When it comes to influential Castle Bromwich families the Smallwoods are one of the most well-known. The family grave in the churchyard by St Mary & St Margaret Church, together with the commemorative plaque in the church pay testament to their importance and wealth. It is therefore perhaps a little ironic that their links with Castle Bromwich are somewhat tentative, their businesses and residences for the most part being somewhat displaced from the hamlet. That not-with-standing they are considered one of the village’s founding families and their history is certainly worthy of being remembered and recorded.

Successful people tend to share some common characteristics; determination, self-esteem and self-belief, and often, a disregard for others’ opinions of them or at the very least, a thick skin. By all accounts these were characteristics shared by early members of the Smallbrook family and their local rivals the Comores.

The Smallbrooks and the Colmores: two families that were well-established in  Birmingham; two families that were on the up in 16th century; two families that were prepared to antagonise others on their way to the top; two families that were vying for power; and two families that clashed.

Tracing their roots to 12th century Yardley, over the next 400 years the Smallbrooks began to gain influence in Birmingham.

By the mid-1500s Richard Smallbrook of Ravenhurst, not only owned land and houses in and about the town but also was involved in the growing iron trade. His importance was marked by attaining the office of High Bailiff of Birmingham and by his inclusion as one of the first 20 governors of King Edward’s School in 1552.

Among this select body were also William Colmore the elder and William Colmore the younger. Their forebears came from the Solihull where a John de Collemor was noted in 1364, and in 1469, Richard and Joan Colmore and Robert and Elizabeth Colmore were recorded as members of the Gild of St. Anne, of Knowle.

These Colmores were involved in trade and in the buying of land. By the late 15th century they owned the Tanter Butts Estate near Gosta Green, whilst in 1562 a William Colmore leased “land called Bingas in the forren of Birmyngham, adjoining the lane called Duddeley Wey and the lane leading from Birmyngham towards Wynesdon”.

The lease stated that William Colmore was a mercer, someone who dealt in fabrics, especially in silk and other costly materials, and also in spices. He died in 1566 and was remembered by a slab in St Martin’s Church upon which he was shown in a long civilian’s gown, with hanging sleeves.

William’s sister, Elizabeth, had married Thomas Smallbrook in 1570. He was the younger son of Richard Smallbrook of Ravenhurst and had inherited properties in Birmingham, Yardley and Bordesley. The union sparked a bitter feud.

William wrangled over the marriage settlement for Elizabeth, and then in 1593 Thomas Smallbrook persuaded his mother-in-law, Joan, to petition the Privy Council against “her own natural son” for pounds 400 that it was claimed was owed to her. The petition was dismissed but Thomas followed the case up with other vexatious lawsuits that caused William Colmore “great disquiet, charges and expenses”.

Thomas himself comes across as ruthless and vengeful, as highlighted by Marie Fogg, who has written “The Smalbroke Family of Birmingham 1550-1749” (Lulu.com).

Marie reveals that in the late 1580s Thomas had loaned money to a Thomas Lane, a smith, who had suffered “a great dearthe”.

Unable to pay back the pounds 28 he had borrowed, the unfortunate debtor was forced to sell his home in the High Street to Smallbrook.

The wealthier man showed little compassion. He ordered Lane and his family to leave quickly. They could not do so as Lane’s wife was too ill to move. Undeterred, Smallbrook had Lane summonsed and then had him and his family forced out by hired men. Soon afterwards the unhappy smith’s wife died and he himself complained with some justification that Smallbrook was ‘a greedily rich mercer’.

Smallbrook would learn what it was like to be a victim. In 1604 he and Ambrose Colmore were accused of stealing documents from a chest belonging to King Edward’s School, of which both were governors. Ambrose was a relation of William Colmore the younger. This dispute was part of a heated family quarrel that would become violent. The case against Ambrose and Thomas was dismissed and they charged William Colmore with “a plot to gain supreme control of the school and its possessions; which, through rapid increase of the trade of the town, were said now to be worth ten times their former value”.

To make matters worse, Smallbrook was suing William and his sons of serious offences. He charged his relatives by marriage with “assault, destruction of property, riot, terrorizing or labouring witnesses to prevent their testimony, defamation and conspiracy”.

During the 18-month hearing it was revealed that on one occasion a woman had been putting out her washing when three men ran past her. It seems that they were Thomas Smallbrook, his brother Richard and a servant. They were chased by the three sons of Colmore, who shot at their prey. They missed and instead put holes through the washing.

Scurrilous leaflets about Thomas and his brother, Richard, had also been scattered around Birmingham at Whitsun 1603. One night in that period Thomas was attacked on his way home from London by “a roistering party of Colmores”.

Injured, he had to flee to his home.

Then on July 1 whilst he was supervising the building of a barn at his farm in Bordesley, William Colmore’s son, Thomas, “did suddenly and unawares surprise” his namesake and struck at Smallbrook’s head with a hunting staff.

The blow missed, whereupon Colmore “whipped a small pistol out of his hose” and tried to shoot his uncle. Again he missed.

Matters got worse. The younger Colmores failed in another attempt to shoot Smallbrook. Their father was enraged and most irreligiously and profanely swore and protested ‘many times by the blood of God that he would his son had well boxed Smalbroke – that he would to God he had sped him!’ Eventually Smallbrook obtained a warrant for the arrest of Thomas Colmore. Afeared of the consequences, the town constable dithered until Sir Thomas Holte forced his hand and issued a warrant against one of Colmore’s servants.

With support from the Under Bailiff and one of Holte’s men, the constable bearded the Colmores in their den, the Lamb in Bull Street.

Seeking to arrest the servant they were confronted by the Colmore brothers who swore that “they would die first on any man that laid hands on him”. Thomas Colmore then thrust murderously with his rapier at the constable. In the ensuing scuffle the officers of the law were badly beaten and their task was made impossible by the arrival of the Colmores’ father, William, with a party of 20 men who were brandishing pikes supposedly on their way to “calm things down.”

The events of the night strengthened the case against the Colmores. Some witnesses were persuaded by Smallbrook’s lawyer son to make a statement, a copy of which was sent to the Judge at the Summer Assizes. But before a hearing could take place, Colmore bribed the witnesses to withdraw their statements. Smallbrook then had no choice but to take his case to the Court of Star Chamber where he could be guaranteed a fair hearing. Although Smallbrook won the case he was left with debts of £700. William Colmore received a heavy fine, which he never paid, so it was the victor, Smallwood who was financially the loser.

References

Fogg, M., 2009, The Smalbroke Family of Birmingham 1550-1749, Lulu.com

https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Feuding+Colmores+and+Smallbrooks.-a0201364254