There is something mythical - at least in my bit of the Thrale family - about Nomansland. Thrale family legend is that Nomansland in Sandridge really belongs to the Thrale family. However, the problem was proving this as the deeds proving Thrale ownership were lost. This is the story that my late father Kenneth Thrale told me as a child. Even today my Uncle Brian still recounts this injustice!
All Thrale's owe Richard a debt of gratitude for the authoritative work that he has done to document our history.
William Thrall is the founder of the Thrall family in the United States. He was born in 1605 in Sandridge, Hertfordshire, England and came to the Colonies on the "Mary and John" in the year 1630. The "Mary and John" was a vessel of four hundred tons captained by a man named Squeb and the vessel sailed with 180 passengers.
The Thrale family returned to the village of Sandridge when Norman Thrale opened a baker's shop at Wycombe Place at the Quadrant in 1965, some 80 years after the death of William Thrale in 1883 who farmed Nomansland and was the last Thrale to live in Sandridge.
Water End, Sandridge (now Wheathampstead), on the north bank of the Lea, about a mile south-west of Ayot St. Peter, is a fine old brick mansion here engraved. It was probably built by Sir John Jennings a well to do Hertfordshire land owner in about 1610.
In 1951 Earl Spencer of Althorp offered the estate for sale by auction which included the house, Bury Farm and five enclosures of arable land. It then became Aylesford House School which had moved from London Road in St Albans. Later Aylesford House was absorbed by Hardenwick School.
Ralph Thrale of Sandridge (born before 16 November 1766) possessed the goblet shown here.
Thomas Thrale's will was witnessed and written on 8 September 1600. On 23 September, an inventory of Thomas Thrale's possessions was written. Therefore we can conclude that Thomas died in the short period between these two dates, and that he bequeathed his worldly possessions from his death bed during the last few days of his life.
Johnathan died in 1768.
In the name of God, Amen. I Jonathan Parsons of the parish of Sandridge, in the county of Hertford, victualer, being of sound mind and disposing mind, memory and understanding, praised be God for the same Do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament