Reference
A1-43
Title
Deeds of Norton Family of Sharpenhoe Manor
Production date
From: 1554 To: 1647
Admin/biog history
There were two Norton families in Sharpenhoe from the middle of the 16th century
1. Norton of Sharpenhoe Manor: Thomas Norton leased the manor from Sir.J.Huddylston on 1 Dec 1554 (A8). Thomas Norton junior of London, gentleman purchased it in 1579, Peter and John Osborn presumably acting as trustees, from Edmund Mordaunt of Oakley (A7 and A8). Gravely Norton, grandson of Thomas the purchaser sold it in 1646 (VCH). The deeds in the Austin Collection for this period are in the Smith Collection.
2. The other Norton family seems to have been connected with the first family. The Nortons of Sharpenhoe Manor certainly acted as trustees for this humbler family and the two families joined (again?) when fishmonger Richard of London married Gravely's sister Lettice. This family sprang from a Richard who was described as yeoman in 1554 but was a gentleman by the time of his death. He and his son made the following purchases:
- Clarke's with 94 acres in Sharpenhoe in 1554 (A1-2);
- one acre in Sharpenhoe in 1559;
- a cottage and land in Sharoenhoe in 1571 (A4-6);
- Peacock's with 76 acres in Sharpenhoe in 1592 (A9-11)
By 1599 they also owned a messuage called Carrington's.
Fishmonger Richard, who was a younger son by a second marriage, purchased all this property from his father and stepbrother for £500 in 1621 (A23-24). In the next few years he purchased another two closes and in 1628/9 a messuage, cottage and closes and 44 acres of land (A38). In 1634 he married Lettice Norton. By this time he was owner of the Manor of Barton (C250) and when his son Luke married in 1654 he was a well-to-do esquire.
Level of description
sub-fonds