Vernon Genealogy
Issue Date: 21/01/2020 (no sig change since 4/9/14)
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The Vernon family is not connected to the Maitland/Kirk-Owen families by blood,
but Richard L Vernon, the last of Hilton Park, was the step-father of and
brought up Alice (Kirk-Owen) Maitland. He was an important figure in our
family, and in my children’s childhood. There are some sections on other
matters related to the Vernons.
Appendix 1: HC VERNON and MASONS:
PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF STAFFORDSHIRE
Appendix 4: Hilton Main Colliery:
Appendix 6: VERNON DOCS Re HILTON COAL:
Memorandum of meeting with Mr. Holland and Mr. Nelson Junr.
Appendix 7 - Vernon-Nugent Connection
Sources:
J Jennie McFie
BC Burkes' Commoners, 1836
Hilton Park: the Vernon seat from 1562 until 1955 was sold to the Order of St
Joseph of Bordeaux as a convent, and in 1986 bought by the Tarmac group as its
headquarters.
The estate came into the Vernon family, originally from Derbyshire, through
connections with the Swynnertons. The present Queen Ann house was built by
Henry Vernon.
The property consisted in 1958 of the mansion, stable block, L shaped moat and
grounds. A dominant feature half a mile south is the stone built Portobello Tower, hexagonal and embattled with interior staircase, that was erected by
Henry Vernon to commemorate the taking by Admiral Vernon of Portobello with six
ships of the line in 1739. (ref sale advert).
Admiral Vernon, a distant relative, was also famous for introducing
"Grog" to the Navy, a mixture of rum and water, substituting this for
raw spirit.
The estate contained deposits of coal, gravel and clay, all of which
contributed to the family’s fortune.
From Burke's Landed Gentry 1964:
VERNON (temp. Edward III) Argent, fretty sable.
Mantling sable and argent. Crest - On a wreath of the colours, a boars
head erased sable, ducally gorged or.
Motto - "Ver non semper viret"
1948: of Haughton, Neen Sollars, Worcester.
1960's: of Bryngwyn, Llanegryn, Merioneth.
formerly of Hilton Park, Staffs.
Born 26/11/1900, Welsh Frankton, Salop. ed. Harrow. Died 19/7/1996, Burcher
Cottage, Titley, Herefordshire and buried in Titley Churchyard.
1911 Census: Arden House, Henley in Arden, Warwickshire – at school.
Married, 1st: 4/10/1926, Barbara, widow of Robert Myles Heywood, 2nd Lt 3rd Bn
the Buffs (East Kent Reg) & dau of Sir James De Hoghton, 11th Bt CBE DL JP.
Divorced 26/5/1978. She died 17/7/1987, Devises.
Married, 2nd: 1978, Elisabeth Agnes (Chadwick) Kirk-Owen, widow of Reginald
Kirk-Owen – no issue.
Issue of 1st marriage only:
1/1. Peter James Vernon 15/7/1927 ed privately, died 16 July 2012.
1/2. Christopher Miles Vernon 29/8/1932 ed Privately.
1/3. Barbara Flavia Rose Vernon 7/5/1931
The Leveson name comes from a long established family in the Wolverhampton
area, wool traders in the late middle ages, and then a prominent Catholic
family in the Civil War. They owned property in Stowheath and Snow Hill,
Wolverhampton. The last male of the main line died in 1750 and all their
Willenhall properties were sold by 1763. Did daughters marry Vernons??
(Willenhall History Society 29/1/2000).
According to Richard's second wife, Betty, a Leveson may have been one
of Richard's godparents.
He was an old style country gentleman and squire, with an enormous knowledge
and love of the country, and gave Alice a love of the country and a calmer
disposition than might have been expected, a gift which was to stand her in
good stead later in life. Richard and Betty moved with Alice to Burcher
Cottage, Titley, Herefordshire in about 1970, to be nearer Alice's schools,
Richard remaining there until his death in July 1996. He was a man of
understated intelligence, well read and interested in the natural world. He was
also surprisingly interested in scientific developments.
Richard was not a great traveller but he, Betty and Alice took a cruise to see
the Greek sites of the Eastern Mediterranean. He only flew once, with Antony in
a light twin-engined aircraft. After his initial fear, he realised what he
could see of his beloved country and was fascinated by it.
Richard had travelled to Kenya in the 1930's where he farmed for a few years
before returning to England: a picture shows him in the Kenya yacht club in
1938. During WW2, he farmed near Cleobury Mortimer. The remainder of his life
was passed in living the life as a quiet country gentleman.
Richard’s father, Bertie, did not appear to have left much imprint of his life.
Richard’s early life seems more to have been influenced by his grand father,
“ALV” who was a well known character locally. The family had lived at Hilton
Park since the 17thC, and are an example of a well-to-do country family, never
titled, but always comfortably provided. The landed estate was large at its
peak, and fortunately for the family, was underlain by coal and gravel
deposits. These minerals provided the family with a good income for many years:
even in the early 1950’s, Richard’s quarterly income from these sources was
about £1000 after tax. Richard was in some ways a relict of the past in not
having worked for a living in his life, except for a short period farming
before and during WW2. Unlike many such people however, he did benefitted
greatly from that security which allowed time for his life of country pursuits.
He was close to his half sister, Muriel as shown by letters found after his
death.
Hunt Reports by RL Vernon for Horse and Hound under pseudonym “Hergest Ridge”
They give a taste of Richard’s love and knowledge of fox hunting.
March 24 1978
From their meet at Gladesbury on February 6 these hounds brought off a really
great hunt. Finding in Llanhowla plantation, hounds got away on a traveller and
ran via Gwernila over the Gladesbury road to Llanbella and, bearing left here,
ran on to Huntington, where they checked below the castle. The fox had been
seen here 5min ahead of hounds.
Hunting on slowly to Forest Wood and running the length of this, they then ran
via Lodge Wood down to the River Arrow, running the river bank for nearly a
mile before crossing the river below the Werm.
Hounds then ran on over a large area of country via Burnt Hengoed and nearly to
the Knowle Farm. It was a great joy to watch them driving on and unravelling
the line in this open stretch of country, often temporarily frustrated by sheep
or cattle. The fox turned back to the river once more and ran the bank w
Mahollan. Crossing the Kington road here, he made up-country for Bread-ward and
on over Kingswood Common and the Birches, over the Hereford road and through
the top end of Lilward on to Upper Spond Farm.
Headed here, he turned back as for Lilwall but hounds were close to him now
and they caught him within three fields of the Hereford road - a point of nine
miles, time 3hrs 10 mins. This can be described as real old-fashioned
hound-hunt, such as one seldom sees nowadays, rather slow to begin with but the
pace gradually increasing and hounds covering a vast amount of country with a
successful conclusion.
Jan 26 1979
On December 29 hounds were at Winforton. A fox found in Winforton Wood made as
if for Woodseaves but turned back into Winforton Wood. Pushed out of here, he
went over the Eardisley road near Red Gates and nearly to Woodseaves, then
right-handed of Pentrecoed, over the Welson road and finally into Cwmma Big
Wood. where fresh foxes intervened.
Another fox was soon away, making for Upper Welson and on through Blackwood to
reach the Hereford road. Crossing this he made for Lemore and ran the length of
Holywell Dingle, after which he bore right handed to Oldcastle, where hounds
checked. Soon regaining the line, they ran on with great drive through
Roughmoor to the Hereford road at Eardisley. Turning back here, hounds made for
Newton and crossed the Kinnersley — Almley road into Bad Patch.
Hounds rattled the fox through this thick covert and, hunting with lovely cry
and determination, they ran on to Almley Wooton, before bearing left past
Oldcastle and Nieuport to cross the Kington road above Lemore, and finally lost
in gathering darkness just short of Quebb.
This was a great day's hunting Although points of only three and 4 1/2 miles
were made, hounds covered a vast amount of country and were all on when Norman
Stubbings blew for home in darkness.
Hergest Ridge
Feb 22 1980
In spite of consistently poor scent right up to January, these hounds (under
their new Master and huntsman Mr. Neil Ewart) have been working very well and
giving their followers a lot of fun. From the Three Horse Shoes, Norton Canon,
on January 25, a great hound-hunt ensued.
Finding in Sarnesfield, hounds hunted with great cry and perseverance for 2hrs
5min. No great point was made but hounds covered a vast amount of country.
Scent, which had been only moderate throughout, finally failed near Broxwood.
After the meet at Lyonshall on February 1, a fox left Penrhos Wood as if for
Lyonshall Village but, swinging left, he crossed the Hereford road and ran into
Lyonshall Park Wood. Not dwelling here, he ran on to Bullocks Mill, crossed the
River Arrow and continued up to the Kington-Presteigne road close to the Hunt
kennels at Titley.
Hounds were not far behind here, and running on through Eywood our pilot made
up for Stocking Wood which is on the 1000ft contour.
The pack rattled him round this large woodland and finally pushed him out of
Eywood and to ground in a drain, where he was accounted for. This was a
four-mile point on a really good straight-necked fox. Late in the afternoon
hounds ran fast from the Round Wood, Titley, to ground near Stansbatch.
Burkes:
Sir James de Houghton of Houghton Towers and Walton-le-Dale, Lancs,
Born 2/2/1851, s of 8th Bt by 2nd wife Harriet Smith, dau of John Smith of
Newark, married Aimee Jean (d. 1919) only dau of John Groven jnr of Ferne. Sir
James died 4/11/1938 aged 87.
Undated press cutting in RLV collection (but must have been
about 1902):
Lady de Hoghton and her son and daughter have left Hoghton Tower, Lancashire,
for the Riviera. Sir James hopes to join them at Florence this month. He is
doing some very careful restoration work in his fine old family place, which is
the only one of its kind in England, built in the style of Haddon Hall, the
seat of the Dukes of Rutland. Hoghton Tower will be the scene of considerable
festivity in August, when Mr. Cuthbert de Hoghton, the heir of the house, comes
of age. The De Hoghton baronetcy is second on the roll, but their family place
is considerably older, and from time immemorial has been in possession of a De
Hoghton. Sir James married a Grove, of Ferne, a family identified with
Wiltshire and Buckinghamshire since the time of the Plantagenets, now
represented by Sir Walter Grove. Lord James of Hereford has just relinquished his
tenancy of Ferne, where he several times entertained his present Majesty for
the excellent covert-shooting which the place affords.
The Haughtons of Ireland may be a branch of this family.
Issue of Sir James de Houghton:
1/1. Guy 2/5/1879-27/12/1880.
1/2. Cuthbert b 27/8/1880, m. 1917 Helen dau of Maj Duncan Macdonald of
Glencoe, and has issue: Henry, Philip, Anthony, Mary (b. 1919) & Iseult
Mary.
1/3. Vere 6/3/1882-13/10/1915. M. Helen, issue Diana.
1/4. Guy b. 21/11/1886, m 1st Violet Caroline Townley, div 1918, 2nd Miriam
Hinkey.
1/5. Dorothy, m 1908 Achibald Lyle.
1/6. Cecily m. 1905 Piers Starkie
1/7. Joan m. 1921 Charles Thorp
1/8. Barbara m. Richard L Vernon..
Walter Bertie William Vernon - 1871
b. 8/10/1871, d.26/1/1948,
m.1897, Esther Hodgson (d.21/3/1957), widow of Capt Francis Robinson Atcherley
of Marton Hall Salop & dau of John Mills. Esther had a daughter, Muriel
Hope Atcherley by her first husband. Esther passed her last years at The Hydro,
Bowden, Cheshire (ref letters in RLV's care).
WBWV was a JP.
!891 Census, Hilton: WBWV with parents.
1891 Census: Stone House, Sutton, Oswestry:
Francis RH Atcherley (26, Capt S/Shrops militia, Canada) Esther H Atcherley (wf
22, Bowden, Cheshire), Muriel H Atcherley (dau, 10 mo, West Felton, Salop) + 5
servants.
1901 Census, Frankton Grange, Oswestry:
Walter Bertie Vernon (Hd, 29, Living on own means, Flamfield, Staffs), Esther
Hodsen (wf, 31, Bowden), Richard Leveson (4mths, Frankton), + coachman, General
help, Nurse, & 2 cooks.
Francis Atcherley was probably a son of Francis Topping Atcherley.
1911: Visitor with sister Henrietta Catherine.
Of The Grange, Welsh Frankton, but at 30 Westby Rd, Boscombe, Bournemouth.
1911 Census, The Grange, Welsh Frankton:
Esther Hodgson Vernon, wife, 42 married, b Bowden Cheshire. + Cook, General
servant, House parlourmaid & Coachman’s Help.
Issue:
1/1. Richard Leveson Vernon.
Issue of Francis & Esther (Mills) Atcherley:
(Deduced from papers in RLV's desk 2/2003).
Muriel Hope Atcherley, born 1891, died about 1979 following motor accident.
1911: of The Grange, Welsh Frankton, Salop.
1948: of Mombasa.
1959: of Knysna, Cape Province.
Muriel married:
(1) Henry Hemsted abt 4/1911, who died 14/12/1945.
1911: a doctor of Purewell Hill, Christchurch, Hants.
(2) Charles Edward Stuart-Prince 18/9/1946.
She had three children by her first husband:
Rupert Henry Rustad Hemsted, died unmarried 18/1/1944, war service.
Penelope Atcherley Hemsted, born bef 1927, married Mr Owen Deane bef 1948.
1948 & 1959: of Geduld Mine, Dersley, Transvaal.
Issue: Bob Deane, qual doctor in England abt 1975. Also Bob.
William Richard Tobias Hemsted, born bef 1927.
Married Margaret.
1948: of Rondebosch, Cape Town.
1959: of Kabete, Kenya, civil servant.
1959: mention of Stephen Tobias Rustad Hemsted of Nakuru: William's son??
Grand children by Toby: Ima (b. abt 10/1951)& Tom (b1954)
RLV spent some time in Kenya in the 1930's, presumably with Muriel, to whom he
was close, judging by her letters. RLV was a trustee of Muriel's marriage
settlement in the 1950's.
Augustus Leveson Vernon - 1836
b. 20/9/1836, d 9/12/1925, m 2/6/1864, Selena Anne (b. 1/2.1842, d.9/12/1930)
yst dau of Walter Peter Giffard of Chillington.
J.P., D.L., High Sheriff Staffs 1899.
Seat:- Hilton Park, Wolverhampton. Club:- Carlton.
1891 Census, Hilton Hall:
Augustus Leveson Vernon (Hd, 54, Farmer, JP, DL, Somerset Clifton), Selina Ann
(Wf, 49, Bilbrook, Staffs), Henrietta Catherine (dau, 24, Brewood), Selina Mary
(dau, 20, Brewood), Walter Bartie Wm (son 19, Brewood) + Cook, 2 Housemaids,
Kitchen Maid, 2 maids, dress-maid, Groom, Usher.
From newspaper cutting (RLV collection):
The death took place on Monday at the Dower House, Hilton Park, of Mrs. Selina
Anne Vernon, widow of Mr. Augustus Leveson Vernon, D.L., J.P., who died in
December, 1925, in his ninetieth year. Mrs. Vernon was the youngest daughter of
Mr. W. P. Giffard, of Chillington Hall, near Brewood, and was married to Mr.
Vernon in 1864. They settled at Deansfield, Brewood, and remained there until
1886, when Mr. Vernon came into the Hilton estates and removed to Hilton Park.
