Chapter I, Memoirs of the Archdales, by Henry Blackwood Archdale

proved June 10th 1651. She was buried at Wanlip, Leicestershire, leaving issue, Archdale Palmer, Sir William Palmer, etc.

5 Matthew Archdale, of the parish of St. Michael Paternoster Royal, London, merchant ; died without issue. His will is dated November 14th, and proved December 31st 1599 (See Appendix C.).

MARTIN ARCHDALE, the second son of John Archdale of Stafford, became a merchant in the parish of All Hallows Barking-by-the-Tower. London.

In the 36th year of Queen Elizabeth (1593-4), he purchased from Robert Walter and Francis Honings, the Manor and Mansion-house of Abbotts, in the parish of Darsham, Suffolk ; and from them he also he purchased the two Manors named Austins and Gerrards in the same parish.¹ Moreover, he states in his will, that be purchased the farm called Molletts, in Darsham, from Laurence Lyne, and another farm from Thomas Gonnell.

From this will, too, it appears that Martin Archdale held lands in other parts of England. Thus, he purchased a farm called Elmsted, at Bromley, Kent, and acquired property at Erith in that county. He had land at “ Skegnes ” (sic), in the parish of Englemells, Lincolnshire, as well as houses in Suffolk Lane, London. He also held, of the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul’s, some property at Stoke Newington.

A curious incident is recorded in the Acts of the Privy Council, April 11th 1591 : “ A letter to Mr. Rookeby and Mr. Dr. Aubrey to examine a cawse of one Adolphe States of London, merchant stranger, that had certaine clothes of his unlawefullie bought by one Stevens, servante unto Martin Archedale to the use of his master, of one Boweman that the suppliant comytted the keyes of his warehouse unto, and as it was supposed in his absence secretlie and by a by waie solde the same. And after the said gentleman should have examined the same, to make theire reporte unto theire Lordships that preseute releefe might be had for this suppliant, being a stranger, that had lost moche by the Dunkyrkers. ”

In 1578 Martin Archdale obtained a grant or ratification of Arms from Robert Cooke, Clarencieux, as recorded in the College of Arms, London.

NOTE: in the Harleian MS 14.3 fo 35 b, Martin Archdale’s arms are given with a crestent for difference. The Buckingham- shire branch of the family differenced their Coat by changing the tincture of the field from azure to sable.

In the Add. MS 19. 115. f. 87, in the British Museum (Davy) is the following :— “ 36 Eliz. License to Robert Walter Esq. etc. to alienate the manor of Darsham Abbottsto Martin Archdale. ” The Suffolk historian, Suckling states that “ Abbotts ” was named from the monastic establishment at Leiston to which Abbey it was early granted. In the taxatio ecclesiastica of Pope Nicholas, the Abbot of Leiston’s land and rents here were taxed at £4 3s 2d.