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The Speke Family Christopher Hussey This article is based on extracts printed last century in Country Life, February 1926[1] Photographs from G J Kidston, A History of the Manor of Hazelbury, 1936 The Speke family were newcomers to Box in 1602, when Hugh Speke bought the title Lord of Box Manor and various land in the area. They mostly predated the Georgian period but lasted a century and had a dramatic effect on the buildings and development of Georgian Box. In many respects they set the tone for future Georgian Box. They are the first major village family for whom we have extensive information but they left no personal details, no photos and no documentary records. This article is based on an article from 1926 and the photographs that George Jardine Kidston included in his 1936 book, A History of the Manor of Hazelbury. Right: Hazelbury Manor gateway showing the arms of George Speke and his wife, Margaret Tempest |
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Hugh Speke (1567 - 4 January 1624/1625)
Hugh Speke was the second son of Sir George Speke, of Whitelackington, near Ilminster, Somerset, by his second marriage to a London goldsmith's daughter, Dorothy Gilbert. The Speke family were wealthy landowners in Devon and Somerset, Members of Parliament, who had their own chantry in Exeter Cathedral but Hugh did not inherit the title or the main land. Instead he came to Box to establish himself by building an estate here.
For a quarter of a century after about 1574, the manors of Box and Hazelbury had been held by Sir John Young (also spelt Yonge), a great merchant of Bristol, until his death in 1591-92, leaving his widow a life tenancy at Hazelbury. Hugh Speke started an aggressive acquisition strategy. He became lord of Box Manor in 1602 when he bought parts of the old Bonham estate from Sir John Young, including the lay manors of Box, Hazelbury and Box Agard (meaning uncertain); the advowsen of Box Church; and other land in Box, Hazelbury and Wadswick.[2] He was living in Hazelbury Manor by 1610, possibly as a tenant before he actually purchased the place in 1613, said to be courtesy of a gift from his father, and the house became his main home.
Hugh was buried in Box Church with an inscription, Here lieth the body of Hugh Speke, of Haselbury, Esqr., second son of Sir George Speke, of Whitlakington, in the Countie of Somerset, Knight of the Bath, who deceased the 4th day of Januarie, An. Dni. 1624.[3]
Hugh Speke was the second son of Sir George Speke, of Whitelackington, near Ilminster, Somerset, by his second marriage to a London goldsmith's daughter, Dorothy Gilbert. The Speke family were wealthy landowners in Devon and Somerset, Members of Parliament, who had their own chantry in Exeter Cathedral but Hugh did not inherit the title or the main land. Instead he came to Box to establish himself by building an estate here.
For a quarter of a century after about 1574, the manors of Box and Hazelbury had been held by Sir John Young (also spelt Yonge), a great merchant of Bristol, until his death in 1591-92, leaving his widow a life tenancy at Hazelbury. Hugh Speke started an aggressive acquisition strategy. He became lord of Box Manor in 1602 when he bought parts of the old Bonham estate from Sir John Young, including the lay manors of Box, Hazelbury and Box Agard (meaning uncertain); the advowsen of Box Church; and other land in Box, Hazelbury and Wadswick.[2] He was living in Hazelbury Manor by 1610, possibly as a tenant before he actually purchased the place in 1613, said to be courtesy of a gift from his father, and the house became his main home.
Hugh was buried in Box Church with an inscription, Here lieth the body of Hugh Speke, of Haselbury, Esqr., second son of Sir George Speke, of Whitlakington, in the Countie of Somerset, Knight of the Bath, who deceased the 4th day of Januarie, An. Dni. 1624.[3]
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George Speke (died 1656) succeeded his father Hugh in 1624.[4] In 1628 he was by far the wealthiest person in Box, paying nearly 25% of the rates of Box amounting to £330. He married Margaret, daughter of William Tempest of Somerton, Oxfordshire. George's wife and daughter were presented as recusants (Catholic supporters) in 1644, but George was reputed to be a man of discretion who preserved his estates by his prudence. George lived at Hazelbury until his death in 1656 when his son, Sir Hugh, succeeded him.
