Pettiward family
The Pettiward family was a landed British family associated with Putney, Great Finborough, Suffolk, and the Pettiward Estate in Earl's Court, London.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
The Pettiward family was a landed family associated principally with Putney in Surrey, Great Finborough and Onehouse in Suffolk, and property holdings in the Earl's Court area of London. The family's documented history combines landownership, inheritance through the female line, public and ecclesiastical service, antiquarian and artistic interests, and urban property development. It is not a commercial brand in the ordinary modern sense; the subject is a historical family and estate lineage. The family's early documented prominence is connected with John Pettiward's marriage in 1630 to Sarah White, daughter and heiress of Henry White of Putney. White had held public office as Sheriff of Surrey during the Commonwealth period. The family appears to have supported the monarchy, and Roger Pettiward of Putney was listed after the Restoration of 1660 among those considered for the proposed Knights of the Royal Oak, an order that was ultimately abandoned. A significant succession occurred through Elizabeth Pettiward, born in 1685, the only daughter and heiress of John Pettiward, born in 1652. Elizabeth married George Mortlock in 1709. Their son, the Reverend Roger Mortlock, inherited the Pettiward estates from his uncle Walter Pettiward in 1749. The inheritance required him to adopt the Pettiward name and arms, which he did through a private Act of Parliament. This established a recurring pattern in the family's later history: estates and associated identity passed through collateral or female lines, with heirs adopting the Pettiward surname under the terms of settlements or by royal authority. The Reverend Roger Pettiward was a substantial Putney landowner and benefactor. In 1763 he gave land to the parish for a burial ground, now known as Putney Old Burial Ground. His widow, Douglas Sandwell, remained associated with the family's Putney residence and collections, which included portraits and paintings described in late-eighteenth-century local history. Their eldest son and heir, Roger Pettiward (1754–1833), developed both commercial and civic connections. He was a partner in the London wholesale stationery firm Wright and Gill before retiring from business. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, Master of the Worshipful Company of Stationers in 1831–32, and Sheriff of Suffolk in 1811. In 1794 he purchased Finborough Hall near Stowmarket and rebuilt it the following year to designs attributed to Francis Sandys. He also held land in Kensington, including an orchard and market garden that later became the basis for an important estate succession and building project. After Roger's death, the Kensington property passed first to his widow, Jane Seymour Colman, for life. She later remarried Admiral Sir William Hotham. In 1856 the life interest passed to Robert John Bussell, a great-nephew, who adopted the Pettiward surname under the inheritance arrangements. Robert John Pettiward planned residential construction on the Kensington land. Despite complications caused by a sewer constructed under compulsory powers, development proceeded during the 1860s, and approximately 220 houses were built on land associated with the estate. This represents the family's most substantial documented contribution to urban development. Robert John Pettiward died in 1908 without a male heir. The estates therefore passed under the terms of the succession to his cousin Charles Terry, who received a royal licence that year to adopt the Pettiward name. Charles's son, Roger Gamelyn Pettiward, inherited the estates in 1933. Roger was an artist and cartoonist associated with Punch, publishing under the name Paul Crum. He studied at Eton, Christ Church, Oxford, the Vienna State Academy, the Munich Academy of Fine Arts, and the Slade School of Art. He also took part in a 1932 expedition with Peter Fleming in Brazil in an unsuccessful search connected with the disappearance of explorer Percy Fawcett. Roger sold Finborough Hall in 1935, built a modern house in Highgate in 1938–39, and was killed in action during the Dieppe Raid on 19 August 1942 while serving with No. 4 Commando. The documented lineage continues with Charles Pettiward, born in 1936, identified as Roger Gamelyn Pettiward's son and heir, and with Charles's three recorded offspring. Beyond this point, the available reference material does not provide sufficient reliable information to characterize the family's current status, assets, activities, or public role.