Like her husband, Mrs. Vernon was an enthusiastic follower of hounds, and was
for many years a conspicuous figure in the field with the Albrighton and S.
Staffs, hunts. Upon the celebration in 1924 of their diamond wedding, Mr. and
Mrs. Vernon both took the saddle and went out with the hounds. On that occasion
Mr. Vernon claimed to have completed sixty years with the hounds, whilst Mrs.
Vernon, who had commenced her career with the hounds as a girl, boasted that
she could beat her husband's record by 16 years. For over half-a-century it was
the custom of the Albrighton and S. Staffs, hounds to meet at Hilton Park in
alternate years on the occasion of Mr. Vernon's birthday, and generous hospitality
was dispensed by Mr. and Mrs. Vernon. One of the most interesting hunting
souvenirs at Hilton Park is the leather pouch for the hunt-master's horn used
by Mrs. Vernon's father when he was Master of the Albrighton about ninety years
ago. In addition there is a fine collection of about a hundred brushes,
collected by the late Squire over a period of fifty years, each brush being
labelled with the date and circumstances of the killing of the fox with the
local hounds. Mrs. Vernon took a sympathetic interest in the various religious
and social activities of her husband, and by her beneficent works in the
district gained the love and affection of a wide circle of friends. — The
funeral took place at Shareshill Churchyard on Thursday, when there was a full
congregation in the Parish Church. The Revds. W. E. Walkerdine (vicar) and A.
H. Lanfear (vicar of Great Wyrley) conducted the service, which was simple in
character. The hymns "The strife is o'er" and "Nearer, my God.
to Thee" were sung. Messrs. J. Rice, S. Hanner, J. Jackson, S. Eager. G.
Holmes, and H. Whitehouse, estate servants, were the hearers, and the polished
oak coffin was made of oak from the Chillington estate. The chief mourners were
Mr. and Mrs. W.B.B. Vernon (son and daughter-in-law), Miss Vernon and Miss M.
Vernon (daughters). Miss D. Vernon (grand-daughter), Mrs. Giffard (sister-in-law),
Haughton Hall); Mr. Thos, Giffard (nephew) Chillington Hall), Mr. G. W.C. Inge
(nephew), and Mr. G. H. Inge, jun. Others present included Mr. S. Loveridage,
Mr. Loftus B. Moreton, Lt.-Col, Fowler Butler. G.B., Major E. M. Vaughan, Major
J. S. Gardner, Mr.C.O. Langley, Major Carr, Mr. Frank Wallace (Little Wyrley
Hall), Mr. Norman Forrest, Mr. Charles Wootton, Mr. S. H. Harvey, Mr. and Mrs.
J. Stubb's (Rickerscote). Mrs. L. H. Twentyman, the Rev. J. T. Craythorne
(vicar of Bushbury), Messrs. W. Bibby, W. Latham, and E.Cartwright. Eissington
tenants. The interment was in a brick-lined vault, in ; which Mr. A. L.
Vernon was buried five years ago, the entrance being lined with white
chrysanthemums, laurel, and maiden-hair fern. On the coffin was the inscription
: "Selina Anne Vernon, born Feb. 1st, 1842; died Dec. 29, 1930."
It is notable that RL Vernon was not present: this was the time when he was
farming in Kenya.
MRS. VERNON
Mrs. Vernon, who died yesterday at Hilton Park,
Staffordshire, was the youngest daughter of Mr. Walter Peter Giffard, of
Chillington. Staffordshire, and the widow of Mr. Augustus Leveson Vernon, D.L.,
J.P., who died in his ninetieth year five years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Vernon
celebrated their diamond wedding in November, 1924, by going out with the
Albrighton Hunt. That was Mrs. Vernon's seventy-sixth year with hounds. She
spent her last years in the dower house which stands in the shadow of the
memorial tower erected to the memory of Admiral Edward Vernon, who captured
Porto Bello in 1739.
Obituary for ALV from Staffordshire Paper.
DEATH OF Mr. A.L. VERNON, D.L., OF HILTON PARK
The death took place at his residence, Hilton Park, Shareshill, on
Wednesday morning of Mr. Augustus Leveson Vernon, D.L., J.P., who had been
lying seriously ill for the past two or three weeks.
The deceased gentleman was in his 90th year. A year ago Mr. and Mrs.
Vernon celebrated their diamond wedding. One of the last public functions at
which Mr. Vernon attended and spoke at the opening ceremony of the new Hilton
Main colliery of the Holly Bank Coal Co. Ltd.
VERNONS and HILTON
The association of the Vernons with Hilton Park stretch over a period of
several centuries, and the last Squire, as he was familiarly called, took a
great pride in his ancestry. His grandfather, Major-Gen. Hy. Chas. Edward
Vernon, C.B., who lived to the ripe old age of 81, served throughout the
Peninsular War, in Nova Scotia, the West Indies, and the Ionian Islands. He was
twice wounded at the battle of Salamanca. There are several portraits of him at
Hilton, and a number of paintings depicting some of the chief battles in which
he fought.
Hy. Chas. Vernon, father of the late squire, rendered splendid service
to the country, and in 1867 held the position of High Sheriff. Augustus Leveson
Vernon was born at Clifton, Bristol, on Sept. 20, 1836. At the age of ten he
removed with his parents to Harrow. Henry, an elder brother, being at school
there. Henry was in the Harrow cricket eleven for five years, holding the
captaincy for a period, a position ha had the honour of holding in the
Cambridge eleven.
M. Vernon was considered to be too weakly to be sent to a public school,
and was educated privately. Having an inclination towards agriculture, he later
had a three years' course of farming in Suffolk, and in due course completed
his course of agricultural training in East Lothian.
He married in 1864, and settled at Deansfield, Brewood, where he
continued until 1886, when, upon the death of his father, he took up his
residence at Hilton Park.
When Henry Vernon, in 1775, married Penelope, daughter and co-heiress of
Arthur Graham, of Hockley Lodge, County Armagh, he came into a fortune of
£60,000, and by an arrangement between himself and the late squire's
grandfather the money was some years after her death spent entirely on
improving the Hilton estate. It was about in the year 1829 that the chief
improvements were carried out, the old roads through the park stopped, and the
present main road alongside Hilton Park boundary wall made. Other improvements
were made later, and the late squire spent considerable sums of money in
maintaining the estate in a high state of excellence.
Agricultural matters always aroused his deep interest and support, and
in recent years he has taken a very active part in the farmers' horse
competitions at Cannock Flower Show, and has provided several substantial
prizes. He delighted to be present at the shows and take part in the judging of
the animals.
PUBLIC WORK
In public work, Mr. Vernon had a very long and busy career. For 63 years
he was a justice of the peace for the Penkridge Petty Sessional Division; he
was appointed Deputy Lieutenant for the county by the first Lord Hatherton, and
in 1899 he held office as High Sheriff for the County. For half a century he
served on the Cannock Board of Guardians and Rural Council for the parish of
Hilton, retiring of 1914 owing to advancing age. It was only occasionally that
he spoke at meetings of the authorities mentioned, but whenever he had anything
to say he always left a definite impression on the minds of the members.
Occasionally he would bring to the meetings some old volume out of his library,
which threw some light on local history, and pass it round for examination by
members.
As a young man Mr. Vernon served for six years as a lieutenant in the
2nd King's Own Staffordshire Light Infantry, which was then in command of the
second Lord Hatherton. Always a keen cricket enthusiast, Mr. Vernon joined the
M.C.C. in his early days, and continued his membership to the close of his
life. He was also a member of Zingari and the Free Foresters. As an effective
left-hand bowler, as batsman, and as fielder Mr. Vernon had a considerable
measure of success. He played in a number of important games in different
parts of the country, particularly at Lords.
STAFFORDSHIRE HUNT XI
Many years ago, when the Staffordshire Hunt C.C. was formed by Lord
Hatherton, Lord Alex. Paget, and Lord Berkeley Paget, Mr. Vernon was a member.
The players wore red jackets, and presented a striking appearance when in the
field. Some of the best cricketers in the country visited the district to play
the Hunt XI. A number of matches were played on the Cannock Athletic grounds,
where the Cannock C.C. still plays. Mr. Vernon also played for Staffordshire,
and was for many years a member of the Cannock C.C., when Mr. Bernard Gilpin
was president of the club. It was mainly through the instrumentality of Mr.
Vernon that the present pavilion of the Cannock ground was erected. When
cricket ceased to claim him, Mr. Vernon turned his attention to archery, and
for the past 35 years he had been a member of the Royal Toxophibite Society,
and of the Woodmen of Arden. Lawn tennis and croquet have also occupied a good
deal of his time, and in recent years he added a magnificently equipped
billiard room to Hilton Hall.
WITH THE HOUNDS
In the local hunting field Mr. Vernon had been one of the best known
riders for the past 60 years. Year after year he had hunted regularly with the
Albrighton and South Staffordshire Hounds, and for over half a century it has
been the custom of the respective Hunts to meet I alternative years at Hilton
Hall on Mr. Vernon's birthday. Mr and Mrs. Vernon celebrated their diamond
wedding by hunting with the hounds, it being Mrs. Vernon's 76 year with the
Albrighton Hunt.
Mr. Vernon was exceptionally proud of a magnificent collection of
brushes which he had collected during the past 50 years. They number about 100,
and are accommodated in glass cases in the main entrance hall at Hilton Hall.
Attached to each is a brief description in Mr. Vernon's handwriting of the run
in which the fox was killed. A good proportion of the brushes were secured in
the Cannock Chase district in Teddersley, Pottal, and Shoal Hill woods.
Among the souvenirs treasured by Mr. Vernon were the leather pouch for
the hunt master's horn, which was used by Mr. W.P. Giffard, when he was Master
of the Albrighton 90 years ago, ancient armour and swords, which were actually
worn by his ancestors, fossils found in the old coal pits at Hilton over a
century back, and the collars of three of the 17th century bells that formerly
hung in the tower of Shareshill Parish Church.
It was chiefly through the instrumentality of Mr. Vernon that a new peal
of bells was provided at Shareshill Church a few years back, and in many
directions his generosity to the church has made itself felt. Mr. Vernon was a
keen temperance enthusiast, and at Shareshill, Essington, and Newtown he
erected Temperance Institutes that have been assets to the villages mentioned.
He presented a shield for competition among the Bands of Hope in the
Wolverhampton district, and whenever possible attended personally and handed
the shield to the winners. The Y.M.C.A also benefited considerable at his
hands. For a long time he was president of the Wolverhampton Y.M.C.A, and for
some years bore the whole cost of a full time secretary. When troops were in
training on Cannock Chase during the war, Mr. Vernon contributed over £1000 for
the provision of a Y.M.C.A hut at the camp.
Issue:
1/1. Henry Arthur Leveson Vernon, b. 3/9/1868,
m. 2/6/1896 Georgiana de Anyers Willis at Whiston, (between
Manchester & Liverpool. He d. 28/12/1899, 1 dau (possibly Dorothy S Vernon,
several photos in A3M collection). Miss D Vernon (grand daughter at HALV’s mother
Selina’s funeral).
Miss Dorothy Vernon certificate from the Red Cross for valuable services during
the War 1914-19.
From RL Vernon cutting collection
MARRIAGE OF MISS WILLIS OF HALSNEAD.
Prescott Weekly Times, Saturday June 6 1896
The marriage of Mr Henry Arthur Leveson Vernon, DL. elder son of Mr Arthur
Leveson Vernon, of Hilton Park, Staffordshire, to Miss Georgiana Frances
d'Anyers Willis, daughter of Mr Henry Rodolph d'Anyers Willis, D.L., J.P., of
Halsnead Hall, Whiston was solemnized on Tuesday afternoon at St. Nicholas'
Church, Whiston, in the presence of a large and fashionable gathering. The weather
fortunately was of a favourable character. The event has been eagerly looked
forward to by the many friends of Miss Willis and the villagers of Whiston
especially, where the bride and her parents are so highly esteemed and
respected. The bride has made herself very popular by her kindness and
consideration to the sick and poor of the district, and it-was seen that the
sacred edifice and the approaches thereto were filled in every part Great
preparations had been made for the happy event, flags and bunting being
–everywhere visible. At the entrance to the park, near the church was erected a
triumphal arch bearing the letters “Welcome.” and on the side facing the hall
"God bless the bride and bridegroom." Near the Home Farm Mr Ward has
erected a beautiful triumphal arch bearing the coat of arms of the Willis and
Vernon family, together with the inscriptions "Long Life" and "
Prosperity " Arches were also erected near the Rainhill entrance and on
the approach to the Hall, and bore the following :—" Welcome,"
"Long life and happiness," “Health and prosperity," and "God
speed ye.”; With the view of securing the comfort of the numerous invited
guests, the pathway from the lych-gate to the church had been covered in with a
beautiful awning erected by Messrs. Howard and Co., of Liverpool, whilst the
floor was covered with crimson cloth. The church was tastefully decorated for
the occasion. The pulpit was garlanded with white pinks, heliotrope,
rhododendrons, and cleredendrons, on a groundwork of ferns, whilst at its base
were choice stove plants. Each side of the chancel was bedecked with maiden-hair
fern, fronted with isolepsis gracalis and a back ground of yellow iris and
white sweet pea. Along the alter rails and at each side of the communion-table
were placed splendid specimen plants of white marguerite &c. The
candelabria and lamps were prettily decorated with yellow iris, whilst guiler
roses and ferns beautified the choir walls. The latter part of the decorations
were executed by Mr Willis and his sisters' (the Misses Willis, of Sandfield),
but for the rest of the floral decorations Mr Norris, head-gardener at
Halsnead, was responsible and he is worthy of every praise for the neatness and
excellency of his work. Miss Willis, organist of the church, whilst awaiting
the arrival of the wedding guests and party played a violin concerto by
Mendelssohn. Shortly before one o'clock the wedding guests had all arrived, and
a few minutes later the bride entered the church leaning on the arm of her
father. The officiating clergymen were the Rev Canon Willis of Warrington
(uncle of the bride), who performed the ceremony, assisted by the Rev Canon
Williams Mason, Vicar of Kirham, Rev E J Wood, Vicar of Whiston and the Rev W
Vernon, Vicar of Pennfields (uncle of the bridegroom), The service which was
fully choral commenced with the singing of the hymn "O father all
creating” and concluded with the choir signing the anthem "O perfect love"
(Barnby). While the happy couple were singing the register Miss Willis played
the “Bridal March" from "Lohengrin," and at the close
Mendelssohons Wedding March pealed forth from the organ.
The bride was attired in a gown of white satin with court train, trimmed
with orange blossoms and chiffon and point lace, with pearl trimmings and an
embroidered tulle veil. She wore a diamond ornament, the gift of Mr and Mrs
Binney, and a diamond broach given by Mrs H Williams Mason (aunt of the bride).
She also carried a bouquet of white exotics, the gift of the bridegroom. The
bridesmaids were Miss Vernon and Miss Mary Vernon, sisters of bridegroom, Miss
Corbett, Miss Mabel Brown, and Miss Cecily d'Anyers Willis, cousins of the
bride. Their costumes consisted of white satin with pink chiffon fichues, white
hats trimmed with lilies of the valley and pink flowers. Each wore gold
broaches with lily of the valley sprays In pearl, the gifts of the bridegroom.
