(144) Anguish of Great Melton Hall and Somerleyton Hall

Anguish family

The Anguish family were prominent in the affairs of the city of Norwich in the 17th century and a number of members of the family acquired lands around the city. The leading figure was Thomas Anguish (c.1538-1617), who was Mayor of Norwich in 1611 and founded a children's hospital charity in the city. He purchased the manor of Great Melton in 1609 and shortly afterwards built a new E-plan manor house there, which survived largely intact into the 20th century, although only fragments of the walls now remain. His brother, Edmund Anguish (d. 1616), acquired lands at Moulton which became the core of the family's property in later generations, although they never built a country house there.  The two branches of the family remained closely linked throughout the 17th century following the marriage of the son and daughter of Richard Anguish (d. 1628) of Moulton to the daughter and second son of Edmund Anguish (1574-1657) of Great Melton in the 1630s.

The heir of Edmund Anguish (1574-1657) at Great Melton was his son John Anguish (d. 1692), who in 1690 settled the estate on his daughter Anne and her husband, Edmund Woodhouse.  Woodhouse sold it in 1700 and in 1713 it passed to the Lombe (later Evans-Lombe) family and descended with their Bylaugh Hall estate.  The Moulton property remained in the family much longer, passing from Richard Anguish to his son Thomas Anguish (d. 1653) and then to the latter's son, Edmund Anguish (1637-99). His elder surviving son, Sir Richard Anguish (c.1669-1725), 1st bt., inherited the Somerleyton estate from Sir Thomas Allin, 1st bt., and changed his name to Allin.  The Moulton property afterwards descended with the Somerleyton estate, although many members of the Anguish family continued to be buried there in the 18th century.

An account of the Allin family and of Somerleyton Hall has already been given in this blog, but in 1794 the line of Sir Richard Allin's male descendants expired and ownership of the Somerleyton estate reverted to Thomas Anguish (1760-1810), a London barrister who had unfortunately recently been declared a lunatic. In the genealogy below I have traced his descent from Sir Richard Allin's younger brother.  Thomas' illness was evidently so severe that he needed permanent care, and he was entrusted to the famous Dr. Francis Willis of Greatford (Lincs), who treated King George III, and subsequently to his sons, who continued his practice. The Somerleyton estate was in practice managed by Thomas' brother, the Rev. George Anguish (1764-1843), who was a prebendary of Norwich Cathedral and lived in the Cathedral close. When Thomas died in 1810, George inherited the estate, and in 1820 he gave up his prebend and seems to have lived at Somerleyton Hall.  George was unmarried, although he did maintain a mistress in London with whom he had an illegtimate family, but when he died his heir was his nephew, Lord Sydney Godolphin Osborne (1789-1861), who promptly sold the Somerleyton estate, bringing the family's connection with it to an end.

Great Melton Hall, Great Melton, Norfolk

Great Melton Hall before abandonment in 1899.

A modest E-plan manor house of brick, built in 1611 for Thomas Anguish but altered later by the addition of bay windows on the wings, a hipped roof, and a substantial, probably early 19th century, two-storey block to the right of the original building.  Victorian photographs show the house had angle turrets on the corners of the wings. The porch had a pedimented entrance and first floor window, and a odd little hipped attic storey, perhaps suggestion it started out as a three-storey tower porch. There were two bays either side of the porch, the outer bay in each case projecting, but not as far as the wings. Chimneystacks were placed on the end walls and at the rear. 

The house was abandoned in 1899, reputedly after plans for a modernisation came to nothing, and slid into dereliction.  Most of it has now been demolished, but some brick walls remain to a height of about fifteen feet with some identifiable features, including a canted bay window. A circular early to mid 18th century brick dovecote stands near the house, and a park was formed around the house about 1770, for which roads were closed in 1768 and 1776.

