IMPRESSIONS OF ARMORIAL SEALS OF CHESHIRE GENTRY, MADE BY ELIAS ASHMOLE IN 1663. By J. Paul Rylands, F.S.A. W HEN William Dugdale, Norroy King of Arms, made his Visitation of Cheshire in the year 1663, he was accompanied by Elias Ash- mole, then Windsor Herald, who records in his diary: 1663. Aug. 3. 9 Hor. ante merid. I began my Journey to accompany Mr. Dugdale in his Visitations of Shropshire and Cheshire. Oct. 10. I returned to London. This Visitation was continued in the following year. Among other evidences some of the Cheshire gentry produced to the heralds their personal seals, and Ashmole, who availed himself of most oppor- tunities to add to his collections, did not neglect to take wax impressions of a number of these seals, of which about sixty are now preserved at Oxford in the Bodleian Library (MS. Ashmole 1138). Our knowledge of the important Cheshire Visita- tion of 1663-4 i s limited, since there is no known transcript of the pedigrees then entered, other than the official record in the College of Arms. Ormerod, it is true, had access to this manuscript, and used it freely in drafting the pedigrees for his History of Cheshire, but of nearly two hundred pedigrees 58
Transcript
IMPRESSIONS OF ARMORIAL SEALS OF CHESHIRE GENTRY, MADE BY ELIAS ASHMOLE IN 1663.
By J. Paul Rylands, F.S.A.
WHEN William Dugdale, Norroy King of Arms, made his Visitation of Cheshire in
the year 1663, he was accompanied by Elias Ash- mole, then Windsor Herald, who records in his diary:
1663. Aug. 3. 9 Hor. ante merid. I began my Journey to accompany Mr. Dugdale in his Visitations of Shropshire and Cheshire.
Oct. 10. I returned to London.
This Visitation was continued in the following year.
Among other evidences some of the Cheshire gentry produced to the heralds their personal seals, and Ashmole, who availed himself of most oppor tunities to add to his collections, did not neglect to take wax impressions of a number of these seals, of which about sixty are now preserved at Oxford in the Bodleian Library (MS. Ashmole 1138).
Our knowledge of the important Cheshire Visita tion of 1663-4 is limited, since there is no known transcript of the pedigrees then entered, other than the official record in the College of Arms. Ormerod, it is true, had access to this manuscript, and used it freely in drafting the pedigrees for his History of Cheshire, but of nearly two hundred pedigrees
58
Impressions of Armorial Seals of Cheshire Gentry 59
recorded by Dugdale very many do not appear at all in Ormerod's work.
A few of Dugdale's pedigrees are printed in Dr. Howard's Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica and in the Cheshire Sheaf, and a list of his Disclaimers will be found in our Transactions (double volume xliii. and xliv. p. 81).
Anything, therefore, that affords particulars of this Visitation is of especial interest, and in these seals, which are in excellent condition, we have some of the evidence offered by the Cheshire gentry to substantiate their claim to armorial bearings 250 years ago.
The drawings given below are reproductions of pen-and-ink sketches of Ashmole's wax impressions, made by Miss E. G. Parker of Oxford for my brother, W. H. Rylands, who has lent the blocks, and has communicated the appended pedigrees, for publication by our Society. He has also contributed many particulars to the annotations. The headings in italics are Ashmole's, but the names have been rearranged in alphabetical order.
Besides the seals here reproduced there are in the collection five others, viz. : (i) The seal of the city of Chester, still in use, (2) the seal for recog nizances under the statutes merchant, (3) Secretum of the seal of the mayor of Chester, (4) a seal of the arms of Randle Blundeville, Earl of Chester, with the addition of a sword of state erect in pale, which Ormerod says (i. 204) was used by the city officers, but by what authority does not appear, and (5) a seal of John Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale.
The annotations have been made with the object of identifying the persons named, and it seemed suitable to give references to printed books easy of access rather than to burden the text by making full extracts. The heraldry has, necessarily, been more fully dealt with. Mr. J. H. E. Bennett's
60 Impressions of Armorial Seals of Cheshire Gentry
notes in the Cheshire Sheaf on Robert Capper, Thomas Higginson, John Hulton, Randle Oulton, John Sparke, and William Street afford new and interesting particulars of those families.
S". John Ardern (f. gi). 1
Sir John Arderne, of Harden, knt, was born at Utkinton in May 1630; knighted at Whitehall 9th July 1660; was high sheriff of Cheshire 1666; and died 6th February 1701-2. See Earwaker's JSast Ches. i. 475; Ormerod's Ches. ii. 86; Visitation of Ches. 1613, Harleian Soc. lix. io. 2
Arms: Gules, three cross-crosslets fitche anda chief Or. Crest: A plume of five ostrich feathers Argent.(Coll. Arm., C. 6. fo. 48).
Edward Bromley of Hampton (f. 89).
Edward Bromley, of Hampton, was aged 37 years in 1663. His great-grandfather, Hugh Bromley, of Norbury, married Alice, daughter and heiress of William Egerton, of Hampton. See Ormerod's Ches. ii. 642.
Arms: Quarterly: island 4th, quarterly per fesse indented Gules and Or {Bromley}; 2nd and 3rd, Argent, a lion rampant Gules between
three pheons Sable \_Egerton\. Crest: A cock-pheasant proper.
Sr. Henry Brooks of Norton (i. 89).
Sir Henry Brooke, of Norton Priory, bart., was so created in 1662; he had been a colonel in the army of the Parliament, was sometime M.P. for Cheshire, and died in 1664. See Ormerod's Ches. i. 681; G. E. C.'s Complete Baronetage, iii. 268.
Arms: Or, a cross engrailed per pale Gules and Sable. Crest: A brock, or badger, proper.
1 The folio numbers after the names refer to MS. Ashmole 1138.2 The Visitation of 1613 was also printed by the Record Society of
Lancashire and Cheshire, vol. 58.
Impressions of Armorial Seals of Cheshire Gentry 61
Jonathan Bruen of Stapleford (f. 86).
Jonathan Bruen, of Bruen Stapleford, was aged 54 years in 1663; he was buried at Tarvin nth September 1676. .See Ormerod's Ches. ii. 323.
Arms: Argent, an eagle displayed Sable. Crest: A fisherman bare-legged, vested Gules, hat Sable, in dexter hand a fishing-rod (?) Or and on his sinister shoulder a fish-weel of the last.
(Coll. Arm., C. 6. f. 12.)
Robert Bulkley of Chester (f. 86).
Robert Bulkeley, of Chester, was a son of Sir Richard Bulkeley, of Beaumaris, knt.; according to the pedigree in Earwaker's East Ches. (i. 183) he was illegitimate. He died in 1679 and the inscription on his monument in St. John's Church, Chester, is printed by Ormerod (i. 319). See Trans.
Hist. Soc. L. and C. Ixii. 124.Arms: Sable, a chevron between three bulls' heads cabossed
Argent, a canton Or. These arms were allowed by Dugdale,3rd September 1663.
Henry Bunbury of Bunbury & Stanney (f. 89).
Henry Bunbury, of Stanney, was buried at Stoak loth February 1664-5, aged 68. See Trans. Hist. Soc. L. and C. Ivii. 133, Ixii. 123; Ormerod's Ches. ii. 390, 396.
Arms: Quarterly: ist, Argent, on a bend Sable three chess-rooks of the ist {.Bunbury] ; 2nd, Argent, a fesse between three pheasants Gules \_Stanney\; 3rd, Gules, on a bend engrailed,
between two cinquefoils Argent, three leopards' faces Vert, in chief a mullet Or \Aldersey\; 4th, Or, on a chief Gules three trefoils slipped of the first, in the fesse-point a crescent of the first \Bamville\. Crest: two swords saltierwise, passing through the mouth of a leopard's face Or, the blades proper, hilts gold. These arms and quarterings were allowed by Dugdale, 8th Sep tember 1663.
02 Impressions of Armorial Seals of Cheshire Gentry
Robert Capper, Alderman of Chester (f. 86).Robert Capper, of Chester, vintner, was sheriff
of Chester in 1649. He died gth November 1663 and was buried at St. Peter's Church. He did not enter a pedigree at Dugdale's Visitation. See Ches. Sheaf, 3rd series, xii. 9; Ormerod's Ches. i. 215.
Arms: Argent, three caps Sable, banded Or; Burke's General Armory. Crest: A dragon's (?)
head couped.
Thomas Daniell of Ouer Tabley (f. 89).Thomas Daniell, of Over Tabley,
died ist March 1695-6, aged 62. See vellum pedigree, Genealogist, xxxii. 18; Ormerod's Ches. i. 476.
Arms: Quarterly, ist and 4th, Argent, a pale fusilly Sable \_Danyers or Daniell} ; 2nd, ... a cross engrailed ...[...]; 3rd, ... on a bend . . . three garbs ...[...]. An escutcheon of pretence Argent, a panther (?) statant and [rejgardant Sable \_De Tabley'?].
Crest: A unicorn's head couped Argent, armed and maned Or.
Jo/in Davenport of Davenport, Esqr. (f. 91).John Davenport, of Davenport, was baptized
at Marton 5th April 1630, and buried at Swetten- ham 18th November 1706. He was high sheriff of Cheshire in 1658. See Earwaker's East Ches. ii. 388; Ormerod's Ches. iii. 69.
Arms: Argent, a chevron between three cross- crosslets fitch e Sable. Crest: A felon's head
couped proper, around the neck a halter Or.
Sr. Thomas Dehies of Duddington Barr*. (f. 89).Sir Thomas Delves, of Dodington,
3rd baronet, M.A. Oxon.; was baptized at Dodington 28th August 1630, and died istti May 1713; high sheriff of Cheshire, 1665. See Ormerod's Ches. iii. 523 ; G. E. C.'s Complete Baronetage, i. 164.
Arms : Argent, a chevron Gules fretty Or, between three delves or turves Sable. Crest: Out of a crest coronet Or, a
demi-heron with wings displayed Argent. Motto: Je dene fortune.
Impressions of Armorial Seals of Cheshire Gentry 63
Rich: Maria Dumvill Esqr. (f. 91).
Richard Maria Domville, of Lymm, was buried at Lymm Church 2nd September 1667. See Ormerod's Ches. i. 582.
