This early history of the Swinnerton's was in a large part first donated by Jennifer Hibbens, then added too, with some corrections from John Swynnerton and then also Iain Swinnerton and Roy Talbot of the Guild of one name studies and the Swinnerton society.
I am particularly thankful to Roy Talbot for his sound advice, patience and help.
I offer them all my thanks for the research and hard work.
Note the early name is spelt Swynnerton and changes later to Swinnerton.
possible first wife.
second wife.
It seems that John and his second wife Margery were first cousins.
Stephen de Swynnerton. | Was John's son by his first wife who was possibly Elenor de Peshall. |
Richard de Swynnerton. | Was John's second son by his first wife possibly Elenor de Peshall. |
Roger de Swynnerton. | Was by John's second wife Margery de Swynnerton. |
John de Swynnerton. | Was by John's second wife Margery de Swynnerton. |
Robert de Swynnerton. | Was by John's second wife Margery de Swynnerton.Was killed in 1272 in a brawl in the Manor Court of Swynnerton. |
Oc. As a juror 1276.
Married.
Stephen son of John.
Note: Oc. = occurs.
In other words there is a reference in a document to an event at this time in which he is specifically named, and usually the reference giving a further clue to relationship.
Stephen de Swynnerton was the son of John Swynnerton and his first wife, who was possibly Elenor de Peshall.
John de Swynnerton. | had a son also named John. |
Roger de Swynnerton. | married Joan De Hastang. |
Gilbert de Swynnerton. | 0 |
Richard de Swynnerton. | 0 |
Stephen de Swynnerton. | 0 |
born abt 1258 in Swynnerton, Staffordshire.
died January 1298.
married.
Roger son of Stephen.
Joan de Hastang daughter of Sir Robert de Hastang ?
Roger's inquisition post mortem was conducted on 8th February 1298 suggesting that he passed away in January of that year.
We are particularly fortunate in that Edward II for whatever reason took a liking to Roger de Swynnerton to such an extent that he became Constable of the Tower, (of London) not to mention, according to modern doctrine, a Baron. Consequently he and his immediately family are well documented both in Complete Peerage and elsewhere.
Roger was the son of Stephen de Swynnerton and the grandson and heir of John de Swynnerton and his (John’s) unclear first wife possibly Elenor de Pershall, he had then married, secondly, Margery de Swynnerton (his cousin). Margery was the principal heir of Swynnerton, inheriting from her brother Robert. After John’s death, it seems that Roger managed to obtain occupation of the principal holdings. There were then several attempts by various groups of people to get Roger out of his holdings but the courts found for Roger, which is taken as establishing his claim to be the heir of Swynnerton.
Roger de Swynnerton. | married Lady Matilda. |
John de Swynnerton. | married Anna daughter and heir of Philip de Montgomery. |
Richard de Swynnerton. | 0 |
Nicholas de Swynnerton. | Rector of Mucklestone and Barrow, died 1357. |
Stephen de Swynnerton . | 0 |
Alexandra de Swynnerton. | Slain by James de Stafford before 1324. |
Extracts from Staffordshire plea rolls.
15. E. 11.
Henry Tyers was sentenced at the Tower of London by
Roger de Swynnerton, Hamon
de Chikewell, and John Waldeshef, under a Special Commission sent to them by the
King, dated from Pomfret, 26th March, 15 E. II. They were all sentenced to be
hanged, drawn, and quartered, but in the case of Roger Damory, who had married
the King's niece, execution was respited. N.B.—These Records have been printed
at length in Vol. II. of Parliamentary Writs, published by the Record
Commissioners.
Roger had the power to sentence persons to be hung drawn and quartered. (Nice).
Extracts from Staffordshire plea rolls.
Corem Rege.Is Latin: In the presence of the King himself.
Plea rolls for Staffordshire 8 Edward 11 Wednesday after the Feast of the Apostles St. Peter and Paul, 7 E. II.
We know this fact from the Staffordshire Plea rolls dated 8.Edward.11.
Margaret, formerly wife of Robert de Esnyngton, appeared against
John son of
Roger de Swynnerton, and Nicholas his brother.
John's involvement.
The said John son of Roger de Swynnerton and the others now appeared, brought up by the Sheriff, and Margaret the appellatrix also appeared and stated that Robert de Esnyngton formerly her husband, was in pace dei et in pace domini Regis in the vill of Esnyngton in co. Stafford on the Wednesday after the Feast of the Apostles St. Peter and Paul, 7 E. II., at the third hour on a piece of land contiguous to a garden called Berard Orchard, when the said John son of Roger de Swynnerton came up as a felon feloniously holding in his left hand a bow of Spanish yew, two ells in length, and of the thickness of four men's thumbs, and with a barbed arrow called a clotharewe which he held in his right hand, and with the said bow and arrow he shot Robert her husband through the heart, and of which wound he died within her arms.
