BRAMPTON PARK, called for many centuries a manor, can be traced back to the twelfth century and was held in socage of the king until at least the end of the fourteenth century, and afterwards in chief. William the Sokeman paid 6s. rent in 1167 and from 1167–97 Walter the Sokeman held by this service. In 1191 Ralph the Sokeman paid this amount 'of his relief.' Ralph the Sokeman was probably the same as Ralph de Brampton, who held 5 virgates of land here by serjeanty in 1210–12 for 5s. In 1279 Philip Daules (de Aulys, de Aules), free sokeman of the king, held 5 virgates in chief, paying 6s. a year for all services; and 12 free tenants held of him. He died in 1288 leaving a son and heir, Robert, who was succeeded in 1328 by his son Reyner. In the following year Reyner conveyed a messuage, land, meadow and rent of 24s. 9d. in Brampton to John de Farendon, clerk; his son and heir, John Daules, giving his assent in 1335. In 1340 John de Farendon enfeoffed John de la Wyke of a messuage, 86 acres of land, 15 acres of meadow and 24s. 9d. rent in Brampton, to be regranted to John de Farendon for life with remainder in fee to John son of John Faron of Newbury. John de Farendon died in 1349, John son of John Faron having predeceased him, leaving a brother Richard, aged 20, who had seisin in the same year. Richard was dead in 1377, when his Brampton lands were divided among his three daughters and co-heirs, Isabel, Margaret and Amice. Amice died in 1383, still a infant; Isabel married John Palmer and had a son John who died in 1427, when his aunt, Margaret, then the wife of Adam Forster, was his heir. Adam survived and died seised in 1439, leaving a son and heir Gerard. William Forster of Ramsey, yeoman, died seised in 1508, leaving a son and heir John 'Foster,' who died in 1526 leaving an infant son Gerard.
The estate at this time became called 'Gerard's manor' or 'Foster's manor.' Gerard had livery in 1545, and in the same year obtained licence to alienate it to John Newton, whose wife Elizabeth appears to have been related to Gerard. John Newton borrowed from William Betts of Haddenham (co. Camb.), on the security of this manor, but when he was unable to pay Elizabeth refused to sell. However, all parties joined with Gerard Foster in 1550 in conveying the manor to Simon Throckmorton (Throgmorton). Simon Throckmorton of Brampton was M.P. for Huntingdon in 1554. He died at Brampton in 1585 leaving a son and heir, Robert. Simon, brother of Robert, died seised in 1613, leaving a brother and heir, Joseph, who sold it in the same year to Thomas Hetley (afterwards Sir Thomas Hetley, kt., of Brampton, serjeant-at-law), whose grandfather was of Riseley (Beds). He died at Brampton in 1637, leaving two sons, Francis, who died in 1638, and William, who in 1653 conveyed the manor to John Bernard, son of Robert Bernard of Huntingdon, Judge of the Isle of Ely. John Bernard, who took a leading part in county affairs, married Elizabeth, daughter of Oliver St. John of Bletsoe. His father was created a baronet in 1662 and John succeeded in 1666. He was succeeded by his son Sir Robert and he by his son Sir John, whose son Robert, the last baronet, died in 1789 and left an estate of £14,000 a year to the son of his sister Mary, Robert Bernard Sparrow, then at Westminster School. Robert, afterwards Brigadier General, married Lady Olivia Acheson, daughter of the first Earl of Gosford, and died in 1805 leaving a son Robert Acheson Bernard St. John Sparrow, and a daughter Millicent. The son died in 1818 and his sister and heir Millicent married Viscount Mandeville, afterwards 6th Duke of Manchester. Lady Olivia outlived the Duke and Duchess and died in 1863. She made Brampton Park her home and was a philanthropist and a friend of Wilberforce and Hannah More. Brampton Park descended to her daughter's great-grandson, the present Duke of Manchester.
Bernard.
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