Thrale history

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The descent from the first Robert to the present day family living in St. Albans is uninterrupted, and the earlier part of the line has already been fully told as far as Richard Thrale of Marshalswick and his five sons. The story now to be recounted will show many vicissitudes, varying from substantial wealth and happiness to near poverty and near oblivion. Already the story of one of Richard's five sons, Ralph, has just been told. His three brothers John, William, and Thomas lived together for many years and it would therefore seem logical to firstly tell of the last and eldest brother Richard Thrale who inherited Marshalswick from his father.

He had married Anne Andrews, and it will be recalled that his No Mans Land kinsmen of the same generation had married Elizabeth and Abigail Andrews, these girls having John Andrews as their brother. The affluence of the family must have been considerable. He had a large family, five sons like his father, but three daughters as well. His children were still minors at the time of his death in 1711 and John Andrews and brother John Thrale were trustees. His son Richard was to inherit Greens, which is on the present Harpenden Road, and gives its name to the New Greens housing estate and which was at that time in Sandridge parish. Richard also received Little Copyhold Field in St. Michaels 'abutting on the highway leading from St. Albans towards Luton'. Thomas, the eldest son, was to carry on at Marshalswick, and financial provision was made for the other sons and three daughters in that the estate was left in trust with privilege to Thomas to pay off his brothers' and sisters' claims. About forty acres were involved.¹ One, Robert Jenkyn, of Harpenden, gentleman, verified a small codicil stating that Richard Thrale was 'lying sick in his bed and being lifted up whereby to execute the same, he departed this life within a little time'. Further mention will be made of the Jenkyns later.

Thomas Thrale inherited Marshalswick and although always described as a gentleman, was obviously on the decline. In 1724 he settled the property on his intended and later actual wife Elizabeth Smith, daughter of John Smith; the property then being described as:

     Marshalls Wick - 5 acres.
     Fearney Croft - 15 acres.

Footnotes

1. Archd. St. Albans Reg. 219 Eling.↩︎