The best man was Mr Walter Vernon, brother of the bridegroom, and the groomsmen
Mr Richard A de Anyers Willis, Mr E A Le. Gendre Starkie, and Mr John Morris
Another costume deserves especial notice that of Mrs Willis, the mother of the
bride. This consisted of an elegant heliotiope chene silk skirt with a
heliotrope satin coat, trimmed with passe menterie. She also wore a white
embroidered satin bonnet trimmed with pearls, and heliotrope and yellow
orchids, and carried a bouquet to match, presented by the best man. Mrs. Binnsy
wore a Eau de Nil dress with a white crinoline hat, trimmed with ostrich plumes.
After the ceremony a reception was held at Halsnead and proved a brilliant
function, upwards of 300 guests being present. During the afternoon the
Roughdale's Brass Band under the conductorship of Mr G Beesley discoursed the
following selection of music in an excellent manner :— March, " Wedding march
"; march, " Old Robin Gray”; selection, "Wedding days,";
valse” June roses"; selection, "Robbie Burns,"; lancers,
"British fleets”; valse "Buttercups and daises" ; selection,
Irish airs qualrilles, "Lancashire"; selection of Welsh Airs,"
Gems of Cumbria " ; Quadrilles, “Titania.” In the afternoon the happy
couple left for the Channel Islands, where the honeymoon is to be spent. The
bride's travelling costume consisted of a white silk gauze, trimmed with
fichues of white chiffon and lace with white satin ribbons, and wore a large
picture hat of white feathers with white roses and lilies of the valley.
The following is a lists of presents presented to the bride :—
Mr and Mrs Willis (Halsnead), Silver plate dessert service (Limoges) and framed
portraits.
Mr Willis (Halsnead), Cheque.
Mr Richard Willis, Large silver jug.
Mr and Mrs Binney, Diamond star.
Mr Robert Gladstone Buhl casket.
Sir William and Miss Hozier, Case of silver hair brushes, clothes brushes, and
hand-mirror
Mrs Frederick Earle, Iron tea stand with three copper trays
Miss Slater, two oil paintings.
Mrs Willis (Clevemount), Gold curb bracelet.
Lord and Lady Hobhouse. Elton pottery jugs.
Miss Earle, Gilt flower vase.
Mrs Todd, Pair of candlesticks.
Mr and Mrs Assheton, Pair of silver muffineers
Colonel and Mrs Starkie, Pair of silver hair brushes and comb.
Mr and Lady Mary Hozier, Pair of silver candlesticks.
Miss E C Hornby, Cheque.
Mr and Mrs Leyland Feilden, Kettle and stand
Sir William and Miss Farrar, Tea-basket.
Mr and Mrs Gibson, Travelling clock.
Mrs E Baxter, Afternoon tea. cloth.
Mr McDougall, Ebony hair brushes.
Miss Catherine Gladstone, Silver buckle
Canon K Williams Mason, Cheque.
Mrs Williams Mason, Diamond brooch.
Major and Mrs Corbett-Winders, Old Dutch silver tea-caddy and spoon.
Mr Pyke, Enamel, pearl, and ruby broach.
Mr and Mrs Tindall Bright, Two silver fruit dishes.
Miss Cootes, "Life of Charles Kingsley."
Mr and Mrs Hulton, Four-fold screen.
Mr and Mrs H Rawsthorne, Four silver bon bon dishes.
Miss Clara Foulkes, Butter dish and knife.
Miss Feilden (Southport), Scent bottle.
Mr Walter Gladstone, Two silver butter knives
Mr and Mrs Gilmore, Cut glass lamp.
Miss Hornby (Ham), Silver tray.
Mr John Gossett, Minton china ink stand.
Rev G and Mrs Rawsthorne, Four silver bonbon dishes.
Miss Walker, salt bottle.
Mr and Mrs R A.sslieton, Silver-mounted glass scent bottle.
Miss Marriott, Silver salt cellars.
The Misses Corbett, Six silver Apostle spoons.
Mr and Mrs F Farrar. Silver mustard pot.
Mr and Mrs Brocklebank, Two silver bonbon dishes.
Rev S and Mrs Sanders, Two glass scent bottles.
Mrs J and Miss Brown mustard pot and spoon
Rev J E and Mrs Mauners Sanderson, Two silver bon-bon dishes.
Mr and Mrs Graves, Twelve silver ice spoons
Commander and Miss Peirse, Silver-mounted scissors.
Rev and Mrs F d'A Willis, Grape scissors.
Mr and Mrs Raynor. White ostrich feather fan
Indoor Servants at Halsnead, Case containing silver pickle fork, bread fork,
sugar sifter, sugar ladle, jam spoon, and fruit spoon.
Mr and the Misses Morgan, Four silver and ivory knife rests.
Mrs Philip Whitaker, Grape scissors.
Miss Alison, Silver spoons
Miss Mabel Withington, Six lace d'oyleys.
Mr and Mrs Webb, Two silver salt cellars.
Mr Montague Hornby, Silver cream -jug.
Mr and Mrs Taylor, Copper tea stand.
Mr and Mrs 0 Ward, Damask tea cloth.
Mr and Mrs Cave-Brown, Pair of silver candlesticks.
Rev J and Mrs Richardson, Silver-mounted scent bottle.
Miss Langton, Silver tray.
Mrs Morris, Gold curb bracelet.
Canon and Mrs Penrhyn, Silver-mounted claret jug.
Canon and Mrs F Willis, Mr Evelyn, Mr Arthur, and Miss Cecely Willis, Buhl
inkstand.
Mrs Scott, Silver sugar sifter.
Miss Scott, Silver jam spoon.
Miss Adelaide and Miss Bertha Scott, Two silver napkin rings.
Miss Lilla Scott, Antilope card case.
Miss Jefferys, Silver photo frame.
Mr & Mrs Langton tea service
Mr, Mrs, and the Misses Pilkington. Tortoise-shell and black lace fan.
Sir William and Lady Cooke, Horn barometer
Mrs Entwistle, Morroco visitors' book.
General and Mrs Cooper, Ivory and ebony whist box. cards, and markers.
Mrs and Miss Baxter, Embroidered
Mrs H B Daglish, Silver magnifying
Mr James and Mrs Norris, Two dinner table flower vases.
Miss Lester, Fruit plates, sugar basin and cream jug
Mr and Mrs Radcliffe. Silver fish slice and fork
Mr and Mrs Gibbon, Massive silver bon stand.
Mrs H M Williams, Irish embroidered and pillow covers
Mr and Mrs Gilliat, Silver salt bottle.
Mr Pilkington (Roby Hall), Crown Derby Vases.
Mrs C Mason, Silvermounted drinking horns
Mr James McVinne, Glass flower basket.
Mr and Mrs Corbet-Winder, White lace fan
Miss Taylor, Old oak.
Mr and Mrs Scott-Tucker, Two silver bon bon dishes.
Mr and the Misses Brown. Crumb scoop
Mr and Mrs John Platt. Brushes.
Mr and Mrs Fletcher, China, vase
Miss Smith and Misses Edith and Margaret Smith, Set of tea spoons and sugar
tongs
Mrs Vernon, Silver toast rack.
Mr Villiers Stuart, Photo album with musical box inside.
Mr and Mrs Naylor, Embroidered blotter
Mrs Bloomfield, Silver tea pot.
Mrs and Miss M Vernon, Silver-mounted scent bottle.
Mrs Madden, Silver pin box.
Mr and Mrs Pilkington (The Hazels), Silver post-card box.
Sir Thomas Brocklebank, Silver card basket
Mr Giles Lloyd, Mother of pearl fan.
Mrs Senior, Silver tray.
Hon. Sydney St. John, Silver photo frame
Hon. Margaret St John, Silver photo frame
Mr Herbert Gibbons, Necklace.
Miss Mary Orrett, Carved book-shelf.
Miss A M Hornby, Tortoise-shell paper knife
Mrs Holden, Carved letter rack.
Lady de Houghton, Silver cream jug.
Mrs Walker, White silk stockings.
Mr and Mrs Heywood-Bright, Glass jug ewers.
Mr and Mrs Seddon, Two silver flower vases
Mr and Mrs Rawsthorne, Silver pin«box.
Mr and Mrs Jackson, Silver and cut-glass salt bottle.
Miss F and Miss M Braddyll, Travelling Clock
Canon and Mrs Feilden, Silver paper knife
Sir Colley Scotland, I Wo silver butter shells and knives.
Mr Percy Farrar, Old French taper stands
The Misses Jenkins, Photo frame.
The working-men on the Halsnead estate, viz., Messrs James and Joseph Holden,
Joshua Glover. Ephraim Glover, Frank Jump, and William Jump, Cruet stand.
Mr and Mrs Gamble, Embroidered satchel.
"From Culchetts Hall," Photo frame.
Mrs Bromilow, Silver pin-box.
Mrs Crosby, Two alabaster vases.
Mr and Mrs Thornewill, Two silver butter shells and knives.
Major Currey. Silver cream jug, sugar basin, and tongs.
Rev R and Mrs Stewart, .Two silver bon-bon dishes.
Miss Alice and James Woodward, Sugar tongs.
Mr and Mis Rogds, Silver date card.
Mr and Mrs Marsow, Silver-mounted salt spoons.
Mr and Mrs James Heaps, Two silver pepper castors.
The committee and members of the Whiston Football Club, Preserve dish.
Sir Thomas and Lady Earl, Silver tea-caddies.
Mr W Hall Walker, Two silver candlesticks
Mr and Mrs Hornby, Table lamp.
Mrs Lee Pilkington, Triangular photo frame.
Bishop and Mrs Royston, Bible and Prayer Book.
Mr and Mrs Mclver, Photo frame.
Mrs Braddyll, Silver-mounted bon-bon dishes.
Sir Arthur and Lady Forwood, Silver mirror.
Mr and Mrs Herbert Pilkington, silver-mounted bon-bon dish.
Mr Hall, Carved blotter.
Rev E J Wood, White and gold China vases.
Mr and Mrs Lyon, Biscuit box.
Rev A, Mrs, Miss, Mr G, and Lieutenant C Dampier, Hand-painted glass fire
screen.
The tenants on the Halsnead estate, viz., Messrs Sumner, Longton, Prescott, J
Crompton, R Crompton, Leather, J Ireland, H Smith, E Walton, J Walton, Patten,
Horabin, Heaton, Tyrer, E Sandy, and Mrs Foster. Algerian opal card-tray, in
leather case.
Lady Mary Crosse, Two enamel spoons.
The Misses Stewart, Silver buckle.
Mr and Mrs Hale, Silver lamp.
Miss Hume, Gilt photo frame and photograph
Rev R and Mrs Winter, Silver-mounted screw bottle.
Sir Duncan Campbell, Silver bon-bon dish.
Mr and Mrs Hollas, Soda water syphon.
Major and Mrs Hopwood, Silver box.
Mrs Orange, Glass flower basket.
Mrs Stott, Miniature chest of drawers.
Mr and Mrs Fidler, Travelling clock.
The officials and wives of the Carr's Colliery viz., Mr and Mrs J Read, Mr and
Mrs Barron, Mr and Mrs A Bead, Mr and Mrs V Mawdsley. Mr and Mrs J Atherton,
Cut-glass silver-mounted ink bottle
Rev W G and Mrs Rees, Silver-mounted ink bottle
Mr Stockdale, Present,
Lady Campbell, of Barcaleine, Three silver buttons
Captain Feilden, Four silver hand candle-sticks
Mr Wilfred and Mrs Holden, Two Japanese vases and inkstand.
Mr and Mrs Tyrer, China cruet dish.
Mr and Mrs W Hnlton, Picture—" Fired gleaners."
Rev F M Binney, Glass rose-bowl.
Mrs Smith, Ruby water caraffe.
Canon and Mrs Mitchell, Inkstand.
Mrs A Hornby Lewis. Coffee service.
Coln and Mrs Pilkington, A present.
Mr Braddyll, A present
Presents to Bridegroom
Mr Arthur Monckton, Pottery jugs.
Mr and Mrs C H Jtisre, Cheque.
The Hon E C R Littleton, silver kettle and stand.
Mr and Mrs W A Briscoe, Antique fruit ladle.
Mr and Mrs Carlton Cross, Silver bon-bon baskets.
Miss Mary Monckton, Antique silver tray.
Miss Maria Vernon. Silver forks.
Mr and Mrs B Wentworth Vernon, Silver cigar box.
Mr and Mrs Francis Monckton, Silver tea-caddy.
Mr and Mrs J W Hornby, Silver-mounted carvers
Mrs Pringrle. Glass flower vases.
Mrs Hartley. Silver salt cellars.
Mrs Francis Boughey Miss Boughey, and the Misses S and L Boughey, Silver sauce
tureens
Mr Vernon, Gun.
Mrs Vernon, Cheque
Miss Vernon and Miss S M Vernon, Writing table.
Mr an 1 Mrs Howard McLean, Silver cigarette case.
Miss Briscoe and Misses A and T Brisoe, Silver sugar bowl and sifter.
Rev R and Mrs Butcher. Bible
Mr Hartley. Pair of silver-mounted "Black Forest " decanters.
Doctor and Mrs Riley, Bronze letter-weight.
Rev O and Mrs Holden, Silver-mounted match holder and tray.
Mr Simpson, Cheque.
Rev F W and Mrs Vernon and Miss B Vernon Silver muffineers.
Mr and Mrs Morris, Parcel post and letter balance.
Mr and Mrs Brvans, Silver match box.
Mr and Mrs Giffard, Standard lamp.
Mr and Mrs Briscoe, Silver salt cellars.
Mrs Smith, Pair brass ornaments
Rev W G and Mrs Vernon, Oil and vinegar cruet.
Mr and Mrs Gilpin, Umbrella.
Servants and Workpeople at Hilton Park. Silver salver.
The Gamekeepers at Hilton Park, silver-mounted carvers.
The Hon Mrs R Stapleton-Cotton and Miss Cotton, Photo screen.
Mr and Mrs Ward, Morocca blotter.
Mrs W Bougey, Thermometer and date calendar
Mrs Wootten, Silver inkstand.
Mrs Pearson. Hunting-crop.
Tenants on the Hilton Park Estate, Illuminated address.
Miss C Vernon, Dinner service and oak table
Lord Wrottesly, Cheque.
On Thursday evening Mr. and Mrs Willis gave a tea and dance in the Church
Schools Whiston, when all the tenants and labourers on the Halsnead estate and
many of the people of the village, to the number of 400, were invited. A most
enjoyable time was spent. This day (Saturday), Mr. and Mrs. J Willis entertains
the Church Sunday School Scholars to their annual treat in Halsnead Park.
1/2. Walter Bartie William Vernon, b. 8/10/1871,
d.26/1/1948, m.1897,
1/3. Henrietta Catherine Vernon, B abt 1867, Brewood.
1911 Census @ Welsh Frankton with brother WBWV.
Of The Grange, Welsh Frankton, but at 30 Westby Rd, Boscombe, Bournemouth.
who lived until the mid 1950's with her sister until their death at Oaken House
(the Dower House), Oaken, Wolverhampton.
IGI: ch 23/4/1867 Saint Mary, Brewood, Staffs.
By great coincidence, the Maitland family bought the Dower House from the
Wrottesley estate after the death of the Misses Vernon in 1955.
1/4. Selina Mary Vernon. B abt 1871.
b. 9/1/1805, d. 26/2/1886 (other source says died at Comyn House, Leamington Feb 27 1886), m. 15/3/1828 Catherine (d. 29/3/1884) dau of Richard Rice Williams
of Hendredenny, Glamorgan.
Eld surv. son of Henry Charles Vernon, Esq., of Hilton Park, J.P., D.L., High
Sheriff 1867.
