Catalogue description Deeds

Relating to

The manor of Sturston alias Sturston Hall, with lands &c. in Sturston, Tottington, and Stanford, conveyed by John Jermyn Esq. to Nicholas Bedingfield Esq., Francis Bedingfield Esq., Francis Bedingfield gent., and Francis Bedingfield gent. son of Henry Bedingfield Esq., in exchange for the manor of Bigottes in West Tofts, 1624. In 1629 the other purchasers quitclaimed to Francis son of Henry Bedingfield. In 1729 John Bedingfield Esq. son of William Bedingfield gent. sold the manor to William Bullock gent.

The rectory of Sturston, with the advowson of the vicarage, tithes in Sturston and Tottington, and (from 1695 only) messuage called Fryetts in Tottington, purchased in 1634 by Sir Robert Crane knight and bart., Isaac Crane gent., and William Germyn gent. from Sir Henry Mildmay knight and William Goulding Esq. In same year it was conveyed to Nicholas Bedingfield Esq., Francis Bedingfield gent. and Francis Bedingfield gent.. In 1647 it was leased for term of 99 years by Henry Bedingfield Esq. to Luke Constable gent., and it was conveyed to Constable by Bedingfield's trustees in 1652, and in 1665 it was settled on Jane wife of Dr. Robert Brady of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, Constable's daughter. In 1668 it was settled on Dr. Brady who then conveyed it to Henry Bedingfield gent., and Gregory Lovell gent.. Finally following various mortgages and settlements by the Bedingfields, it was sold by John Bedingfield to William Bullock with the manor in 1729. Thomas Bullock entered into various mortgages, which were assigned to William de Grey in 1769-70, when he purchased the freehold. In 1770 Mary widow of Thomas Bullock released an annuity to de Grey. Documents include copy of letters patent of Henry VIII dated 1536 granting the rectory, among other possessions of the monastery of Little Dunmow, to Robert Earl of Sussex; exemplification (coloured) of exchequer decree of 1601 in case between Robert, Earl of Sussex, and Edmond Jermyn Esq. re 400a. and a foldcourse for 500 sheep belonging to the said rectory; arbitration award of 1641 between Henry Bedingfield Esq., the owner of the rectory, and Francis Bedingfield gent., the lord of the manor, re bounds of said foldcourse; probate copies of Wills of Luke Constable Esq. of Swaffham, dated 1660 and proved 1661, Henry Bedingfield gent. of Tottington, dated and proved 1694, William Bedingfield gent. of Norwich, dated and proved 1703; extract from Will of William Bullock gent. of Sturston dated 1739; lease for 21 years from Thomas Bullock to William Smith of Sturston Hall Farm 1761.

With same, the following documents relating to Stanford Rectory:-

Faculty to demolish chancel of Stanford Church 1753; lease for twenty years from Thomas Younge to William Smith of great tithes on his farm in Stanford 1768; correspondence and papers of William de Grey also re purchase of Sturston estate from the Bullock family and estate matters, inc. letters from Thomas de Grey, Phillip Case of Lynn, and others, tithe account 1771-5, and copy of Will of Thomas Younge grocer of Watton dated 1761; assignment by Case (Younge's executor) to de Grey of lease for 21 years of 1766 from the Bishop of Ely of Stanford Rectory, 1766; lease for seven years from the Bishop of Ely to William de Grey of same, 1775.