We can see from the above that murder was committed.
Taking the emotion from this piece above leaves a fascinating crime in which Margaret’s husband Robert de Esnyngton. For whatever reason was set upon and killed by seventeen persons. Some of which is recorded below:-
Here is Nicholas’s involvement.
And the same Margaret appealed
Nicholas the brother of the said
John of the
death of Robert her husband, and stated that at the day, and place, and hour
above named, the said Nicholas was present holding in his left hand a bow of
Irish yew, and in his right hand a barbed arrow called a Doggearewe, and with
the said bow and arrow he shot Robert her husband under the left breast, and of
which he died immediately within her arms, and if the said
Robert was not killed
by the wound inflicted by the said John son of
Roger de Swynnerton, he died of
the wound inflicted by the said Nicholas, and the said
Margaret immediately
raised the hue and cry, etc. (as before).
Or how about John de Levington.
The same Margaret appealed John de Levyngton of the death of Robert her husband and stated that at the hour and place named, the said John came up as a felon feloniously, holding in his right hand a sword of Cologne, six feet (sic) in length, and of four inches in width at the hilt, and struck the said Robert her husband, half-way between the left foot and thigh, and cut off the foot of the said Robert, and she said that if he did not die of the wounds made by the said John de Swynnerton and Nicholas, then he died of the wound inflicted by the said John de Levyngton, and the said Margaret raised the hue and cry, etc. (as before).
Or Thomas de Dunesby.
The same Margaret appealed Hugh the Parson of the Church of Byshebury, as an accessory to the death of Robert her husband, and she stated that he had feloniously held him with both his hands by the right shoulder whilst Thomas de Dunesby, who had been outlawed for the death of her husband, struck him with an Irish dagger (de uno cultello de Hiberniâ) in the breast to the heart, and if the said Robert her husband was not killed by the wounds inflicted by the said John son of Roger de Swynnerton and the others above named, he died of the wound made by the said Thomas de Dunesby with the help of the said Hugh, etc.
And without relating the whole case and playing Judge and Jury. The conclusion:-
Afterwards at the said Quindene of Holy Trinity, the said John son of Roger de Swynnerton and all the others, Clerks as well as laics, appeared, and as it appeared by the above verdict that the said John son of Roger de Swynnertone and the other Clerks and the said Roger Personessune and the other laics were not guilty nor accessory to the death of the said Robert, they are quit of the suit of the King for the felony in question. m. 105a, 106 and 107.
The above leaves little room for comment by myself ?
Richard son of Roger.
Thomas de Swynnerton.
Richard like his father appears in the plea rolls accused of crimes that include rape and murder.
That John de Swynnerton, Knight, Richard de Swynnerton, John de Wethales, Richard de Wethales, Richard de Chelle, William de Chelle, Hugh de Chelle, and Henry de Chelle, in 5 E. II., feloniously took and abducted felonice ceperunt et rapuerunt, Joan de Greseleye from Drakelowe, and took her to Swynnerton, where they still detained her. That Richard de Swynnerton had feloniously killed Henry the Parson of Penchris, in 9 E. II., and that the said Richard Thomas de Aston, and Robert the son of Thomas, and Richard de Aston, had feloniously robbed Roger le Marchal and others travelling from the market of Newcastle, of cloth, silver, jewels, and other goods to the value of £20 at Harnegge.
born abt 1320 in Swynnerton Staffordshire.
died Dec 1361.
married.
died 18th November 1360.
Thomas son of Richard.
Matilda died in the second outbreak of the plague.
The subsequent inquisition post mortem in the public record office conducted on
6th March 35 Edw III tends to confirm this view.
We know that Thomas was the son of
Richard because once again this son was also
criminally involved as was his earlier family and again appears in the Newcastle
court rolls as Thomas son of
Richard de Swynnerton.
John de Swynnerton son of Thomas de Swynnerton.
Roger son of John.
Thomas de Swynnerton . | of Butterton Oc 1454 - 1488. Marrried Margaret sister and heir of Hugh Clayton. |
John Swynnerton. | Oc 1457,1464,1486. |
Richard Swynnerton. | of Brehurst ancestor of the Swynnertons of Tunstall Manoer, Oc 1466-1467. |
John son of Roger.
Note: Oc. = occurs
In other words there is a reference in a document to an event at this time in which he/she is specifically named, and usually the reference giving a further clue to relationship or ownership.
