Sir Thomas, 2° B. Berners, (by writ, de jure 4th Lord Berners), succeeded his grandmother, Jane, as owner of the Ashwellthorpe estates due to the death of his father, John, in his mother's lifetime in 1537. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I on her visit to Norfolk in 1578 and was High Sheriff of the county in 1579. Thomas was admitted to The Middle Temple, October 9, 1560.

He died February 9, 1618 and his will, dated January 30, 1618, was proved March 6, 1618 and his "Inquisition Post Mortem" held August 26, 1618.

Muriell, also spelt Muriel, was the daughter of Sir Thomas Parry, Treasurer of the household of Queen Elizabeth. She died April 25, 1616 and was buried the following day at Ashwellthorpe.

A man of great repute, his hospitality was known for miles around. About 1600 he rebuilt Ashwellthorpe Hall. It was about this time that the legend of the Magic Oak came into being. It is an incredible tale related in the Ballad of Ashwellthorpe.

One Christmas time a Londoner came to the Hall with some guests. He showed the assembled company an acorn, claiming that it was a magic one. Then set it down in the middle of the Hall and straight away an oak tree grew up, filling the house with branches that bore acorns. Not wishing to live in an oak tree, Sir Thomas had the servants cut it down, but they could not remove it. Then a brace of goslings appeared and drew it away. When the guests went to look outside to look for the pieces, they had vanished completely. Which is why to this very day, there are geese on the moat, (in case he comes back) and Londoners are not trusted!

Sir Thomas petitioned King James I for the Barony of Berners descended to him from his grandmother, Jane. He obtained a cetificate of his right and title to the Barony but died before the King could confirm it.

National Archives (UK)
Reference: KNY 437 371 x 9
List of payments made [by Thomas Knyvett of Ashwellthorpe] to and for his cousin Henry Knyvett, (1564-1565).

Reference: KNY 438-444 371 x 9
Acknowledgements of receipt for annuity paid by Thomas Knyvett Esq. to his cousin Henry Knyvett gent. (described in 1573 as in Cornwall), (1565-1575).

Reference: Phi/549 578 x 2
Bargain and Sale
Bargain and Sale by William Bowyer gent. and wife Agnes late wife of John Knyvett Esq., deceased to Thomas Knyvett Esq. son of said John of their life interest in the manors of Horham and Thorpehall in Suffolk and Thetford, Isle of Ely, of which Thomas had the reversion. March 1, (1565).

Reference: KNY 34 369 x 5
Lease for term of 41 years from Thomas Knyvett Esq. to William Bowyer gent. and wife Agnes of site of said manor, (1567).

Reference: KNY 446 371 x 9
Draft acknowledgement of receipt by John Knyvett gent. from Thomas Knyvett Esq. of £5 half year's annuity granted by his grandmother Jane Knyvett, (1568).

Reference: KNY 666 372 x 5
Edmund Knyvett, Norwich, brother
Sir Ralph Shelton's death, outlawry against cousin Farmer for debt, Note of payments by Sir Thomas for herring etc. on dorse, (nd).

Reference: KNY 447-52 371 x 9
Bonds and undertakings
From Henry Knyvett of Buckenham Castle for payments to Thomas Knyvett of Ashwellthorpe (Valentine) Kett of Wymondham and others sureties, (1573-1578).

Reference: KNY 456,457 371 x 9
Bond
From Thomas Knyvett of Ashwellthorpe to save harmless the executors of Robert Gynes gent. of the Inner Temple re debts of Agnes Bowyer widow deceased of Wimbledon (co. Surrey), 1578, and Case for Counsel's Opinion in suit between William Neale and others, creditors of William Bowyer, and Thomas Bowyer re claim by Sir Thomas Knyvett as surety in bond to William Gynes of Agnes (nee Harcourt), William Bowyer's wife and executrix, undated, (1578).

Reference: KNY 632 372 x 5
Mary Holland, daughter
Visit of her sister Paston and knighting of Thomas Knyvett her brother and Clippesby Gawdy, (nd).

Reference: KNY 424 371 x 8
Appointment by Sir Thomas Knyvett of Sir Henry Knyvett and Edmund Knyvett gent. to take seisin of the manor of Seend, (1579).

Reference: KNY 460 371 x 9
Acknowledgement of receipt by Edmond [sic] Knyvett gent. of Norwich of Sir Thomas Knyvett of £29 in part payment of £120 due upon bond, (1579).

Reference: KNY 425 371 x 8
Declaration
By Edmund Knyvett gent. lately undersheriff of Wiltshire that he took possession of pasture called Berells alias Bearhill in the said manor in the name of the whole manor for Sir Thomas Knyvett, (1580).

