold his interest to Bartholomew. The latter, a lawyer like his father, was joint Auditor of the Imprests in the Exchequer, and bought the manor of Hopton Castle (Shrops.), where the eponymous castle had been badly damaged in the Civil War, but reputedly remained at least partially habitable. Bartholomew does not seem to have resided at Hopton Castle much, if at all, and no doubt his work required him to live chiefly at his house in Hatton Garden, London, where he unexpectedly committed suicide in 1674, to the mystification of his family, friends, and the local coroner.

Bartholomew left a widow and a surviving son and daughter, and the family may have moved to Walton or Hopton Castle. The son, Bartholomew Beale (1662-1727), came of age in 1683 but did not attend either a university or one of the inns of court, perhaps because he was already engaged in estate management. In about 1697 he bought the Heath House estate at Leintwardine (Herefs), which adjoined his Hopton Castle property, and updated the relatively recently built house there for his family's occupation: the crumbling ruins of the old Hopton Castle were then abandoned.

Bartholomew Beale was exceptionally unfortunate in the survival of his children, and the only one of his five sons to survive was Thomas Beale (1699-1776), who was educated at the Middle Temple and served his turn as High Sheriff of Shropshire in 1734-35. His elder son and heir, Thomas Beale (1747-1800), practised as a barrister in London, where he had chambers in the Temple. In 1780 he stood unsuccessfully for Parliament in the Ludlow constituency, a move which was perhaps the high-water mark of the family's social aspiration. His son, Thomas Beale (1787-1845) went to Oxford but not to one of the inns of court. He married the daughter of a neighbouring landowner and had a large family, and perhaps because the estate was his only source of income, he seems to have run out of money. Heath House was let from 1841 and he retreated to a villa in Windsor (Berks). His son, Thomas Salwey Beale (1816-86), after a brief flirtation with the army, also lived on his rental income at Windsor, and his son, Walter Salwey Beale (1846-90) sold the Heath House and Hopton Castle estate immediately after his father's death.

Heath House, Leintwardine (Herefordshire)


Heath House, Leintwardine: the north front c.1930.  Image: Crown Copyright.

The house was rebuilt for Sir John Edwards, kt., who inherited the estate through his wife in 1660.  It has a U-plan, with two wings to the north and an asymmetrical eight bay flat south front which largely disguises the fact that it was built in two phases. The first phase consisted of the hall and most of the east wing, both extended north when the west wing was added a few years later. All the windows in the south front have been converted to sashes, but some original wooden cross-windows survive on the east and north sides. 

Heath House, Leintwardine: the south front in the 1950s. Image: Historic England.

Heath House, Leintwardine: staircase  © University of London
Inside, the hall is lined with original moulded panelling, and the fireplace is flanked by moulded pilasters with the cornice carried across as a mantelshelf; in the fireplace is an iron fire-back with the initials I. and H.E., and the date 1708, which suggests that John Edwards (d. 1739) may have shared the house or rented it back after selling it to the Beales. The staircase, north of the hall, is arranged with double flights up to the half-landing, double flights again to the first floor, and two parallel straight flights to the second floor; the lower flights are cased with panelling of c.1700. A passage, west of the staircase, and the south room in the east wing are both lined with panelling of c. 1700. On the first floor the south-east room is lined with mid to late 17th-century panelling with a moulded cornice, and there is a ceiling with twelve plaster panels. Some further panelling was moved to Castle Lodge, Ludlow in about 1960. The present owner has restored the house, and in 2020 successfully applied for planning permission to build a moated classical observatory in the grounds in order ‘to produce data on Near Earth Objects that may pose a threat'. 

Descent: Richard Heath (d. 1660); to son-in-law, Sir John Edwards, kt. (fl. c.1660-85); to son, John Edwards (fl. 1739) of The Vron, Clun (Salop) who sold c.1697 to Bartholomew Beale (1662-1727); to son, Thomas Beale (1699-1776); to son, Thomas Beale (1747-1800); to son, Thomas Beale (1787-1845); to son, Thomas Salwey Beale (1816-86) who let to James Ackers (1811-68) in 1841-47 and later to Sir W. Clarke (fl. 1868); to son, Walter Salwey Beale (1846-90), who sold 1887 to Sir Edward Ripley (1840-1903), 2nd bt. of Bedstone Court; to son, Sir Henry William Alfred Ripley (1879-1956), 3rd bt.; to son, Sir Hugh George Harley Ripley (1916-2003), 4th bt.; sold c.1960 to Simon Dale (1919-87), architect... sold 2000 to Rupert Lywood (b. 1958).