John's son.
Roger married Agnes.
married.
early dates are few and far between.
The 1532 prayer list of Staffordshire tells us that Roger's wife was an Agnes.
John Swynnerton | from whom descends the Adbaston branch of Swinnerton's. |
Richard Swynnerton | from whom descends the Betley branch of Swinnerton's. |
born c1503.
died in 1547 at Whitmore.
married.
early dates are few and far between.
Richard and Thomasin had one known son named Thomas.
Thomas son of Richard is known to be so from the legacy of a Kow left to him in his fathers will made 18th April 1547 and proved at Litchfield 5th July 1547.
From which we also know his wife was named Margaret.
The 1532 prayer list of Staffordshire tells us that Richard's wife was a Thomasin.
born c1506.
died 1570.
buried at Whitmore 8th April 1570.
married.
Thomas son of Richard is known to be so from the legacy of a Kow left to him in his fathers will made 18th April 1547 and proved at Litchfied 5th July 1547.
From which we also know his wife was named Margaret.
John Swynnerton | born in 1553 in Staffordshire and married Margaret. He died in 1613 in Whitmore. |
Richard Swynnerton | died in 1614 in Whitmore. Married Ann. |
born 1553 in Keele, Staffordshire.
baptised 8th January 1553 in Keele.
died 1613.
buried 12th December 1613 in Whitmore.
married.
John Swynnerton was the son of Thomas. John was born in Keele (now known for it's university). He was also baptised in Keele on the 8th January 1553.
John married a woman named Margaret her surname is unknown. They must have moved to Whitmore because both his two children were born there.
Edward Swynnerton | born 1602 in Whitmore and married Deborah Smith . He died in 1633. |
Thomas Swynnerton | born 1607 in Whitmore and baptised 29th November 1607. He was buried the following year 4th November 1608 in Whitmore. |
born 1602 in Whitmore, Staffordshire.
baptised 29th August 1602 in Whitmore.
died 1633.
buried 23rd December 1633 in Whitmore.
married.
4th November 1632 in St Bertoline, Barthomley.
born c1605.
Edward Swynnerton was the son of John Swynnerton and Margaret, and was born in Whitmore, Staffordshire. Edward was also baptised in Whitmore on 29th August 1602. Maybe his future wife Deborah Smith came from Barthomley because he seems to have moved there and their marriage took place at St Bertoline's church in Barthomley in Cheshire on the 24th November 1632. Barthomley in Cheshire is only a few miles from Madley in Staffordshire. Edward and Deborah only had one recorded son John Swynnerton, who was born in the year after his father died.
John Swinnerton born 1634 in Barthomley, Cheshire, died 1691 and married Ann Cartwright.
born 1634 in Barthomley, Cheshire.
baptised 19th January 1634 in Barthomley.
died 1691.
married 12th December 1663 in Barthomley.
born 1636 in Barthomley.
John Swinnerton was the son of Edward and Deborah, he is the only recorded child and is the first person to take on the more modern spelling of the surname Swinnerton . He was born in Barthomley and was christened at St Bertoline's church on 19th January 1634. John married Ann Cartwright and they had at least one child, a boy they named John after his father. The son John and his wife may have moved to Haslington, near Crewe in Cheshire as this is where their son John was born.
John Swinnerton born 1664 in Haslington, Cheshire. He married Sarah Symond also from Haslington.
born 1664 in Haslington, Cheshire.
buried in Betley 25 November 1713.
married.
born 1661 in Haslington, Cheshire.
John Swinnerton was the son of John Swinnerton and Anne and was born in Haslington, a small village between Crewe and Sandbach in South Cheshire. He married Sarah Symond also from Haslington probably around 1693, they seemed to have moved from Haslington and lived mostly in Barthomley as that is where most of their children were born. They had six recorded children four girls and two boys.
Ann Swinnerton | born in Barthomley in 1664 and baptised at St Bertoline's on 29th September 1664. |
Mary Swinnerton | born in Barthomley in 1694. Buried in Barthomley 3 October 1694. |
John Swinnerton | born in Haslington in 1695 and baptised in Haslington 18 December 1695. He married Mary Birchall. |
Martha Swinnerton | born in Barthomley in 1695. |
Mary Swinnerton | born in Barthomley in 1699 and baptised at St Bertoline's on 30 January 1699. |
Thomas Swinnerton | born in Church Lawton in 1701. |
It may be noted that Ann and
Mary were born in the same year, also
John and
Martha were both born the year after both pairs being twins.
Also they named two girls Mary the first
Mary died soon after her birth.
