Swinnerton's

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.


SO



John de Swynnerton

John de Swynnerton.

possible first wife.

Elenor de Peshall.

second wife.

Margery de Swynnerton.

It seems that John and his second wife Margery were first cousins.

John's children.

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.





Stephen de Swynnerton

Stephen (de Swynnerton) de Uselwall.

Oc. As a juror 1276.

Married.

Joan de Waure.

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.

Stephen de Swynnerton's and Joan's five sons.

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





Roger de Swynnerton

Roger de Swynnerton.

born abt 1258 in Swynnerton, Staffordshire.

died January 1298.

married.

Joan De Hastang.

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 Swynnerton and his wife Joan De Hastang six children.

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.


Roger de Swynnerton Constable of the tower.

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).

Edward 11

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.


ROGER DE SWYNNERTON
2 sons
JOHN and NICHOLAS

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).

The list continues and not all are included: but one final one JUST FOR EFFECT.

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 de Swynnerton

Richard Swynnerton.

Richard son of Roger.

Richard's one known son.

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.



Thomas de Swynnerton (Knight)

Thomas de Swynnerton (Knight).

born abt 1320 in Swynnerton Staffordshire.

died Dec 1361.

married.

Matilda de Braybrooke (Northamptonshire).

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.

Thomas and Maud's children.




John de Swynnerton.

John Swynnerton.

OC 1382,1393,139,1406 in connection

with Hanchurch and Whitmore.

John de Swynnerton son of Thomas de Swynnerton.

John's three children all sons.



Roger de Swynnerton

Roger de Swynnerton.

Roger son of John.

Roger's three children all sons.


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 Swynnerton

John Swynnerton.

Oc 1457,1464 1486.

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.



Roger Swynnerton.

Roger Swynnerton.

married.

Agnes.

early dates are few and far between.

The 1532 prayer list of Staffordshire tells us that Roger's wife was an Agnes.

Roger Swynnerton's two known sons.

John Swynnerton from whom descends the Adbaston branch of Swinnerton's.
Richard Swynnerton from whom descends the Betley branch of Swinnerton's.



Richard Swynnerton.

Richard Swynnerton.

born c1503.

died in 1547 at Whitmore.

married.

Thomasin.

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.



Thomas Swynnerton.

Thomas Swynnerton.

born c1506.

died 1570.

buried at Whitmore 8th April 1570.

married.

Margaret.

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.

Thomas and Margaret's children.

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.



John Swynnerton

John Swynnerton.

born 1553 in Keele, Staffordshire.

baptised 8th January 1553 in Keele.

died 1613.

buried 12th December 1613 in Whitmore.

married.

Margaret.

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.

John and Margaret's two children.

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.

stjohnskeele

St John the Baptist Church, Keele, Staffordshire.



Edward Swynnerton.

Edward Swynnerton.

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.

Deborah Smith.

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.

Edward and Deborah's one known child.

John Swinnerton born 1634 in Barthomley, Cheshire, died 1691 and married Ann Cartwright.

stmaryswhitmore

Saint Mary's and All Saints Church in Whitmore.



John Swinnerton

John Swinnerton.

born 1634 in Barthomley, Cheshire.

baptised 19th January 1634 in Barthomley.

died 1691.

married 12th December 1663 in Barthomley.

Ann Cartwright.

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 and Ann's one known child

John Swinnerton born 1664 in Haslington, Cheshire. He married Sarah Symond also from Haslington.




John Swinnerton

John Swinnerton.

born 1664 in Haslington, Cheshire.

buried in Betley 25 November 1713.

married.

Sarah Symond.

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.

John and Sarah's six children.

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.

stbertoline

St Bertoline's Church in Barthomley.



John Swinnerton

John Swinnerton.

born 1695 in Haslington.

died July 30th 1782 in Betley.

buried in St. Margaret's Betley.

aged 87.

married.

Mary Birchall.

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 and Mary's four children.

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.



William Swinnerton

William Swinnerton.

born 1740 in Betley, Staffordshire.

baptised in Betley 25th February 1740.

died 1809 in Betley.

married 27th May 1762 in Betley.

Hannah Hilditch

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.

William and Hannah's ten children.

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.



Ralph Swinnerton.

Ralph Swinnerton.

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.

Sarah Wilson.

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.

Ralph and Sarah's four children.

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.

Census Records 1841, 51 and 61.

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.

1861 England Census transcribed as Summerton.

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

stmargarets

St. Margaret's church Betley.

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.

ralphswinnerton

Ralph Swinnerton's grave in St. Margarets church Betley.

The inscription reads.

Ralph Swinnerton of Betley Who died July 3th 1858

Aged 84 years.

Note the size of the grave stone and the absence of any other names, and also the misuse of July 3th not rd.



William Swinnerton

William Swinnerton.

born abt 1811 in Betley.

died 1871 in Norton in the Moors.

Age 60.

married 20th October 1834 in Stoke on Trent.

Elizabeth Timmis.

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.

elizabettimmis

Elizabeth Timmis.

William and Elizabeth's children.

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.

Census Records

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.




Back to home