Descent: estate sold 1609 to Thomas Anguish (d. 1617/8), who built the house; to son, Edmund Anguish (1574-1637); to son, John Anguish (d. 1692); to daughter, Anne Anguish, wife of John Woodhouse, who sold 1700 to Edmund Keene (d. 1723), who sold 1713 to Edward Lombe (d. 1738); to brother, Rev. John Lombe (d. 1746); to niece, Mary Lombe, wife of John Hase; to son, Sir John Lombe (nee Hase) (c.1731-1817), 1st bt.; to half-brother, Edward Lombe (fl. 1841); to kinsman, Rev. Henry Lombe of Bylaugh Park (1792-1878); to son, Rev. Henry Evans Lombe (b. 1819), who let to Capt. Edward Berkeley Mansel...; the estate remains in the Evans-Lombe family.

Somerleyton Hall, Suffolk

A full account of Somerleyton Hall can be found in my post on the Allin family of Somerleyton Hall, baronets.

Anguish family of Melton and Somerleyton

Anguish, Thomas (c.1511-54) of Foulsham (Norfolk). Son of Richard Anguish of Alderford (Norfolk) and his wife, Cecily Rix. He married Anne, daughter of Edmund Themelthorpe alias Thimblethorpe and had issue:
(1) John Anguish (1536-69) of Foulsham; married Catherine (1542-82), daughter of Thomas Townsend of Testerton (Norfolk) and had issue three sons and three daughters;
(2) Edmund Anguish (c.1537-1616) (q.v.);
(3) Thomas Anguish (c.1538-1617/8) (q.v.).
He died about 1554.

Anguish, Thomas (c.1538-1617/8) of Norwich. Youngest son of Thomas Anguish (c.1511-54) of Foulsham and his wife Anne Themelthorpe, born about 1538. Mercer of Norwich, in succession to his father-in-law; freeman, 1573; JP for Norwich; Alderman for Coslany ward, 1600-17; Sheriff of Norwich, 1595-96; Mayor of Norwich, 1611; tragically 33 people were crushed to death in a stampede at his mayoral inauguration after some fireworks exploded accidentally. With his second son he funded the provision of a new organ in Norwich Cathedral. He married, 20 February 1567/8 at St Clement, Norwich, Elizabeth Thurston (d. 1619) and had issue:
(1) John Anguish (1569-71), baptised 30 December 1569; died in infancy and was buried 25 June 1671;
(2) Edmund Anguish (1574-1657) (q.v.);
(3) Alexander Anguish (1577-79), baptised 9 March 1576/7; died in infancy and was buried 17 September 1579;
(4) John Anguish (1578-1643), baptised 25 June 1578; married Mary (1581-1640), daughter of John Aldrich and had issue four sons and two daughters; had Recusant sympathies and was charged in 1616 with attending unlicensed plays in Norwich; buried 24 April 1643;
(5) Alexander Anguish (b. 1579), baptised 11 October 1579, but died young, about 1581;
(6) Richard Anguish BD (1581-1616), baptised 10 August 1581; educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (admitted 1599; BA 1603/4; MA 1607; BD 1614; Fellow 1606-16); a Proctor of the University of Cambridge, 1613; died 1616 and was commemorated by a brass in St Peter Mancroft, Norwich;
(7) Alexander Anguish (1582-1654); Alderman of Norwich; married Catherine (d. 1650), daughter of [forename unknown] Barrett and widow of Simon Davy (d. 1613), and had issue one son and one daughter; buried 26 July 1654;
(8) Cicely Anguish (1583-84), baptised 28 June 1583; died in infancy and was buried 7 November 1584;
(9) Hester Anguish (1585-1617), baptised 12 November 1585; married, 20 May 1605, Richard Mann (d. 1622) and had issue; died 1617;
(10) Margaret Anguish (1587-88), baptised 24 June 1587; died in infancy and was buried 29 August 1588;
(11) Thomas Anguish (1590-1622), baptised 12 April 1590; married Anne Smallpiece and had issue two sons; buried 14 July 1622;
(12) William Anguish (1593-1668), baptised 30 August 1593; buried 7 July 1668 at St George Tombland, Norwich.
He acquired the manor of Great Melton in 1609 and built a new house there in 1611. By his will he endowed children's hospital chairty in Norwich.
He died 26 January 1617/8 and was buried in St George Tombland, Norwich, where he is commemorated by a monument designed by Nicholas Stone. His widow died in 1619 and her will was proved at Norwich.

