Exhibition: The History of Walton Hall

Owners of Walton Hall: The Pinfolds

Sir Thomas Pinfold LLD (1638-1701)

In 1698 The Gilpin family sold the Walton estate to Sir Thomas Pinfold LLD (1638-1701) who was a distinguished London lawyer and Chancellor of the Diocese of Peterborough. He was also a Commissary of St Pauls, King’s Advocate, and an Official of London. After Sir Thomas purchased the estate, he chose to live in Walton Manor and had the southern timber bay of Walton Hall demolished in 1700. 

 

According to 'Boyds Inhabitants of London (1705)', Thomas Pinfold was the son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Pinfold from the parish of All Hallows, Barking in London. Nathaniel Pinfold was a Waterman - a river worker who usually transferred people across city centre rivers such as the Thames. Thomas may have been born in either 1634 or 1638, the latter date is recorded on his memorial in St Michael's Church. Despite his relatively humble beginnings he attended the Merchant Taylors School in North London (founded in 1561 by the Merchant Tailors Company) from 1644 to 1646 and later graduated in law from Cambridge University. He was knighted in 1686. 

 

Thomas married Elizabeth Suckley, probably in about 1672. The couple had seven children baptised between 1673 and 1685, five of whom died as infants. Their two sons who reached adulthood were Charles (1677-1756) and William (1683-1760). 

 

Thomas died in 1701 aged 63 years. Elizabeth died 23 years later in 1724 but her age is unknown. The couple were were buried at Walton and their graves may be under the floor of St Michael's Church. There is a memorial in the church to Sir Thomas Pinfold which was crafted by the renowned London sculptor Joseph Nollekens (1737-1823) probably around 1780, at the bequest of the Pinfold family. The memorial includes a fine medallion portrait of Sir Thomas above several books and sheaves of wheat. Below the inscription is the Pinfold Coat of Arms. The inscription reads:

“Sacred to the Memory

of SIR THOMAS PINFOLD, Knt. & L.L.D.

King’s Advocate, Chancellor of Peterborough,

Commissary of St. Pauls, Official of London.

In his Profession, Learned & Eminent:

In the Practice of every Moral, & Religious Duty, Punctual & Sincere.

He married ELIZABETH, Daughter of RALPH SUCKLEY

Her Remains, with those

of ELIZABETH, Mother of SIR THOMAS,

Are here interred.

He died April 30, 1701 aged 63

HE LEFT TWO SONS: CHARLES, L.L.D. & WILLIAM Lt. COL. OF FOOT”

 

William Pinfold (1683-1760)

William was the youngest son of Thomas and Elizabeth Pinfold and was born in 1683. He joined the Army and under Brigadier-General Thomas Paget’s Regiment of Foot he was first made a Captain in 1708 and then a Lieutenant Colonel in 1717. It appears he is the same Colonel William Pinfold who acted as Lieutenant Governor of Minorca from 1736 to 1738. General Philip Anstruther (1682-1760), the absentee lieutenant governor was sent to Minorca to carry out a detailed investigation following complaints about William Pinfold regarding ‘violent and illegal proceedings.’

 

“…Anstruther reported that Pinfold had acted most unwisely, altering the civil government… and dismissing those who by long experience were best fitted for their jobs. He had also imposed heavy taxes that Anstruther had now removed. Three months later in another report Anstruther sent home evidence that showed that Pinfold had behaved criminally as well as dictatorially. The most serious charges were that he raised taxes to enrich himself and his secretaries; had forbidden all forms of trade with Majorca; had fined the University of Ciudadela for allegedly not repairing houses allotted to the garrison as quarters; and when two of its jurats complained to Lord Hertford (the absentee Governor of Minorca) had called them all seditious traitors.” (ref: ‘Minorca, the Illusory Prize: A History of the British Occupations of Minorca between 1708 and 1802’ by Desmond Gregory, 1990)

 

Following Anstruther’s reports, Brigadier-General Paget was sent to replace William Pinfold and his judgements were subsequently reversed by the Crown. He does not appear to have been punished and died two decades later, in 1760. He never married and was buried at Walton on 29 May 1760.