Arms : Quarterly : ist and 4th, Azure, a lion rampant Argent collared Gules [Domville] 2nd and 3rd, Gules, a pale fusilly Argent \Lymme\. Crest: A lion rampant. . . . According to the Visitation of Ches. 1580, Harleian Soc. xviii. 82,
the crest was two lions' jambs couped and embowed Argent.
q. if not W. Donne. W. H. (f.
The only Done who entered a pedigree at the Visitation of Ches. 1663-4 was Edward Done, of Duddon. This appears to be a seal of an earlier date and is apparently the one exhibited at the Visitation 1580. In the pedi gree in Ormerod's Ches. (ii. 249) there is a William Done, a son of Ralph Done of Flax- yards, mentioned in a settlement dated 23 Hen. VIII. See Visitation of Ches. 1580,
Harleian Soc. xviii. 85 ; Burke's General Armory.Arms: Azure, two bars Argent, over all on a bend Gules three
arrows of the second ; a crescent for difference. Crest: A stag's head couped proper, attired Or. Supporters : Two lions rampant guardant Argent (?); but subsequently two talbots were borne, the dexter Argent, the sinister Sable. (Ormerod.)
Edward Downes of Worth Esqr. (f. 91).
Edward Downes, of Shrigley and Worth, was aged 33 in 1663, and was buried at Prestbury 15th February 1693-4. See Earwaker's East Ches. ii. 321 ; Ormerod's Ches. iii. 776.
Arms: Sable, a stag lodged Argent.
1 This is a note in a later hand.
64 Impressions of Armorial Seals of Cheshire Gentry
Alexander Fetherston Prebend, of Litchfield & Curate of S'. Johns in Chester (f. 86).
Alexander Fetherston was born in Westmor land, and was a son of the Rev. Christopher Fetherston, B.A., of Bentham, co. York. He matriculated at Queen's College, Oxford, iyth October 1634, aged 17; B.A. 30th January 1637-8 ; M. A. 13th October 1640 ; admitted pre bendary of Lichfield 6th September 1660; vicar of St. John's, Chester, 1662-1665 > rector of Wal- lasey, Cheshire, 1661-1674; vicar of Wolverton,
Bucks, 1673 ; buried at Wolverton 2nd August 1684. See Le Neve's Fasti, i. 592 ; Foster's Alumni Oxon.; Ormerod's Ches.i- 3i5-
Arms : Gules, a chevron between three ostrich feathers Argent, an annulet for difference. Crest: An antelope's head couped Gules, attired Or. (Burke's General Armory?)
Thomas Henshaw of Henshaw (f. 89).
Thomas Henshaw, of Henshaw, was baptized at Gawsworth i4th December 1617, and died without issue pth February 1674. See Or merod's Ches. iii. 734; Earwaker's East Ches. ii. 400.
Arms : Argent, a chevron Sable between three moor-hens of the second, legged Gules. Crest: An eagle proper, jessed and membered
Or, preying on a bird's wing proper.
Tho: Higginson of Chester (f. 86).Thomas Higginson was baptized at St.
Bridget's Church, Chester, nth April 1615, and died in or about the year 1664. He was an innholder. His name, under Northgate Street, occurs in the list of disclaimed persons at the Visitation of 1663-4, and no pedigree of his family was then entered. See Ches. Sheaf, 3rd series, xii. 14. i
Arms: Per saltire [Or] and [Azure] four stags' heads cabossed [counterchanged] ; on a chief [Argent] three roses [Gules]; a crescent for difference. Crest: In front of an arrow erect .... a stag's head cabossed . . . attired. . . . These tinctures are supplied from a vellum pedigree of Alien, by Randle Holme, printed in The Genealogist, vol. 34, p. 148.
Impressions of Armorial Seals of Cheshire Gentry 65
Richard Hocknell of Prenton (f. 86).Richard Hockenhull, of Prenton, was aged
56 years when he entered his pedigree on 3rd September 1663 ; Ormerod's Ches. ii. 532. See Visitation of Ches. 1613, Harleian Soc. lix. 12$,
Arms: Quarterly: ist and 4th, Argent, an ass's head erased Sable \Hockenhult\; 2nd, Argent, on a bend Sable three pheons [should be spears' heads] of the first [Prenton] ; 3rd, Sable, three crescents Argent \Gleave\. Crest:
A buck's head Argent, erased and attired Or, pierced through the nostrils with an arrow Argent, headed in base Azure (Coll. Arm. C. 6. f. 20). The second and third quarters are transposed on the seal, and the crescent for cadency should be in the ist and 4th quarters instead of in the second.
John Hulton of Chester (f. 86).There were three persons named John Hulton
living in Chester in the latter part of the seven teenth century ; see Ches. Sheaf, 3rd series, xii. 7. The pedigree entered by John Hulton at Dugdale's Visitation is subjoined, and it will be seen that he claimed descent from the Hultons of Farnworth near Bolton-le-Moors, Lancashire. He was an alderman, served the office of sheriff of Chester in 1662, and was buried at St. Oswald's
Church, I5th November 1673. In the list of persons who were dis claimed at Dugdale s Visitation the name of " Mr. Hulton " occurs.
Arms: The arms and crest on the seal are those of the family of Hulton of Hulton Park, co. Lane., with a crescent for differ ence ; the Hultons of Farnworth bore the same coat with the lion crowned.