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Sir Hugh Speke, 1619 - 1661 Sir Hugh was the third son of George Speke, but the first surviving on the date of his father's death in 1656.[5] He was educated abroad in the 1630s at a Catholic seminary, the English College, Douai, France. The college had an interesting history, founded in 1561 for English Catholics fleeing the reforms of Elizabeth I and where his uncle, Francis, had entered the novitiate some years earlier. In 1650 Sir Hugh married Anne Mayney heiress of John Mayney of Staplehurst, Kent, who was the widow of Thomas Croke of Studley, Oxfordshire. Anne was reputed to be a rigid sectarist (puritan) who brought a substantial estate in Kent to the marriage. She is remembered on one of the urns on the gate-piers to the forecourt which bears the arms of Speke impaling Mayney. Sir Hugh and Anne had two sons and one daughter. Sir Hugh was appointed to a number of offices and a place at Court after the Restoration of Charles II in April 1660. He was appointed Captain of Militia for Wiltshire in April that year, Justice of the Peace in July, and Commander for Assessment in August. He became a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber in July 1660 and was briefly Member of Parliament for Chippenham in 1661, dying five days after his appointment. |
Gateway to Sir Hugh Speke's forecourt
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It was Sir Hugh who received Aubrey on his visit, which can thus be dated exactly between 1660 and 1661. But, as before remarked, Aubrey is distressingly vague as to what he saw here: Sir Hugh Speke told me he hath the Abbot of Glastonburys carpett here, in the middest whereof is his coate of arms, richly embroidered. Old coates in the Hall window : I thinke, Blue, 3 lioncells argent. Ah ! that carpet - what a possession it would be now ! As to the glass, Aubrey was, very possibly, referring to a Yonge coat, which answers to his description so far as having a blue ground. If this identification is correct, it shows that the square mullioned windows, and hence the remodelling of the hall, was the work of the Yonges.
Sir Hugh paid for a baronetcy in 1660 at the usual fee of £1,095. Paying it may have helped to kill the poor baronet, for he died the same year, 1661, being buried in Box with the inscription:
Sir Hugh Speke, Knight and Baronet, and Gent. of the Privie Chamber, died.. .[6]
Sir Hugh paid for a baronetcy in 1660 at the usual fee of £1,095. Paying it may have helped to kill the poor baronet, for he died the same year, 1661, being buried in Box with the inscription:
Sir Hugh Speke, Knight and Baronet, and Gent. of the Privie Chamber, died.. .[6]
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Above: Drawing by LH Grimm of Hazelbury Manor in 1790
Below: Hazelbury Manor House in 1920 Right: The Hall at Hazelbury 
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Sir George Speke, 1653 - 1683
At the time of Sir Hugh's death in 1661 the new baronet, Sir George, was only eight years old and the Speke estate was managed by Sir George's mother, Anne. On her death in 1683 she bequeathed an annuity of £2 to three poor freemen of Chippenham so long as they do give their voices to elect a Member or Members to sit in Parliament as is not popishly affected or against the government of the nation as is now by law established.
At the time of Sir Hugh's death in 1661 the new baronet, Sir George, was only eight years old and the Speke estate was managed by Sir George's mother, Anne. On her death in 1683 she bequeathed an annuity of £2 to three poor freemen of Chippenham so long as they do give their voices to elect a Member or Members to sit in Parliament as is not popishly affected or against the government of the nation as is now by law established.
Hazelbury Manor Oriel arch 1919
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As an adult, Sir George was a barrister who worked at the Inner Temple Inn of Court, London, in 1671 and was elected the member of parliament by the 31 electors for Bath 1675-79 and by the 99 electors for Chippenham in 1681.[7] Lord Shaftesbury marked him as being worthy, but his only recorded work was in the Cavalier Parliament allowing burial in English wool in 1678. This was a highly contentious measure designed for the protection of the traditional broadcloth clothing industry. In 1666 an Act was passed encouraging the burial of bodies in woollen materials, rather than linen, in order to reduce linen imports. It was contentious because the Gospels said that Jesus was wrapped in linen but prohibition was enforced over the next fifty years in a variety of ways. Woollen winding sheets were encouraged; fines of £5 were imposed for burial in linen other than Irish cloth; the orders were reinforced, excepting only victims of the plague where it was believed that wool retained the infection. The acts were repealed only in 1814. |
He was described as much inclined to faction (dissent) after the revelation of a plot in 1683 to kill Charles II and his brother James, later James II. Sir George had apparently boasted of possessing eighty cases of pistols in his house, but none were found when Hazelbury was searched.
