Elizabeth Allyn

Landed Families of Britain and Ireland

Alleyn of Hatfield Peverel and Little Leighs, baronets

Sir Edward Alleyn (c.1586-1638), who was High Sheriff of Essex in 1629-30 was created a baronet the same year. By his marriage to the daughter and heiress of George Scott of Little Leighs he acquired the Little Leighs Hall estate (not to be confused with nearby Leez Priory), and at his death this secondary estate passed to his second son. When his great-grandson, the 3rd baronet, died in about 1658 as a child, the Hatfield Priory estate passed to his sister, Arabella (1655-1746), who was the wife first of Francis Thompson MP and later of Lord George Howard. Arabella seems to have been a woman of independent views and strong character, and in 1707 she and her husband agreed to separate; as part of the deal, Arabella recovered control of her property and by 1720 she had sold part of it and leased Hatfield Priory itself for life to Arthur Dobbs (d. 1750/1). On his death, Hatfield Priory reverted to Sir Edmund Alleyn (d. 1759), 8th bt., who had previously inherited the Little Leighs estate from his uncle. He was, however, the last of the male line, and both estates passed to his sister, another Arabella, the wife of Rev. Henry Chalmers, and were sold.

source http://landedfamilies.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/105-alleyn-of-hatfiel...

Sources

• The Visitations of Essex by Hawley, 1552; Hervey, 1558; Cooke, 1570 ..., Part 1 By College of Arms (Great Britain) Page 134 GoogleBooks
• A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies ... Alleyn, of Hatfield. Page 4 - 5. GoogleBooks