Beale family of Heath House


Beale, Bartholomew (c.1583-1660). Probably the son of William Beale, and certainly the grandson of Robert Beale (d. 1548) and nephew of Robert Beale (1541-1601), Clerk of the Privy Council, 1572-1601; he was born about 1583. Educated at Grays Inn (admitted 1607). Barrister-at-law; Attorney-General's Clerk of the Patents from c.1635. There is evidence that he held Royalist and High Church sympathies during the Civil War, although he does not seem to have taken any active part in the conflict. He married, 14 May 1611 at All Hallows, London Wall, London, Katherine Beale (c.1590-1657), who was evidently not a relation, and had issue seven sons and two daughters, including:
(1) Margaret Beale (b. c.1613), born about 1613; during the Civil War she was accused - perhaps maliciously - of encouraging her husband, who was then Parliamentarian Governor of Warwick Castle, to embezzle many of the King's goods seized at the battle of Edgehill and she herself was said to have carried out plate and jewels from the castle 'by the apronful'; married, 1636 (licence 21 March 1635/6), Col. John Bridges MP (1610-64), MP for Worcestershire, 1654, son of John Bridges of Alcester (Warks) and Hackney (Middx), barrister-at-law, and had issue at least one son and one daughter;
(2) Henry Beale (c.1614-72), eldest son, born about 1614; educated at St Catherine's and Jesus Colleges, Cambridge (matriculated 1632; BA 1636; MA 1639); Fellow of Jesus College, 1637-44 (ejected by the Parliamentary Visitors); married 1st, Sarah (d. 1653) and 2nd, 28 September 1653 or 1654 at Walton (Bucks), Mary, daughter of Clifton Catesby of Ecton (Northants); buried at Walton, 2 July 1672;
(3) Theodore Beale (b. c.1617), born about 1617; probably died young;
(4) Catherine Beale (c.1619-95), born about 1619; married, 9 December 1639 at St Ann, Blackfriars, London, John Smith (d. 1675), and had issue two sons and two daughters; died in 1695; will proved in the PCC, 11 April 1695;
(5) Bartholomew Beale (c.1620-74) (q.v.);
(6) William Beale (b. 1625), baptised at Walton, 29 May 1625; perhaps died young;
(7) Robert Beale (b. 1627), baptised at Walton, 8 June 1627; bound apprentice to his uncle, John Beale, a London stationer, 1643, but probably died during his seven year term and certainly by 1656;
(8) Charles Beale (1631-1705), baptised at Walton, 9 June 1631; perhaps educated privately and apprenticed to Andrew Beech of London, draper, in 1648; later he was a minor civil servant at the Board of Green Cloth and an amateur painter; lived chiefly in London but between 1664 and 1670 lived at Otterbourne (Hants) to avoid the plague; returned to London in 1670 and became studio manager to his wife, who became one of the first professional female artists; married, 8 March 1651 at Barrow (Suffk), Mary (1633-99), portrait painter, daughter of Rev. John Cradock, rector of Barrow, and had issue three sons (one of whom died young); died 1705.
He purchased the manor of Walton (Bucks) in 1622.
He died in London, 15 June 1660, and was buried at Walton (Bucks), where he was commemorated by a monument designed by Thomas Burman, erected by his sons Charles and Henry in 1672 at a cost of £45. His wife died 16 August and was buried at Walton, 19 August 1657 and is commemorated on her husband's monument.

