Thrale/Thrall history
Earliest Thrale family history
Details of the earliest known records for Thrale places or people.
People
The earliest record of any Thrale are thought to be:- John Thral in the 1309 Subsidy Rolls for Bedfordshire; and
- William le Thral in the 1332 Subsidy Rolls for Sussex.
The furthest back that a currently living individual is known to have traced unbroken ancestry is Robert Thrale who died in 1538 in Sandridgebury, Hertfordshire.
Graves
Robert Thrale who died in 1538 in Sandridgebury, Hertfordshire, was according to his will, buried in the “the medle Aley” of St Leonard’s Church.The earliest known grave of which any trace remains is in the graveyard outside St. Leonard’s Church in Sandridge village lies is the tomb of Susanah Thrale who died on 15th November 1751 Aged 23.
It is likely that many ancient Thrale graves in St Leonard’s Church, Sandridge were removed during the 1888 clearance of the graveyard.
Places
The Thrales are thought to have originated around the Hundred of Flitt in Bedfordshire and of it’s parishes Clophill, Barton, Gravenhurst (Upper & Lower). Higher Gobian and Pulloxhill are of special significance, but paramount is the parish of Luton with its manors of East and West Hyde which border on to the hamlet of Thrales End.12th-century
1309
The earliest records of any Thrale is in the Subsidy Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1309 which shows William le Thral to have been liable for 3 shillings and Johanne Thral for 2 shillings.1329
In 1329, Richard le Threl and William le Threl were witnesses to a grant of land called Sparrows in Thrales End which is the earliest reference to that hamlet.1332
Richard le Threl was mentioned in the 1332 Sussex Subsidy Rolls.1355
Richard Thrale of Westhyd, Luyton, granted to William Goffe in 1355 a croft 'vinis, sepibus et fossatis' - with vines, hedges and ditches at Westhyd, and was witnessed by William and Robert Thrale.1359
Four years later in 1359, William and Richard Thrale were connected with a grant of land at Hydefeld.1376 and 1381
Johannes Trayle is recorded as being Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire constituency in 1376 and Chevalier Member of Parliament in 1381.13th-century
1487
Edward Thrale of Luton was ordained as a priest in Lincoln on 31 March 14871493-4
In 1493-4, a Thrale - probably Edward, of Luton - became a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Cambridge.Robert Thrale held Tuffnalls at Thrales End in 1493. From Robert the elder descended the Thrale family that became the most prominent family in Sandridge over the next 300 years.16th-century
1512
Michael Thrale was born about 1512 at a place called Farley alias St. Lukes and later lived at Luton Hoo.1541
Johannes Trayle was Chevalier Member of Parliament for Bedford Borough in 1541.1542
Michael Thrale was Member of Parliament for Bedford with William Johnson in 1542 and was also an Under Sheriff of Hertfordshire who was involved in many Chancery cases. Apparently, a gentleman, at Hertford was accused of rigging a Jury as Under Sheriff while dealing with a dispute over tithe pay at North Mymms.In another case, Michael Thrale did not panel jurors as to a wrongful entry into a messuage in Luton and called the plaintiff, Robert Daldern "a false perpetual knave."
Michael Thrale was also in conflict with a bevvy of citizens concerning the marking of timber. More conflict was with Richard Farmer merchant of the Staple at Calais over Luton Hoo and the mill called Stapleford. The farmer served his writ not only against Michael Thrale but also William Collyn.
Further suits against Michael Thrale and his wife Elizabeth were made by Edward Hickman of Hawnes over land. Michael then sued Edward Bardolf of Harpenden. Following this he had to answer complaints by John Pruddon, a miller of Luton, concerning the sale of forty sheep, while Michael Thrale was at Thrales Purslayes in 1564.