Sir George is commemorated by a delightful, though lengthy, epitaph in Box Church. He was described as a gentleman, a Member of Parliament for Bath, frugal and not avaricious. He inherited the baronetcy on his father's death when he was only eight. The epitaph reads:
Sir George is commemorated by a delightful, though lengthy, epitaph in Box Church. He was described as a gentleman, a Member of Parliament for Bath, frugal and not avaricious. He inherited the baronetcy on his father's death when he was only eight. The epitaph reads:
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Whom neighbouring Towns so often sent
To give their Sense in Parliament, With Lives and Fortunes trusting one Who so discretely used his own. Sober he was, wise, temperate, Contented with an old Estate Which no foul Avarice did encrease Nor wanton Luxury make lease. While yett but young his Father dyd And left him to a happy Guide. Not Lemuel's mother with more Care Did councell and instruct her Heir, Or teach with more Successe her Son The Vices of the Time to shun. |
An Heiress She, while yett alive
All that was hirs to him did give. And he, just Gratitude did show To one that had obleig'd him soe. Nothing too much for hir he thought By whom he was soe bred and taught, So early made that path to tread Which did his Youth to Honour lead. His short life did a Pattern give How Neighbours, Husbands, Friends should live. The Virtues of a private Life Exceed the glorious Noise and Strife Of Battels wonn ; in those we find The solid Interest of Mankind. Approv'd by all, and lov'd soe well, Though young, like Fruyt, when ripe he fell. |
Dame Rachel Speke
Sir George Speke was only twenty-nine when he died in 1683, leaving no children by his young wife, Rachel Wyndham, daughter of Sir William Wyndham of Orchard Wyndham and Frances Hungerford. George's death resulted in the entire Speke property being left to the half-brother of his mother, George Petty, who took the name of Speke in 1686. After George's death Hazelbury Manor stood empty, as Rachel did not care to live there.
Rachel's second marriage was to Richard Musgrave, something of a virtuoso and with a rich command of Latin, who in 1711 wrote the book in Latin describing a Roman villa at Hazelbury, the site of which had been recently discovered in the 1700s, but has since been forgotten. It probably dated from the middle of the third century, and, although the villa was certainly not on the same site as the manor house, a coin of Tetricus II (AD 270-272) was found in a square subterranean chamber below the present hall oriel.
Dame Rachel lived at Cheney Court, on the estate, and took to good works. She died in 1711, and was buried in Box Church with the inscription, Dame Rachel Speke, eldest daughter of Sir William Wyndham, of Orchard Wyndham, Co. Somerset, Kt., Bart., by Dame Frances, daughter of Anthony Hungerford, of Farley Castle, and relict of Sir George Speke, of Haselbury, Bart., and afterwards wife of Rd. Musgrave, Esq., ob. 1711.[8] leaving George Speke Petty to take ownership of the Speke estate. He had already acquired some of the estate and was instrumental in the appointment of Rev George Miller in 1709.[9] Dame Rachel did not get on with her mother-in-law, Ann, who complained in her will about all those pieces of plate forcibly kept from mee by Lady Rachel Speke aforsaid, that is to say seventeen saltes, one silver tankard, twelve silver spoons, one silver sugar caster, one silver mustard pott, one silver peper box, one fruit bason and ewer, six silver plates and six fruit dishes.[10]
Sir George Speke was only twenty-nine when he died in 1683, leaving no children by his young wife, Rachel Wyndham, daughter of Sir William Wyndham of Orchard Wyndham and Frances Hungerford. George's death resulted in the entire Speke property being left to the half-brother of his mother, George Petty, who took the name of Speke in 1686. After George's death Hazelbury Manor stood empty, as Rachel did not care to live there.