Anguish, Edmund (1574-1657) of Great Melton. Second son of Thomas Anguish (c.1538-1617/8) of Norwich and his wife Elizabeth Thurston, baptised 27 January 1573/4. Clerk of the Peace for Norfolk; with his father he funded the provision of a new organ in Norwich Cathedral. He married Alice Drake of Herringfleet and had issue:
(1) John Anguish (c.1612-92) (q.v.);
(2) Rev. Richard Anguish (c.1613-68); educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (admitted 1629; BA 1632; MA 1636; ordained priest, 1637; rector of Starston (Norfolk), 1638-68 and Scarning (Norfolk), 1639-44; married Katherine (c.1617-78?), daughter of Richard Anguish of Moulton;
(3) Elizabeth Anguish (b. c.1615); married Thomas (1613-52), son of Richard Anguish of Moulton and had issue [see below];
(4) Thomas Anguish (b. 1618), baptised 31 December 1618;
(5) Mary Anguish (b. 1621), baptised 9 August 1621.
He inherited the Great Melton estate from his father in 1617/8.
He died in 1657, aged 84.

Anguish, John (c.1612-92) of Great Melton. Elder son of Edmund Anguish (1574-1657) and his wife Alice Drake, baptised 10 January 1613. Educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (matriculated 1629) and Grays Inn (admitted 1631). He was a Royalist officer in the Civil War. He married Anne Spooner (d. 1700?) and had issue:
(1) Edmund Anguish (c.1648-94); educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (admitted 1665) and Lincolns Inn (admitted 1667); died in 1694; will proved at Norwich;
(2) Anne Anguish; married, 1671, Edmund Woodhouse (fl. 1690).
He inherited the Great Melton estate from his father in 1657. In 1690 he gave it to his daughter and son-in-law and it passed out of the family.
He died 12 February 1691/92, aged 79; his will was proved at Norwich. His widow's will was proved at Norwich in 1702.

Anguish, Edmund (c.1537-1616) of Moulton St Mary. Second son of Thomas Anguish and his wife Anne Themelthorpe, born about 1537. He married, c.1570, Ann Barton and had issue:
(1) Richard Anguish (d. 1628) (q.v.);
(2) Ann Anguish (c.1575-1618); married John Peddar;
(3) Rose Anguish (b. c.1581); married, 18 November 1600, Jeffrey Cremer and had issue;
(4) Catherine Anguish (c.1582-1616); married, about November 1603, John Cremer (d. 1652/3) of Ingoldisthorpe (Norfolk) (who married 2nd, Margaret, daughter of William Boyton) but died without issue;
(5) Ellen Anguish (c.1583-1627); married, 26 June 1609 at Moulton, Richard Jenkinson (d. 1627) and had issue.
He purchased lands at Moulton (Norfolk).
He died 23 August 1616 and was buried at Moulton where he is commemorated by a monument; his will was proved at Norwich, 28 September 1616.

Anguish, Richard (d. 1628) of Moulton St Mary. Only son of Edmund Anguish (d. 1616) and his wife, Ann Barton. A Calvinist in beliefs, as is evidenced by the preamble to his will. He married Abraha (c.1580-1626), daughter of Thomas Gilbert of North Burlingham (Norfolk) and had issue:
(1) Edmund Anguish (b. & d. 1610), baptised 1 August and buried 21 November 1610;
(2) Elizabeth Anguish (1612-21), baptised 12 July 1612; died young and was buried 20 February 1621/2;
(3) Thomas Anguish (1613-52) (q.v.);
(4) Edmund Anguish (1614-16), baptised 20 November 1614; died in infancy, November 1616;
(5) Abraha Anguish (1615-16), baptised 10 November 1615; died in infancy and was buried 1 September 1616;
(6) Katherine Anguish (1617-78?), baptised 8 May 1617; married, 25 November 1633, Rev. Richard Anguish (c.1613-68), rector of Starston (Norfolk), and had issue; possibly the person of this name who was buried at Moulton, 22 November 1678.
He inherited the family property at Moulton from his father in 1616.
He died 15 February 1627/8 and was buried at Moulton where he is commemorated by a monument; his will was proved at Norwich, leaving the wardship of his two surviving children to his cousin, Edmund Anguish (1574-1657) (q.v.), who arranged their marriages to his own children. His wife died 18 December 1626 and was buried at Moulton.

