(525) Beckingham of Beckingham Hall

Beckingham of Tolleshunt 

The Beckingham family originated in central southern England, and there were branches in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire in the 15th and early 16th centuries. The surname is spelled in a bewildering variety of ways, including Bekingham, Bekyngham, Buckingham, and Beckington in contemporary documents; the modern form of Beckingham has been adopted in this account. John Beckingham of North Moreton (Berks) had three sons: John, Thomas and Stephen, and it is the youngest of these, Stephen Beckingham (c.1518-58), a grocer in London, with whom the genealogy below begins. He seems to have been sufficiently prosperous to purchase from the Crown the manors of Tolleshunt Major and Follyfaunts in Essex, both of which had formerly been monastic properties, as well as urban property in Southwark. He acquired the Essex property in 1543 and must at once have commenced work on the building of a new house there, since a surviving decorative panel from the house is dated 1546 and was presumably installed only after the shell of the building was complete.

Stephen Beckingham was married three times, and he was succeeded at Tolleshunt by his elder son, Thomas Beckingham (c.1547-96), who was probably the escheator for Essex and Hertfordshire in 1582-83, and who obtained a grant of arms for himself and his younger brother in the year of his death. There has been considerable confusion about his marriage, apparently because he has been confused with his uncle of the same name, but his surviving issue were two sons and a daughter. His eldest son, Sir Thomas Beckingham (c.1574-1633), kt., was educated as a gentleman at Oxford and Lincoln's Inn, and was knighted by James I in 1603. He played a full part in public affairs in Essex, and was MP for Sudbury, 1604-12. However, there are indications that he had accumulated debts, and by 1620 he had sold the majority of the family estate, although he did retain Beckingham Hall. His only son to survive to adulthood was William Beckingham (1598-1625), who married and had issue two sons before dying in his father's lifetime. Sir Thomas therefore bequeathed the remainder of his estate to his grandson, William Beckingham (c.1622-56), who was an orphan of about eleven years at the time of his grandfather's death and who later became a ward of the Crown. Within a year or two, Beckingham Hall was in the possession of his great-uncle, Stephen (b. c.1580; fl. 1656) (the younger brother of Sir Thomas), but it is not clear whether he had purchased the freehold or was acting as a trustee when he sold the estate to Sir Thomas Adams (1586-1668), 1st bt., in 1636. The property then passed through several hands before being bequeathed in 1711 to the New England Company, which retained it until 2017.

Stephen Beckingham (b. c.1580; fl. 1656) had inherited a property called the Frame or Freme Farm in Tolleshunt d'Arcy, depicted on a recently rediscovered estate map of 1616, and retained this when Beckingham Hall was sold. He was living in 1656 but apparently died soon after his son, also Stephen Beckingham (c.1617-57), who in turn left his lands in Tolleshunt d'Arcy to his son, Stephen Beckingham (1647-1736). The younger Stephen was educated at Cambridge and Grays Inn, and became a barrister-at-law. Although he retained the Freme Farm throughout his life, and indeed rebuilt it in his later years, he lived chiefly in Brook St., Mayfair, London. He had eleven children, but only one son and three daughters survived to adulthood, and Freme Farm passed to his son, Stephen Beckingham (1697-1756), whose second wife brought him the Bourne Place estate in Kent. I have treated of that property and later generations elsewhere.

Beckingham Hall, Tolleshunt Major, Essex

The remains of a once significant Tudor and Jacobean house, which passed out of gentry use in the late 17th or early 18th century, was greatly reduced in size and subsequently added to in a utilitarian way for use as a farmhouse. The property, which belonged until the Reformation to Coggeshall Abbey, was granted in 1543 to Stephen Beckingham (d. 1558), who built a new house here that was probably completed by 1546, the date on some surviving panelling. The most impressive part of the work to survive is a remarkable early Tudor brick wall, partly diapered, defining a site roughly 130x120 ft. In the centre of the surviving section of wall is a gatehouse, and at the angle is a corner turret, as thin as a pinnacle. Two more turrets, perhaps once joined by an archway, stand either side of a gateway to the right of the gatehouse. 