History
The Pettiward family was a British landed family whose documented associations extended from Putney to Suffolk and west London. In 1630 John Pettiward married Sarah White, heiress of Henry White of Putney. The family's apparent Royalist sympathies became visible after the Restoration, when Roger Pettiward of Putney was listed among potential candidates for the proposed Knights of the Royal Oak. John Pettiward, born in 1652, left an only daughter, Elizabeth, who married George Mortlock in 1709. Their son, the Reverend Roger Mortlock, inherited the estates of his uncle Walter Pettiward in 1749. A private Act of Parliament enabled him to replace the Mortlock surname with Pettiward and assume the associated arms. As a clergyman and landowner, he also contributed land in 1763 for what became Putney Old Burial Ground. The Reverend Roger's eldest son, Roger Pettiward (1754–1833), was active in London commerce before retiring from the stationery firm Wright and Gill. He later became a Fellow of the Royal Society and the Society of Antiquaries, Master of the Worshipful Company of Stationers, and Sheriff of Suffolk. His 1794 purchase of Finborough Hall, followed by its rebuilding in 1795, strengthened the family's Suffolk presence. The Pettiwards also retained the nearby manor of Onehouse, which had been associated with the family since the sixteenth century. Roger Pettiward's marriage to Jane Seymour Colman produced no surviving male heir. His will placed a Kensington orchard and market garden into a succession arrangement. After his widow's life interest, the property passed in 1856 to Robert John Bussell, who adopted the Pettiward surname. Robert John planned residential construction on the land. A sewer installed under compulsory powers caused a dispute over compensation and required revisions to the development plans, but construction nevertheless proceeded. Around 220 houses were built during the 1860s on land belonging to the estate. Robert John Pettiward died in 1908 leaving nine daughters and no male progeny. The estate then passed to his cousin Charles Terry, who obtained a royal licence to take the Pettiward surname. Charles's son Roger Gamelyn Pettiward inherited in 1933. Roger was an accomplished cartoonist and artist who worked for Punch under the pseudonym Paul Crum, studied at several British and continental art institutions, and participated in an unsuccessful Brazilian expedition associated with the search for Percy Fawcett. He sold Finborough Hall in 1935 and created a modern residence in Highgate shortly before the Second World War. Roger served with the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment and later with No. 4 Commando. He died during the Dieppe Raid on 19 August 1942 while leading troops against German coastal positions. The recorded succession continues with his son Charles Pettiward, born in 1936. The supplied reference material identifies Charles as having three offspring but does not establish a reliable modern account of the family's estate, business activity, or public prominence.
- 1942
Roger Gamelyn Pettiward killed at Dieppe
[1]Roger Gamelyn Pettiward was killed in action on 19 August during the Dieppe Raid while serving with No. 4 Commando.
- 1935
Finborough Hall sold
[1]Roger Gamelyn Pettiward sold Finborough Hall.
- 1933
Roger Gamelyn Pettiward inherits the estates
[1]Roger Gamelyn Pettiward succeeded his father Charles and became associated with the family's remaining estates.
- 1908
Charles Terry adopts the Pettiward surname
[1]Following Robert John Pettiward's death without a male heir, Charles Terry succeeded under the inheritance arrangements and received a royal licence to adopt the Pettiward name.
- 1860
Estate housing development proceeds in Kensington
[1]Approximately 220 houses were built during the 1860s on land associated with Robert John Pettiward's estate.
- 1856
Kensington succession passes to Robert John Bussell
[1]After Jane Seymour Colman's life interest ended, the relevant property succession passed to Robert John Bussell, who adopted the Pettiward surname.
- 1831
Roger Pettiward serves as Master of the Stationers' Company
[1]Roger Pettiward became Master of the Worshipful Company of Stationers for 1831–32.
- 1795
Finborough Hall rebuilt
[1]Finborough Hall was rebuilt to a design attributed to Francis Sandys of Bury St Edmunds.
- 1794
Finborough Hall acquired
[1]Roger Pettiward purchased Finborough Hall near Stowmarket in Suffolk.
- 1763
Land given for Putney burial ground
[1]The Reverend Roger Pettiward gave land to the parish of Putney for a cemetery, now known as Putney Old Burial Ground.
Products and positioning
Historical landed-family lineage rather than a commercial brand. The family's identity was historically expressed through estates, inherited property, surname succession, public service, ecclesiastical patronage, arts and antiquarian interests, and residential development.
Sources1 sources
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