Rachel's second marriage was to Richard Musgrave, something of a virtuoso and with a rich command of Latin, who in 1711 wrote the book in Latin describing a Roman villa at Hazelbury, the site of which had been recently discovered in the 1700s, but has since been forgotten. It probably dated from the middle of the third century, and, although the villa was certainly not on the same site as the manor house, a coin of Tetricus II (AD 270-272) was found in a square subterranean chamber below the present hall oriel.
Dame Rachel lived at Cheney Court, on the estate, and took to good works. She died in 1711, and was buried in Box Church with the inscription, Dame Rachel Speke, eldest daughter of Sir William Wyndham, of Orchard Wyndham, Co. Somerset, Kt., Bart., by Dame Frances, daughter of Anthony Hungerford, of Farley Castle, and relict of Sir George Speke, of Haselbury, Bart., and afterwards wife of Rd. Musgrave, Esq., ob. 1711.[8] leaving George Speke Petty to take ownership of the Speke estate. He had already acquired some of the estate and was instrumental in the appointment of Rev George Miller in 1709.[9] Dame Rachel did not get on with her mother-in-law, Ann, who complained in her will about all those pieces of plate forcibly kept from mee by Lady Rachel Speke aforsaid, that is to say seventeen saltes, one silver tankard, twelve silver spoons, one silver sugar caster, one silver mustard pott, one silver peper box, one fruit bason and ewer, six silver plates and six fruit dishes.[10]
Box Church in 1790 by LH Grimm
George Speke Petty sold some of his inheritance but retained other parts, including Heleigh House which he left to his son, Thomas, sometime between 1714 and 1722.[11] A younger son, Edward, was apprenticed to Thomas Coules, Gent, of Bristol in 1712/13 and another, William, served a 5-year apprenticeship with Joseph Barnes, mariner, of Bristol in 1716/17.[12]
Believed to be the seal of Thomas Speke (courtesy Mike Slater)
Hazelbury Alterations
Much of the Speke family history is seen through the researches of George Kidston and a few more words about Hazelbury Manor seem appropriate. Most probably Sir John Yonge was responsible for clearing out the Tudor hall built by the Bonham family at Hazelbury, removing the porch, oriel and fireplace, and making a new main entrance. With the arrival of the Spekes, the property at Hazelbury was much extended.
Much of the Speke family history is seen through the researches of George Kidston and a few more words about Hazelbury Manor seem appropriate. Most probably Sir John Yonge was responsible for clearing out the Tudor hall built by the Bonham family at Hazelbury, removing the porch, oriel and fireplace, and making a new main entrance. With the arrival of the Spekes, the property at Hazelbury was much extended.
Hazelbury Courtyard in 1854
The alterations carried out by the Speke family were not confined to the house. By a gradual process the existing formal layout evolved with the present centralised entrance approached from a gatehouse. George Speke, son of Hugh, formed the terrace along the south front (later restored by Mr Kidston). Sir George or his widow swept away the gate-house and built the splendid gate piers, centred on the front door, adorned with urns bearing the arms of Sir Hugh and Sir George.
Hugh Speke certainly built the cottage, probably originally a dower house for a Speke mother, which adjoins the manor house. In this he put the very impressive chimney piece that now is in the dining room. The ornament is uncommon and the total effect thoroughly pleasing.
After the sale of the Speke estate to the Northey family, Hazelbury became a farm for two hundred years, though frequently occupied as a shooting lodge. There is a tradition that George IV, when Regent, visited it more than once with parties from Bath.
Hugh Speke certainly built the cottage, probably originally a dower house for a Speke mother, which adjoins the manor house. In this he put the very impressive chimney piece that now is in the dining room. The ornament is uncommon and the total effect thoroughly pleasing.
After the sale of the Speke estate to the Northey family, Hazelbury became a farm for two hundred years, though frequently occupied as a shooting lodge. There is a tradition that George IV, when Regent, visited it more than once with parties from Bath.