HCV was an active and high ranking Mason in Staffordshire, Worcestershire and
Bristol (possibly the latter via his father-in-law). His father was a mason
before him.
From note on the reverse of a print at the Gables:
Henry Charles Vernon-Graham
B. Jan 9th 1805. Mar Catherine 2nd dau of Richard
Williams of Cardiff Glam. Died Feb 26th 1886. He inherited Hilton
Park Staffs as Henry Charles Vernon on the death of his father (1861) Major
General Henry Charles Edward Vernon who assumed the name of Graham on
inheriting his maternal property in 1800, but resumed that of Vernon only,
1838.
Issue:
1/1. Maria VernonJ
1/2. Catherine VernonJ
1/3. Henry Vernon b: 16 DEC 1828 d: 19 FEB 1855J
1/4. Augustus William Vernon b: 15 JUN 1834 d: 6 AUG 1834J
1/5. Augustus Leveson Vernon, b. 20/9/1836.
1/6. Rev Frederick Wentworth Vernon (4th son) b. 7/1/1839;
Married, 1st, 1867 Ellen Mary Woodhouse (d 1883), d. of Henry
Woodhouse Acland;
2nd 1885 Edith Serena Hill, d. of Rev William Henry Boothby.
2/1. Hugh Woodhouse Vernon, Gentleman b.1872.
2/2. Charles Percy Vernon, Gentleman, b. 1873.
2/3. Richard Francis Vernon, Gentleman, b. 1874.
2/4. Evelyn Vernon, Gentleman, b. 1889.
2/5. Roger Vernon, Gentleman, b. 1893.
2/6. Peter Wentworth Vernon, Gentleman, b. 1895.
1/7. Rev. William George Vernon, b. 8/4/ 1840;
M. 1st, 1866, Alexandrina Adelaide (d. 1914), d. of late
William Davey Sole of Devonport;
2nd, 1917, Edith, d. of William Allord, of Ripple, Worcs.
Late Vicar of St. John's, Kenilworth,
Issue:
2/1. Cecil Charles William Vernon, Gentleman, b. 1868;
m.1893, Charlotte Isabel Leane,
d. of R.W. Flick of Banbury and has had issue:-
3/1. Cecil Wentworth Vernon, Gentleman, killed in action 1916.
3/2. Leveson George Wentworth Vernon Gentleman b. , Res:-
1/8. Edward Hamilton Vernon, Gentleman, b 16/1/1844,
m. 1st, Fanny Ibbotson,
2nd, Miriam d.of Rev Henry Fisher of Leamington Res-
Henry Charles Edward Vernon - 1779
(sometime with suffix Graham, dropped mid 1830's)
(of Hilton Park),
born. 28/9/1779,
m 28/2/1804 Maria Cook, dau George John Cook; he d. 22/3/1861, she b. 1794, d.
30/10/1829, bur Geneva.
GRAHAM-VERNON,.HENRY CHARLES EDWARD, esq. of Hilton Park, in the county
of Stafford, Col. in the army, and C.B. b 28th September. 1779, m. in 1804,
Maria, third daughter of George John Cooke, esq. of Harefield Park, Middlesex,
and by her, who died 30th October, 1827, and is buried at Geneva, has issue,
Major General in Crimea -
When HCEV succeeded his father in 1814, he adopted the additional surname of
Graham in compliance with the testamentary injunction of his maternal
grandmother. BC
As series of letters show ongoing financial problems with mortgages on the
Hilton Estates from late 18thC onwards to at least 1835. Complexities
introduced by loans by HCEV to his father and mortgages on the Hilton estate.
His mother Penelope inherited extensive estates from her father. These must
have been passed direct to HCEV. Included estates in Cobham, sold for £11000.
Issue:
1/1. Emma Penelope Vernon J
1/2. Henry Charles Vernon, b. 9/1/1805, d. 1886.
1/3. George Augustus Vernon, of Harefield Park Middlesex.
2/1. Herbert Charles Erskine Vernon, Gentleman, I.C.S.
(3rd son of George Augustus
Vernon) b.1851, d.1893; m.1878 Helen, d. of General Liptrot:-
3/1. Col. Henry Albemarle Vernon, D.S.O. Officer i/c Roy.
Signal Records, late Roy. Corps
of Signals, and K.R.R.C., J.P, Co. Northampton, served S. African War and Great
War, Chev. Legion of Honour, has Order of the Nile, 3rd Class Brev. Lt.Col.
1918, despatches twice, b.1879, m.1916 Maud Valerie only child of Maj Gen.
J.G. Turner, C.B., of Eastgate House Warwick;
Seat Stoke Bruerne Park Towcester.
Res.- Saxonbury Rochester Kent. Club:- Junior Services.
and has issue:-
4/1. Henry Richard Wentworth Vernon Gentleman, b.1919;
4/2. Dorothy Avril Wentworth Vernon. She married Field Marshall Lord Bramall[1].
1/4. William Frederick Vernon b: 7 NOV 1807, Army officer.
M. Elizabeth Shittleworth d: 3 MAR 1853
1/5. George Augustus Vernon b: 31 MAY 1811, Army officer.
M. Louisa Jane Frances Cator
2/1. Edith Henrietta Sophia Vernon
2/2. Louisa Jane Vernon
2/3. Lizzie Vernon
2/4. Mary Vernon
2/5. Muriel Isabel Vernon
2/6. George Edward Vernon b: 8 NOV 1843
2/7. Bertie Wentworth Vernon b: 26 OCT 1846
2/8. Herbert Charles Erskine Vernon b: 28 SEP 1851
M. Margaret Fisher
Of Hilton, b 21/3/1748, d. 21/10/1814J.
M. (1) 14/10/1775, Penelope dau of Arthur Graham of Co Armagh. Penelope,
daughter and co-heir of Arthur Graham, esq. of the city of Dublin, by whom he
had twins, a daughter who died shortly after her birth, and a son,
Issue (only surviving):
1/1. Henry Charles Edward Vernon, b. 28/9/1779.
M. (2) Margaret Fisher, dau of Thomas Fisher of Acton.
Issue:
1/2. Frederick William Thomas Vernon-Wentworth b: 20 SEP 1795 J
Inherited Wentworth Castle and other estates from his
grandfather, the Earl of Strafford, assumed the surname of Wentworth.
BC
IGI: William Frederic Thomas Vernon C: 18 Oct 1795
Father: Henry Vernon Shareshill, Stafford,
M. Augusta Brudenell-Bruce J
2/1. Louisa Mary Henrietta Vernon-Wentworth J
2/2. Henrietta Frances Elizabeth Vernon-Wentworth, M. Thellusson
J
2/3. Thomas Frederick Charles Vernon-Wentworth b: 20 OCT 1831
J
M. Harriet De Burgh J
3/1. Harriet Vernon-Wentworth J
3/2. Augusta Vernon-Wentworth d: 1861 J
3/3. Vernon-Wentworth b: 1 JAN 1863 J
1/4. George Augustus Frederick Vernon b: NOV 1798 d: 1815
J
Henry Vernon – 1718 of Hilton Park
Born: 13/9/1718, ch Shareshill, 7/10/1718
Married. Lady Henrietta Westwood, ygst dau of Thomas, 1st Earl of Stafford
(b.1720,J d.26/4/1786).
IGI: M: 26 Dec 1743 Albermarle St., London,
Issue:
1/1. Anna Vernon b. 1744 J, IGI: D: 23 Mar 1797, M. Lord
Berwick J
Parents: Henry Vernon & Harriet Wentworth, Of, Hilton, Stafford.
1/2. Henry Vernon, b 21/3/1748
1/3. Henrietta Vernon (9THX-J6) Born: Abt 1740 Of Hilton, 1745 J
Died 1828 J
Ancestral File, 18/10/00, Parents Henry Vernon (9THZ-JB)
Born: <1714 <Of Hilton, Staffordshire.
Married (1) 19/7/1764: Richard Grosvenor [Earl Grosvenor] (9THV-MF)
Born: 18 Jun 1731 Of Swell Court, Somersetshire, Eng
2/1. Richard Grosvenor (9THX-KC)
Born: 6 Jun 1765 Of Eaton, Cheshire,
2/2. Robert Grosvenor [MarqofWestminstr] (9THX-B5)
Born: 22 Mar 1767 Of Eaton, Cheshire, England
Married: Eleanor Egerton [MarchofWestminst] (9THX-CB)
Born: 19 Jul 1770 Of Egerton, Chesh, Eng
3/1. Richard Grosvenor [MarofWestministr] (9THX-TQ)
Born: 27 Jan 1795 Milbank House, Westminster, London,
sp-Elizabeth Mary Leveson Gower (9THX-VW)
Born: 8 Nov 1797 Of Dunrobin Castle, Suther, Scot
4/1. Mary Frances Grosvenor (9THX-X8)
Born: Abt 1812 Of Millbank House, Westm.,
4/2. Agnes Grosvenor (9THX-ZF)
Born: Abt 1814 Of Millbank House,
Westm.,
sp-Sir Archibald Campbell (9THZ-2W)
Born: ><1812 <Of Millbank House, Westm., England
sp-Philip Frank (9THZ-33)
Born: <1812 <Of Millbank House, Westm., England
4/3. Had Issue Grosvenor (9THX-W3)
Born: <1821 <Of Millbank House, Westm.,
3/2. Thomas Grosvenor Egerton [Earl of Wilton] (9THX-59)
Born: 30 Dec 1799 London,
sp-Susanna Isabella Smith [CountessofWilton] (9THX-SK)
Born: Abt 1837 Of, Ilminister, Somersetshire, England
3/3. Mary Grosvenor (9THX-GT)
Born: 19 Feb 1802 Of Eaton, Cheshire, England
3/4. Robert Grosvenor [Baron of Edburg] (9THZ-48)
Born: 24 Apr 1803 Of Eaton, Cheshire, England
sp-Charlotte Arbuthnot (9THZ-5F)
Born: <1805 <Of Eaton, Cheshire,
sp-Charlotte Arbuthnot Wellesley (1873-18J)
Born: <1807 <Of Eaton, Cheshire
3/5. Miss Grosvenor (1873-0TV)
Born: Abt 1803 Of, Lambeth, Middlesex,
2/3. Thomas Grosvenor (9THX-LJ)
Born: 13 May 1768 Of Eaton, Cheshire,
2/4. Richard Grosvenor (9THX-MP)
Born: 7 Jun 1769 Of Eaton, Cheshire,
Henrietta married, 2nd: General George Porter MP (9THX-NV)
Born: <1738 <Of Hilton, Staffordshire, England>
1/4. Lucy Vernon b: XXX 1746 d: 1783
1/5. William Vernon b: XXX 1749 d: JUN 1775
1/6. Caroline Vernon b: 1751 d: 1829,
maid of honour to Charlotte, Queen Consort to George III.
1/7. Jane Vernon b: XXX 1752 d: 1805, unm.
1/8. Levison Vernon b: XXX 1753 d: 21 SEP 1831, unm.
b 1667, (or '63J), parents Henry & Margaret (Ladkins) Vernon.
Married: 1717 Penelope (1697-25/1/1726 J) second dau. and
co-heir of Robert Phillips of Newton Regis, Warks. She d. 26th January, 1726.
He died 24/7/1732. Both bur Shareshill.
An Inventory of the estate held in Vernon section of A Maitland’s archives.
Total £1284-19-9d, with some 400 items listed from the beds & blankets to
the mining equipment and farm stock & crops.
The coal mine had horse power winding gear (a cog gin) and a fire engine –
probably an early atmospheric engine pump.
Issue:
1/1. Henry Vernon of Hilton Park, b 13/9/1718,
1/2. Thomas Phillip Vernon: b. 20/11/1719, ch Shareshill 8 Dec 1719 , d. 1755.
1/3. John Vernon: ch Shareshill 31/1/1720,J b: 20/1/1720 d:
16/5/1747
1/4. Edward Vernon b: 1723 d: 1794.J, Admiral Sir[2].
1/5. Penelope Vernon b: 6 JUN 1722 M. Sir William Duckenfield Daniel.J
of Over Tabley, in Cheshire.
1/6. Elizabeth Vernon b: 17 JAN 1724 d: 28 JAN 1726
J
1/7. Richard Vernon, b 18/6/1726, ch Shareshill 18/6/1726 (IGI)
M. Evelyn Leveson, dau of John Leveson, Earl Gower, and widow
of John Fitzpatrick, Earl of Upper-Ossory. BC
2/1. Henrietta Vernon, M. George Broke. J
of Hilton, 2nd son of Sir Henry Vernon of Houndshill, Staffs, born 6/1637. m.
1659, Margaret (b.1639 J, d. 1699) dau of William
Ladburn/Ladkins J of Helledon, Northants BC
or Shaw, Staffs.
IGI: M: 20 Feb 1659, Kingsley, Staffs, Mary Ladkins
Issue:
1/1. Henry Vernon b 1667,
1/2. Edward Vernon, b. 28/12/1665, d. 1742. J
A merchant of London.BC
Douglas Mackinnon[i]
Will dated 28 September 1732, proved 11 February 1733.
Buried 13 February 1733 St Botolph Aldgate, London.
Married Ann Wildman, 29 May 1694 St Botolph Aldgate.
She was buried 31 October 1717 St Botolph Aldgate.
Edward Vernon was a merchant in London who died in 1742. His son, James Vernon
of Hilton, married Lydia, daughter of Edward Purnell. Their daughter Louisa
married William Mackinnon of Mackinnon, 32nd Chief of Clan Fionghuin in 1768.
Louisa died in 1816. William died in 1809. However, no where can I find the details
of James Vernon's mother. Was he illegitimate, or has his mother's details
been lost. Why is she completely omitted from all genealogies? When did James
die?
2/1. James Vernon, m. Lydia Purnell
James’s will written 4 March
1753, proved 30 March 1753
Lydia’s will written 11 July 1782, proved 20 October 1789
From Rihannon Boardman, 3/2011[ii]
Lydia, nee Purnell, and James Vernon also had two boys, Edward b1732
Bishopsgate, London, and more importantly my ancestor, Thomas b1733 also in
Bishopsgate. Thomas married Roxanna and I now know her surname too! Roxanna
married a Greek priest in 1770 after Thomas's death. The two boys are older
than the three girls. Elizabeth and Caroline were twins b1734 and Louisa the
youngest b1738.
3/1. Edward Vernon, b 1732[3].
3/4. Thomas Vernon, b 1733[4].
3/1. Elizabeth Vernon[5],
b 1734,
ch 24 March 1735 at St Botolph
Bishopsgate, London
2nd married Thomas du Pont
see Vernon appendix, letter 5.
Issue of Elizabeth Vernon and Edmund Nugent
4/1. Sir George Nugent, 1st Baronet of Waddesdon (1757-1849)[6]
Illegitimate son of Hon. Edmund Craggs
Nugent (1731-1771, who was the only son of Robert Nugent, 1st Earl Nugent),
Nugent was educated at Charterhouse School and the Royal Military Academy,
Woolwich.[1] He was commissioned as an ensign in the 39th Regiment of Foot on 5
July 1773 and was posted to Gibraltar. Became Field Marshall. Many sources say
that George was the son of a Ms Fennings, but wills and other records make it
clear that he was the illegitimate son of Edmund by Elizabeth Vernon.
Sir George Nugent married Maria Skinner, daughter of Cortlandt Skinner, the
Attorney-General of New Jersey, in Belfast on 16 November 1797; they had three
sons and two daughters. Lady Nugent wrote a journal of her experiences in
Jamaica first published in 1907.