Anguish, Thomas (1613-52) of Moulton St Mary. Elder son of Richard Anguish (d. 1628) and his wife Audrey Gilbert, baptised 18 July 1613. Educated at Aylsham Grammar School, Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge (admitted 1630/1) and Grays Inn (admitted 1632). He married, about 1633, his cousin, Elizabeth, daughter of Edmund Anguish of Melton (q.v.), and had issue:
(1) Alice Anguish (b. 1634; fl. 1659), baptised 21 November 1634; married, between 1652 and 1659, Augustine Castell (d. 1673) of Raveningham and had issue;
(2) Edmund Anguish (1637-99) (q.v.);
(3) Anne Anguish (b. 1640; fl. 1663), baptised 7 July 1640; married John Smith;
(4) Richard Anguish (1644-71), baptised 7 March 1644; died unmarried and without issue, 1670/1; will proved in the PCC, 4 February 1670/71;
(5) Elizabeth Anguish (b. 1645), baptised 12 December 1645; married, 1682, as his second wife, Sir Thomas Allin (1612-85), 1st bt. [see Allin of Somerleyton Hall];
(6) Mary Anguish (b. 1647; fl. 1652), baptised 13 December 1647; perhaps the person of this name who married, 17 April 1667 at Wramplingham (Norfolk), Robert Purtt;
(7) Katherine Anguish (1650-1725?), baptised 23 July 1650; possibly the spinster of this name whose will was proved at Norwich in 1725.
He inherited the family property at Moulton from his father in 1627/8.
He was buried 12 October 1652; his will was proved in the PCC, 28 June 1653. His widow married 2nd, Talmach Castell of Raveningham; she died after 1670/1.

Anguish, Edmund (1637-99). Second son of Thomas Anguish (1613-52) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Edmund Anguish of Melton (q.v.), born 1637. Educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (admitted 1653). He married, 11 June 1663 at Lowestoft (Suffolk), Alice (1642-98), daughter of Admiral Sir Thomas Allin (1612-85), 1st bt. by his first wife, and had issue:
(1) Thomas Anguish (b. 1663), baptised 22 March 1663; died young;
(2) Allin Anguish (1665-85), baptised 29 June 1665; educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (admitted 1681); died unmarried and was buried at St Dunstan-in-the-East, London, 3 December 1685;
(3) Parthenia Anguish (b. & d. 1667), baptised 22 August 1667; died in infancy and was buried 12 November 1667;
(4) Sir Richard Anguish (later Allin) (c.1669-1725), 1st bt., from whom the Allins of Somerleyton Hall were descended;
(5) Edmund Anguish (c. 1672-1708) (q.v.).
He inherited the family property at Moulton from his father in 1652. At his death it passed to his elder surviving son, Sir Richard Anguish, and thereafter descended with the Somerleyton estate.
He died in 1699. His wife died in 1698.

Anguish, Edmund (c.1672-1707). Second but eldest surviving son of Edmund Anguish (1637-99) and his wife Alice, daughter of Admiral Sir Thomas Allin, 1st bt., baptised 30 April 1672. Attorney-at-law. He married, 29 December 1698 at Thorington (Suffolk), Mary, daughter of William Betts of Yoxford (Suffolk), and had issue:
(1) Thomas Anguish (b. & d. 1699); died in infancy;
(2) Rev. Thomas Anguish (c.1700-63) (q.v.);
(3) Mary Anguish (1701-75) of Beccles, baptised 8 April 1701; died unmarried and was buried at Moulton, 1 November 1775;
(4) Edmund Anguish (1702-58); Paymaster of Exchequer Bills, 1744-58; married, about December 1741, Rebecca Betts (1721-1809) and had issue four sons and three daughters; buried 6 July 1758 at Hampstead;
(5) Barbary Anguish (1703-04), baptised 23 May 1703; died in infancy and was buried 10 May 1704;
(6) Dorothy Anguish (1704-65); married, 31 March 1741 at Ellough (Suffolk), Rev. Thomas Symonds (d. 1748), rector of Ellough.
He was buried at Moulton, 22 July 1707. His wife died before 1707.

