The Middlemores of Sussex

 

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HIS line, which seems to have continued but two generations, in Sussex, was a cadet branch of the Hawkesley family.  What little information has been learnt respecting them follows below.

50. John Middlemore, of Hawkesley, esquire, who died in 1597, had issue by his wife Amphilis Goodwin, as already set out, page 180 ante. Of their five sons, the (apparently) youngest was

Text Box: Midmore Family.-A family of this name, apparently of yeoman rank, was settled at Chiddingleigh before the middle of the sixteenth century, and some few notes respecting various members of this family in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries have been collected together, though it is not requisite to print them here. In the introduction to this volume (page 3) the suggestion is thrown out that the Sussex family of Midmore may be an offshoot of the Hawkesley Middlemores, and the idea receives support from the fact that in some Chancery proceedings, temp. Philip and Mary, the two names are interchanged in the same suit, which is thus entered in the same volume. fo. 212, 25 April. Richard Mydmore v. John Pelham. fo. 225. Richard Middlemore v. John Pelham. This last entry, however, is quite likely to be only a clerical error arising from the well-known tendency of plebeian or unfamiliar names toapproximate in form to those of somewhat similar form borne by more distinguished or better known families, and a solitary instance like the above is obviously inadequate to show the identity of the two names. Further it must be remembered that the only contracted forms of Middlemore of which we have definite proof are Mildmore and Milmore, whilst the fact that in "Feudal Aids," vol. ii. p- 371, at a much earlier date, 1432, we have evidence of a Laurence Medmowre, a juror at Winchester, in the adjoining county, tends to indicate that Midmore is, in its origin, a distinct name. 72. Thomas Middlemore, who, in 1608, late of Battle, took a lease for lives from Herbert Pelham, then of Hillingleigh, Sussex, esquire, and Herbert Pelham, his son,
the manors of Camberworth and Burnethorpe, Lincolnshire, together with lands there and in Slothebie, Willoughbie, Bogsthorpe, Farelesthorpe, and Andorbie, and two parts of the advowson of Camberworth. In 1622, then of Rotherfield he bought land in Mountfield from Sir Edward Hales, and in 1623, he, with Richard Stanton, of Cirencester, took a conveyance of the life interest of Nicholas Poyntz, of Tockington Park, Gloucestershire, in that property, in 1620, when he, with Sir John Shelley, of Michelgrove, became bound to the Master of the Rolls in £600, and of Hamsell [Hamsey ?] Sussex, in 1635, appears to have had issue:

i. Thomas Middlemore, of whom next (73). And perhaps also

ii. Henry Middlemore, of Mychelgrove, Sussex, whose admon. was granted in P.C.C. on 29 January, 1637, to his brother.

iii. Robert Middlemore, of whom we have no further particulars.

73. Thomas Middlemore, of Crabbet, in Worth, is described in 1635 as "junior," and "one of the sons of Thomas Middlemore, of Hamsell," in a deed by which William Middlemore, of Hawkeslow, granted to him, and Richard Lumley, of Hamsell, his lands in Dormeston and Keynton. He bought a new built house in Worth in 1674, with two acres of land in the parish of Worth, from John Smith, of Crabbett, esquire, son and heir of
Sir John Smith, knight, of the same place.  Middlemore is also described as of Crabbett.  He died about 1696, as his will was proved that year. He married, as appears from his will, a lady named Coote, but evidently left no children.  She is probably the "Mrs. Middlemore" buried at Banstead in 1668.  Like his relatives at Hawkesley he also was a " recusant."

Will 10 February, 1689, as Thomas Middlemore, of the parish of Worth, gent., "being aged and sick," house and lands in Grabbitt, lately bought from John Smith, of Crabbitt, esquire, in consideration of a sum of £100 to said John Smith, and also 40s. "for a ring;" names the poor of Worth, East and West Grinstead, Lye, and Banstead. Cousins: John Middlemore, heir of Hauckley House, and the brothers and sisters of John. Cousin George Middlemore [probably (76, iii.) of the Enfield line]; cousins Mrs. Elizabeth Terry, Mrs. Catherine Laferier, Anne Smith, widow of John Smith, and her son John Smith, of Lye, and William Spurrey; also Mrs. Anne Skelton, his wife's brothers, Thomas and Ralph Coote; Cecily Spurre; wife's sister, Mary Greensted; wife's niece, Catherine, wife of Charles Man; legacies to Mrs. Catherine Gregory and Mr. Henry Garnon, and to godchildren Thomas Bilcliffe, Philippa Huckings, Dr. Smithson's child, and Catherine Cheesman.

Residuary legatees and executor, Mr. Henry Garnon and Mr. John Smith, of Crabbett.  Proved 23 May, 1696.