The arms allowed to John Hulton, of Chester, and probably also to his nephew Edward, in 1673, were : Azure, a lion rampant, barry Argent and Gules, with a crescent in dexter chief. Crest: Out of a crest-coronet [Or ?] a stag's head Argent [attired Gold ?] charged on the neck with a crescent, between two branches of roses Gules leaved Vert. These arms are impaled by Oulton on the monument to Randle Oulton, of Chester, which is figured in the Ches. Sheaf, 3rd series, vol. xii. Dugdale changed the tinctures and removed the crown in allowing arms to John Hulton, of Chester, and it is difficult to understand why this was done if John Hulton substantiated his descent from the Hultons of Farnworth, which he seems to have done according to the pedigree which Dugdale recorded.
This family is now represented by Sir Jacob Preston, bart,F
66 Impressions of Armorial Seals of Cheshire Gentry
whose ancestor Thomas Hulton assumed the name and arms of Preston, and was created a baronet in 1815.
William King of the midle Temple (f. 91).William King, son of Thomas King, of Halton,
Cheshire, was admitted to the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple on the 8th May 1645 ; Middle Temple records. His name appears in the list of Cheshire Gentry in 1673 m Blome's Britannia, as William King, of Hulton [Halton], esq.; Ches. Sheaf, 3rd series, v. 34. See also
Beamont's Halton, page 113; Ormerod's Ches. i. 676; and Ches. Sheaf, 3rd series, ix. 24, for some notices of the King family of Halton. No pedigree of this family was recorded at the Cheshire Visitation 1663-4.
Arms: Sable, a lion passant Or. Crest: On a crest-coronet a lion rampant Or, holding in the dexter paw a lance Argent on the point thereof a crescent [annulet?] gold. These arms were allowed in 1568, at the Visitation of London, to Sir John King, knt., of London. (Visitation of London, Harleian Soc. i. 97.)
Simon Land one of the Prebends of Chester (f. 86.)Simon Land was the son of the Rev. Lewis
Lande of Tamerton, Devon ; he matriculated at Exeter College, Oxford, i8th February 1626-7, then aged 16; B.A. 26th January 1629-30. See Foster's Alumni, where he is called Laude. Ormerod says he was "Rector of Waverton and of Penzance in Cornwall, died 1676, supposed to be buried at Penzance" (List of Prebendaries, i. 270), but his name does not
.occur in the defective list of the rectors of Waverton (ii. 790). He was presented to the rectory by the king on 5th May 1662 (Deputy Keeper's Report, xlvi. 76).
Arms: At the Visitation 1663-4, respite was given for proof of the arms on the seal, which, according to Papworth's Ordinary, are those of De la Laund, but with the fesse dancette.
Lauton of Lauton (f. 86).William Lawton, of Lawton, was high sheriff in
1671. He was aged 33 at the time of the Visita tion, and died gth September 1693. See Ormerod's Ches. iii. 17.
Arms: Argent, on a fesse between three cross- crosslets fitche Sable, a cinquefoil of the first. Crest: A demi - wolf rampant Argent, licking a wound on his sinister shoulder Gules.
Impressions of Armorial Seals of Cheshire Gentry 67
Thomas Lea of Dernhall (f. 86).
Thomas Lee, of Darnhall, was aged 26 at the time of the Visitation, and was high sheriff of Cheshire in 1697. See Ormerod's Ches. i. 630.
Arms: Quarterly: ist and 4th Argent, a fesse between three leopards' faces Sable [Lee]; 2nd and 3rd, Sable, two bars Argent, on a canton of the first a garb Or [ Wever\. Crest : On a crest- coronet Or, a leopard's face Sable.
Peter Leigh of the Westhall of the high Leigh (f. 89).
Peter Leigh, of the West Hall, died unmarried in 1665. See Ormerod's Ches. i. 453-4.
Arms: Or, a lion rampant Gules. Crest: A cubit arm vested paly of five pieces Or and Sable, cuffed Argent, the hand proper grasping the upper and lower fragments of a broken tilting spear in bend sinister proper, headed Azure, the point downwards. This crest was allowed by
Dugdale in 1663; it will be noticed that on the seal the tilting- spear is not broken and there is a crescent on the cubit arm.
Henry Leigh of high Leigh of the Easthall, Esqr. (f. 91).
Henry Legh, of the East Hall, was aged 52 at the time of the Visitation 1663. He was buried at Rostherne 24th February 1684. See Ormerod's Ches. i. 462.
Arms : Argent, a lion rampant Gules. Crest : A demi-lion rampant Gules, collared Or. These arms (quartering Azure, semee of cross-crosslets and three eagles displayed Or for Somerville of
Alpraham) were allowed in 1580 by Robert Glover, Somerset Herald, and in 1613 by Richard St. George, Norroy King of Arms. There is a fine achievement of the arms, with the signatures of the heralds, given in facsimile in colours, in the volume of the Lanes, and Ches. Antiq. Soc. for 1886.
rr~
of Hawarden. Leghs of the
68 Impressions of Armorial Seals of Cheshire Gentry
Jo: Leigh of Oughtrington (f. 91).John Leigh, of Oughtrington, was aged 47
at the time of the Visitation 1663. He was buried at Lymm (?) 24th November 1696. See Ormerod's Ches. i. 588.