Anguish, Rev. Thomas (c.1700-63). Eldest surviving son of Edmund Anguish (c.1672-1707) and his wife Mary, daughter of William Betts of Yoxford, born about 1700. Educated at Bishops Stortford School (Herts) and Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge (admitted 1716; BA 1719/20; MA 1723); Fellow of Corpus Christi College, 1722-23. Ordained deacon, 1722 and priest, 1723; curate of Barsham (Suffolk); rector of Halesworth (Suffolk), 1724-36 and Weston (Suffolk), 1727-36; vicar of St Nicholas, Deptford (Kent), 1737-62; published four sermons, 1732-61. He married 1st, 7 May 1723 at Westhall (Suffolk), Mary Elmy of Beccles and 2nd, about February 1753, Hannah Taylor (c.1713-65) of Henham (Essex) and had issue (perhaps among others):
(1.1) Thomas Anguish (1724-85) (q.v.);
(1.2) Edmund Anguish (d. 1735); died young and was buried at Halesworth, 9 October 1735;
(1.3) William Anguish (d. 1728); died in infancy and was buried at Halesworth, 25 April 1728;
(2.1) Mary Anguish (fl. 1765);
(2.2) Ann Anguish (fl. 1765).
He died 23/24 April 1763 and was buried at Deptford, 27 April 1763. His first wife died before 1753. His widow was buried 12 September 1765 at St Nicholas, Deptford.

Anguish, Thomas (1724-85) of Hanwell. Only surviving son of Rev. Thomas Anguish (c.1700-63) and his first wife Mary Elmy of Beccles, baptised 18 March 1724. Educated at Bury St Edmunds Grammar School (Suffolk), Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge (admitted 1742; BA 1745/6) and Lincolns Inn (admitted 1743 though not recorded until 1746/7; called to the bar; bencher). Barrister-at-law; Master in Chancery; Accountant-General of the Court of Chancery and Chief Commissioner of Public Accounts (the first professional auditor of the Government accounts). Fellow of the Royal Society, 1766 and the Society of Antiquaries. He married, 19 January 1758 at Garboldisham (Norfolk), Sarah (1727-1807), daughter of Henry Host Henley of Leigh (Somerset) and Sandringham Hall (Norfolk) and had issue:
(1) Thomas Anguish (c.1760-1810) of Somerleyton Hall; educated at Eton and Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge (admitted 1777; BA 1781) and Lincolns Inn (admitted 1776; called to the bar, 1786). He inherited the Somerleyton estate from Sir Thomas Allin (d. 1794), 4th bt.; was unmarried and without issue; became insane in 1790 and was confined in the care of Dr. Willis of Greatford (Lincs); died 5 August 1810 and was buried at Moulton;
(2) Catherine Anguish (1763?-1837), Duchess of Leeds (q.v.)
(3) Rev. George Anguish (1764-1843) (q.v.);
(4) Anne Anguish (1765-1826), baptised 12 June 1765; died unmarried and was buried at Hanwell, 25 July 1826;
(5) Maria Anguish (1766-1814), born 18 May and baptised 14 June 1766; died unmarried, 29 October 1814 and was buried at Hanwell;
(6) Charlotte Anguish (1767-1810), baptised 21 November 1767; died unmarried and was buried at Hanwell, 28 September 1810;
(7) Charles Anguish alias Clarke (1769-97), born 13 February and baptised 15 March 1769; a noted early cricketer and member of the MCC, playing in forty major matches, 1788-95; Comptroller of Customs at Cape of Good Hope, 1797; died unmarried there, 25 May 1797; his obituary in the Gentleman's Magazine recorded that "he was a young man of abilities and of a good temper, but with so odd a cast of manners that he was perpetually on the brink of a quarrel, even with those who knew his intentions were quite harmless, and could make every allowance for his peculiarities";
(8) Isabella Anguish (1770-88), baptised 28 December 1770.
He lived chiefly at Great Russell St., Bloomsbury, London, but inherited property at Moulton St Mary from his father, which passed to his son Thomas. He also purchased a house and about 30 acres at Brent End (later Brent Lodge) Hanwell (Middx) which was left for the support of his widow and unmarried daughters and sold in 1789, and lands in the West Country and at Oulton and Somerley (Suffolk) which were sold or mortgaged after his death to pay legacies.
He died 31 December 1785 and was buried at Hanwell (Middx), 6 January 1786, where he was commemorated by a monument in the churchyard; his will was proved 11 January 1786. His widow died 3 January and was buried 8 January 1807; her will was proved 27 February 1807.