Reference: KNY 638-640 372 x 5
Henry Knyvett (brother of Sir Edmund Knyvett of Buckenham)
Purchase of lyng and cod in East Anglian ports, placing servant to learn brewing with the Fermors of East Barsham, book 'conteyning the fyrst orders for the erection of Crystes churche' for Sir Thomas Knyvett, (1580).

Reference: KNY 461 371 x 9
Agreement
Between John Sedley gent. of London and Sir Thomas Knyvett of Ashwellthorpe, Martin Sedley Esq. of Morley and Thomas, son of Sir Thomas Knyvett by which John Sedley agreed to take £330 in lieu of £300 in which the others were bound to him by recognizance of statute staple, (1590).

Reference: KNY 463 372 x 1
Note by Sir Thomas Knyvett, Re discharge of debt of his cousin Henry Knyvett to one Gryffyn, (1590).

Reference: KNY 464 372 x 1
Bond
From Henry Knyvett gent. of London and Sir Thomas Knyvett to Sir Drue Drury for Henry's good behaviour as Drury's deputy as receiver of the royal revenues in Norfolk, Norwich and Huntingdon, (1593).

Reference: KNY 465 372 x 1
Bond
From Sir Thomas Knyvett, Henry Knyvett gent. of Fleet Street and William Browne merchant of same to Margaret (?) Wheul widow of London for payment of (?)£105, (1595).

Reference: KNY 466 372 x 1
Draft letter
From Lady Muriel Knyvett to her brother Thomas Fortescue claiming legacy under her mother's will, (1596).

Reference: KNY 668 372 x 5
Frances, wife of Henry Knyvett, sister-in-law
Claiming £40 annuity and declaring her poverty, (1597).

Reference: KNY 470 372 x 1
Queries in Sir Thomas Knyvett's hand re his brother, Henry's, debts, with answers, (16C-17C).

Reference: Hare 6048 227 x 5
Indenture - Counterpart Mortgage: Sir Thomas Knyvett of Ashwellthorp, Knight to Nicholas Hare of the Inner Temple, Esq. and Raufe Hare of the same, gent. Manor of Thetford alias Thetford in the Yle (Camb.) with appurtenances. 22 Eliz, (February 17, 1597).

Reference: KNY 467 372 x 1
Acknowledgement of receipt
By Henry Knyvett of Sir Thomas Knyvett of £12 for plate on behalf of his brother Robert Bowyer and also for a gilt salt and other plate (described) lent by Henry to Thomas, (1598).

Reference: KNY 653 372 x 5
Muriel Knyvett Stiffkey, a grandchild. Family matters, (nd).

Reference: KNY 661-665 372 x 5
Edmund Knyvett, Norwich, a nephew
Requesting loans and discussing the possibility of turning farmer, and asking Sir Thomas to secure his discharge from imprisonment for debt at suit of William Heuke, (nd).

Reference: KNY 629-631 372 x 5
John Holland
Extravagence of his son's, (husband of Mary, housekeeping, payment of debt by Sir Thomas Knyvett, family news, (1603-1604 and undated).

Reference: KNY 657 372 x 5
Edmund Bell, Southacre, son-in-law, (husband of Muriel)
Trusting that Sir Thomas would have settled residence in Norfolk as fitting his grave years and studious disposition, (1606).

Reference: KNY 471 372 x 1
Copy letter from Sir Thomas Knyvett to Sir Nathaniel Bacon
Re his daughter's, (wife of Thomas), jointure, mentioning suit between him and the unruly people of Wymondham, (1607).

Reference: Phi/553 578 x 3
Mandate of the Archbishop of Canterbury relaxing sentence of excommunication against Sir Thomas Knyvett sen. concerning administration of the estate of Sir Thomas Knyvett jun., (May 28, 1611).

Reference: KNY 29-31 369 x 5
Quitclaim
By Henry Stacie late servant of Sir Thomas Parry to Sir Thomas Knyvett, John Abrahall Esq. and Thomas, son of Sir Thomas Knyvett of right in Parry's lands in Berkshire and elsewhere, 1616; lease from the Crown to Sir Thomas Knyvett of part of Parry's estate being moiety of the manors of Holbenham alias Howbenham and Eyton, moiety of capital messuage etc. in Hampstead Marshall, moiety of three messuages in Uffington, the rectory and vicarage there, and tithes there and elsewhere, during minority of Thomas Knyvett Esq. the king's cousin one of Parry's coheirs, 1616; grant by the Crown to Sir Thomas Knyvett of wardship of Thomas Knyvett Esq., with extent, (1616).

Reference: KNY 562 372 x 3
Acknowledgement of receipt by the Bishop of Ely from Sir Thomas Knyvett of half year's rent for the Rectory of Wymondham, (1617).

Reference: KNY 476 372 x 1
Will of Sir Thomas Knyvett of Ashwellthorpe, (1618).