Gresham, Kt. (Lord Mayor of London 1547), who had already acquired large estates at Titsey and elsewhere in the neighbourhood, together with the adjoining manor of Warlingham. Upon his death, in 1556, he devised it by will to Katherine his wife, for her life, with remainder to his third son, Edmond Gresham. She died in January, 1576–7.
Edmond Gresham, who succeeded, was of Thorpe Market, in the county of Norfolk, and a mercer of London. He died in 1586, and by his will devised this manor to his son Richard Gresham, and he, on 30th October, 1558, sold it to John Ownstead and Joan his wife. This having been done without royal license, the estate was seized into the queen's hands, and it was not until 1594 that, upon payment of a fine of 8l. 17s. 9¼d., license was granted to Richard Gresham and Anne his wife to alienate the manor of Sanderstead, with the advowson, 800 acres of land, 60 of meadow, 500 of pasture, 300 of wood, 700 of furze and heath, and 20l. rent.
This John Ownstead was serjeant of the queen's carriages, an office which he had held for King Edward VI., and which involved the duty of providing horses and carriages for the queen during her progresses through the country. He married at Addington, 13th February, 1576, Joan, widow of John Leigh, Esq., of Addington, and daughter and sole heir of Sir John Oliph, Kt., of East "Wickham. She was buried at Addington, 27th July, 1593.[1] He died on the 9th August, 1600, aged sixty-six, and was buried in Sanderstead Church. On the south wall of the chancel is a monument in alabaster, to him: he is represented as a man in armour kneeling before a desk. Leaving no issue, he by his will devised this manor, after the death of his second wife Margaret, to his cousin, Harman Atwood.[2]
- ↑ Manning (Hist. of Surrey, vol. ii. p. 569) makes a confusion between her and Joan, the widow of John Ownsted, the father, who died 18th January, 1587, and was buried at Sanderstead.
- ↑ Unstedbury Wood, in the parish, is doubtless called after some member of this family, of whom I find William Ownsted living here 14 Hen. VIII., John Ownsted 34 Hen. VIII., Robert Ownsted
