Sir Thomas Bland of Castleton

Thomas Bland, Esq., was the second son of Richard Bland and wife Grace Poole. He married Elizabeth Estoft, daughter and sole heir of Thomas Estoft of Redness and Armin, and wife Isabel Lund. Thomas and Elizabeth had five children. Thomas died in the home of a kinsman, Peter Bland, in St. Gregory Parish, London, on Dec. 26, 1612 and was buried in London on Dec. 28, 1612.

During various eras, Kippax had belonged to the Prince of Wales, the Earl of Essex and to the City of London. The City lease it in parcels as Kippax Manor and Kippax Park, and then sold the land as the leases expired.

Thomas Bland shows up in numerous records in the 1590's through the early 1600's.

• Purchase of lease on Kippax Manor, May 27, 1595
• Annuity from Priory of Saint Andrew (near York), and the Priory of Clementhorpe, (in York),1595
• Wardship of Richard Goldthorpe, minor son of Peter Goldthorpe
• Grant of Manors of Houghton and Castleton in fee, 1610

He served on the Commission of the Peace in 1590 and was knighted for his work by King James I. He was the treasurer for the Lame Soldiers of West Riding in 1608. He served his king in other offices and was noted to be a man of great fidelity.

In his will, dated Oct. 11, 1612 and proven Jan. 18, 1613/14, he named his son Thomas his executor. He also mentions his son-in-law Gilbert Nevile and his daughter, Nevile's wife; his brother Adam; his cousin Richard Bland; the wife of his brother James; his cousins George Hemsworth and William Gatenbie; and names several people as overseers of the will.

Children of Thomas Bland and wife Elizabeth Estoft:

• Sir Thomas Bland, also knighted by King James,
• Frances Bland
• Margaret Bland, married Gilber Nevile, Esq., of Grove, Nottinghamshire
• Elizabeth Bland
• Meriel Bland, married Arthur Bergh, draper and Lord Mayor of the City of York

Links to additional material:

• http://www.archive.org/stream/collectionsforhi00carl#page/30/mode/1up
• http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/NEVILLE5.htm#Gilbert NEVILLE1