Arms: Argent, a lion rampant Gules. Crest: A cubit arm, vested paly of four pieces Or and Sable, cuff Argent, the hand proper grasping the lower end of a broken tilting-spear in bend sinister proper. It will be noticed that on the seals the tilting-spear is not broken, and that there is a crescent for cadency in the arms.
The impaled coat Argent, a bend fusilly Sable, is not for the wife of John Leigh, but is a coat which was sometimes attributed to Leigh of Oughtrington, and on other occasions borne as a quartering. It is actually the coat
Agnes de Legh, the heiress from whom the West Hall, Oughtrington, Knutsford Booths,
Adlington, Lyme and Stoneleigh all descend, had three husbands, (i) Richard de Lymme, (2) William Venables, and (3) William de Hawarden. The first husband bore Gules, a pale fusilly Argent, " being the arms of Lymme, and the third husband bore the black bend fusilly on a white field. But Leigh of Oughtrington was descended from the first husband, and though the quartering of a pale fusilly might have been appropriate enough, it is difficult to see how the bend fusilly came in. See Trans. Hist. Soc. L. and C. xxxi. 6.
Leigh of Lyme (f.-91).Richard Legh, of Lyme, was aged 29 at the
time of the Visitation 1663. He was buried at Winwick Church, in the Legh Chapel, 6th September 1687, as " Richard Leegh Esqr. from Lyme buryed in Linen." There is a large marble monument with busts of Richard Legh and his wife in the Legh Chapel. On an ornamental shield are impaled arms in colour,
viz., Azure, two bars Argent, over all a bend gobony Or and Gules \Legh, of Adlington} impaling Or, a chevron between three cinquefoils Gules \Chichley, of Cambridgeshire}. See Ormerod's Ches. iii. 677; Beamont's House of Lyme, p. 143; Lady Newton's House of Lyme, p. 191.
Arms: Although, as we have seen, the arms of Legh of Adlington were occasionally used, the recognised coat of the Leghs of Lyme was Gules, a cross engrailed Argent, and the crest was
Impressions of Armorial Seals of Cheshire Gentry 69
Out of a crest-coronet Or a ram's head Argent, horned gold, in the mouth a spray of leaves Vert. To this was added as an augmentation, in 1575, an inescutcheon Sable, seme'e of mullets, and a man's arm embowed in armour Argent, holding in the hand a standard Silver. The mullets have long been borne as estoiles, and the standard was invariably charged with a cross of St. George." See Trans. Hist. Soc. L. and C. Ix. 166, Ixii. 138; Genealogical Magazine, i. 17.
Edward Legh of Bage ley (f. 89).Edward Legh, of Baguley, was the last
male representative of his family. See Or- merod's Ches. i. 552, 553.
Arms: Quarterly: ist, Azure, two bars Argent, over all a bend Sable \Legh\; 2nd, Or, three lozenges Azure \Bagitley\; 3rd, Ermine, on a chief indented Gules three coronets Or [Leche ?]; 4th, Argent, a fleur-de- lys Sable \Levenshulme\. Crest: A bear passant proper, muzzled and a chain reflected
over the back Or.
George Leicester of Toft (f. 89).
George Leycester, of Toft, was buried at Mobberley igth June 1671. See Or- merod's Ches. i. 506.
Arms: Azure, a fesse Gules fretty Or between three fleurs-de-lys of the last. Crest: A roebuck trippant per pale Or and Gules, attired of the second, holding in his mouth an oak branch proper.
Sr. Thomas Mainivaring of Pever Barr*. (f. 89).Sir Thomas Mainwaring, of Peover, was oorn
in 1623. He went to Brasenose College, Oxford, 1637; to Gray's Inn, 1638; was high sheriff of Cheshire, 1657; M.P. for Cheshire, 1660; and created a baronet, 22nd November 1660. He died 28th June 1689, and was buried at Over Peover. His controversy with Sir Peter Leyces
ter in regard to the legitimacy of Amicia, daughter of Hugh Cyveliok, Earl of Chester, has been printed by the Chetham Society. See G. E. C.'s Complete Baronetage, iii. 129; Ormerod's Ches. i. 483; Diet. Nat. Biog. xxxv. 349; Leycester's Historical Antiquities, 134.
7O Impressions of Armorial Seals of Cheshire Gentry
Arms : Quarterly : ist and 4th, Argent, two bars Gules {Main- waring^ 2nd and 3rd, Azure, three garbs Or \Randle Blunde- ville, Earl of Chester}. Crest: Out of a crest-coronet Or an ass's head proper.
[No name over this seaf] (f. 89).
This is probably a Mallory seal, but the arms may be Crewe, Legh or Leigh. The crescent suggests that it is the seal of Thomas Mallory of Mobberley, who died 3151 May 1664. A pedigree of this family was recorded at the Visitation of 1663-4. The Cheshire Mallorys bore Or, a lion rampant Gules, and a crescent of the last for cadency: frequently,
but not invariably, the lion has two tails, and sometimes it is gorged with a collar or a ducal coronet. See Burke's Landed Gentry; Ormerod's Ches. i. 421.
Edward Massey of Puddington (f. 89).
Edward Massey, of Puddington, was aged 51 at the time of the Visitation 1663. He was born i2th December 1612, and buried at Burton nth January 1674. See Ormerod's Ches. ii. 561; Beazley's Burton, p. 64 n.
