Catalogue description Hussey family of Salisbury, and later of Crewkerne

This collection relates to the Hussey family of Maincombe, Crewkerne, and to their estates in Somerset, Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire.

Hussey family of Wiltshire and Somerset

S/2204

• Somerset
• Dorset
• Hampshire
• Wiltshire

The creation of the family estates was evidently begun during the life of John Hussey I (d.1739), successively alderman and mayor of Salisbury, Wilts, who bought the manor of Upper Eldon, Hants, in 1738 to add to property already held by him in Salisbury. The sons of his two marriages added significantly to the estate: John Hussey II (d.1747) may have acquired the family's property in Fordingbridge, Hants, through his marriage to Mary, daughter of Thomas Light; Ambrose Hussey I (d.1748) held lands at Mosterton, Dorset, in 1725, and William Hussey I (1724-1813), (M.P. for St Germans 1765-8, for Hindon 1768-74 and for Salisbury 1774-1813), purchased the manor itself with a small estate annexed in 1757. (For his distinguished political career see R G Thorne, The House of Commons, 1790-1820). He acquired the manor of Creech St Michael in 1768 and Bredy Farm in Burton Bradstock, Dorset, in 1804; but his most significant purchase was made in 1801 when he acquired the freehold of the rectory manor of Crewkerne, having had a leasehold interest since 1766.

By his will, dated 1809, William Hussey divided the bulk of his property between his great nephews Ambrose Hussey II of Salisbury and John Hussey III (1789-1849) of Salisbury and Lyme Regis. John's share, left to him in tail male, included at least the Crewkerne, Mosterton and Burton Bradstock estates and was said by him to be worth 'something above £3000 pa gross'. He purchased Graston Farm in Burton Bradstock in 1814, the farm being sold in 1825 and then repurchased in 1864 by John's son, Thomas Hussey II (d.1894). By his will, Thomas of Highcliffe in Lympstone, Devon, and Crewkerne, settled the estates in tail male. The first tenant-for-life was his brother John IV (d.1896), the estates then descending to the latter's son Augustus Henry (d.1933) and grandson Hubert (b. 1887).

Most of the family's out-county property had been sold by 1947, and the Crewkerne estate, which covered 499 a. in 1842, had been reduced to some 400 a. by 1976. The family seat, Maincombe, has been occupied by the Hussey's since 1903-4, though much of it was demolished in about 1948. It is a mansion in a 'debased Georgian style'.

Of all the transactions described above (many traceable in J Hutchins, The History and Antiquities of Dorset (1863 ed.) vol. ii, and the VCH Somerset vol. iv), the collection itself provides an imperfect reflection. The family's early acquisitions in Salisbury and Hampshire have left only a scattering of documents, and there is nothing referring to William Hussey I's ownership of the manor of Creech St Michael (for which see DD/HWD). The manor of Mosterton is better recorded, but the bulk of the collection is naturally made up of deeds etc, relating to the Crewkerne estate. Some personal and political correspondence, including a letter from Sir Robert Peel, comprises the most interesting of the family papers. The collection was in great disarray on receipt and included almost no original deed bundles. These have been recreated so far as possible and other documents have been grouped as seemed appropriate.

For copies of documents cognate with this collection see T/PH/hsy 1 & 2 (survey of manor of Crewkerne, 1599, and 'Plan and Survey of the Parsonage, Crewkerne', 1772). Other documents cited in the VCH Somerset vol. iv, but not included in this collection, are evidently still in the family's possession.

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