Beale, Bartholomew (c.1620-74). Third son of Bartholomew Beale (c.1583-1660), and his wife, born about 1620. Educated at Peterhouse, Cambridge (matriculated 1639) and Grays Inn (admitted 1639; called to bar, 1651; ancient, 1662). Barrister-at-law. He was granted the reversion of the profitable office of Auditor of Imprests in the Exchequer in 1641 and held the office from 1649-74. In 1658, he took part in the procession accompanying the corpse of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector, from Somerset House to Westminster Abbey, and in 1660 he was among the welcoming party which received the returning King Charles II. He was an acquaintance of Samuel Pepys, who mentions him in his diary, and to whom he was related through his wife. He married, 6 January 1652/3 at St Mary Aldermanbury, London, Elizabeth (d. 1705), daughter of Col. Thomas Hunt (d. 1669), MP for Shrewsbury and an officer in the Parliamentarian army, and had issue, perhaps among others:
(1) Thomas Beale (1654-55), born 13 November and baptised at St Dunstan-in-the-West, London, 29 November 1654; died in infancy and was buried in the chancel of St Faith under St Paul's, London, 22 October 1655;
(2) Charles Beale (b. & d. 1660), born 29 June and baptised at St Bride, Fleet St., London, 10 July 1660; died in infancy and was buried at the same church, 29 August 1660;
(3) Elizabeth Beale (b. 1661; fl. 1671), born 4 August and baptised at St Bride, Fleet St., London, 8 August 1661; living in 1671;
(4) Bartholomew Beale (1662-1727) (q.v.);
(5) Thomas Beale (b. 1664), baptised at St Bride, Fleet St., London, 3 June 1664; died young before 1671;
(6) Katherine Beale (1665-66), born 3 November 1665; died in infancy and was buried at Walton (Bucks), 19 March 1665/6.
He lived in Hatton Garden, London. He acquired the manor of Walton (Bucks): it is not clear if he inherited a share from his father in 1660 or inherited/purchased it from his brothers. He purchased the manor of Hopton Castle (Shropshire). 
He committed suicide by throwing himself 'in a frantic fit' from an upper window of his house in Hatton Garden, 8 May 1674; the motive for this act was never established, as he was in no financial or health difficulties at the time. His widow was buried at Leintwardine, 24 May 1705.

Beale, Bartholomew (1662-1727). Third, but only surviving son of Bartholomew Beale (c.1620-74) and his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Col. Thomas Hunt, baptised at St Bride, Fleet St., London, 10 October 1662. He married 29 February 1692, Elizabeth (1665-1723), daughter of Sir Walter Yonge (1626-70), 2nd bt., of Great House, Colyton (Devon), and had issue:
(1) Bartholomew Beale (b. 1695), baptised in London, 2 July 1695; educated at Middle Temple (admitted 1713/4); died unmarried before 1721;
(2) Henry Beale (d. 1697); died young and was buried at Leintwardine, 10 January 1697/8;
(3) Walter Beale (1698-1718), baptised at Leintwardine, 3 April 1698; died unmarried and was buried at St Clement Danes, Westminster (Middx), 16 June 1718;
(4) Thomas Beale (1699-1776) (q.v.);
(5) Sarah Beale (b. 1700), baptised at Leintwardine, 19 March 1699/1700; probably died young;
(6) William Beale (b. 1701), baptised at Leintwardine, 1 April 1701; perhaps died young;
(7) Jane Beale (1703-18), baptised at Leintwardine, 12 October 1703; died young and was buried at St Clement Danes, Westminster (Middx), 20 June 1718;
(8) twin?, Isabella Beale (b. 1705), baptised at Leintwardine, 1 or 11 May 1705; probably died young;
(9) twin?, Gwen Beale (b. & d. 1705), baptised at Leintwardine, 1 or 11 May 1705; died in infancy and was buried at Leintwardine, 15 September 1705;
(10) Mary Beale (d. 1711); buried at Leintwardine, 27 April 1711.
He inherited the Walton (Bucks) and Hopton Castle (Shrops.) estates from his father in 1674 and came of age in 1683. He sold Walton in 1690 and purchased the Heath House, Leintwardine in about 1697, although there is some evidence that the previous owner, John Edwards, leased it back or shared the house in the early 18th century.
He was buried at Leintwardine, 10 February 1726/7; his will was proved in the PCC, 21 April 1727. His wife was buried at Leintwardine, 1 October 1723.