4/2. Charles Nugent
4/3. Dau Nugent.
3/3. Caroline Vernon[7], twin to Elizabeth, m. John
Dewar.
3/2. Louisa Vernon, b 1738, married William Mackinnon
1/3. George Vernon, b. 15/8/1667. J killed
abroad.
1/4. Thomas Vernon, b. 1674, d. 4/4/1742. J D. unm London,
of Houndshill, Staffs.
Born: 1616BC
Parents: Edward & Margaret Vernon.
Married BC: Muriel, dau of George Vernon of Haslington, one
of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas.
Issue:
1/1. BC George Vernon, his heir, of Sudbury, b.1635,
grandfather of
George of Sudbury, who assumed, in 1728, the additional surname and arms of Venables, and was created in 1672, Lord Vernon, Baron of Kinderton, in the county Palatine of Chester. – see later in this paper for his lineage.
1/2. BC Edward Vernon, b.1636.
1/3. Henry Vernon of Hilton, 2nd son of Sir Henry Vernon of Houndshill,
Staffs, born 1637.
Born.14/12/1584, d. 16/6/1657
Parents: Walter & Mary (Littleton) Vernon of Houndshill.
Married: Margaret Vernon, dau of Henry & Dorothy (Heveningham) Vernon of
Hilton & Essington.
Issue:
1/1. Mary Catherine Grace Elizabeth Vernon J
1/2. Anne Vernon, M. George Harper J
1/3. John Vernon, d. 13/3/1670, J
M. (1) Anne Huish.
2/1. John Vernon
M. (2) Elizabeth Walwyn
2/2. Edward Vernon, M. Lettice Bankes
3/1. John Vernon, M. Dorothea Grahn
4/1. George Vernon d: XXX 1786, M. Elizabeth Science
4/2. Edward Vernon
m. Caroline Catherine Yeates
4/3. Charlotte Vernon, M. Thomas Wright
3/2. Edward Vernon d: 1765
3/3. Catherine Vernon, M. Yeates
4/1. Caroline Catherine Yeates M. Edward Vernon
2/3. Mary Vernon
2/4. Elizabeth Vernon.
1/4. Edward Vernon M. Guldeford. J
2/1. Elizabeth Vernon
2/2. Mary Vernon
1/5. Henry Vernon M. Maud (Muriel) Vernon
Born: 1552, died 1592.
Parents: Mary Littleton, dau of
IGI:
Henry Charles Vernon (M).............. M: 23 Oct
1867
Spouse: Elizabeth Baynes NORTON Saint Nicholas In Newport,
Lincoln,
http://www.shercliff.demon.co.uk/WHS/streetl.htm
Leveson Street. Named after the Leveson family, who were lords of the
Manor of Stowheath, and a branch of which family lived in nearby Moat House and
owned extensive lands in the area. Richard Leveson was in Willenhall at the
time of the reign of Edward the First (1272 to 1307) as lessee of the prebendal
Manor and holder of a considerable estate in the Kings manor of Stowheath. The
family also owned a house at Snow Hill Wolverhampton and also Trentham Hall.
They made their considerable fortune from the wool trade, then the main
industry in the Wolverhampton area. The Leveson's, like the Lane's of Bentley
were Roman Catholics and fought on the side of the King during the Civil War.
Thomas Leveson was a Colonel in the Kings army and was the Governor of Dudley
Castle which he successfully defended until it was surrendered when the war
ended. When John Leveson died about 1750 there was no male heir and the
property passed jointly to his three daughters but by 1763 all their holdings
in Willenhall had been sold off and the family left the area. By the turn of
the century the house had gone although the grounds with their surrounding moat
remained until the area was re-developed during the 1800's. It is believed that
Moat House was built during Tudor Times and the Hearth Tax returns for
Willenhall for 1666 show that it had 10 hearths, the largest building in the
town.
Arms: Quarterly, 1st and 4th quarterly of four, 1st and
4th,argent afret sable, 2nd and 3rd, or on a fess azure three garbs of the
field (both for VERNON); 2nd and 3rd, azure two bars argent (for VENABLES).
Crests: 1 A boar's head erased sable, ducahy gorged or (for VERNON), 2 A wyvem
argent, standing on a weir of the last
banded azure, pierce d through the body in fess by an arrow and devouring a
child proper. Supporters: Dexter, a lion gules, gorged with a collar and chain
reflexed over the back or; sinister, a boar sable, gorged with a ducal coronet
and chain reflexed over the back or.
Motto: Ver non semper viret ('Vernon always flourishes'/'The spring does not
always flourish'). Creation: B. (GB) 12 May 1762.
THE 10TH LORD VERNON, BARON OF KINDERTON, Co Chester (John Lawrence
Venables-Vernon) (The Rt Hon The Lord Vernon, Sudbury House, Sudbury, Derbys
DE6 5HT]; b 1 Feb 1923; sf 1963; educ Eton and Magdalen Coll. Oxford; Capt
Scots Gds WW 11 1942-46, barrister Lincoln's Inn 1949, Cabinet Office 1953-57,
Colonial Office (attd Kenya Govt) 1957-58, P0 1959-61, JP Derbys 1965-77,
co-proprietor Africa Confidential, menb Peak Park Planning Bd 1974-76; Chm
Population Concern 1984-89; m 1st 7 July 1955 (divorce 1982) Sheila Jean, yr
dau of W Marshall Clark, OBE, BSc, MICE, of Johannesburg; m. 2nd 14 July 1982
Sally Jean, est dau of Robin Stratford, QC, of Fernhill, Kilmacrennay, and
formerly w. of (a) Colin Fyfe-Jamieson and (b) Sir (John) Jeremy Eustace
Tennyson-d'Eyncourt, 3rd Bt (qv), and has had by his 1st w:
1 (Georgina) Frances; b 1 Dec 1963; educ Cranborne Chase and Cambridge;
author: Privileged Children (1982), Gentlemen and Players (1984), A Desirable Husband (1987), The Bohemian Girl (1988), The Marquis of Westmarch (1989) and The Fall of Dr Onslaw (1991); d 1991.
2 *Joanna Elizabeth; b 30 Sept 1965; m 1992 Alexander Rupert Flizalan Howard and has issue (see NORFOLK, D).
Lineage (of Vernon):
RICHARD; feudal Ld of Vernon and holder of many manors at tile time of
the Domesday Survey 1086; enjoyed a local prominence in the County Palatine of
Chester as Baron of Shipbrooke (a subinfeudetory rank (but not a peerage title)
conferred by Hugh d'Avranches or Lupus (i.e., Wolf, so-called from his ferocity
and acquisitiveness), Earl of Chester with quasi-regal powers, so cr 1071 in
the reign of his great-uncle of the half-blood WILLIAM I (THE CONQUEROR)); had
a 2nd s:
WILLIAM de VERNON; ggf of:
RICHARD de VERNON;
m 1171 Avice, dau and coheir of William de Avenell, of Heddon, Derbys, and dvp, leaving, with two other sons:
1/1. Warine; s gf as Baron of Shipbrooke; m Auda,
dau and coheir of William
Melbank, Baron of Wich-Malbank (later Nantwich), Co Palatine of Chester (holder
of a similar dignity to that of the Barons of Shipbrooke), and had, with a yr s
(Ralph):
2/1. Warine, Baron of Shipbrooke; m Margaret,
dau of Ralph de Andeville and
widow of Hugh de Altaribus, and had, with a s (Warine, dsp), three daus (who
after prolonged litigation with their maternal unc Ralph were obliged to give
up to him half their patrimony):
3/la Margery; m Richard de Wilburgham and has issue (see SKELMERSDALE)
3/2a Edith; m Sir William Stafford
3/3a Rohesia; m John Littlebury
1/2. William (Sir); Ch Justice Chester c 1231;
m 1230 Margery (d 1239), dau of Sir Robert de Stockport, thus
acquiring Appleby Parva, Leics, and had:
2/1) Richard; granted 1252 by HENRY III the Castle of the Peak, Derbys
2/2) Robert; exiled by HENRY III with his bro Richard for opposing the King in
the Barons' Wars of the 1260s.
1/3 Robert, of Nether Haddon; had a dau and heiress:
2/1) Hawise; m 1231 Gilbert le Franceys, a of Adam le Franceys, s of John le Franceys, of Meaburn, Cumberland, and had:
3/1a Richard (Sir); took name VERNON by 1252; m Margaret de Vipont and had;
4/lb Richard (Sir) of Haddon: m. lst Alianore (dep), dau of Giles de
Frenes; m. 2nd Julia, dau of William de Vescy, of Alnwick, Northumberland, and Malton, Yorks by Agnes, dau of William de Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby (qv prcliminary remarks) of the 1138 cr, thus acquiring Arleston, Derbys, and by her had:
5/lc Richard (Sir) m. Maud dau and coheir of William de Camville,
2nd Lord (Baron)
Camville/Canville of the notional 24 June 1295 cr, and dvp by 3 Feb 1322/3
leaving with a dau (Isabella, m 1337 Sir Richard Stafford of Pype Staffs):
6/1d William (Sir) b. 1312/3 m. Margaret, dau of Robert de Stopford,
and had:
7/1e Richard (Sir), of Haddon and Arleston; m Juliana, sis and heiress of Fulco
de Pembruge and dau of Robert/Roger de Pembruge by Juliana Zouche, and d.1377,
leaving:
8/1f Richard (Sir), of Haddon and Arleston; b 1370; m Jane, dau and heiress of Rhys ap Griffith, of Wichnor, Staffs, and d 1401, (leaving with a yr s and two daus:
9/1g Richard (Sir), JP Staffs 1417, Derbys 1422; b 1390; High Sheriff
Staffs 1418-17 and Derbys and Notts 1424, MP Staffs 1419 and 1421
and Derbys 1422 and 1426-143- also Speaker of the Parl at
Leicester 1426, Steward Duchy of Lancaster estates and Constable
Castle of the Peak 1424-44, Treas Calais 1445-53; m Benedicta (d
1444), dau of Sir John Ludlow, of Tong, Salop (which he inherited
1446 from Isabella, widow of Fulco do Pembruge), and d Sept 1453,
leaving an est surv s:
10/1h William (Sir), KI; b 1416; MP Derbys 1442-51 and 1467 and
Staffs 1455-56, Kt Constable of England; m Margaret, dau and
heiress of Sir William Swynfen by Jocose, yst dau of William
Durvasell alias Spernore and heiress also of Robert Pype, and d
1467, leaving, with two yr sons and four daus:
11/1i Henry (Sir), KB, PC, feudal Ld of Heddon; Govr and Treasurer
to PRINCE ARTHUR, est s of HENRY VII; m Anne, dau of 2nd Earl
of Shrewsbury and Waterford (qv), and d 1511, having had, with
six daus and four yr sons:
12/1j Richard (Sir), of Haddon; m Margaret, dau of Sir Robert
Dymake, and d 1517, leaving:
13/1k George (Sir) called 'King of the Peak', for his exten-
sive possessions, which included Heddon and 29 other
manors; m Margaret, dau by his 2nd w of Sir George
Talboys, of Kyme, Lincs, de jure 9th Lord (Baron) Kyme
(notional cr 24 June 1295) according to later doctrine,
and sis of 1st Lord (Baron) Talboys, and d 1567, leav-
ing:
14/1l Dorothy; m Sir John Manners, yr s of 1st Earl of
Rutland (see RUTLAND, D), taking Heddon to her
husb's family
14/2l Margaret; m Thomas Stanley, 2nd s of 2nd Earl of
Derby (qv), taking Tong Castle to her husb's family
13/1k Agnes; m (Sir?) John Cokeyne, of Ashbourne Hall
(see CULLEN OF ASHBOURNE, B)
11/2i Thomas; m. Anne, er dau and coheir of Sir John Ludlow,
of Stokesay and Hodnet, Salop, by Elizabeth, alleged by her
ggs Henry (see below) to be dau of Margaret Audley/Tuchet
dau of 5th Lord (Baron) Audley; see WAKE, BI) by Richard
Grey, 1st Lord Grey (of Powis) (see GREY, B), but quite
Possibly Margaret's dau by her 1st husb Sir Roger Vaughan,
and had:
12/1j Thomas, of Stokesey, Salop; d 1561, leaving, with
other issue (extinct in the male line 1666):
1k Henry; advanced 1584 a claim (alleged 1731 John
Kynaston, another much later claimant, to rest on
forged documentation) to the Barony of Grey (of Powis)
through his paternal gf's mother, styling himself Lord
Powis; dsp 1606
12/2j HUMPHREY
12/3j John (Sir); memb Cncl of Wales and the Marches, custos
rotulorum Derbys; m. Ellen, dau and coheir of Sir John
de Montgomerie, thus acquiring Sudbury, Derbys, and d 1545,
leaving:
13/1k Henry (Sir), of Sudbury; m. 1547 Margaret, dau and
coheir of Humphrey Swinnerton, of Swinnerton and Hilton
(see DYER, Bt), and d 1569, leaving with two daus:
14/1l. John; m. Mary, widow of his cousin Walter Vernon
(see below) and dau of Sir Edward Littleton (see
HATHERTON, B), and dsp 1600
14/2l Henry, of Hilton and Essington, Staffs; m. Dorothy,
dau of Sir Anthony Heveningham, and d 21 June
1592, leaving:
15/1m Margaret; b posthumously; m. her 3rd cousin Sir
Edward Vernon (see below)
12/1j Eleanor; m. Francis Curzon (see SCARSDALE, V)
The 2nd s,
HUMPHREY VERNON; m. Alice, yr dau of Sir John Ludlow (see above),
and d 1542, leaving, with other issues:
1/1. George, of Hodnet; m. Elizabeth, dau of Thomas Pigot, of Chetwynd, Salop,
and was bur 1553, leaving, with
an er s. (Richard, d young):
2/1. John, of Hodnet; b c 1546; m. 1564 Elizabeth, dau of Sir Richard Devereux
(see HEREFORD, V), and d 1592,
having had, with 13 other children:
3/1. Robert (Sir), KB; b 1577; Comptroller Household to ELIZABETH I;
m. Mary, sis of 1st Viscount
Kilmorey (see KILMOREY, E), and d 1625, leaving:
4/l. Sir Henry Vernon, 1st Bt (E),
so cr 23 July 1660; b c 1605; royalist Civil War, MP Salop 1660 and W Loon 1661-76; m. 1636 Elizabeth, dau of Sir Richard White, of The Friars, Anglesey, and d April 1676, leaving:
5/1. Sir Thomas Vernon , 2nd Bt, of Hodnet;
a Teller Exchequer; m. 1st 9
Sept 1675 Elizabeth (dsp, her 19 June 1676), dau of Thomas Cholmondeley (see
DELAMERE, B) and sis of his bro-in-law (see below); m. 2nd 30 June 1677 Mary,
dau of George Kirke and sis of Diana, Countess of Oxford (see Saint Albans, 0),
and d 5 Feb 1682/3, leaving by her, with two daus (d unm):
6/1. Sir Richard Vernon, 3rd and last Bt, of Hodnet;
b 22 June 1678 educ Ch.Ch. Oxford; Envoy to Augustus, King of Poland; d unm 1 Oct 1725 when the btcy expired.