Arms : Quarterly Gules and Or, in the first and fourth quarters three fleurs-de~lys Argent. Crest: A lion's head erased. . . .
Roger Massey of Coddington (f. 89).
Roger Massie, of Coddington, was aged 59 at the time of the Visitation 1663. See Ormerod's Ches. ii. 732,
Arms: Quarterly: Gules and Or, in the first and fourth quarters three fleurs-de-lys Argent, a canton of the last. Crest: A demi-pegasus, with wings displayed, quarterly Gules and Or. It will
be observed that on the seal the canton is omitted, and it does not appear in the arms recorded at the Visitation of 1613, where the fleurs-de-lys are Or and the marks of cadency in the fesse point are a mullet charged with a martlet. Dugdale frequently used a canton as a permanent difference when allowing arms. The crest was allowed by Richard St. George, 1613.
Impressions of Armorial Seals of Cheshire Gentry 71
William Millington of Millington (f. 89).
William Millington, of Millington, died 3oth June 1666, aged 34. See Ormerod's Ches. i. 448.
Arms: The arms recorded at the Visitation of 1613 were : Quarterly : ist and 4th, Azure, three millstones Argent [Millington]; 2nd and 3rd, Argent, a double-headed eagle displayed Sable [_MtlKngtonf\.
Richard Mynshull of Chester Alderman (f. 86).
Richard Mynshull was sheriff of Chester, 1647; alderman, 1656; mayor, 1657. The pedigree which he recorded at the Visitation of 1663-4 is printed in Miscellanea Gen. et Her. (original series), ii. 190.
Arms: Azure, an estoile issuant from the horns of a crescent Argent; on the crescent a martlet charged with a mullet. The impalement is Argent, nine pheons meeting in point, six in chief and three in
base Sable \Johnson~\. Crest: Two lions' jambs couped Gules,supporting a crescent Argent, thereon a martlet.
Somerfield Oldfield of Somerford Esq. (f. 91).Somerford Oldfield, of Somerford, was aged
35 years at the time of the Visitation 1663. In 12 Charles II. he was appointed chief serjeant-at-law of the county. The name of " Mr. Oldfield," under Abbey Court, occurs among those persons disclaimed by Dugdale ; Somerford Oldfield, however, entered a pedi gree, with arms and crest, at that Visitation. See Ormerod's Ches. iii. 60; Tram. Hist. Soc. L. and C. Ixi. 197, Ixii. 130; Visitation of Ches. 1613, Harleian Soc. lix. 191, 216.
Arms: Argent, on a chevron Sable five bezants \_Somerford\, impaling quarterly Argent and Gules a bend Sable [also Somerford\. Crest: A pilgrim in a white garment with a staff in his right hand, a book under his left arm, and a cap on his head Sable \Somer-
ford\. Richard St. George, Norroy King of Arms, 1613, allowed
72 Impressions of Armorial Seals of Cheshire Gentry
this crest to be borne by Philip Oldfield of Somerford. In 1579 Philip Oldfield, of Bradwall, father of the above-named Philip, and grandfather of Somerford Oldfield, had an exemplification from William Flower, Norroy King of Arms, of these bearings.
Arms: Or, on a bend Gules three crosses forme fitche Argent. Crest: Out of a crest-coronet Or a demi-eagle volant also Or, the wings Argent.
Randal Oulton Alderman of Chester (f. 89).Randle Oulton was sheriff of Chester, 1658;
mayor, 1665 ; and a justice of the peace. He died soth January 1682-3, aged 68, and there is a monument to his memory, with a shield of arms, in St. John's Church. His pedigree was not recorded at the Visitation 1663-4, and his name occurs among those who were then dis claimed, though subsequently erased in the copy
of disclaimers in Harl. MS. 2142, fo. 165. See Ormerod's Ches. i. 320, ii. 191; Ches. Sheaf, 3rd series, xii. n.
Arms: Quarterly Azure and Gules, a lion rampant Argent charged on the shoulder with a crescent for cadency. These are the arms of the family of Oulton, of Oulton, in Edisbury Hundred, which ended in heiresses in the reign of Richard II.
Allan Pennington Dr. of Phisick (f. 89).Allan Pennington, M.D., of Chester, was the
second son of William Pennington, of Pennington, co. Lane., and Muncaster, co. Cumberland. He died 12th November 1696, and in St. John's Church there is a monument to his memory, commemorating also other members of his family. See Ormerod's Ches. i. 320 ; Ches. Sheaf, ist series, i. 332; Visitation of Lanes. 1664-5, Chetham
Soc. Ixxxviii. 231.Arms: Or, five fusils in fesse Azure, an annulet [crescent ?]
for difference.
Sr. Peter Finder Barr*. (f. 86).Sir Peter Pinder, of Idenshaw, or Iddinshall, near Chester, was the son of Reginald Pindar of South- well, co. Nottingham. He was collector of customs at Chester, and was created a baronet, 22nd December 1662. He died about 1693. See G. E. C.'s Complete Baronetage, iii. 270; Ormerod's Ches. ii. 305.
Arms: Argent, a chevron between three lions'
Impressions of Armorial Seals of Cheshire Gentry 73
heads erased Sable, crowned Or. Crest: A lion's head erased Sable, crowned Or. These bearings were disallowed by Dugdale at the Visitation 1663-4.
