in 1595 (37th eliz.), the manor of stagenhoe was conveyed to william hale, of king's walden. his seventh son and eleventh child, john hale, was knighted in 1660, built stagenhoe manor house about that time, was sheriff of the county in 1663, and died in 1672. dame elizabeth, was the wife of this john hale, and died one year after him. they were the last of the hales of stagenhoe ; their daughter, rose, who died 1695, carried the property to sir john austen, of hall place, bexley, he died 1689. his son, sir robert austen (died 1706) sold it to the heyshams.