Beckingham Hall: the surviving portion of the house and enclosure wall in 1916.

The north-east wall of the present farmhouse is of Tudor brickwork which matches that of the gatehouse and is presumably a survival from the 1540s.

Beckingham Hall: reconstruction drawing of 1905, showing the appearance
of the house based on the the 1637 plan. 

In 1637, the house was shown on a map by Samuel Cosin, as an E-plan house of two storeys with six gables, aligned with the gatehouse, but this must be the result of a later 16th or early 17th century remodelling of the Tudor house. (Some accounts of the house claim that the earlier building was depicted on a map of 1616 as a gabled three storey house, but the house shown on this map is Freme Farm not Beckingham Hall). 

A piece of panelling dated 1546, was sold from the house to the Victoria & Albert Museum in 1912. Its high quality early Renaissance decoration was probably undertaken by a Flemish or Italian carver working in England, and may indicate how rich and fashionable the interiors of the house were. There is no evidence that the house was ever complemented by a garden or ornamental planting, although various pieces of water may be survivors of medieval landscaping.

Beckingham Hall: early Renaissance decorative panel from the house, now in the Victoria & Albert Museum.

In 1711, the property was bequeathed to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in New England, and the house became a farmhouse. By 1766, it had been reduced in size by about half, possibly as the result of a fire. The surviving fragment was given minor additions, including a plain early 19th century front on the south-east, which became the entrance side.

Descent: Crown granted 1543 to Stephen Beckingham (c.1518-58); to son, Thomas Beckingham (c.1547-96); to son, Sir Thomas Beckingham (c.1574-1633); to grandson, William Beckingham (c.1621-56); to great-uncle, Stephen Beckingham (b. c.1580; fl. 1656), who sold 1636 to Sir Thomas Adams (1586-1668), 1st bt.; to son, Sir William Adams (1632-87), 2nd bt., who sold 1674 to Thomas Fox of London, cheesemonger; to widow, who married John Bradley and sold 1710 to Rev. Dr Daniel Williams (1643-1711); bequeathed to Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in New England (aka New England Company); sold 2017.

Beckingham of Beckingham Hall

Beckingham, Stephen (c.1518-58). Third son of John Beckingham (c.1480-c.1525) of North Moreton (Berks) and his wife Alice Twickenor (d. 1534) of 'Altham' [Alton?] (Hants), born about 1518. Citizen and grocer of London. He married 1st, 23 October 1538 at St Dionis Backchurch, London, Anne (d. by 1550), daughter of Henry Unton; 2nd, c.1550, Elizabeth, daughter of William Browne of Flambards (Essex); and 3rd, c.1555, Johanna (d. 1558/9) [surname unknown], and had issue:

(1.1) Thomas Beckingham (c.1547-96) (q.v.);

(1.2) Mary Beckingham; married Thomas Hill of Dalby? (Lincs);

(1.3) Alice Beckingham (fl. 1558); married [forename unknown] Polley

(1.4) Thomasine Beckingham, born before 1550;

(1.5) Elizabeth Beckingham, born before 1550;

(2.1) Stephen Beckingham (c.1550-1611), born about 1550; married Avice (d. 1633), daughter of Sir Henry Tyrell, but had no issue; buried at Tolleshunt Major, 8 March 1610/1, where he was commemorated by a large alabaster monument erected in a new chapel that was pulled down in the 18th century; will proved in the PCC, 2 April 1611;

(3.1) Dorothy Beckingham (b. c.1555); married, c.1575, George Boteler alias Butler (d. 1624) of Stotfold (Beds) and Fen Drayton (Cambs), and had issue six sons (from the second of whom descend the Viscounts Lanesborough) and four daughters.

He purchased the manors of Tolleshunt Major and Follyfaunts from the Crown in 1543. At the time of his death he was living at Bygrave (Herts).