Anguish, Rev. George (1764-1843) of Somerleyton Hall. Second son of Thomas Anguish (1724-85) and his wife Sarah Henley, born 7 February and baptised 15 March 1764. Educated at Eton and Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge (admitted 1781; BA 1786; MA 1789). Ordained deacon, 1786 and priest, 1788. Curate of Spexhall (Suffolk), 1786-88; vicar of Moulton with Tunstall (Norfolk), 1788-1813 and of Potter Heigham (Norfolk), 1789-1803; prebendary of Norwich Cathedral, 1790-1820; rector of Gisleham (Suffolk), 1797-1833, Ashby, 1803-10 and Lound, 1810-16. He was unmarried and without issue, but by his will made a provision of £20,000 from his estate for Elizabeth Jeffries, who was presumably his mistress, and her illegitimate son and two daughters, who were presumably his children.
He inherited the Somerleyton Hall estate from his brother in 1810. At his death it passed to his nephew, Lord Sydney Godolphin Osborne (1789-1861) (q.v.).
He died in London, 5 July 1843; his will was proved 31 August 1843.

Anguish, Catherine (c.1763-1837), Duchess of Leeds. Eldest daughter of Thomas Anguish (1724-85) and his wife Sarah Henley, supposedly born 21 January 1764 [but probably 1763]. A skilfull musician, winning her husband 'by her peculiar taste and skill in music'; Mistress of the Robes to Queen Adelaide, 1830-37. She married (as his second wife), 11 October 1788 at Hanwell, Francis Godolphin Osborne (1751-99), then Marquess of Carmarthen but later 5th Duke of Leeds, and had issue:
(1) Lord Sydney Godolphin Osborne (1789-1861) (q.v.);
(2) Lady Catherine Anne Sarah Godolphin Osborne (1798-1878); married, 1819, Capt. John Whyte Melville (1797-1883) and had issue one son and two daughters; died 23 December 1878.
She died 8 October 1837.

Osborne, Lord Sidney Godolphin (1789-1861) of Bartrams, Hampstead (Middx). Only son of Francis Godolphin Osborne, 5th Duke of Leeds, and his wife Catherine, daughter of Thomas Anguish, born 16 December 1789. Educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. He was unmarried and without issue.
He lived at Bartrams, Hampstead (Middx). He inherited the Somerleyton Hall estate from his mother's brother, Rev. George Anguish (1764-1843) in 1843 but sold it the following year.
He died 15 April 1861; his will was proved 2 May 1861 (estate under £200,000).

Sources

Burke's Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies, 2nd edn, 1841, pp. 4-5; M. Reynolds, Godly reformers and their opponents in early Modern England: religion in Norwich, c.1560-1643, 2005, pp. 203-05; J.W. Henley, "For ‘the younge and very poore children of Norwich’: A Study of Anguish’s Children’s Hospital", MA dissertation, 2008; Norfolk Historic Environment Record 9277.

Location of archives

Anguish family of Moulton and Great Melton: some records will be found among the papers of the Evans-Lombe family of Bylaugh Hall, who bought the Melton estate in 1700. [Norfolk Record Office, EVL]
Anguish family of Somerleyton: deeds, legal and estate papers, 17th-19th cents. [Suffolk Record Office, Lowestoft, HA236]; manorial and estate records, 14th-19th cents. [Suffolk Record Office, Lowestoft, HB6].

Coat of arms

Gules, a cinquefoil pierced or. [The same coat of arms as was used by the Allin family of Somerleyton].