THE ATWOOD FAMILY GENEALOGY
All Saints’ Parish Church has a very large connection with the Atwood Family. It is not clear when the first Atwood’s first moved to the parish but it is know there are connections from at least 1430AD if not before.
Many Atwood families alive today have links with Sanderstead, Surrey. The Parish Church is the final resting place of many of the family. The earliest monument found in the Church today is that of John Attwoode and his wife Dyones. This is dated 1525. Other monuments within the church surround the main Alter. Outside, the graves and tomb of the Atwood’s were moved in the 1940’s to the place they are now
Originally the Atwood’s had their own Graveyard which was separated by railings (this was a wall at one point) from the other areas. This was on the south side of the Church. Within the Generation Section of the Atwood’s, we have started at the very beginning. The information shown includes:
- Name
- Parents Names
- Date of Birth, Christening, Marriage, Death.
- Wife or husband name
- History Notes
- Burial Date and Place
- Children Names
Sources of research
Throughout are research, we have used the following sources:
- Parish Records for All Saints’ Parish Church, Sanderstead
- Croydon Local Reference Library
- The Atwood Journals (Ye Atte Wode Annals and History of Atwood Family)
- Genealogy Internet Sites including Ancestor.com and Geneology.com
Generation 1
Name: Peter De Wychurst
Born: Unknown Christened: Unknown Died: Unknown Buried: Unknown Parents: Unknown
- Children: William Atte Wode
The first mention of the Atwood name in Surrey is from Coulsdon. Sanderstead is about 5 miles north east from Coulsdon. Note much is know about Peter De Wychurst but from history around this time it is said that Peter bought around 30 to 40 acres of land from the Abbey of Chertsey. It is not said if Peter lived at “Wood House” in Coulsdon or somewhere else. It could of been that he stayed in Suffolk.
Generation 2
Name: William Atte Wode
Born: About 1220 Christened: Unknown Died: After 1278 Buried: Unknown Parents: Peter De Wychurst & Unknown
- Children: Peter Atte Wode
William Atte Wode signed a bond in 1278 as a yeoman of Coulsdon Parish. William for the first time uses the Atwood name within the Surrey area. Within our research, we have found there is mention of another Atte Wode before William. There are no records of a name but due to the year differance between the first and second generation, this could strongly suggest that there was infact another Atte Wode.
Generation 3
Name: Peter Atte Wode
Born: About 1245 probably in Coulsdon, Surrey Christened: Unknown Married: Alice (born about 1254) Died: About 1313 Buried: Unknown Parents: William Atte Wode & Unknown
- Children: Sir William Atte Wode
In 1279, Peter Atte Wode and Alice sued to record title of 220 acres of land known as “Wood Place”. In 1313 Peter leased the buildings and part of the land to Roger De Bosco.
Generation 4
Name: Sir William Atte Wode
Born: about 1270 probably in Coulsdon, Surrey Christened: Unknown Married: Juliana (born about 1274 in Sanderstead, surrey) Died: About 1345 Buried: Unknown Parents: Peter Atte Wode
- Children: Geoffrey Atte Wode, Sergeant at arms
- Richard Atte Wode, Sergeant at arms
- William Atte Wode.
William and Juliana sued to record title of lands in Breckenham in 1318. In 1341, William was “Sir” and was captain of the Kings Guard on duty at Westminster Palace, where parliament sat. There is mention that William had two sons Richard and William who became “Sergeant at Arms”. It is recorded that in 1350, Sir William with another sergeant where licensed to travel to travel from Dover. In 1345, Sir William and his two sons probably traveled with the great army the King had enrolled to invade France. It is most probable that Geoffrey, William and there is also mention that Sir William Fell at the battle of Ceasy. However, it is not know if Sir William died at the battle or was brought home injured.
It is said that William Married Juliana who was from Sanderstead. Due to there being no records from this time, it is not possible to say this could be the first time where All Saints’ Parish church was used by the Atwood Family. The First record of an Atwood is the Memorial to John Attwood dated 1525 and Nicholas Attwood dated 1586
Generation 5
Name: Geoffrey Atte Wode
Born: About 1297 Christened: Unknown Married: Unknown Died: After 1346 Buried: Unknown Parents: Sir William Atte Wode & Juliana
- Children: Peter Atte Wode
In 1360, Geoffrey was fined 46 Pounds in addition to a regular tax because Hooley House was Purchased without the consent of the king.
Generation 6
Name: Peter Atte Wode
Born: About 1321 (either in Coulsdon or Sanderstead) Christened: Unknown Married: Lawrance Died: About 1382 Buried: Unknown Parents:Geoffrey Atte Wode & Unknown
- Children: Peter Atte Wode
Peter Atte Wode and his wife Lawrance sued to record title of lands in Sanderstead Parish. This however may not of included the Parish Church or the Manor House as these were still owned by others. Peter probably carried on living at Wood Place, Coulsdon as in 1350, he was licensed by the Bishop to maintain an “Oratory” (A private Chapel).
Peter was clerk of the court in Eyre for which William De Wyckeham was Justice. Together they were forest wardens together and king’s commissioners in rebuilding old Windsor castle. There is no record of the purchase of Sanderstead Manor but the Atwood Family may have received this around this time.