Beale, Thomas (1699-1776). Fourth, but apparently the only surviving son of Bartholomew Beale (1662-1727) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Walter Yonge of Colleton (Devon), baptised at Leintwardine, 28 March 1699. Educated at Pembroke College, Oxford (matriculated 1721) and Middle Temple (admitted 1721). High Sheriff of Shropshire, 1734-35. JP for Shropshire from 1746. He married, 20 January 1742/3, reputedly at Dulwich College Chapel (Kent), Byne (1716-61), daughter of John Spence (d. 1741) of South Malling (Sussex), and had issue:
(1) Byne Beale (1744-1825), baptised at Leintwardine, 18 July 1744; married, 11 March 1773 at Leintwardine, John Oakeley (1744-1811) of Firgrove alias Oakeley, Bishops Castle (Shrops.), and had issue three sons and two daughters; died 9 December and was buried at Bishop's Castle, 17 December 1825; her will was proved at Gloucester, 11 April 1826; 
(2) Thomas Beale (1747-1800) (q.v.);
(3) Henry Beale (1754-1806?), born 20 January and baptised at Leintwardine, 13 February 1754; married, 14 July 1776 at St Clement Danes, Westminster (Middx), Frances Whitaker (c.1754-1812?), and had issue two sons and one daughter, who evidently all died young; probably the man of this name buried at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster (Middx), 31 March 1806, and whose will was proved in the PCC, 5 April 1806.
He inherited the Heath House, Leintwardine from his father in 1727.
He was buried at Leintwardine, 3 February 1776; his will was proved in the PCC, 10 February 1776, and a further grant of administration of that part of the estate left unadministered by his son was made, 21 July 1830. His wife died 26 August 1761.

Beale, Thomas (1747-1800). Elder son of Thomas Beale (1699-1776) and his wife Byne, daughter of John Spence of South Malling (Sussex), born 24 September 1747. Educated at Pembroke College, Oxford (matriculated 1765) and Middle Temple (admitted 1767; called 1773). Barrister-at-law, with chambers in Essex Court at The Temple, London. In 1780 he stood for Parliament in the Ludlow constituency, challenging the interest of Lord Clive, but he withdrew a few days before the poll, no doubt scenting defeat, and being disinclined to further expense. He married, 19 March 1781, Elizabeth (1750-1808), daughter of George Gibbons of Nantwich (Ches.), and had issue:
(1) Elizabeth Beale (1781-83), baptised at Leintwardine, 28 December 1781; died in infancy and was buried at Leintwardine, 12 February 1783;
(2) Mary Beale (1783-1855), baptised at Leintwardine, 1 February 1783; married, 6 January 1806 at Leintwardine, Rev. John Bright Betton (later Bright) (1774-1833) of Totterton Hall (Shrops.), vicar of Lydbury North (Shrops.), son of Richard Betton of Shrewsbury (Shrops.), and had issue one son and five daughters; died in Cheltenham, 8 February, and was buried at Lydbury North, 20 February 1855; her will was proved in the PCC, 8 November 1855;
(3) Elizabeth Beale (1784-1814), baptised at Leintwardine, 28 April 1784; died unmarried, 22 March, and was buried at Leintwardine, 30 March 1814;
(4) Thomas Beale (1785-86), baptised at Leintwardine, 13 May 1785; died in infancy and was buried at Leintwardine, 15 April 1786;
(5) Frances Beale (b. & d. 1786), baptised at Leintwardine, 5 June 1786; died in infancy and was buried at Leintwardine, 12 October 1786;
(6) Thomas Beale (1787-1845) (q.v.);
(7) Frances Beale (1788-1869), baptised at Leintwardine, 7 December 1788; lived in Ludlow; died unmarried, 17 July 1869; will proved 21 September 1869 (effects under £1,500);
(8) Ann Beale (1791-1857), baptised at Leintwardine, 7 November 1791; married, 18 February 1812 at Leintwardine, Rev. John Rocke (1783-1849), of Clungunford House (Shrops.), which he rebuilt, rector of Clungunford, son of the Rev. John Rocke (d. 1824) of Clungunford, and had issue at least three sons and three daughters; buried at Clungunford, 29 January 1857.
He inherited the Heath House, Leintwardine from his father in 1776.
He died at Bishop's Castle (Shrops.), 'without previous indisposition' on 26 February, and was buried at Leintwardine, 5 March 1800; his will was proved in the PCC, 10 April 1800; a further grant of administration was made to his son, 1 October 1811, of effects left unadministered by his widow; and a yet further grant was made in 1846 of that part of the estate left unadministered by his son! His widow was buried at Leintwardine, 1 February 1808; administration of her goods (with will annexed) was granted to her son, 25 May 1813; and a further grant was made 19 May 1846 of the portion of her estate he left unadministered.