5/2. Elizabeth m. 1675 Robert Cholmondeley and d 1685,
leaving:
6/1. Elizabeth m. John Atherton, of Atherton and Bewecy, Leics,
and had
7/1e Elizabeth, m. 1722 Thomas Heber, of Marton, Yorks, and had, with an er s
(Richard, dsp 1766);
1f Reginald; had, with two other sons and a dau:
8/1g Reginald (RI Rev); Bp Calcutta; had:
if Emily m. Algernon Charles Percy later Heber-Percy (see Northumberland, D),
whereby the Hodnet estate ultimately passed to the Heber-Percy's
1/2. Thomas; m. Helena dau of Ralph Shirley, and d 1556, leaving:
2/1. Walter, of Houndshill; b 1552; m. as her 1st husb
Mary Littleten (see above) and d
1592 leaving an only surv s:
3/1a Edward (Sir) b 1584 m. 1613 his cousin Margaret
(see above) and d 1657, leaving
with seven daus:
4/lb Sir HENRY VERNON
4/2b Edward of N Aston, Staffs; Col;
granted Clontarf Castle, Co Dublin; dspm
4/3b John; QMG English forces Ireland;
ancestor of the Vernon's of Clontarf Castle
4/4b Walter; d unm.
The est s:
m. Muriel, dau and heiress of Sir George Vernon, of Haslington, Judge Common
Pleas, and d 9 March 1657/8, having had, with four other sons (including two
who dsp and Henry, of Hilton, Staffs, b 1637, ancestor of the VERNONs of
Hilton Park, VERNONs of Harefield Park and VERNON-WENTWORTHs of Wentworth
Castle; also John, whose dau Penelope m. 1st Sir William Dukinfield and 2nd
John Astley):
1/1. GEORGE VERNON, of Sudbury
b 1635; MP Derby 1679-81 and 1698-1700;
m. 1st Margaret, dau of Edwin Onely, of Catesby, Northants, and
had a s. (dsp) and five daus; m. 2nd Dorothy, dau of 1st Earl Ferrers (qv., and
by her had two daus; m. 3rd Catherine, dau of Sir Thomas Vernon, of Twickenham
Park, Middx, London, merchant, and sis of 3rd w of 1st VISCOUNT HARCOURT OF
STANTON HARCOURT (see Lineage (of Harcourt below), and d 1702, leaving by her:
2/1. HENRY VERNON, of Sudbury; b c 1686; MP Co Stafford; m. 1st Anne (d April
1714), only dau and heiress of Thomas Pigot, of Chetwynd, Salop. (by Mary, sis
of Peter Venables, the last Baron of Kinderton, another of the Co Palatine of
Chester dignities already mentioned (see Shipbrooke and Wich-Malbank above),
though following the annexation of the Earldom of Cheater to the Crown by HENRY
III in 1265 their significance was purely vestigial), and had issue;
m. 2nd Matilda (dsp), dau of Thomas Wright, of Longstone, Derbys, and d. 25 Feb
1718/9, leaving an only s:
3/1. GEORGE VERNON later VENABLES-VERNON
(on inheriting the Venables
estate in Cheshire on the death 28 April 1715 without issue of his cousin Anne,
w of 2nd Earl of Abingdon (see LINDSEY and ABINGDON, E), Peter Venables's dau),
1st Lord Vernon, Baron of Kinderton, Co Chester (GB), so cr 12 May 1762; b 9 Feb
1709/10; MP (anti-Walpole Whig) Lichfield 1731-47 and Derby 1754-62;
m. 1st 21 June 1733 Mary (d 23 Feb 1739/40), dau and coheir of 6th Baron Howard
of Effingham (see EFFINGHAM E),
and had surv. issue:
4/1. GEORGE VENABLES-VERNON, 2nd Lord Vernon, Baron of Kinderton;
b 9 May 1735; educ Westminster and
Trin Hall Cambridge (MA); MP (Whig) Weobley 1757-61, Bramber 1762-68, and Glam
1768-80; m. 1st July 1757 Louisa Barbara (dsps 16/2/1786), dau of last Baron
MANSEL of Morgan (see MANSEL, Bt); m. 2nd 25 May 1786 Jane Georgiana (d31 May
1823), dau of William Fauquier, of Hanover, and d 18 June 1813, leaving by her:
5/1. Georgiana; m. 19 Sept 1809 3rd Baron Suffield (qv) and d 13 Sept 1824,
leaving issue
4/2. Mary; m. 5 Jan 1763 George ADAMS later ANSON (see LICHEIELD, B)
The 1st Baron m. 2nd 22 Dec 1741 Anne (dsp 22 Sept 1742), dau of Sir Thomas Lee, 3rd Bt, of Hartwell, Bucks (see 1826 edn.); m. 3rd 10 April 1744 Martha (d 8 April 1794), sis of 1st EARL HARCOURT OF STANTON HARCOURT (see Lineage of Harcourt) below), and d 21 Aug 1780, having by her had surv issue:
4/3. HENRY, 3rd Baron
4/4 Edward (Most Rev) VENABLES-VERNON later, VERNON-HARCOURT (roy licence 15
Jan 1831 on inheriting Harcourt estates 1830; offered a revived peerage
(presumably embodying the nane Harcourt) by the former PM the 2nd Earl Grey
(qv) 1838), PC; b 10 Oct 1757; OD, DCL, Preb Gloucester 1785-91, Bp Carlisle
1791-1807, Archbp York 1807-47; m. 5 F6b 1784 Lady Anne Leveson-Gower (d. 16
Nov 1832), 3rd dau of 1st Marquess of Stafford (see SUTHERLAND, D), and d 5 Feb
1847, having had, with another s (d young) and two daus (d unm):
2/1) George Granville VERNON-HARCOURT later HARCOURT of Nuneham Courtenay, Oxon;
b 6 Aug 1785; MP Lichfield
1806-31 and Oxon 1831-61; m. 1st 27 March 1815 Elizabeth (d 9 Sept 1838), est
dau of 2nd Earl of Lucan (qv), and had:
3/la Elizabeth Lavinia; m. 7 Jan 1835 6th Earl of Abingdon (see LINDSEY and
ABINGDON, E) and d 16 Oct 1858, having had issue:
2/1) (cont.) George HARCOURT m. 2nd 30 Sept 1847 Frances Elizabeth Anne
(m. 3rd 20 Jan 1863 1st and last Baron Carlingford (see 1898 edn) and d. 5 July 1879), widow of 7th Earl Waldegrave (qv) and dau of John Braham, a noted tenor), and d. 19 Dec 1861 without further issue
2/2) Leveson (Rev); b 1788; Chllr York; m 19 Aug 1815 Hon Caroline Mary Peachey
(d 16 July 1871), dau of 2nd Baron Selsey (see 1838 edn), and d 26 July 1860
2/3) William (Rev) VERNON-HARCOURT later HARCOURT; b June 1789; Canon York,
first Sec then Pres Br Assoc; m.
11 July 1824 Matilda Mary (d 19 Nov 1876), dau of Col William Gooch, and d 1
April 1871, leaving, with another dau (d unm);
3/1a Edward William, DL, of Nuneham Courtenay and Stanton Harcourt, Oxon;
b 26 June 1825; M~ Oxen 1878-86;
m. 26 June 1849 Lady Susan Harriet Holroyd (d 5 April 1894), only dau of 2nd
Earl of Sheffield (see STANLEY OF ALDERLEY, SHEFFIELD and, B), and d 19 Dec
1891, leaving;
4/1b Aubrey, JP, DL (Oxen), of Nuneham Park and Stanton Harcourt;
b 16 Aug 1852; High Sheriff Oxon 1894 and 1897; d unm 22 March 1904
4/1b Edith; m. 27 Oct 1875 12th Earl of Winchelsea
and 12th Earl of Nottingham (qv) and d 6 Jan 1944, leaving issue.
3/2a William George Granville (Sir), PC (1880), DL (Heats), of Nuneham
Courtenay, Stanton Harcourt and
Malwood, Lyndhurst, Hants; b 14 Oct 1827; MA Cantab; LLD, KC, MP Oxford
1868-80, Derby 1880-95 and Mon W 1895-1904, Sir-Gen 1873-74, ktd 1873, Home Sec
1880-85, Chllr Exchequer 1886 and 1892-95; m 1st 5 Nov 1859 Maria Theresa (d 1
Feb 1863), dau of Thomas Henry Lister (see CLARENDON, E), and had, with an er s
(d an infant);
4/1b LEWIS HARCOURT, 1st VISCOUNT HARCOURT, of Stanton Harcourt, Co Oxon,
so cr 3 Jan 1917, as also BARON
NUNEHAM, of Nunehem-Courteney, Co Oxon (both UK) PC (1905); b 31 Jan 1883; educ
Eton; Priv Sec to his f when Home Sec and Chllr, MP (Lib) Rossendale 1904-16,
First Commr Works 1905-10 and 1915-16, Sec State Colonies 1910-15; Ttstee Br
Museum, Nat Portrait Gallery, Wallace Collection and London Museum; Hon DCL
Oxen; m. 1 July 1899 Mary Ethel, GBE (1918), JP (Oxen), DGStJ, dau of Walter
Hayes Burns, of New York and N Mymms Park, Herts, and d 24 Feb 1922, having
had:
5/1c WILLIAM EDWARD HARCOURT, 2nd VISCOUNT HARCOURT, KCMG (1957), OBE
(1945, MBE 1943), DL (Oxen
1952); b 5 Oct 1908 (HM EDWARD VII stood sponsor); aduc Eton and Ch Ch Oxford
(BA 1930, MA 1954); 63rd (Oxen Yeo) Anti-Tank Regt RA and Staff WW II; Min (Ec)
Br Embassy Washington and Head UK Treasury Delegn US l954-57, UK Exec Dir IBRD
and IMF 1954-57, and Morgan Grenfell, chm; Legal and Gen Assur, Gresham Fire
and Accident Insur Soc, Gresham Life Assur and Br Cwlth Insur; Chm Tate's
London Museum 1961-; Hon Fell St Antony's Coll Oxford; m. 1st 1 June 1931
(divorce 1942) Hon Maud Elizabeth Grosvenor, dau of 4th Baron Ebury (qv), and
had;
6/1d *(Elizabeth) Ann (The Hon Mrs Gascoigne, The Manor House,
Stanton Harcourt, Oxon); b 17
Feb 1932; m. 19 Jan 1954 Crispin Gascoigne, only s of Maj-Gen Sir Julian
Alvary Gascoigne, KCMG, KCVO, CB, DSO (see NEWMAN, Bt, of Mamhead), and has;
7/1e *William Harcourt Crisp; b 22 Nov 1955;
m. 1980 Susan Alexandra, dau of
Aubrey Greville Williams, of E Grinstead, Wilts, and has;
8/1f *Julian Aubrey Harcourt; b 1984
8/2f *Frederick William; b 1986
8/3f *Ralph Edward; b 1989
7/1e *Elizabeth Laura; b 31 July 1958; m. *Peter Nicholas Offord,
est s of L R Offord, of London
N21, and has;
8/1f Nicholas Alvery Harcourt; b 1990
8/1f Venetia Vernee; b 1988
8/2f Cecily Katharine; b 1992
7/2e *Mary Ann; b 20 March 1961;
m. 1986 *Matthew Charles Louis
Crosby, only s of Dr Jack Lionel Crosby, of Stanhope, Co Durham, and has;
8/1f *Miles William Southe; b 1989
8/2f *George Crispin Ivo; b 1992
6/2d Penelope Mary; b 17 May 1933;
m. 14 Aug 1954 *Maj Anthony
David Motion, late 9th Queen's Roy Lancers, s of Maj Malcolm DavisMotion, and
has:
7/1e *Stephen Anthony; b 1 Aug 1967
6/2d (cont.) Maj and The Hon Mrs Motion also adopted; Georgina;
bapt 24 Oct 1965
6/3d Virginia; b 16 Jan1937; m. 14 June 1958 Julian Francis Wells,
S of Dr Arthur Quinton Wells, of
Shipton Manor, Oxen, and d 19-, leaving;
7/1e *Philip Vernon; b 29 Dec 1962
7/1e *Sonia Clara[iii];
b 21 July 1960 Married Mr Whalley
7/2e *a dau; b 11 Sept 1966
5/1c (cont.) The 2nd VISCOUNT m. 2nd 23 Jan 1946 Elizabeth Sonia
(d 30 Oct 1959), widow of Lionel Cyril Gibbs (see ALDENHAM and HUNSDON OF HUNSDON, B) and 2nd dau of Sir Harold Edward Snagge, KBE, and d 1979, when his peerage expired.
5/1c Doria Mary Therese; b 30 March 1900; m. 17 Nov 1924 6th Baron
Ashburton (qv) and d 1981, leaving issue:
5/2c Olivia Vernon; b S April 1902; educ LMH Oxford; Woman Bedchamber to
HM QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER 1951-61; V-Chm Govrs Roy Free Hosp 1951-61, Chm Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hosp 1945-84; m. 29 Oct 1923 Hon Godfrey John Arthur Murray Lyle Mulholland, MC, yst s of 2nd Baron Dunleath (qv), and d 1984, leaving issue
5/3c Barbara Vernon, OBE (1944); b 28 April 1905; Regal Adminr WVS N
Midland region WW II; m. 1st 25 July 1925 (divorce 1936) Robert Charles Horace Jenkinson (see JENKINSON,Bt); m. 2nd 26 Jan 1937 William James Baird (d 2 Feb 1961), of Elie, Fife, and d 19 May 1961
3/2a (cont.) Sir William Harcourt m. 2nd 2 Dec 1876 Elizabeth Cabot (d 1 April
1928), dau of Hon John Lothrap Motley, US Amb UK, and widow of Thomas Poynton Ives, of RI, USA, and d 1 Oct 1904, leaving by her;
4/2b Robert; h 7 May 1878; educ Eton and Trin Coll Cambridge; MP (Lib) Montrose Burghs 1908-18, PPS to Home Sec 1908, Lt
RNVR WW I, F/LI RAFVR WW Ii; m 26 July 191 1 Margorie Laura (d 4 Nov 1977),
only dau of William Samuel Cunard (see 1970 edn CUNARD, Bt), and d 8 Sept 1962,
leaving;
5/1c Mary Elizabeth (Mrs Ian Johnston, Malwood Walk, Minstead, Hants
S043 7GF); b 1922; late Flt
Offr WAAF; m 17 June 1950 *Cdr Ian Rochfort Johnston, RN, s of Capt Basil Lyall
Johnston, RN, of Shawford, Hants, and has:
6/1d Sarah Elizabeth (Mrs William Ziegler, Lords Oak Cottage,
Landford, Wilts SF5 2DW]; b 6 Dec 1956; m. 1979 William James Archer Ziegler (see BROWNLOW, B) and has issue.