He died after 28 August 1558, and was probably buried at Tolleshunt Major; his will was proved 15 December 1558 and again 10 February 1562/3. His first wife died before 1550. His second wife died about 1554. His widow died in 1558/9; her will was proved 17 February 1558/9..

Beckingham, Thomas (c.1547-96). Only son of Stephen Beckingham (c.1518-58) and his first wife, Anne, daughter of Henry Unton, born about 1547. Probably the man of this name who was Escheator for Essex and Hertfordshire, 1582-83. He and his brother Stephen had a grant of arms in 1596. He married Mary (fl. 1596), probably the daughter of Thomas Hill of Dalby (Lincs)*, and had issue**:

(1) Sir Thomas Beckingham (c.1574-1633), kt. (q.v.);

(2) Avice Beckingham (d. 1633?); possibly the woman of this name buried at Bures St Mary (Suffk), 25 July 1633;

(3) Stephen Beckingham (b. c.1580; fl. 1656) (q.v.).

He inherited Beckingham Hall from his father in 1558 and came of age about 1568.

He was buried at Tolleshunt Major, 9 October 1596; his will was proved in the PCC, 19 November 1596. His wife's date of death is unknown.

* The History of Parliament entry for his son says he married Mary, daughter of Thomas Hill of Derby, which may be an error for his cousin Mary, daughter of Thomas Hill of Dalby (Lincs). The Visitation of Essex and other online sources say he married 1st, Emme, daughter of [forename unknown] Hall of Otterbourne (Hants) and 2nd, Ellen, daughter of [forename unknown] Parkehurst of Guildford (Surrey). However, the marriage of a Thomas Beckingham and Ellen Babbs (formerly Parkhurst) took place at St Mary, Guildford on 18 April 1551, and probably relates to his uncle Thomas.

** Two further children, Margaret (wife of Richard Crampton) and Temperance are mentioned in some sources, but I have found no evidence for their existence.

Beckingham, Sir Thomas (c.1574-1633), kt. Elder son of Thomas Beckingham (c.1547-96) and his wife Mary, probably daughter of Thomas Hill of Dalby (Lincs), born about 1574. Educated at St John's College, Oxford (matriculated 1590) and Lincoln's Inn (admitted 1593). JP for Essex, 1601-03, 1609-13, 1616-26; an officer in the Essex foot militia, 1607-11 (Capt.); a commissioner for sewers in Essex, 1607-18; MP for Sudbury (Suffk), 1604-12. In 1613 he was removed from the Essex bench and received a licence to travel abroad for three years, facts which taken together suggest he may have been heavily in debt. He was knighted by King James I at Hampton Court (Middx), 5 August 1603. He married 1st, 27 December 1596 at Stoke-by-Nayland (Suffk), Elizabeth (d. 1625), daughter of Sir William Waldegrave of Smallbridge, nr. Sudbury (Suffk), and 2nd, March 1627, at Buxhall (Suffk), Katherine* (d. 1642?), daughter of William Cotton (d. 1561) of Panfield (Essex) and widow of Thomas Rivett MP (1553-1610) of Rattlesden (Suffk), and had issue:

(1.1) William Beckingham (1598-1625) (q.v.);

(1.2) Thomas Beckingham (1599-1600), born 4 February and baptised at Tolleshunt Major, 15 February 1598/9; died in infancy and was buried at Tolleshunt Major, 6 May 1600;

(1.3) Stephen Beckingham (1600-15?), born 1 March and baptised at Tolleshunt Major, 11 March 1599/1600; probably the man of this name buried at Tolleshunt Major, 3 April 1615;

(1.4) Jemima Beckingham (c.1601-79), born about 1601; married, 1623 (licence 7 July), Rev. Immanuel Bourne (c.1591-1672), rector of Ashover (Derbys), 1622-42 and of Waltham-le-Wolds (Leics), 1656 and Aylestone (Leics), 1670-72, and had issue four sons and five daughters; buried at Ashover, 21 June 1679; will proved 1679;

(1.5) Elizabeth Beckingham (b. 1602), born 3 June and baptised at Tolleshunt Major, 20 June 1602;

(1.6) Thomas Beckingham (b. & d. 1603), born 17 December and baptised at Tolleshunt Major, 27 December 1603; died in infancy and was buried at Tolleshunt Major, 18 March 1603/4.