Beale, Thomas (1787-1845). Younger, but only surviving, son of Thomas Beale (1747-1800) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of George Gibbons of Nantwich (Ches.), born 27 November and baptised at Leintwardine, 29 November 1787. Educated at Oriel College, Oxford (matriculated 1805). He married, 18 May 1815 at Richard's Castle (Shrops.), Constance Isabella (1797-1880), daughter of Richard Salwey of Moor Park (Shrops.), and had issue:
(1) Thomas Salwey Beale (1816-86) (q.v.);
(2) Constance Isabella Beale (1817-46), baptised at Leintwardine, 10 August 1817; died unmarried and was buried at Clungunford (Shrops), 27 October 1846; her will was proved in the PCC, 23 October 1847;
(3) Annette Cecilia Beale (1819-97), baptised at Leintwardine, 8 March 1819; lived with her brother Theodore at Hopton Castle and later with his widow at Bucknall (Shrops.); died unmarried, 21 August 1897; will proved 25 September 1897 (effects £5,705); 
(4) Theodore Beale (1820-87), born 10 July and baptised at Leintwardine, 11 July 1820; educated at Eton and Brasenose College, Oxford (matriculated 1838; BA 1842); rector of Hopton Castle (Shrops.), 1856-78; married, 26 May 1863 at Leintwardine, Mary Dora (1831- 1918), only daughter of Sir William Henry Clerke, 9th bt., of Hitcham (Flints), and had issue two sons; died 21 November 1887; will proved 5 January 1878 (effects £1,475);
(5) Walter Yonge Beale (1821-46), born 19 December and baptised at Leintwardine, 20 December 1821; educated at Eton; an officer in the 10th Foot (Ensign, 1838; Lt., 1842); died unmarried when he was killed in action at the battle of Sobraon in the First Anglo-Sikh war, 10 February 1846; will proved in the PCC, 20 July 1846;
(6) Robert Beale Beale (1823-61), born and baptised at Leintwardine, 11 July 1823; educated at Eton (admitted 1835); an officer in the Royal Navy (Midshipman, 1840; Lt., 1846); died 31 March 1861; will proved 10 May 1861 (effects under £1,500);
(7) Lt-Col. Henry Yelverton Beale (1824-69), baptised at Leintwardine, 14 November 1824; educated at Eton (admitted 1835); an officer in the 12th Bombay Native Infantry (Lt. 1846; Capt., 1856; Maj., 1865; Lt-Col., 1868); married, 22 October 1857 at Lowestoft (Suffk), Agnes Jane, daughter of Edward Leathes of Normanstone (Suffk), and had issue four sons; died 5 April 1869; will proved 3 June 1869 (effects under £600);
(8) Octavia Frances Beale (1827-46), baptised at Leintwardine, 9 June 1827; died unmarried at Moor Park (Shrops.), 23 January and was buried at Richard's Castle, 29 January 1846;
(9) John Arthur Beale (1829-63), born 29 April and baptised at Leintwardine, 30 April 1829; died in Oxford, 2 March 1863; will proved 19 August 1863 (effects under £3,000).
He inherited the Heath House, Leintwardine from his father in 1800, but let it from 1841 to James Ackers, and lived subsequently at Windsor (Berks).
He died at the Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury, 21 March, and was buried at Leintwardine, 29 March 1845; his will was proved in the PCC, 13 August 1845. His widow married 2nd, 27 April 1848 at St Mary de Lode, Gloucester, Robert William Butt Pole (1817-95), Professor of Music, son of William Butt Pole, musician, and died at Oxford, 20 October 1880; her will was proved 14 March 1881 (estate under £1,500).

