John Butler (d 1722) of Burwash was a successful timber merchant whose business of felling, converting and selling timber, primarily oak, to such customers as H.M. Navy earned him a considerable fortune. He puchased numerous properties and woodlands in Brightling and Burwash including Hamplace, Dudwell Mill and Bateman's. He also constructed the timber framed building Rampyndene in the High Street, Burwash in 1699. On his death on 27th October 1722 his two sons inherited his properties - Hamplace to John Butler born 1704, Bateman's to Thomas Butler (1706-1737) and Dudwell Mill to them both:-
Item I give and bequeath unto my son John Butler and to his heirs and assignees forever all that Messuage Barn Brewhouse Garden Oasthouse yard Stable buildings lands and premises called Hamplace and all the household goods and Stuff as it now stands in the said houseThomas married Elizabeth Goldsmith on 9th June 1726 at Heathfield and as part of the marriage agreement he settled Bateman's on Henry Goldsmith and Thomas Hussey as trustees. On his death in 1737 and his wife's death in 1747 the property passed to their eldest surviving daughter Elizabeth Butler, born 1738. Bateman's is listed with 25 windows on the 1747 Window and House Tax for £1 7s under Butler, Mrs (heirs of) and Henry Gouldsmith. Elizabeth married Joseph Picknal Rogers of Eastbourne on 1st January 1756 at Burwash and Bateman's was sold shortly afterwards in June 1760, to Richard Johnson shopkeeper.
Item I give and bequeath unto my son John Butler and my son Thomas Butler and to their heirs or assignees forever all my Copyhold Messuages Lands and premises called Dudwell Mill and Lands with the appurtenants thereunto belonging which I lately bought of Mr John Wyatt and now in the occupation of Matthew Chittenden Miller
Item I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Butler and to his heirs or assignees forever all those buildings Gardens Orchards Lands and premises now in the occupation of my sons John Butler and Thomas Butler called or known by the name of Lanebridge Meriham and Highland which I lately purchased of Joseph Newington Gentleman
ref: Will of John Butler, Burwash - probate July 1723; East Sussex Record Office - DUN 42/9A & AMS5982/1; and Sussex Record Society Window and House Tax Assessments 1747
| Henry Goldsmith | m: 11th Jun 1701 St. Nicholas Church, Iford, Sussex | Hannah Wakeham | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| b: c 1680 | b: c 1680 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Henry | Elizabeth | Anne | Joseph | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| b: 1703 Burwash, Sussex ch: 23rd Jul 1703 St. Bartholomew's Church | b: 1705/06 Burwash, Sussex ch: 16th Mar 1706 St. Bartholomew's Church d: Apr 1747 Burwash, Sussex bur: 17th Apr 1747 St. Bartholomew's Church, Burwash, Sussex | b: 1708 Burwash, Sussex ch: 1st Jul 1708 St. Bartholomew's Church | b: 1711/12 Burwash, Sussex ch: 12th Jan 1711/12 St. Bartholomew's Church | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas Butler gentleman | m: 23rd Sep 1729 All Saints Church, Heathfield, Sussex | Elizabeth Goldsmith | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| b: 1706 Burwash, Sussex ch: 22nd Sep 1706 St. Bartholomew's Church d: Oct 1737 Burwash, Sussex bur: 7th Oct 1737 St. Bartholomew's Church, Burwash, Sussex | b: 1705/06 Burwash, Sussex ch: 16th Mar 1706 St. Bartholomew's Church d: Apr 1747 Burwash, Sussex bur: 17th Apr 1747 St. Bartholomew's Church, Burwash, Sussex | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mary | Thomas | Elizabeth | Ann | Hannah | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| b: 1730 Burwash, Sussex ch: 2nd Nov 1730 St. Bartholomew's Church d: Jul 1731 Burwash, Sussex bur: 14th Jul 1731 St. Bartholomew's Church, Burwash, Sussex | b: 1731/32 Burwash, Sussex ch: 11th Feb 1731/32 St. Bartholomew's Church d: Oct 1732 Burwash, Sussex bur: 11th Oct 1732 St. Bartholomew's Church, Burwash, Sussex | b: 1732/33 Burwash, Sussex ch: 12th Jan 1732/33 St. Bartholomew's Church | b: 1733/34 Burwash, Sussex ch: 22nd Feb 1733/34 St. Bartholomew's Church | b: 1735/36 Burwash, Sussex ch: 16th Mar 1735/36 St. Bartholomew's Church | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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