Church Lawton the place of Thomas's birth is only a few miles from Barthomley.
born 1695 in Haslington.
died July 30th 1782 in Betley.
buried in St. Margaret's Betley.
aged 87.
married.
born 25t August 1699 possibly Betley.
baptised in Betley on 23rd September 1699.
died June 30th 1797 in Betley.
buried in St. Margaret's Betley.
aged 96.
John Swinnerton was the son of John Swinnerton and Sarah Symond. He was the third person named John after his father. Although born in Haslington, he seems to have moved to Betley in Staffordshire, which is not really too far away. John was baptised in Haslington on 8 December 1695. He married Mary Birchall and they had four children, three boys and one girl.
John Swinnerton | born 1731 in Barthomley. Married first Elizabeth Pemberton born 1734, and then Ann Barber, born 1738 in Chester. |
Thomas Swinnerton | born 1733 in Barthomley and baptised 29 December 1733. He married Elizabeth surname unknown. He died in 1772. |
Mary Swinnerton | born 1735 in Betley and baptised 12 December 1736 at St. Margaret's Betley. |
William Swinnerton | born 1740 in Betley and baptised 12 December 1740. He married Hilda Hilditch. |
born 1740 in Betley, Staffordshire.
baptised in Betley 25th February 1740.
died 1809 in Betley.
married 27th May 1762 in Betley.
born 21st January 1741 in Betley, Staffordshire.
died 1828 in Betley.
William was the third son of
John Swinnerton and Mary and was born in Betley. He
married Hannah Hilditch in the May of 1762 in Betley and they had a total of ten
recorded children four boys and six girls all born in Betley, Staffordshire.
William's job at the time of his marriage is described as a Yeoman.
Yeoman :- a small prosperous farmer of middle social status who owned his own land and often farmed it himself.
Mary Swinnerton | born 1764 in Betley, she was baptised, Betley on 27th May 1764. She married William Hodgkinson. |
Lidia Swinnerton | born 1766 in Betley, she was baptised, Betley on 19th January 1766. She married William Plant. |
Sarah Swinnerton | born 1768 in Betley, she was baptised 31st January 1768, Betley and died in Betley in 1768 shortly after her birth. |
John Swinnerton | born 30th July 1770 and baptised 1st September 1770 in Betley. He married Elizabeth Burgess. |
Elizabeth Swinnerton | born 30th July 1770 and baptised 1st September 1770 in Betley. She was twined with John. She married Thomas Warton. |
William Swinnerton | born 7th May 1772 and baptised 17th May 1772 in Betley. He married Margaret Cooper 1793 in Madley. |
Ralph Swinnerton | born 2nd December 1773 and baptised 4th January 1774 in Betley. He married Sarah Wilson in 1779. |
Joseph Swinnerton | born 6th March 1777 and baptised 21st May 1777 in Betley. He married Hannah Dodd and died in Liverpool in 1836. |
Hannah Swinnerton | born 8th December 1779 and baptised 14th January 1780 in Betley. She married William Evans. |
Ann Swinnerton | Married Hugh Cork. |
born 2nd December 1773 in Betley.
baptised 4th January 1774 in Betley.
died July 3rd 1858 in Betley.
buried on the 7th July 1856 at St. Margaret's Betley.
arried 6th August 1799.
born c1778 in Acton, Cheshire.
died 1863 in Betley.
Ralph Swinnerton was the seventh child of William Swinnerton and Hannah and was born in Betley in 1773, he married Sarah Wilson in the August of 1799 and they had three children, one girl and two boys all born in Betley.
Hannah Swinnerton | born 1800 in Betley and baptised 23rd November 1800 in Betley. She died 30th Dec 1866 in Sedgebarrow, Wourcestershire. |
William Swinnerton | born 1805 in Betley. He married Elizabeth Timmis. |
James Swinnerton | born 1806 in Betley and died in 1889 in Betley. He married Hannah Harding from Bowsey Wood near Madeley. |
Ann Swinnerton | Married James Hulse. |
1841 Census records. Dwelling Betley Common, Staffordshire. | ||
---|---|---|
Name | Age | Occupation |
Ralph Swinnerton | 55 | Brick layer |
Sarah Swinnerton | 50 | 0 |
Elizabeth Hulse | 5 | 0 |
Elizabeth Hulse is most probably the daughter of Ann who married James Hulse.
1851 Census records: Dwelling Betley. | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Age | Relationship | Occupation | Place of birth |
Ralph Swinnerton | 77 | Head | Bricklayer | Betley |
Sarah Swinnerton | 73 | Wife | 0 | 0 |
Note the differences in ages on the two census records.
