10 Jul Lordship Title of Whitwick or Thurleigh ID1318
Posted at 20:03h
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The family of Hervy or Harvey, whose property in this parish was later known as WHITWICK or THURLEIGH MANOR, appear to have been established in this part of Bedfordshire from the 12th century. Henry Harvey was settled here in the reign of Richard I, and was succeeded by a son, also Henry, in the following reign. Osbert Harvey his son died 1205–6, and his son Adam married Joan daughter and heir of John Fitz Hugh. Their son John married Joan daughter of John Harman of Thurleigh, who is said to have brought this property to her husband. It is certain that in 1278–9 Hamon son of Peter held half a virgate of Reginald de Grey as of his manor of Thurleigh, of which Whitwick is subsequently found held. John Harvey appears to have come originally from Riseley (q.v.), an adjoining parish, where in 1278 one Hervic de Risley held 1 virgate of land of the Prior of St. John, and where a branch of his family continued to hold. He died in 1297 and was succeeded by a son William, who married Mary daughter and heir of Richard Foliot. He died in 1376, and two years later his son John Harvey received a life exemption from being put on assizes, juries, attaints or inquisitions and from appointment as mayor, sheriff, escheator, coroner, justice, constable, collector of tenths, fifteenths or other subsidies or quotas, arrayer, leader (ductor) or trier of men-at-arms, hobelers or archers, or other minister of the king against his will. In spite of this exemption from public duty he acted as justice of the peace and commissioner of array for Bedford between 1382 and 1394, and as knight of the shire in 1386. His son John Harvey died before 1419 and lies buried in Thurleigh Church. His son John Harvey was Master of the King's Ordnance in 1461, and died c. 1475. His son, who married Agnes daughter of Nicholas Morley, appears to have predeceased him, but Agnes, married to a third husband, Paston, held the manor till her death in 1510–11, when her heir was her son by her first husband, George Harvey. George Harvey had an illegitimate son Gerard Smart, to whom he devised Thurleigh Manor by will. Gerard, who assumed the name of Harvey, made a settlement of Thurleigh in 1553. He was member of Parliament for Bedford in 1554, but by 1569 had been succeeded by his son John Harvey. He died in 1594–5, leaving seven sons and three daughters, Oliver the eldest son inheriting Thurleigh Manor. In 1605 Oliver Harvey received a visit from James I, who stayed two nights at his house. He died in 1627 and was succeeded by his son John Harvey, who is found making a settlement of the manor on the occasion of his marriage to Elizabeth daughter of Stephen Harvey in 1631–2. He still held the manor in 1651, when it is found for the first time under the name of Whitwick, having hitherto been known as Thurleigh Manor. His son John Harvey settled the manor by fine in 1703, but on his death in 1715 this property was sold in accordance with the instructions contained in his will. Whitwick Manor thus passed to Sir John Holt, the eminent lord chief justice, and was held in 1744 by Rowland Holt. In 1790–1 it was sold to the Duke of Bedford by Thomas Holt for £1, 796, and in 1880 was purchased from the duke's successor by William Thomson.
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Listed in the Domesday Book:
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