He inherited Beckingham Hall from his father in 1596, but had sold most of his estate by 1620, retaining only the house and a modest acreage.

He died 3 September and was buried at Tolleshunt Major, 15 September 1633. His first wife was buried at Tolleshunt Major, 14 April 1625. His widow may be the Katherine Beckingham buried at Pleasley (Derbys), 23 August 1642.

* Most sources give her name as Katherine, but the bishop's transcript of the parish register entry for her marriage to Sir Thomas gives it as Jane or Joan.

Beckingham, William (1598-1625). Eldest son of Sir Thomas Beckingham (c.1574-1633) and his first wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Waldegrave of Smallbridge, Sudbury (Suffk), baptised at Tolleshunt Major, 19 February 1597/8. Possibly the [forename unknown] Beckingham educated at Jesus College, Cambridge (matriculated 1616). He married, about 1622, Palludia (d. 1631), daughter of [forename unknown] Wood and widow of Thomas French (d. 1621), and had issue:

(1) William Beckingham (c.1622-56), baptised at Frating (Essex), 2 January 1622/3; probably the man of this name who was a ward of the Crown; inherited the Beckingham Hall estate from his grandfather in 1633, but perhaps sold it to his great-uncle, Stephen Beckingham (fl. 1656); he lived subsequently at St. Osyth (Essex); married 1st, 1647 (licence 6 August), Elizabeth Sammes, and had issue one son and one daughter; married 2nd, after 1651, Anne [surname unknown]; buried at St Andrew, Holborn, 19 February 1655/6;

(2) Henry Beckingham (c.1625-68), born about 1625; citizen and merchant taylor of London; married, 21 March 1657 at Stepney (Middx), Martha Bedell, and had issue one son; buried at St Andrew Undershaft, London, 7 April 1668; will proved in the PCC, 9 April 1668.

He died in the lifetime of his father, and was buried at Tolleshunt Major, 7 November 1625; administration of his goods was granted to his widow, 1 December 1625. His widow died about 1631; her will was proved in the PCC, 30 November 1631.

Beckingham, Stephen (b. c.1580; fl. 1656). Younger son of Thomas Beckingham (c.1547-96) and his wife Mary, probably the daughter of Thomas Hill of Dalby (Lincs), born about 1580*. He married 1st, Ann [surname unknown] and 2nd, about 1628, Agnes Cox, and had issue:

(1.1) Stephen Beckingham (c.1617-57) (q.v.);

(1.2) Anne Beckingham (b. 1621), baptised at Tolleshunt d'Arcy, 22 January 1621/2;

(1.3) Eliza Beckingham (b. 1626), baptised at Tolleshunt d'Arcy, 10 April 1626;

(2.1) James Beckingham (b. 1629), baptised at Tolleshunt d'Arcy, 23 December 1629;

(2.2) Sarah Beckingham (b. c.1632), born about 1632; married, 1660/1 (licence 18 February), as his second wife, John Ayres (b. c.1620) of Southwark, haberdasher.

He inherited the Frame or Freme Farm at Tolleshunt d'Arcy from his father in 1596, and probably purchased the Beckingham Hall estate from his great nephew in about 1635, selling it in 1636 to Sir Thomas Adams.

He was living in 1656 but probably died soon after his son. His first wife died about 1626-27. His second wife's date of death is unknown.

* He was under 17 when his father wrote his will in 1596. 

