The Spurling Inheritance
The Spurling Family of Long Ditton settled in Epsom at the end of the seventeenth century. Through the marriage of Elizabeth, co-heiress of John Spurlyn, with Hugh Newman of Epsom, their property at Stamford Hill, Epsom, eventually passed to John Newman (1745-c.1815)
This family descend from Daniel Spurlinge of Tolworth, Long Ditton (died 1671), who is recorded in the 1664 Hearth Tax as having two hearths. The spelling of their name was variable (Spurlin, Spurlyn, Spurling, Spurland) and they seem to have spread out from the Kingston area in the early seventeenth century. Robert Spurlin of Horton, Epsom (will dated 16 January 1671/2 and proved 21 Decr. 1678) was assessed for six hearths in 1664 but his relationship to the Long Ditton family has not been established.
On 2 April 1674 John Spurlyn of Malden and later of Long Ditton, husbandman, purchased “all that tenement or cottage with the garden and orchard and buildings thereto belonging at or near Clayhill” in Epsom, from John Parish the elder, of Ebbisham, husbandman, and late in the occupation of his son, Ralph Parish. As it was a copyhold tenure, this property is described in the 1680 Survey of the manor of Ebbisham as one cottage, one outhouse, one garden and one orchard near Stamford Hill, abutting onto Ovells Wood on the south and orchards on the north. It appears that John Parish continued to occupy the property as he is listed in the 1680 Survey. John Spurlyn died in 1707 and this property passed to his eldest son, Robert Spurlyn, who was admitted to the messuage and orchard on 7 November 1707.
In the meantime, in 1716, Robert’s younger brother, John Spurlyn the younger, of Epsom, purchased a plot of land closer to Stamford Pond but abutting onto his brother’s property, which comprised a messuage called Chappell Hall and an adjoining messuage, both with tenants, from John Wrench of Epsom, maltster, and agreed with him a mortgage of £40 with lawful interest, which had been repaid by 27 October 1718.
John Spurlyn the younger died in 1730, leaving a widow (Elizabeth) and his property was divided equally between his three daughters: Elizabeth, Mary and Ann Spurlyn, who were admitted to their father’s property on 21 October 1730, with their mother acting as their guardian. When Robert Spurlyn died in 1736 his lands also passed in equal shares to his three nieces: Elizabeth, Mary and Ann. He must have developed his land as it now comprised two tenements with the barn, stable and orchard. By then Elizabeth Spurlyn had married Hugh Newman of Epsom, blacksmith, but as the other two daughters were still under 21 years, their mother was named as their guardian. Heriot, in the shape of one mare, was seized for the use of the lord of the manor. By 1755 Mary Spurlyn had married Benjamin Johnson and Ann Spurlyn had married John Coles of Staines, described as a barber and a perukemaker. Between them the three sisters each claimed a third share of and in two cottages, stables and an orchard, with a ¼ acre, abutting on the road leading to Stamford Hill.
Elizabeth Newman’s death was recorded by the court on 31 October 1757. She had borne Hugh Newman four sons: John (born 1745), Thomas (1749-1828), Hugh (1750) and Jacob (1757). A year later, on the 23 October 1758, at the third proclamation for her heir, her eldest son, John, aged 13 was admitted to her third share, with his aunt, Ann Cole, being appointed his guardian. She subsequently married William Thorpe. Following her death without issue, John Newman acquired a moiety of her one third share in the property on 27 October 1766, the other moiety passing to his aunt, Mary Johnson. When she died her third share and half third share passed to her only son, Benjamin Johnson the younger, who was admitted to his share on 26 October 1772. On 16 June 1778 John Newman obtained from Benjamin Johnson the younger of Epsom, labourer, the remaining third and half third shares of the property, making himself the sole proprietor.