6/2d Laura Catherine [Miss Laura Johnston,
8 Pembroke Gdns Cl, London W8 6HR]; d 16 March 1960
3/1a Cecilia Caroline; m. 18 Feb 1864 Adml Sir Edward Bridges Rice, KCB
(d 30 Oct 1902), of Dane Court, Kent, and d 17 Feb 1912, leaving issue
3/2a Selina Anne; m. 8 June 1854 Sir Warwick Charles Morehead, 3rd and
last Bt, of Trenant (d 17 March 1905), and dsp 14 Sept 1883
3/3a Mary Annabella; m. 24 April 1860 George de la Poel Beresford and
11 July 1917, leaving issue (see WATERFORD, M)
2/4) Frederick Edward; b 15 June 1790; Adml; m. 1829 Marcia (d 27 Dec 1808),
dau of Adml J R Delap Tollemache
(see TOLLEMACHE, B), and d 1 May 1883, leaving, with two daus (d unm): 3/1a
Augustus George, of Ryde, loW; b 24 Dec 1834; educ Balliol Coll Oxford (MA);
DSc Oxford, DCL Durham, LLD McGill U; FRS; m. 10 Sept 1872 Rachel Mary (d 24
June 1927), 2nd dau of 1st Baron Aberdare (qv), and d 23 Aug 1919, leaving:
4/lb Bernard Francis; h 23 Dec 1877; Maj Welsh Regt WW I; m. 1st 23 April
1912 Irene Margaret (d 19-), only child of Sydney Nicholls, of Bayswater; m. 2nd 11 June 1931 Mrs Elizabeth Sommerhoff (d 19-) and dsp 19 May 1959
4/2b Simon Evelyn b 19 Jan 1882; m. 3 Aug 1916 Dorothy Margaret, MBE (1948)
(d 1987) only child of Sir Robert
Arundell Hudson, and d 21 Feb 1986, having had:
5/1c Simon b 2 July 1917 d car crash 9 Oct 1941
5/2c Robert b 26 Dec 1918; educ Marlborough and Ch Ch Oxford
(BA 1938, MA 1968) Capt RTR WW II; m. 25 Sept 1948 *5ylvia Jeannette (Jane), only dau of Lt Col Charles Henry Kitching, OSO, of Fairhaze Cottage, Piltdown Sussex, and d 19-
5/1c Anne [Miss Vernon Harcourt, 60 Burton Court, London SW3];
b 11 July 1925
4/1b Mildred Edith; b 26 Sept 1874; edric Cambridge (MA); nurse ARRC France
and Italy WW I (despatches); d nom 14 Oct 1965
4/2b Mabel Frances; h 26 Sept 1874; educ Oxford High Sch and Girton Coll
Cambridge (MA); Headmistress Co High Sch for Girls Chelmsford; m. 28 Dec 1910 William Arthur Price (d 13 May 1954), s of Rev Bartholomew Price, Master Pembroke Coll Oxford, and d Oct 1965, leaving issue
4/3b Cecil Violet; b 17 Nov 1875; m. 25 June 1901 Nowell Charles Smith
(d 21 Jan 1961), Headmaster Sherborne 1909-27, er s of Horace Smith, of Beckenham, and d 24 Jan 1961, leaving issue.
4/4b Helen Dorothea; b 19 Nov 1876; m. 17 April 1900 Sir William Beach
Thomas, KBE (d 12 May 1957), 2nd s of Rev Daniel George Thomas, and d 4 Aug 1969, leaving issue.
4/5b Janet Isabel; b 3 June 1879; MA Dublin; Headmistress Runton Hill Sch,
W Runton, Norfolk; d unm 18 Feb 1966.
4/6b Doris Margaret; b 21 Aug
1883; d unm 15 Sept 1953
4/7b Winifred Rachel; b 17 Jan 1886; m. 4 Dec 1913 Herbert John Schiele
(d 1919), s of Edward C Schiele, of Argentina, and d 19-, having had issue.
4/8b Isabel Marcia; b 12 Aug 1887; m. 23 July 1919 (Cornelius) Jan Olivier
(d 24 March 1955)
3/2a Leveson Francis; b 25 Jan 1839; MA Oxon; MInstCE, Prof Civil Eng UCL
1882-1905, Emeritus Prof 1906,
Cdr Imp. Franz Josef Order Austria, m. 2 Aug 1870 Alice (d 28 Aug 1919), yr dau
of Lt-Col Henry Rowland Brandreth, RE, FRS, and d 14 Sept 1907, having had,
with another s (d young):
4/1b Leveson William; 6 15 Oct 1871; educ Oxford (BA); barrister;
m. 18 May 1899 Rose Adelaide (d 25
Sept 1959, having m. 2nd 31 Oct 1914 Matthew Liddell, of Stillington Hall,
Easingwold, who d l8 Jan 1934), est dau of Frederic Lawrence, of Caerleon, Mon,
and d 30 April 1909, leaving:
5/1c +WILLIAM RONALD DENIS, OBE (1947) (Col William Vernon-Harcourt OBE,
Quoin Cottage, Southwick Rd,
Denmead, Portsmouth, Hants P07 6LA); b posthumously 4 May 1909; heir
presumptive; educ Eton and Magdalene Coll Cambridge (BA 1930, MA); Col S Wales
Borderers (24th Regt) Burma WW II 1941-42 (despatches), CD Offr SE Hants,
1957-68; m. 29 May 1937 *Nancy Everit, only child of Lt-Col Bertram Henry
Leatham, D$O, Green Howards, and has;
6/1d +Anthony William [Anthony Vernon-Harcourt Esq, Monks Farm,
Debden Green, Saffron Walden,
Essex CB11 3LX); b 29 Oct 1939; educ Eton and Magdalene Coll Cambridge (BA
1960, MA 1966); m. 3 Dec 1966 Cherry Stanhope, er dau of Thomas James Corbin,
of Lime Tree House, Spaldwick, Hunts, and has:
7/le +Simon Anthony; b 24 Aug 1969
7/2e +Edward William; b 21 May 1973
7/3e +Oliver Thomas; b 15 Aug 1977
7/le *Charlotte Lucy [Miss Charlotte Vernon-Harcourt, 115 Howard
Rd, Leicester LE2 1XT]; b 12
Jan 1968; has by *Paul Kaye:
1f *Hector Thomas Vernon Kaye; b 20 April 1998
6/1d *Anne Dorothy [Mrs Peter Cobb, The Old School, Clanfield, Hants;
b 23 Sept 1945; m. 1st 30 Se p I
1967 (divorce 1974) Nicholas Guy William Bloxam, only s of Lt-Col Guy Cholmley
Bloxam, OBE, of Barwick Cottage, Lympne, Kent; m. 2nd *Peter George Cobb and
has by her 1st husb:
7/1e *Richard William; b 27 June 1971
7/2e David Vernon; b 3, March 1974
5/1c (Rose Mary) Dorothy: b 2 March 1900;
m 1st 5 Sept 1922 Hon Frederick Somerset Gough Calthorpe (d 19 Nov 1935) only s of 8th Baron Calthorpe (see 1970 edn), and had issue. m. 2nd 12 Aug 1949 Lt-Col Guy Alexander Ingram Drury, MC, Gren Grds, s of Theodore Seton Drury of London SW1 and d 19-
4/1b Evelyn Alice: b. 30 Dec 1876; m 6 Aug 1903 Arthur Clutton-Brock
(d. 8 Jan 1924), barrister, s of J A Clutton-Brock of Weybridge, and d. 28 July 1984, leaving issue
4/2b Violet Mary; b. 22 March 1881; m. 28 Jan 1933 John Pascoe Elsden
(d 14 April 1951) barrister, s of Charles William Eslden and had issue.
3/1a Jane: m. 18 April 1872 Rev Francis Digby Legard and d 22 March 1875,
leaving issue (see LEGARD Bt).
2/5) Henry; b 1791; Lt Col; m. 20 April 1835 Frances (d 15 Oct 1872), dau of 5th
Earl of Oxford and (Earl) Mortimer [see OXFORD AND ASQUITH, preliminary remarks, also 1853 edn] and dsp 28 Feb 1853.
2/6) Granville VERNON HARCOUT later HARCOURT VERNON, of Grove Hall, E Retford
otts; b. 28 July 1792 barrister, Chllr York Diocese; m 1st 22 Feb 1814 Frances Julia (d 5 Feb l844) dau and coheir of Anthony Hardolph Eyre of Grove Notts; m. 2nd 22 Nov 1845 Pyne Jesse Brand Trevor (d 3 March 1872) dau of 21st Lord (Baron) Dacre (qv) and widow of John Henry Cottrell, and d 8 Dec 1879, having by his 1st w had, with another s (d young):
3/1a Granville Edward; b. 23 Nov 1816; MP Newark; m. 23 Nov 1854 Lady Salina
Catherine Meade (m 2nd 8 July 1862 John Bidwell (d 22 Aug 1873) and 3rd 14 Aug 1880 Henry Arthur William Hervey, CB [d 31 May 1908], and d 20 Nov 1911), only dau of 3rd Earl of Clanwilliam (qv), and dsp 1 Feb 1861.
3/2a Evelyn Hardolph (Rev), of Grove Hall; b 30 Aug 1821; Preb Lincoln;
m. 19 April 1849 Jane Catherine
(d 15 May 1891), yst dau of Edward St John-Mildmay (see ST JOHN-MILDMAY, Bt),
and d 26 Jan 1890, having had, with another dau (d unm);
4/1b Edward Evelyn, JP, DL, of Grove Hall; b. 19 Jan 1853; CC, High Sheriff
Notts 1894, Capt Notts Yeo Coy; m.
1st 9 Sept 1879 Grace (d 9 March 1883), dau of Rev Alleyne FitzHerbert (see
FITZHERBERT, Bt), and had;
5/1c Hardolph Venables; b. 3 March, d 11 March 1883
4/1b (cont.) Edward Harcourt Vernon m. 2nd 22 Aug 1883 Frances Theresa
(d 20 Feb 1937), dau of Sir
William FitzHerbert, 4th Bt (qv), and d 16 May 1932, having by her had;
5/2c Granville Charles FitzHerbert, DSO (1916), OBE (1945), MC (1919), JP
Notts 1932 and Brecon 1939); b. 30 May 1891; educ Eton; Lt-Col Gren Gds WW I (wounded three times, despatches), WW II; m. 17 Oct 1925 Celine (d 12 April 1949), dau of M Van Hacks, of Brussels, and dsp 23 Feb 1974.
5/3c (Egerton) Gervase Edward, MC (1919); b. 13 July 1899; educ Eton;
Capt Gren Gds (SR), WWs I and
II; m. 29 June 1932 Norma [Mrs Gervase Harcourt-Vernon, Little Tudor, Cranbrook, Kent], dau of George William Hatherley, and d 14 Feb 1976, leaving;
6/1d *Anne Letitia; b. 23 Nov 1933; SRN, SCM
6/2d Pamela Teresa Marigold [Mrs Antony Cox, Wensley Hall,
nr Matlock, Derbys DE4 2LL]; b.
30 Jane 1938; educ Bedgebury Park, London U (BSc 1958) and Newnham Coll
Cambridge 1965); m. 1 July 1961 *Antony Dawson Cox, FRCP, FRCPsych, FRCPCH,
Emeritus Prof UMDS London U, s of William Ronald Cox, of Canterbury, and has;
7/1e Simon; b. 30 Oct 1962; m. 24 June 1989 *Antonia, dau of
Dr Edgar Feuchtwanger, of Dean,
Hants, and has;
8/1f George Lea Vernon; b. 6 Jan 1994
8/2f *Thomas Gerrard Kennedy; b. 31 Oct 1996
7/2e *Nicholas; b. 19 Jan 1964; m. 15 June 1996 Kitty,
dau of Adrian Secker, of Iver, Bucks
7/3e Hugo Francis; b. 34 June 1967
6/3d *Rosalind Elizabeth Ida [Mrs Christopher Howell, 36 Guards Club
Rd, Maidenhead, Berkshire 5L6
8BN]; b. 29 July 1942; educ Bedgebury Park and Bp Otter Coll Chichester; m. 6
Aug 1966 Christopher Howell, s of Albert Howell, of Highcliffe, Hants, and has;
7/1e Candida Justine; b. 1969
7/2e *Madeleine Theresa; b. 1977
5/1c Sybil Ida; b. 6 June 1884; d
unm 17 Jan 1954
5/2c Ida Beatrice; b. 26 Sept 1885; MSc, AIC; d unm 6 April 1973
5/3c Muriel Theresa; b. 13 June 1887; m. 5 April 1921 Walter Gordon
Duncan (d 10 Sept 1930), 2nd s of Walter Duncan, and d 22 Feb 1975
5/4c Evelyn Hermione; b. 27 May 1889; d unm 23 Aug 1943
4/2b Algernon Hardolph (Rev); b. 7 July 1858; Vicar Clocolan, S Africa,
Canon Bloemfontein Cathedral; m.
1st 1881 Kate (d 5 April 1883), dau of J Candler, and had:
5/1c Janet Kate; b. 27 March 1883; m. 7 Feb 1906 Capt Dugald Stewart
Gilkison, Scottish Rifles (ka 1914), and d 21 Aug 1969, leaving issue
4/2b (cont.) The Rev Algernon Harcourt Vernon m. 2nd 5 May 1886 Georgina
Marguerite (d 27 July 1951), dau of
John Martin, and d 15 Dec 1936, having had by her; 5/1c Granville Arthur; b.
1888; Natal Roy Carabiniers, RAF WW I, Special Serv WW II; m. 21 Feb 1928 Mrs
Mary Muriel Champion (nee Sutherland), of Larne, NI, and d 19 May 1964
5/2c Hardolph Evelyn; b. 1889; 2nd Rhodesians WW I; ka E Africa May 1915
5/1c Dorothy Margaret; b. 1887; d 19-
5/2c Marjorie Frances; b. 1891; m. 1924 Capt Ritchie Francis Henry Moffat
(d 16 Jan 1957), RAF and SAAF; d 19-
4/3b Walter Granville; b. 31 Dec 1880; Lt 4th Bn Sherwood Foresters; m. 1884
Helen Rebecca (d 1926), dau of J W
Traer, and d Nov 1937, leaving:
5/1c Evelyn Mends; b. 5 Nov 1882; d unm. 26 March 1943
4/4b Herbert Evelyn; b. 12 Jan 1863; Lt 4th Bn Sherwood Foresters; m. 14 Nov
1885 Mary Adelaide (d 11 July
1916), dau of Hon George W Allan, Senator Canada, and d. 17 Dec 1943, having
had:
5/1c Humphrey Bingham; b. 24 March 1889; d 3 May 1909
5/2c Arthur Arundell; b 12 Oct 1895; E Surrey Regt, RFC and RAF WW I,
RCAF WW II m 12 Sept 1929 (Alice) Margaret (d 1977), est dau of Rev Edward Cartwright Cayley (see CAYLEY, Bt), and d
June 1971, leaving:
6/1d +Granville Patrick (Granville Harcourt Vernon Esq, 57 Glengowan
Rd Toronto, Ont M4N 1G3 Canada);
b 15 Nov 1926; educ U of Toronto (BA) LLB QC m. 11 Sept 1954 Deborah Perry
Smith, dau of Walter Dent Smith of Toronto and Wilmington, Del., and has:
7/1e +Geoffrey William [Geoffrey Harcourt Vernon Esq, 20 Elmer
Ave, Toronto, Ont, Canada), b. 7 April 1958; BA Toronto, BLA Guelph; m. 1980 (divorce 1994) Cynthia Jane Gunn and has:
8/1f Caitlin Elizabeth; b 1988
8/2f Julia Robin; b 1991
7/1e Catherine (Mrs Robert Martin, 71 Rosedale Heights Drive,
Toronto, Ont, Canada); b 6 March 1956; BA Queen's. MBA Western Ontario; m. 1987 Robert Bruce McFarran Marlin and
has:
8/1f Richard; b. 1988
8/2f Stephen Taylor; b 1990
8/3f Scott Edward; b 1993
7/2e Susan Elizabeth [Mme Denis Pellerin, 22 his rue de Sevres,
92150 Suresnes, France]; b 13
Nov 1961; BSc Queen's, MBA INSEAD; m. 1992 Denis Pellerin and has:
8/1f Sarah Caroline, b 26 Feb 1996
6/2d +Hugh [Hugh Harcourt Vernon Esq, 176 Melnise Ave, Toronto M5M
1Z1 Canada]; b. 27 Sept 1930;
educ Toronto U (BA); m 1st 27 June 1953 Elizabeth Virginia Richardson, dau of
Harold Richard Forbes Richardson, DDS, of Toronto; m. 2nd 1978 Shirley Rose
Archer dau of Cecil Ernest Woodford, of Prestatyn, Clwyd, and formerly w of --
Archer, and has by his 1st w:
7/1e +Christopher Hugh; b 24 July 1956
7/1e Nancy Margaret; b 7 May 1960
7/2e *Tannis Elizabeth; b 21 Feb 1964
6/3d +John Anthony [John Harcourt Vernon Esq, 1565 Bigbay Point Rd,
RR#4 Barrie, Ont L4M 4S6, Canada]; b. 6 April 1938; educ York U (BA); m. 1975 Susan Elaine dau of Thomas
Tinniswood Vaulkhard, of Victoria, BC, and has:
7/le +Mark Nicholas; b. 1984
7/2e +Stephen Andrew; b. 1984
7/1e Maria Georgina; b. 1982
6/1d Joy [Mrs Joy Harcourt Vernon, 977 Highview Terrace, Nanaimo, BC
V9R 6K5, Canada]; b 5 Aug 1934; educ U of BC (BA, MSW)
6/2d *Rosemary [Mrs John Moorhead, Sussex Corner, New Brunswick
ROE 1RO, Canada]; b 29 Dec 1935;
educ U of Toronto (BA); m 4 June 1960 Rev John Francis Moorhead, Rector St
Paul's, Dauphin, Manitoba, s of Rt Rev William Henry Moorhead, and has:
7/1e Margaret Patricia; b 17 March 1961
7/2e Nancy Catherine; b 22 July 1967
7/3e Cynthia Mabel; b 1970
5/1c Marjorie Catherine; b 24 March 1892; d 10 Dec 1893
4/1b Mary Frances; in 24 April 1879 Rev Algernon Frederick Ebsworth
(d 22 Feb 1918), Rector W Tofts, Vicar Stanford, Norfolk, and d 7 Oct 1940, leaving issue.
