John Busbridge's son James was a minor at the time of his father's death, allowing Sir Alexander considerable freedom in dealing with the financial affairs of the Busbridge family. Sir Alexander prospered in Sussex, becoming an active JP for the county. He twice stood for parliament, unsuccessfully in 1624, but in 1625 he was elected an MP.

When Sir Alexander died in 1629, he was buried alongside his first wife in Rochester Cathedral.[4] A monument marked his grave and that of his first wife , but this was destroyed during the Civil War.

At his death, Sir Alexander was heavily in debt. He directed in his will that his property should be sold to pay off his debts and any residual money should go to his son James. Three people - Henry Whalley (a lawyer), Carew Saunders and Robert Aubrey (a merchant) - were given this task. Carew Saunders was Sir Alexander's nephew (his sister's son) while Henry Whalley was the brother in law of Sir Alexander's first wife's daughter by her first husband.

The relationship between the Temples, Whalleys and Cromwells

The Chadwell and Little Thurrock properties were sold to Thomas Ravenscroft. At the time of the sale, the properties were leased back to James Temple and Carew Saunders for ten years. This lease was subsequently assigned to Edward Whalley (brother of Henry Whalley). Edward and Henry were the sons of Richard Whalley of Screveton. James Ravenscroft (son of Thomas) challenged this arrangement in Chancery, alleging that the lease was "fraudulent". Eventually, the lease was allowed to stand, but Edward was prevented from ploughing any of the marshland. I am still researching this case and hope to report more details at a future date.

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