Thomas Pownall of Barneton (f. 89).
Thomas Pownall, of Barnton, was born about 1597. Sir Peter Leycester (p. 220) notes, in 1666, that Barnton was a good farm. See Burke's Commoners, iv. 18; Ormerod's Ches. i. 639, 640 n.; Earwaker's East Ches. i. 126 n. Appended is a copy of the pedigree entered by Thomas Pownall of Barnton, 1663 ; the arms were respited for proof, but there is no record of proof having been made. .
Arms: Argent, a lion rampant Sable, charged on the shoulder with a cross patte'e Or. Crest: A lion's jamb erased Sable, holding a key attached to a chain Or.
It is curious that the Newton family of Pownall and the Pownalls of Barnton should claim arms and crest which are absolutely identical. There is no grant of arms to Pownall before 1580 on record in the College of Arms, and none among the MSS. in the British Museum. The Newtons of Mascall in Lind- field, co. Sussex, had these arms allowed to them at the Visitation of Surrey 1662 (Harkian Soc. Ix. 86). Their pedigree printed in the Visitations of Sussex 1530 and 1633-4 begins with William Newton, born in Cheshire, who exhibited a certificate under the hand of Sir George Calveley, knight, testifying his coat from Cheshire. No arms were recorded by the Newtons of Newton and Pownall in Cheshire in 1613; Harleian Soc. lix. 188 ; nor are any found in the earlier Visitation of 1580 in the College of Arms (I.D. 14). In the manuscript of the Visitation of 1580 in Harl. MSS. 1424 and 1505, there is a pedigree of the Newtons, with the above-mentioned arms and five quarterings; Harleian Soc. xviii. 185. The earlier arms of the Newtons were Vert, a tun fesse-wise Or, and these with five quarterings, but without the lion rampant, are recorded in a note of armorial glass erected in Wilmslow church, Cheshire, by Humfrey Newton of Pownall in 1523 ; Earwaker's East Ches. i. 123.
At the Visitation of Cheshire 1566 (D. 3 fo. i3yb Coll. Arm.), another family of Newton " of Wynesbury, co. Chester," recorded the arms given in Harleian Soc. xviii. 184 as belonging to Newton of Coole, with the same quarterings and crest.
I74 Impressions of Armorial Seals of Cheshire Gentry
Randle Rode of Rode (f. 89).
Randle Rode, of Rode, was aged 61 at the time of the Visitation 1663. This seal belonged to his father, Thomas Rode, who died in 1602. See Ormerod's Ches. iii. 53 ; Visitation of Ches. 1580, Harkian Soc. xviii.195-
Arms: Argent, two trefoils slipped, and a chief, Sable. Crest: A wolf's head couped Sable, around the neck a ribbon Argent.
John Sparke of Chester (f. 89).
John Sparke, of Chester, was baptized at Holy Trinity Church, Chester, 28th March 1608. He belonged to a family who were lay rectors of St. John the Baptist, Chester. See Visitation of Ches. 1613, Harleian Soc. lix. 217; Visitation of London 1633-4, Harleian Soc. xvii. 256; Ches. Sheaf, 3rd series, xii. 13.
Arms: Cheeky Or and Vert, a bend Ermine. Crest: Out of a crest-coronet Or, a demi-panther rampant guardant Argent, spotted with various colours, fire issuing from the ears and mouth; Burke's General Armory.
John Steele of Leighton (f. 89).
John Steele, of Leighton, was aged 21 at the time of the Visitation 1663, when respite was given for the proof of these arms, but no proof was made. The seal had belonged to his father, George Steele, of Coppenhall, who died in 1655. See Earwaker's Sandbach, page 20; Miscel lanea Gen. et Her. new series, ii. 36; Ormerod's Ches. iii. 98 n. Ches. Sheaf, 3rd series, x. 18.
Arms: Argent, a bend counter compony Ermine and Azure, between two lions' heads erased Gules; on a chief of the third three billets of the first. Crest: A lion's head erased Gules charged with three billets Or.
Impressions of Armorial Seals of Cheshire Gentry 75
William Streete Alderman (f. 86).William Street was a beer-brewer in Chester,
as his father had been. He was sheriff of Chester in 1657, mayor in 1666, 1683 and 1688, and was a justice of the peace. He was buried at St. Bridget's Church 2nd December 169*6. See Ches. Sheaf, 3rd series, xii. 10. Ap pended is a copy of the pedigree entered by William Street in 1663.
Arms: ... on a fesse between threecinquefoils ... as many lozenges. Crest: A horse's head erased.Respite was given for proof of these arms, but none made.
Edmund Swettenham of Somerford Bothes (f.
Edmund Swettenham, of Somerford Booths, was born gth November 1614, and was buried at Astbury i7th February 1675. See Ear- waker's East Ches. ii. 647 ; Ormerod's Ches. iii. 560 ; Trans. Hist. Soc. L. and C. Ixii. 133, Ixiii. 205.
Arms: Argent, on a bend Vert three spades of the first with irons Sable. Crest: A porcu
pine's head Azure, erased Gules, guttee Argent, collared, chained, tusked and penned Gold. An exemplification of these arms and a grant of the crest was made, gth February 1568-9, by Sir Gilbert Dethick, Garter, Robert Cook, Clarenceux, and William Flower, Norroy, to Laurence Swettenham, of Somerford, great grandfather of Edmund named above.