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Speke Family Tree
Sir George Speke (1527 - 1584), KB, MP of Whitlackington, Somerset, married twice: a. Elizabeth daughter of Sir Andrew Lutterell, previously married to Richard Malet; b. Dorothy Gilbert, daughter of a London goldsmith Children include: a. Sir George Speke junior (1565 - 1597); Anne Trenchard; Barbara Speke and b. Elizabeth Pollard; Hugh Speke (1567 - 1625); Dorothy Gorges; another Sir George Speke; and Thomas Mallet, MP Hugh Speke (1567 - 1624) married Elizabeth Beke Children include: George Speke (1598 - 1656); Henry; Francis (4 October 1610 - 1683); Elizabeth (d 1628); Dorothy. George Speke (1598 - 1656) married on 26 January 1650 Margaret Tempest (d 1674 buried at Box). Children: George (d 1645); Frances (d before 1652); Sir Hugh (1619 - 1661); Thomas (b 1621); John (d 1670) who married Olive Eyre of Little Chalfield (both buried in Box Church); Margaret who married Anthony Carew; Mary; Elizabeth; Frances who married John Eyre of West Chalfield Sir Hugh (1619 - 1661) married Anne Mayne (died 13 January 1686) daughter and heir of John Mayney of Staplehurst, Kent, who had previously been the wife of Thomas Croke of Studley, Oxfordshire. Children include: Mayney (b and d 1651); Sir George (1653 - 1683); Hugh (1656 - 1724); Ann (d 1663) |
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Sir George (1 October 1653 - 14 January 1683) married Dame Rachel, daughter of Sir William Wyndham of Orchard Wyndham. There were no children. Dame Rachel married, secondly, Richard Musgrave. There were no children. After 1682 they lived at Cheney Court and Hazelbury became a farm.
On Dame Rachel's death the Speke estate passed to her nephew, George Petty Speke. It appears to have been sold in separate parcels to Mr Northey, Attorney-General to Queen Anne, in the early 1700s, some on George's death sometime between 1714 and 1722 and Hazelbury and Drewetts Mill in 1726.
George Petty Speke had a son, Thomas, whose wife was Anne was described as relict (widow) in 1726.
On Dame Rachel's death the Speke estate passed to her nephew, George Petty Speke. It appears to have been sold in separate parcels to Mr Northey, Attorney-General to Queen Anne, in the early 1700s, some on George's death sometime between 1714 and 1722 and Hazelbury and Drewetts Mill in 1726.
George Petty Speke had a son, Thomas, whose wife was Anne was described as relict (widow) in 1726.
References
[1] Country Life, 20 February and 27 February 1926 recounts the story of Hazelbury Manor and it also includes extracts about the Speke family recited here. Although the language is slightly flowery, I have kept a to the original as far as possible but included some updates to the information, where available.
[2] See Hugh Speke article
[3] http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=119380769
[4] 15th March, 22 James I [1623 Old Calendar 1624 New Style Calendar]
[5] http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1660-1690/member/speke-sir-hugh-1619-61
[6] http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=119380867
[7] http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1660-1690/member/speke-sir-george-1653-83
[8] http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=119381682
[9] See Rev George Miller article
[10] Quoted in http://www.speakefamilyhistory.org/images/West%20Country/Speke%20of%20Hazelbury.pdf
[11] See Heleigh House article
[12] N J Williams, Wiltshire Apprentices and their Masters 1710-1760, 1961, Wiltshire Record Society, Vol XVII, p.118
[1] Country Life, 20 February and 27 February 1926 recounts the story of Hazelbury Manor and it also includes extracts about the Speke family recited here. Although the language is slightly flowery, I have kept a to the original as far as possible but included some updates to the information, where available.
[2] See Hugh Speke article
[3] http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=119380769
[4] 15th March, 22 James I [1623 Old Calendar 1624 New Style Calendar]
[5] http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1660-1690/member/speke-sir-hugh-1619-61
[6] http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=119380867
[7] http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1660-1690/member/speke-sir-george-1653-83
[8] http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=119381682
[9] See Rev George Miller article
[10] Quoted in http://www.speakefamilyhistory.org/images/West%20Country/Speke%20of%20Hazelbury.pdf
[11] See Heleigh House article
[12] N J Williams, Wiltshire Apprentices and their Masters 1710-1760, 1961, Wiltshire Record Society, Vol XVII, p.118