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  • Posted on: 6 January 2010
  • By: David Thrale

In 1773 whilst listening to an account of the history of the Maclean family, Dr Samuel Johnson retorted …

I'd rather hear the history of the Thrales.

Now you can.

Thrale history

All Thrale and Thrall families are thought to originate from Thrale's End and Sandridge in Hertfordshire in south east England - about 20 miles north-north-west of London.

You can read the family motto; family history dating back to the 13th century; how the Thrale family received the Broad Arrow for saving the life of Princess Elizabeth; are connected to Nomansland; and, see Ralph Thrale's 18th century goblet. We also have the Thrale coat of arms and the Thrale family book, A New Thraliana.

Also read about the most famous Thrale family - Henry and Hester Thrale. Henry owned the Thrale brewery, at one time the largest in the world. Hester was an author, and we have many writings by Hester, her daughter's Queeney and Sophia. We also show their burial vault.

Thrall history

In 1630 William Thrall of Sandridge emigrated to America with a group of Puritans on the ship the “Mary and John”. You can also see Emily Thrall's 1870 family bible entries or about Charles Holmes Thrall's career as a spy.

Genealogical records

For genealogists, we have the most comprehensive Thrale and Thrall family trees dating back to 1500 (including three English Kings), birth, marriage, census, and death records, wills, obituaries and epitaphs, graves and monuments for British and American branches of the family.

You can read Walter G Thrall’s 1862 genealogy book, join the hunt for William Thrall's English ancestors, or help in other ways.

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