The Marland Family

History in print

From Owen Manning and William Bray, History and Antiquities of the County of Surrey (1814)

pp. 586-587 Copthorne Hundred: Banstead

The Manor of Preston and the Advowson of the Church belonging to it:

Preston adjoins to North Tadworth. There was formerly a Mansion House: a moat appears to have encompassed about two acres and an half of land, at one angle of which is a hillock composed of the rubbish of a building, out of which have been dug up divers pieces of painted glass, fragments of windows, &c. There was also a Church or Chapel dedicated to St Leonard, traces of which still remain (1809), but the greater part of the foundations were, some years ago, made use of in building the barn that now stands there. Mr. Aubrey says, that in his time there were not the least remains.

In 18 Henry VI 1440 Sir Thomas Chetwood knt conveyed to Thomas Morsted and Elizabeth his wife (who by a subsequent deed appears to be sister of Chetwood) the Manor of Preston com. Surrey, with the Advowson of the Church of St Leonard there. There were various conveyances and re-conveyances of the estate in the subsequent parts of this reign and the next In the 8 Edward IV. 1461 a recovery was suffered of the Manor by Writ of Right in the King's Court, because John Prior of Tanrigge, who was Chief Lord of the fee, domino Regi inde remisit Curiam suam; John Packington recovered against Elizabeth Ludsopp widow (probably the same Elizabeth as is abovementioned to be the wife of Morsted) to whom several of the Trustees had released, and then he conveyed the estate to Sir Richard Illingworth Knt, Chief Baron of the Exchequer, Nicholas Gaynsford, John Gaynsford. Esquires. Robert Bassett, Citizen and Alderman of London, Henry Merland, William Merston, Thomas Stedoft, and Edward Shaw.

5 Dec. 12 Edward IV. 1473 William Uvedale (the younger son of Sir Thomas Uvedale Knt.) and Elizabeth his wife, sister and heir of Sir Thomas Chetwood, released the estate to Sir Richard Illingworth late Baron of the Exchequer, Nicholas and John Gaynsford, and others, with warranty against Thomas Abbat of Westminster, and his successors.

Illingworth was at this time a Trustee for Henry Merland of the Manor of Westbergh as is before stated: it is to be presumed that this conveyance was in trust for Richard Merland. Accordingly there is a conveyance of it to Richard Merland (who was son and heir of Henry Merland as before observed) by a deed dated 8 May anno Domini 1484. it is remarkable that in this deed the reign of the King is not mentioned; the date is in the month of May next after the accession of Richard III, which took place in the August preceding.

The Manors of Westbergh and Preston being thus come to the hands of Richard Merland, he made a settlement of them 16 June 4 Henry VII, 1489, on himself and Elizabeth his wife and their issue. Richard Merland was succeeded by Nicholas, who was living 13 Henry VIII, 1522, and died about the 27 Henry VIII, 1535, in which year Edward Merland (son and heir of Nicholas Merland and Christina his wife, one of the two daughters and heirs of John West deceased) sued out a general livery of his lands in England, Wales, Cales, and the marches of the same, which had been in the King's hands by the minority of Edward. This Edward, by deed dated in the 34th year of that reign, 1543, and by a recovery, settled these Manors on himself and Frances his wife (daughter of Nicholas Leigh Esq. of Addington) with remainder to Arthur Merland and Matthew Merland successively in tail, with the ultimate remainder to himself in fee.

Edward Merland was an extravagant man, and having several children, his friends being afraid that he would reduce his family to absolute distress, prevailed on him to vest his life-estate in Trustees for the benefit of himself and his wife and children; accordingly in 7 Edward VI 1554 he demised his Manors and lands to Sir Arthur Darcy and Francis Carew for 99 years if he should so long live, under a rent of £4 so long as he should not grant or sell the same, but if he should do so, then under the rent of a peppercorn only; the Trustees undertook to find his wife and children in convenient and decent apparel, meat, drink, lodging and other necessaries at £12 a year each, and convenient house-room and fuel during the life of Edward, and to repair the houses, and answer all rents and services to the King and other Lords. Edward Merland died 30 Nov. 1559. His wife survived him and afterwards married Robert Moys of Canons in this parish. Arthur and Matthew Merland died before her without issue; Richard her son also died before her without issue male. She died seised of these Manors 7 Jan. 1595-6 leaving William her eldest surviving son by Edward Merland heir to her and to his father then aged 38; it appears therefore that William was born after the settlement made by Edward in 1543. On 27 Nov. 40 Elizabeth 1598 William had livery of these estates, in which instrument the above circumstances are stated. This William Merland by Ann his wife had three sons, Francis, Bartholomew, and William, of whom Francis joined with him in letting a lease in 1609, and in levying a fine in Michaelmas Term 8 James I, 1611, but must have died soon after, as in Michaelmas Term in the following year Bartholomew joined with his father William in levying a fine, and in a deed on that occasion is styled son and heir apparent of William.

3 Jan. 1614 by bargain and sale inrolled in Chancery William Merland, and his sons Bartholomew and Edward, conveyed these Manors, and the Advowsons belonging to them to Christopher Buckle Esq. This gentleman was of an ancient family of that name at Burgh (now called Brough) under Stainmore in the County of Westmoreland, and was son of Sir Cuthbert Buckle Knt, Lord Mayor of London in 1598. From him the estate has descended to Christopher Buckle Esq. the present owner (1809) being the 8th of the name of Christopher as appears by the Pedigree.

See also the extract from the Victoria County History of Surrey