Generation 7
Name: Peter Atte Wode
Born: About 1360 (probally in Sanderstead, Surrey) Christened: Unknown Married: Pentronilla (born about 1364 in Sanderstead, Surrey) Died: After 1384 Buried: Unknown Parents: Peter Atte Wode & Laweance
Peter Atte Wode gained possession of Guildford Manor far east of Surrey. He was “Knight of the Shire” (Chief of the District”) In 1384, he became a member of Parliament for Guildford.
There is also mention that Peter built the Parish church. According to Church history, this began around 1230AD but the Church Tower was added around 1310AD. It is probable that Peter may of had changes made within the structure of the church as there is mention that there was a chapel (probably in the south Aisle) There is also mention that the orientation of the church changed. Due to there being no records of these events, we cannot say for certain.
Generation 8
Name: John Atte Wode
Born: About 1410 (Probably in Sanderstead, Surrey) Christened: Unknown Married: Isabella (born about 1405 probably in Sanderstead) Died: After 1459 Buried: Unknown Parents: Peter Atte Wode & Pentronilla
John Atte Wode and his Wife Isabella in 1434 leased Coulsdon Manor from the Abbey of Chertsey for 20 years. There is mention that John built Sanderstead Court during this time. There are no records of this but it is almost certain that either the whole of Sanderstead Court was re-built or the existing manor was extended.
In 1459, John was Knight of the Shire. It was this parliament that deposed King Henry VI of Lancaster and Restored the throne to the Duke of York. (Red and White Roses).
Generation 9
Name: John Attewode
Born: about 1450 (most probably in Sanderstead, Surrey) Christened: Unknown Married: Denes Wood Died: 30 July 1525 in Sanderstead, Surrey Buried: Sanderstead Parish Church, Surrey Parents: John Atte Wode & Isabella
- Children: John Henry Attewode,
- John Hewson Attewode,
- John Richard Attewode,
- John Edward Attewode,
- John Attewode
- Agnes Attewode.
John Attewode is the earliest Attewode we know for curtain existed within Sanderstead.
Record No. 903 (Wall Tablet with effigies, brass, south wall of chancel)
Off yor. charite pray for the soulle of JOHN ATWODDE/and wife DYONES his wyfe which JOHN decessid the XXX/ day of July Adni MVXXV on who soul thu haue m’ci
Within the Will of John, he leaves his estate to his six sons all named John. Luckily, when his Wife Dyones died, in 1530, she detailed the estate and the different names of the sons. There is mention that there was another Attewode before john but we have found no records of this.
Generation 10
Name: John Hewson Attewode
Born: About 1509 Christened: Unknown Married: Margaret (born about 1494 in Sanderstead) Died: March 1562 Buried: Unknown
Parents: John Attewode & Denes Wood
John Hewson Attewode was keeper of the kings falcons. He inherited Sanderstead Manor in 1530 (from the will of Dyones Attewode) During this time Henry VIII confiscated Church property which included Sanderstead Church and Manor. It is not sure if the Attewodes carried on living there or moved back to Coulsdon. There is mention that John left his estate to his youngest son Thomas who died in 1569 however it then shows this being passed on to Nicholas Atwood.
During this time however, the King passed Sanderstead, Warlingham to Sir John Gresham. Sir John was lord mayor of London. On his death in 1556, Sir John devised Sanderstead with his Manor and parsonage of Warlingham to Katherine, his wife with the remainder to his third son, Edmond Gresham. Edmond passed the property on to his son, who in 1591 sold Sanderstead and Warlingham to John Ownstead and Joan his wife. This however took place without royal license and the estate was seized by the crown officers. It was not until 1594, on payment of a fine did Richard Gresham and wife Anne to alienate the manor of Sanderstead.
John Ownstead, newly-made lord of the manor was Sergeant of the Carriage to Queen Elizabeth. John Ownstead died in 1600 where he devised the estate to his cousin, Harman Atwood.
Generation 11
Name: Nicholas Atwood
Born: 1536 (Probably in Sanderstead) Christened: Unknown Married: Olive Harman at St. Martins, London on 30 Jan 1569 Died: 10th May 1586 Buried: Monument at All Saints’ Sanderstead, Parents: John Hewson Attewood and Margaret
- Children: Harman Atwood,
- Oliver Atwood,
- Alice Atwood,
- Susan Atwood,
- John (Johannes) Atwood,
- Nicholas Atwood,
- Thomas Atwood,
- James (Jacobus) Atwood,
- John (Johanem) Atwood,
- Derick Atwood,
- Richard Atwood
Nicholas Atwood was assistant of the Queens Carriages. Due to the estate being left to Nicholas eldest son Harman, the younger brother John (Jonanem) sued Harman for the Estate but lost. (See Generation 10 for details of how the estate passed to Harman).
Record No. 901 (Wall Tablet decorated with figures, 2 brass plates, south wall of Sanctuary)
Here lyeth Nicholas Wood thirde sonne/ of John At wood of Sanderstead Corte who served/ Queen Elizabeth sens the second year of her/ rayne & deceased the XIIIth of May 1586 and left/ behind him a wife & children ix vii sonns HARMON/JOHN NICHOLAS THOMS. JAMES JOHN RICHARD ALLIS & SUAN
There is mention that Nicholas spent most of his time living in St. Martin of the Fields, London and he was buried there. on the 14th May 1586. It may be possible that the monument was supposed to be at that church and not sanderstead.
Olive Harman was born in 1548 in Sanderstead, Surrey, She was the daughter of James Harman. She also Married William Marleville and John Buck.
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