ANTHONY DEANE.
There were several persons named Anthony Deane living in Essex
and Suffolk at the end of the 17th century, and as so little is known
about them the following notes may be of some assistance to future
genealogists; and, in addition, the curious story told by Moraut in his
History of Essex (Vol. II., 278) seems to arise from the confusion of
two persons of this same name, but of totally different families.
The story I allude to is the exchange of Dynes Hall, in Great
Maplestead, Essex, for Hyde Park, London, related by Morant on the
authority of the Rev. William Holmau, who, I think, can scarcely have
closely investigated the facts. It is as follows :—" Anthony Deane the
eldest son became the imprudent possessor of this estate. Being very
much addicted to the Parliament's cause, and presuming the structure then
raised would have stood for ever, he exchanged his fair estate here with
Col. Sparrow, for Hide Park, which that Colonel had obtained in con-sideration of his zeal for the same prevailing interest. Thus he lost the
substance for the shadow."
I wish, therefore, now to shew that there were several Anthony
Defines living at this time, and that the purchaser of Hyde Park was in
no way related to the owner of Dynes Hall.
The Deanes, of Dynes Hall, were sprung from an old Lancashire
family seated at Tunnworth, in Blackburn Parish, Lancashire, and l»re
for Arms—Sable a fess ermine between three chaplets argent (which coat
was confirmed in 1577 by William Flower, Norroy) and for Crest, a bear's
head couped or muzzled gules. The first of this family to come to
Dynes Hall was William Deane (at first the steward, and afterwards the
husband of Anne, Lady Maltravers), who purchased this estate in 1575,
and built part of the present house. On the death of his grandson, Sir
Drue Deane. of Dynes Hall, in 1638, Anthony (Sir Drue's eldest
surviving son) was left an orphan, then aged eight, and was placed
under the guardianship of his cousin, Deane Tyndal, of Chelmshw
House, in Great Maplestead, a zealous Parliamentarian, and one of the
Parliamentary Committee for the Preservation of Peace in Essex. But
youug Anthony was sprung from a Royalist family on his father's side,
and his mother was a daughter of the celebrated George Goring, Earl of
Norwich, the Royalist leader, so it is probable that he also was inclined
to the King's side ; at any rate he conducted himself in a reckless
manner, marrying when he was eighteen years old, Jane, daughter of
Sir Edward Barkham, Bart., and immediately on his coming of age in
1652 negotiating for the sale of the family property, which he effected
Feb. 1st, 1653, when he conveyed Dynes Hall to John Sparrow, Esq.,
the elder, of Gestiugthorp, in consideration of the sum of £6,000 (
the original deed of conveyance is in the British Museum, Harleian
MSS. H. 24). After this transaction he completely disappears from the
scene, and it is probable that he died shortly afterwards.
The other Anthony Deane, who is often confused with young
Anthony, of Dynes Hall, was an eminent shipbuilder of Harwich, a
friend of Henry Cromwell's, to whom he wrote a letter in 1658 (which
is now in the British Museum) warning him of the tottering condition
of affairs on the death of Oliver, and evidently desiring that Henry
Cromwell should come over from Ireland and supplant his brother
Richard, who was incompetent for the Protectorate. He was originally
in the shipbuilding department at Woolwich Dockyard, and by his skill
rose to be Surveyor-General of the Shipyards and a Commissioner of the
Navy. He was knighted on board ship about 1660, and was elected
Mayor of Harwich in 1676 and 1682, and represented that borough in
Parliament in 1678 and 1680. He was an intimate friend of Samuel
Pepy's, the " Diarist," who was his colleague in the representation of
Harwich, and his talents as a shipwright are highly praised by Evelyn.
Holman says that Col. Sparrow had obtained Hyde Park in considera
tion of his zeal for the Parliament's cause, but this can scarcely have
been the case, for on Saturday, Nov. 27th, 1652, the Journal of the  House of Commons contains this entry—" Resolved that Hyde Park be
sold for ready money." Hyde Park was to be sold in thn:e lots; the
third lot (consisting of three parcels described as the Middle, Banqueting,
and Old Lodge Divisions) was purchased by " Anthony Dean, of St.
Martin's in the Fields, Esq., a shipbuilder, of Harwich and Woolwich,"
for the sum of £9,020 8s. 2d. (of which £2,210 was the value of the
timber). Hyde Park was at that time, as it still is, the fashionable
resort, and although the Park had now become private property the
fashionable world were still allowed to ride and drive there on payment
of a toll, as the following entry in Evelyn's Diary (April llth, 1653)
shews—"I went to take the air in Hyde Park, when every coach was
wade to pay a shilling and horse .sixpence by the sordid fellow who had
purchased ft of the State."
Anthony Deane seems to have kept possession of H3-de Park until
the Restoration in May, 1660, when the sale not having been confirmed
by Parliament was regarded as invalid by the Courts of Law, and the
property reverted to the Crown.
This Anthony Deane, of Harwich and London, is described in his
Grant of Arms in 1683, as "son of Anthony Deane, of London, gent.,
and grandson of Anthony Deane, of Gloucester," and his Arms were "
Argent on a chevron sable between three Cornish choughs proper as
many crosses patty or " ; and (.'rest, on a wreath argent and sable the
stem of one of His Mnjestie's first-rate ships called "The Royal Charter,"
in natural colours. He was twice married, and dying at an advanced
age in 1721 was buried in Crutched Friars, London. He left a large
family, whose lineal descendants still possess his estates in Suffolk and
Devonshire.
Besides these two Anthony Deancs there seem to have been at
least two others living at that time at Harwich, as the following
extracts from the Harwich Parish Registers will shew :— "
Anthony Deane, buried Feb. 9, 1657." "
Anthony, son to Philip Deauc and Elizabeth, his wife, was
baptised 22nd July, 1685." "
Philip, son of Anthony Deane, senr., Mariner, and Elizabeth, his
wife, was baptised Sept. 17th, 1704." "
Philip, son of Anthony Deane, junr., and Pllizabcth, his wife, was
baptised Dec. 1st, 1704." "
Anthony, son of Anthony Deane, Mariner, and his wife, was
baptised Oct. 31, 1706,"
In Harwich Churchyard also there arc tombstones, varying in date
from 1743 to the present time, to five different persons named Anthony
Deane.
Another Anthony Deane, whom at present I am unable to identify,
married at Great Healings, Suffolk, Sept 26, 1667, Anne, youngest
daughter of William Sparrow, of Ipswich.