Robert Tatton of Wit kins haw (f. 89).Robert Tatton, of Wythenshawe, was
baptized at Northenden igth May 1606, and was buried there, having died igth August 1669. He was a Royalist, and in 1643-4 Wythenshawe was besieged by the Parliamentary forces. He was present at the sieges of Chester 1664-6
and Oxford 1646. In 1645 ne was appointed high sheriff of Cheshire by the King. See Earwaker's East Ches. i. 320; Ormerod's Ches. iii. 610.
Arms : Quarterly : ist and 4th, quarterly Argent and Gules, in the first and fourth a crescent Sable and in the second and third a crescent Silver [ Tatton\; and and 3rd, Argent, two bars Sable, a crescent for cadency \Breretori\. Crest: A greyhound sejant
76 Impressions of Armorial Seals of Cheshire Gentry
Argent, collared and tied with a slip Gules to a thorn tree Vert, flowered of the first.
The seal engraver has wrongly quartered the Brereton arms instead of impaling them. Robert Tatton's wife was Anne Brereton of Ashley.
Richard Taylour Alderman (f. 89).
Richard Taylor was the son of Richard Taylor, of Chester, innholder, and was a draper in Chester; he died i2th August 1674, and was buried at St. Peter's Church. See Ches. Sheaf, 3rd series, xii. 6. Appended is a copy of the pedigree entered by Richard Taylour in 1663.
Arms : Gules, on a bend Or three escallop- shells Azure. Respite was given for proof
of this coat, but no proof was made.
Peter Venables, Esqr., Baron of Kinderton (f. 91).
Peter Venables, titular Baron of Kinderton, was high sheriff of Cheshire in 1634. He died i3th November 1669. See Ormerod's Ches. iii. 200 ; Trans. Hist. Soc. L. and C. Ix. 164; Ixi. 215.
Arms: Azure, two bars Argent. Crest: A dragon Argent, scaled and pierced through the body with an arrow Or, headed and feathered Silver, de vouring a child Gold, set on a fish-weel also Silver, banded Azure. These arms and crest were exemplified, in 1560, by Lawrence Dalton, Norroy King of Arms, to Sir Thomas Venables, grand father of Peter named above.
The first of the five seals, exhibited by Peter Venables in 1663, is engraved without the arrow and without the fish- weel, which is also sometimes described as a weir or wilson. The second and third seals show the Venables arms. The fourth seal has the figure of a knight in chain armour, brandishing a sword in his right hand and holding a
Impressions of Armorial Seals of Cheshire Gentry 77
shield of the Venables arms in his left. On the fifth seal is a shield bearing three fish-weels erect in fesse; a coat that is not identified. Possibly it was the creation of some sixteenth-century herald or amateur herald. In the cony of the Venables pedigree founded on that entered in 1580 (Harl. MS. 1424, f. 141) there is a drawing of the Venables arms with a peculiar crest which may be intended for a fish-weel; it is set on a wreath on an esquire's helm. This is figured in the Visitation of Ches. 1580, Harleian Soc. xviii. plate 2.
Robert Venables of Antrobus (f. 86).Colonel Robert Venables was residing at
Chester and was aged 50 at the time of the Visita tion 1663. He purchased the estate of Wincham. See Ormerod's Ches. i. 658-9; Trans, Hist. Soc. L. and C. Ixii. 122.
Arms : Quarterly : i st and 4th, Azure, two bars and in chief as many pierced mullets Argent [ Venables of Antrobus\; 2nd, Argent, on a bend
Azure three garbs Or \_Fitton of Bollin\; 3rd, Sable, a leopard's face Or, jessant-de-lys Argent {Morley of Morley\ Crest: A dragon rampant Gules issuant from a fish-weel Argent and charged on the shoulder with an estoile Or. These arms were allowed at the Visitations of 1560, 1580 and 1663.
Roger Wilbraham of Dorfould Esqr, (f. 89).
Roger Wilbraham, of Dorfold, was born 5th May 1589; he was high sheriff of Cheshire in 1667. See Ormerod's Ches. iii. 346.
Arms: Argent, three bendlets wavy Azure, a canton Gules. Crest: A wolfs head erased Argent. On the seals the arms and crest are both differenced by a crescent and the canton is wanting ; it was, perhaps, added by Dugdale for permanent cadency.
78 Impressions of Armorial Seals of Cheshire Gentry
William Worrall of Bollyn (f. 91).
William Wyrhall, of Pownall Fee, and William Worrall, of Wilmslow, both in Macclesfield Hun dred, were disclaimed in 1664. No pedigree was entered at Dugdale's Visitation. Very little seems to be known of this family. See Earwaker's East Ches. ii. 346.
Arms: In 1537, Sir Christopher Barker, Garter, confirmed to Thomas Wyrall, of Loversall, co.
York, the arms Argent, two lions passant guardant Sable, on a chief of the second three covered cups Or, and granted as a crest a lion's jamb erect and erased Sable, holding a covered cup Or. See Withie's Book of Grants and Docquets (Harl. MS. 1359), and also The Genealogist, N.S. xxix. 249.