Beckingham, Stephen (c.1617-57). Elder son of Stephen Beckingham (b. c.1580; fl. 1656) and his first wife Ann [surname unknown], born about 1617. Educated at Grays Inn (admitted 1636). He married, about 1645, Mary Sawbridge, and had issue:

(1) Stephen Beckingham (1647-1736) (q.v.);

(2) Robert Beckingham (b. 1648), baptised at Tolleshunt d'Arcy, 13 December 1648;

(3) Mary Beckingham (b. 1650), baptised at Tolleshunt d'Arcy, 18 April 1650;

(4) John Beckingham (b. 1652), baptised at Tolleshunt d'Arcy, 18 March 1651/2;

(5) Ann Beckingham (b. 1656), baptised at St Andrew, Holborn (Middx), 31 March 1656; probably the woman of this name who married, 1691, Robert Squibb (b. c.1642) of Highgate (Middx).

He inherited the Frame or Freme Farm in Tolleshunt d'Arcy from his father.

He died in February 1656/7; his will was proved in the PCC, 27 February 1656/7. His wife's date of death is unknown.

Beckingham, Stephen (1647-1736). Eldest son of Stephen Beckingham (c.1617-57) and his wife Mary, baptised at Tolleshunt d'Arcy (Essex), 12 August 1647. Educated at Jesus College, Cambridge (admitted 1665) and Grays Inn (admitted 1666; called 1671; ancient 1688; fined for refusing call to the bench of the inn, 1699). Barrister-at-law. He married, 1690 (licence 24 December), Sarah Phillips (b. c.1668), and had issue:

(1) Mary Beckingham (1691-98), baptised at St Andrew, Holborn (Middx), 5 January 1691/2; died young and was buried at St Andrew, Holborn, 5 July 1698;

(2) Sarah Beckingham (b. & d. 1693), baptised at St Andrew, Holborn (Middx), 18 January 1692/3; died in infancy and was buried 17 February 1692/3;

(3) Sarah Beckingham (1694-1749), baptised at St Andrew, Holborn, 1 May 1694; died unmarried and was buried at St Andrew, Holborn, 13 May 1749;

(4) Stephen Beckingham (1695-97), baptised at St Andrew, Holborn, 4 August 1695; died in infancy and was buried at St Andrew, Holborn, 10 October 1697;

(5) Elizabeth Beckingham (1696-1702), baptised at St Andrew, Holborn, 13 October 1696; died young and was buried at St Andrew, Holborn, 21 November 1702;

(6) Stephen Beckingham (1697-1756) of Bourne Park [for whom see my post on the Aucher family of Bourne Park];

(7) Anne Beckingham (1699-1751), baptised at St Andrew, Holborn, 21 April 1699; died unmarried and was buried at St Andrew, Holborn, 5 April 1751; will proved 16 April 1751;

(8) Susanna Beckingham (d. 1739); died unmarried and was buried at St Andrew, Holborn, 12 August 1739; 

(9) George Beckingham (b. 1704), baptised at St Andrew, Holborn, 9 August 1704; evidently died young but burial not found;

(10) Mary Beckingham (1705-11), baptised at St Andrew, Holborn, 10 January 1705/6; died young and was buried at St Andrew, Holborn, 7 July 1711;

(11) George Beckingham (1708-10), baptised at St Andrew, Holborn, 23 April 1708; died in infancy and was buried at St Andrew, Holborn, 4 July 1710.

He lived at Brook St., London, and inherited Frame or Freme Farm in Tolleshunt d'Arcy from his father, which he rebuilt in the 1720s or 1730s.

He died in Brook St., London, 1 May 1736; his will was proved 8 May 1736. His wife died between 1708 and 1731 and was buried at St Andrew, Holborn.

Principal sources

P. Morant, History and Antiquities of Essex, vol. 1, 1768, p. 390; 

http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1604-1629/member/beckingham-sir-thomas-1574-1633; 

https://beckingham.info/salis.html;

https://www.essexarchivesonline.co.uk/result_details.aspx?ThisRecordsOffSet=7&id=1215892

Location of archives

No significant accumulation is known to survive, but some estate records will be found among the records of the New England Company [London Metropolitan Archives, CLC/540]

Coat of arms

Argent, a fesse embattled, ermine, between 3 escallops sable. 

Can you help?

• Can anyone provide 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 to any part of this article 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 9 October 2022.