Name: Sarah Summerton (Formerly Bricklayers wife)
Age: 78
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1783
Relation: Mother
Gender: Female
Where born: Acton, Cheshire, England
Civil parish: Betley
Household Members:-
James Summerton | 53 |
Hannah Summerton | 50 |
Henry Summerton | 9 |
Daniel Summerton | 5 |
Sarah Summerton | 78 |
Betley parish church is dedicated to St. Margaret who was a martyr, the church dates back to the 13th Century and is said to have been built in 1247. St. Margaret's is essentially a timber church and with the exception of the church at Rushton Spencer, the only church in the country which retains so much timber in it's construction. Spanish (Sweet) Chestnut.
Note the size of the grave stone and the absence of any other names, and also the misuse of July 3th not rd.
born abt 1811 in Betley.
died 1871 in Norton in the Moors.
Age 60.
married 20th October 1834 in Stoke on Trent.
born abt 1810 in Weston, Cheshire.
died 1893 in Leek Union Workhouse.
aged 83.
William Swinnerton was born in Betley, Staffordshire in 1811 or there about. He
married Elizabeth Timmis on the 20th October 1834, two years after the birth of
their first daughter Louisa Timmis who was born out of wedlock in Wybunbury,
Cheshire. William and Elizabeth
moved from Betley to the Potteries where in 1871
William was working as a labourer in a coal mine in Norton in the Moors.
Elizabeth lived 22 years longer than
William and was still living in Nettlebank
in 1881 with some of her children. Unfortunately by the time of the next census
in 1891 she has descended to the depths of the workhouse and no doubt died there
in 1893.
It appears that Louisa lived in Wybunbury with her possible grandmother Ann at first, but at some point she moved to Haslington where she was working as a servant when she met her future husband James Beech.
Louisa Timmis | Born out of wedlock 1831 in Wybunbury. Married James Beech. |
Mary Swinnerton | Born abt 1837 possibly in Betley. Died Dec 1914 in Westboughton lancs. Married James Aspinall. |
Sarah Anne Swinnerton | Christened 27th May 1838. |
Ralph Swinnerton | Christened 12th July 1840 in Betley, and named after his grandfather. |
Elizabeth Swinnerton | Christened 17th April 1843 in Betley. Named after her Mother. |
George Swinnerton | Born 1849 in Alsager, Cheshire. |
1841 Census records. Dwelling Betley | |||
---|---|---|---|
Name | Relationship | Age | Occupation |
William Swinnerton | Head | 30 | Ag Labourer |
Elizabeth Swinnerton | Wife | 30 | 0 |
Mary Swinnerton | Daughter | 5 | 0 |
Sarah Swinnerton | Daughter | 3 | 0; |
Ralph Swinnerton | Son | 1 | 0 |
1851 census record at present not found !
1861 Census records. Dwelling Red Bank, Sneyd Hill. | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Relation | Age | Occupation | Where born |
William Swinnerton | Head | 52 | Laborouer | Staffordshire |
Elizabeth Swinnerton | Wife | 53 | 0 | 0Cheshire |
George Swinnerton | Son | 12 | Castor | Cheshire |
1871 Census records. Dwelling Norton in the Moors | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Place of birth |
William Swinnerton | Head | 60 | Labourer in a coal mine | Betley |
Elizabeth Swinnerton | Wife | 63 | 0 | Weston, Cheshire |
Ralph Swinnerton | Son | 30 | Coal miner | Betley |
William Aspinall | Grandson | 6 | 0 | Bolton,Lancs |
1881Census records, Dwelling Nettlebank, Smallthorne. | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Relation | Age | Status | Occupation | Place of birth |
Elizabeth Swinnerton | Head | 73 | W | Housekeeper (Dom) | Weston, Cheshire |
George Swinnerton | Son | 30 | U | Coal miner | Alsager, Cheshire |
William Swinnerton | Grandson | 16 | U | Potters Hollowware Presser | Westhoughton, Lancs |
Note that William Swinnerton is not using his given name Aspinall.
1891 Census records. Dwelling Leek Union Workhouse | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Relation | Age | Status | Occupation | Place of birth |
Elizabeth Swinnerton | Pauper Inmate | 80 | Widow | Charwoman | Weston, Cheshire |
So poor old Elizabeth ends her days in the Workhouse, there was obviously no compassion then !!!
Click the following for a link to Leek Union Workhouse, and life in a workhouse. The Workhouse - www.workhouses.org.uk
Thanks to Peter G Higginbotham for this excellent site on The Workhouse.