| Administrative History | Sir John Sulyard, justice of the King's Bench (d.1488), purchased the manors of Wetherden, Stratford and Spanbys in Stratford during his lifetime. He married firstly Agnes Hungate and secondly Anne Andrew. On his death his eldest son by his first marriage, Edward Sulyard, inherited Eye, South Elmham, Wilby and Campsey Ash in Suffolk, and High Laver in Essex. The eldest son by the second marriage, Andrew Sulyard (d.1544), inherited Wetherden, Pulham Hall and Waylands by Ipswich. John Sulyard (d. 1539), the youngest son inherited Stratford and Spanbyes in Stratford.
Sir John Sulyard of Wetherden (d. 1574) son of John inherited the property of his father and his uncle, Andrew Sulyard, who died without issue. He was granted the manor of Haughley by Mary I, and was Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk. The Sulyard family of Wetherden and Haughley are descended from this Sir John. His property was left to his son Edward Sulyard (d.1605) who was a recusant and frequently imprisoned. He was succeeded by his son Sir John Sulyard (d 1626), who in turn was succeeded by his son Sir Edward Sulyard who, like his grandfather, was a recusant. His heir was Edward Sulyard (1635-1691) son of his brother Ralph Sulyard (1598-1658). Edward was succeeded by his son Edward Sulyard (1675-1745). On his death he was succeeded by Edward Sulyard (1707-1788) son of his brother William Sulyard (1678-1737). He had no issue and the property passed to his nephew Edward Sulyard, son of his brother Francis. On Edward's death in 1799 his property was divided between his three daughters. In 1800 Frances Sulyard married Sir George Jerningham of Costessey, Norfolk, later Lord Stafford, and it is through her that the Sulyard papers came to form part of the Stafford collection. |
| Description | The Sulyard family papers are very extensive despite the fact that the family estates were modest with a nucleus at Wetherden and Haughley in Suffolk. This may be partly due to the fact that successive generations of the family were lawyers.
Title: This is a very full section, with deeds for Wetherden going back to the later 13th century. Medieval gems include the sale of a bondsman and a detailed contract for building a room with a solar and there are also some well preserved early seals. The Sulyards' interest in the properties dated from the late 15th century and these early deeds show the interests of their predecessors the de Scales and Westbrom families. There are also deeds for Buxhall, Elmswell, Haughley, Little Fakenham, Stoke by Ipswich, Stowmarket, Stratford and Woolpit in Suffolk. In addition there are a few deeds for properties in Norfolk and Lincolnshire, which came into the family through marriage.
Settlement: There are some interesting agreements made prior to marriage settlements, some of which are supplemented by correspondence (see personal papers), which shed light on the way marriages at this level of society were arranged. Although there are some family wills others are at the National Archives. As a Catholic family marriages were generally with other local Catholic gentry families. This section also includes a separation agreement for Edward Sulyard and Mary Rayment, 1748.
Manorial: Manorial records from the 13th to the 18th centuries are another strength of the collection and include miscellaneous records for manors probably administered by the Sulyards as well as their own manors. The fullest records are for the manors of Haughley, Stratford and Spanbys, Waylands in Bramford near Ipswich, and Wetherden and Pulham in Suffolk. There are also some early records for the Hundred of Stow and the Honor of Eye.
Other estate records are correspondingly thinner; there are a few early field plans, probably dating from the 16th century, one from Elmswell and the others from Haughley and Wetherden. There are some legal papers and correspondence re estate matters, mainly 18th century.
Household: Although there is little for the 16th century there are very detailed weekly and half-yearly household accounts for the 17th century, including accounts for brewing and grains and a daily account of wine, beer and bread used. Household bills range in date from the later 16th century through to the late 18th century. Further bills are with personal papers.
Personal papers: perhaps the greatest strength of the collection lies in the personal correspondence of members of the Sulyard family, which is particularly full for the 18th century. The family correspondence documents the family's fortunes over the years, with the pressures of recusancy fines leading to increasing problems of debt. The papers re the recusancy of Edward Sulyard (c1540-1605) and Sir Edward Sulyard (c1594-1674), give a detailed picture of the financial demands made on them, which were to have a considerable long-term impact on the family fortunes. Family relationships are well documented, particularly in the mid-18th century and include letters concerning the death of Philippa Bigsby (nee Sulyard) in childbirth from family servants to her mother in 1743; and the voluminous correspondence of the colourful Edward Sulyard (c1707-1785) which reveals his fraught relationships and probable mental health problems. Also within this section is some early printed music: madrigals and sacred songs, 1590-1618, and a commonplace book with manuscript songs, mid 17th century.
Business papers: the main core of this section is the business correspondence (over 1000 letters) of Edward Sulyard (c1707-1785), who was an attorney first at Stowmarket and then at Haughley Park following the death of his uncle, Edward Sulayard in 1745. However there are also papers and letters from the 17th century onwards relating to legal business probably conducted by earlier members of the Sulyard family. As one might expect in a solicitor's collection there are a number of wills and related papers for various clients. Within this section there are also personal papers of the Rivett, Clarke and Sandford families of London, late 17th-early 18th centuries, and of the Sharpe family, also of London, for the same period.
As might be expected in the records of a minor gentry family there are a few documents relating to wardships, 16th century and some document emanating from local public office. Of the more miscellaneous items are two glebe terriers of Wetherden Rectory, 1677-1753. |