Beale, Thomas Salwey (1816-86). Eldest son of Thomas Beale (1787-1845) and his wife Constance Isabella, daughter of Richard Salwey of Moor Park (Shropshire), baptised at Leintwardine (Herefs), 16 June 1816. Educated at Eton (admitted 1829). An officer in the 68th Foot (Ensign, 1834). He married, 11 December 1845 at Old Windsor, Elizabeth (1819-1900), second daughter of William Cordon of Windsor (Berks) and formerly of Derby, and had issue:
(1) Walter Salwey Beale (1846-90), born 12 November and baptised at Old Windsor, 16 December 1846; an officer in the 70th Foot (Ensign, 1867; retired 1869); died unmarried, 29 November 1890; will proved 27 December 1890 (effects £6,163);
(2) Gertrude Cecilia Beale (1847-49), born 9 October 1847; died young, 30 May and was buried at Old Windsor, 3 June 1849;
(3) Gertrude Elizabeth Beale (1849-1908), born 4 July and baptised at Old Windsor, 1 August 1849; married, 28 August 1873 at Hopton Castle (Shrops), Lt-Col. Hamlin Charles Coddington (1848-1923), youngest son of Maj. Coddington, and had issue; died 1 October and was buried at Cheltenham, 5 October 1908; will proved 21 November 1908 (estate £5,170);
(4) Lt-Col. Thomas Alfred Beale (1851-1910), born 24 June and baptised at Old Windsor, 21 July 1851; educated at Eton; an officer in the 64th Foot, 1872-97 (Sub-Lt., 1872; Lt., 1874; Capt., 1880; Maj., 1885; Lt-Col., 1892; retired, 1897); after his retirement lived in an hotel in Brighton (Sussex); died unmarried in Brighton, 3 January 1910; administration of goods granted to his sister Edith, 30 March 1910 (estate £12,152);
(5) Constance Agnes Beale (1852-55), born about December 1852; died in infancy, 11 February 1855;
(6) Frances Adelaide Beale (1854-88), born 25 September and baptised at Old Windsor, 20 October 1854; married, 7 August 1877 at Hopton Castle, Thomas de la Garde Grissell (1851-1915) of Redisham Hall (Suffk), son of Thomas Grissell of Norbury Park (Surrey), building contractor (and partner of Samuel Moreton Peto), and had issue four sons and one daughter; died 26 September 1888 and was buried at Mickleham (Surrey), 1 October 1888;
(7) Edith Annie Beale (1857-1931), born 13 July and baptised at Old Windsor, 17 August 1857; married, 2 December 1884 at Clewer (Berks), as his second wife, Rev. Robert Paul Bent* (c.1826-95), vicar of Jacobstowe (Devon) and later vicar of Coln St. Denys (Glos) and rector of Hampnett (Glos), and had issue two sons; died 15 May 1931; will proved 10 July 1931 (estate £5,862);
(8) Agnes Octavia Beale (1858-1932), born 12 September and baptised at Old Windsor, 16 October 1858; married, 2 June 1891 at Holy Trinity, Windsor, Capt. Charles Gabriel Perkins (1842-1908) of 5th Dragoon Guards, son of Gustave Gabriel (d. 1848), a Dutch language tutor, of Leeds (Yorks WR), and had issue one son and one daughter; died 21 August 1932; will proved 21 October 1932 (estate £2,177).
He inherited the Heath House, Leintwardine estate from his father in 1845. It was let to James Ackers until 1847 and later to Sir W. Clarke. It was sold in 1887 to the trustees of the will of Sir Henry William Ripley. He lived from the 1840s at Clarence Crescent, Windsor.
He died at Windsor, 22 May 1886; his will was proved 1 June 1887 (effects £5,168). His widow died of pneumonia at Windsor, 3 March 1900; her will was proved 29 March 1900 (estate £288).
* Evidently he was a wit. Applying personally to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for a grant in augmentation of the meagre stipend of Jacobstowe, he was asked: 'You are the incumbent, sir? ' ' That, gentlemen, rests with you,' was the reply. ' At present I am the Bent without the income'!

Principal sources

Burke's Landed Gentry, 1894, vol. 1, pp. 116-17; A. Hughes, Gender and the English Revolution, 2012, p. 38; H. Draper, 'Mary Beale (1633-1699) and her ‘paynting roome’ in Restoration London', PhD thesis, University of London, 2020; G. Williams, The country houses of Shropshire, 2021, pp. 177-78;

Location of archives

No significant accumulation is known to survive.

Coat of arms

Sable, on a chevron or, between three griffins' heads erased, argent, as many estoiles, gules.

Can you help?

  • Can anyone provide photographs or portraits of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?
  • If anyone can offer further information or corrections I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.

Revision and acknowledgements

This post was first published 29 December 2021, and was updated 17 February 2022. I am most grateful to Alison Cameron for solving he mystery of the parentage of Bartholomew Beale (c.1583-1660).

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