4/2b Frances Jessie; Mother Superior St Michael's House, Bloemfontein,
SA; d 5 Sept 1938
4/3b Selina Jane; m. 6 Sept 1893 Paulet Bertram St John-Mildmay
(see ST JOHN-MILDMAY, Bt) and d July 1925
3/3a Henry Arthur; 8 July 1825;
Maj RA; d unm 12 Nov 1862
3/4a Charles Egerton; 8 13 June 1827; Capt RN; m. 25 July 1865 Louisa Anne, yst
dau of Capt Garth, RN, of Haines Hill, Berks, and d 14 May 1872, having had a dau (d. infant).
3/la Marianne Frances; m. 20 Sept 1843 Humphrey St John-Mildmay, MP, 6th s of
Sir Henry St John-Mildmay, 3rd Bt (qv), and d 13 Feb 1873, leaving issue.
2/7) Octavius Henry; b 26 Dec 1793; V-Adml; m. 22 Feb 1838 Anne Holwell (d 26
June 1879), dau of William Gater and widow of William Denby, of Swinton Park, Yorks, and d 14 Aug 1861.
2/8) Charles (Rev); 8 14 Nov 1798; Preb Carlisle; d unm 10 Dec
1870.
2/9) Francis, JP (Sussex), of St Clare, IoW, and Buxted Park, Sussex; b 6 Jan
1801; Col, Equerry to HRH THE DUCHESS OF KENT; m. 20 Nov 1817 Catherine Julia (d 5 Dec 1877), est dau of 3rd Earl of Liverpool (see JENKINSON, Bt), and dsp 21 April 1880.
2/10) Egerton, JP, DL, of St Clare and Whitwell; b 1801; m. 8 Dec 1859 Laura
(d 5 Feb 1889), dau of Sir William Milner, 4th Bt (qv), and d 19 Oct 1881.
2/1) Louise Augusta; m. 14 June 1825 Sir John Vaaden-Bempde-Johnstone, 2nd Bt, and
d 4 Aug 1869, leaving issue (see DERWENT, B)
2/2) Georgiana; m. 4 Dec 1846 Gen George Malcolm, CB (d 2 June 1888),
and dsp 29 Oct 1886.
1/2 Elizabeth; m. 26 Sept 1765 her cousin 2nd EARL HARCOURT OF STANTON HARCOURT
(see Lineage (of Harcourt) below) and dsp 25 Jan 1826.
The 2nd BARON's half-bro,
HENRY VENABLES-VERNON later SEDLEY (roy licence 19 March 1779) later
VENABLES-VERNON again (on inheriting the title 18 June 1811), 3rd Lord Vernon,
Baron of Kinderton; b 17 April 1747; educ Westminster; Groom Bedchamber
1770-1809; m. 1st 14 Feb 1779 Elizabeth Rebecca Anne Nash alias Sedley (d 16
Aug 1791), illegitimate dau and heiress of Sir Charles Sedley, 2nd and last Bt,
of Nuthall, Notts, and had:
1/1 GEORGE CHARLES, 4th Baron
1/1 Catherine; d 29 April 1867 aged 85
1/2 Louisa Henrietta; m. 4 Nov 1816 Rev Brooks Boothby (see BOOTHBY, Bt) and
d 6 March 1861, leaving issue
The 3rd Baron m. 2nd, 29 Nov 1795 Alice Lucy (d 1 Aug 1827), dau of Sir John Whiteforce, 3rd Bt, and d 27 March 1829, leaving by her:
1/2. Henry; b 1796; Lt-Col Gren Gds; m. 29 Aug 1822 Eliza Grace, dau of Edward Coke,
of Longford Court, Derbys (see LEICESTER, E), and d 12 Dec
1845, leaving, with a dau (d unm.):
2/1) Edward Henry; b 5 July 1823; LI RN; m. 21 Jan 1851 Louisa Sophia
Charlotte (d 1895), dau of Ven J
C de Joux, Archdeacon Mauritius, and d 7 Jan 1856, leaving:
3/1a William Henry (Sir), KBE (1921); b. 1 Jan 1852; Sir-Gen Jersey 1880,
Attorney-Gen 1884, Cdr. Roy CI Yacht Club, Bailiff and Pres Roy Court and States of Jersey 1899-1931, ktd 1903, Hon LLD U of Caen 1923; m. 18 Dec 1880 Julia Matilda (d. 5 March 1954), only child of Philip Gossat, of Bagot Manor, Jersey, and d 23 Jan 1934
1/3. John (Rev); b 8 March 1798; Rector Nuthall and Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Notts; m.
1st 24 Nov 1830 Frances Barbara (d 7 Dec 1848), 2nd dau of Thomas Duncombe (see FEVERSHAM, B); m. 2nd 15 Dec 1853 Carolina (d 17 July 1894), yr dau of Gen Hon Sir Edward Paget, GCB (see ANGLESEY, M), and d 11 Dec 1875, having by his 1st w had: 2/1) Frederick; b 8 Oct 1834; d 20 March 1835
The 3rd BARON's est s,
GEORGE CHARLES SEDLEY later VENABLES-VERNON, 4th Lord Vernon, Baron of
Kinderton; b 4 Dec 1779; educ Westminster; Capt 2nd Foot Gds (Coldstream Gds);
m. 5 Aug 1802 Frances Maria (took by roy licence 28 June 1828 the name WARREN
only under terms of will of Dowager Viscountess Bulkeley of Cashel (nee
Warren) and s to the Poynton estate, Cheshire; d 17 Sept 1837), only dau and
heiress of Adml Sir John Borlase Warren, Bt, GCB, PC, and d 18 Nov 1835,
leaving:
GEORGE JOHN VENABLES-VERNON later WARREN (roy licence 14 Oct 1837), 5th Lord
Vernon, Baron of Kinderton; b 22 June 1803; educ Eton and Ch Ch Oxford; MP
(Whig) Derbys 1831-32 and S Derbys 1832-34; m. 1st 30 Oct 1824 Isabella
Caroline (d 14 Oct 1853), est dau of Cuthbert Ellison, JP, DL of Hebburn, Co
Durham; m. 2nd 14 Dec 1859 his cousin Frances Maria Emma (m 2nd 19 July 1881
Rev Charles Martyn Reed and d 29 May 1907), only dau of Rev Brooke Boothby (see
above), and d 31 May 1886, having by his 1st w had, with another s (d an
infant):
1/1. AUGUSTUS HENRY, 6th Baron
1/2. William John VENABLES-VERNON later BORLASE-WARREN-VENABLES-VERNON, JP
(Derbys and
Staffs), DL (Staffs); b 1 April 1834; Arcsdemico Corrispondonte
della Crusca Florence, Socio Corrispondente del Reale Institoto Lombardo di Scienza
e Letteratura Milan, Commendatore Order Crown Italy, Cav Order SS. Maurce and
Lazarus Italy, Kt Roy Order St Olaf Norway; m. 1st 8 May 1855 Agnes Lucy (d 30
Sept 1881), 3rd dau of Sir John Peter Boileau, 1st Bt (qv), and had:
2/1) Reginald William; 8 27 Jan 1858; m. 20 May 1879 Edith Georgiana Cowper
(m. 2nd 7 March 1918 0 J
Dower-Murray), est dau of William Smith Cowper Cooper, of Toddington Manor,
Beds, and d 26 April 1912, leaving:
3/1a Agnes Ida; b 16 Jan 1882; d unm 19-
3/2a Mabel Eveline; b 17 Feb 1883; m. 17 Feb 1909 Frank Southby Walker
1/2 (cont.) William Borlase-Warren-Venables-Vernon, 2nd 25 Feb 1884 Annie Georgiana
(d 8 Aug 1933), dau of Charles Eyre, of Welford, Berks, and d
12 Nov 1919, having by her had:
2/2) Arnold; b 18 Oct 1887; Midshipman RN; d 19 June 1906
2/1) Mary Anne Alice; b 23 March 1885; m. 3 Dec 1909 (divorce 1935) Col
Frederic
Ernest Wilson, IMS, s of Maj Wilson, Scots Grays, and d 23 May 1957, leaving issue
1/1 Caroline Maria; in 7 May 1845 Rev Frederick Anson (see LICHFIELD, E) and
d 20 Aug 1918 aged 92, leaving issue.
1/2 Adelaide Louisa; in 12 June 1855 Adm Sir Reginald John Macdonald, KCB, KCSI, 20th
of Clanranald (d 15 Dec 1899), and d 27 April 1913, leaving issue.
1/3 Louisa Warren; m. 16 April 1873 Rev Thomas Parry Garnier (d 18 March 1898),
Rector Cranworth with Lotion and Southburgh, Norfolk, Hon Canon Norwich, and d 1894, leaving issue
The 5th BARON's est s,
AUGUSTUS HENRY VENABLES-VERNON, 6th Lord Vernon, Baron of Kinderton; b 1 Feb
1829; educ Magdalene Coll Cambridge; Capt Scots Fus Gds; Pres Roy Ag Soc; m. 7
June 1851 Lady Harriet Anson (d 15 Feb 1898), 3rd dau of 1st Earl of Lichfield.
(qv), and d 1 May 1883, having had, with two other sons and another dau (d m.
infancy):
1/1. GEORGE WILLIAM HENRY, 7th Baron
1/2. William Frederick Cuthbert; b 18 July 1856; in 17 April 1884 Louisa, 3rd
dau of
Brig-Gen D M Frost, US Army, of St Louis, Ma., and d 2 Aug
1913, having had, with two daus (d in infancy):
2/1) Richard Henry; b 27 Jan 1885; d 9 April 1921
2/2) William Walter; b 22 April 1890; 2nd Lt RE, S Staffs Regt; ka 11 Oct 1916
1/1. Diana; b 22 Feb 1852; m. 4 May 1896 Charles Edmund Newton, DL (d 2 July 1908), of
Mickleover Manor, Derbys, and d 22 July 1920.1/2. Mildred; b. 8 Feb 1853; m. 2 Nov 1878 Hon Henry Augustus Stanhope, of Ashe Warren, Overton, Hants, 3rd s of 5th Earl Stanhope (see 1967 edn CHESTERFIELD and STANHOPE, E), and d 18 March 1915, leaving issue.
1/3. Margaret; b 15 May 1865; m. 4 Aug 1887 Rev Frederick Tufnell (d 28 Feb 1920), 3rd
s of Edward Carleton Tufnell, barrister, and d 27 Dec 1888, leaving issue.
1/4. Alice; b 13 Feb 1868; m. 1 Feb 1896 Rev Somerset Carry Lowry (d 29 Jan 1932)
and d 2 Oct 1933, leaving issue.
1/5 Adele; b 12 Oct 1870; m. 9 April 1896 R-Adml Algernon Horatio Anson and
d 1 Jan 1931, leaving issue (see ANSON, Bt).
The 6th BARON's est s,
GEORGE WILLIAM HENRY VENABLES-VERNON, 7th Lord Vernon, Baron of Kinderton, PC
(1892); b 25 Feb 1854; educ Eton; Lt Scots Gds, Capt 12th Lancers and Hon Corps
Gentlemen-at-Arms 1892-94, memb Roy Commn Ag 1893-94, V-Chm Assoc Chambers
Commerce; m.14 July 1885 Frances Margaret.
Appendix 1: HC VERNON and MASONS:
PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF STAFFORDSHIRE
PREFACE
In writing up the history of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Staffordshire from
1850 onwards, I must record my grateful thanks particularly to Mr. Richard
Leveson Vernon, a great grandson of Henry Charles Vernon for the loan of the
latter's Masonic diary for the year 1848. This is in a particularly good state
of preservation and was not only a great help to me but gave a clear indication
of E. Comp. H.C. Vernon's very busy Masonic life, particularly as in those days
travelling was no sinecure. I also acknowledge the help given to me by E.
Comp. J.M. Hamill, the Librarian of the United Grand Lodge and other
Companions, not only of the Province but of others, amongst whom were E. Comp.
A.G.J. Mickleburgh the Grand Superintendent of Bristol and the Staffordshire
Provincial Grand Scribe E, E. Comp. S.C. Loweth. Perhaps I have dwelt too much
on the first Grand Superintendent but he was the one who was responsible for
the foundation of Staffordshire Provincial Grand Chapter.
HENRY CHARLES VERNON
1850-53
The first Grand Superintendent of the Province of Staffordshire was Henry Charles
Vernon who resided at Hilton Park, Shareshill, near Wolverhampton and was
descended from a family with military and naval connections. One of his
ancestors being Admiral Vernon, well known as 'Grog' Vernon, who served this
country with great distinction and was actively engaged in the Battle of
Portobello in 1739. His father was Henry Charles Edward Vernon, a Crimean
veteran and a Major General in the 10th Light Dragoons, who was initiated on
the 19th January 1802 in the Lodge of Harmony (now 255) Richmond Surrey when he
was a Captain. It is interesting to note that in 1800 he assumed the surname
Graham by Royal Licence on inheriting maternal property, and therefore was
initiated as H.C.E. Vernon Graham, as was his son, Henry Charles but in 1838 the
family discontinued to use the surname Graham.
Our first Grand Superintendent was born on the 9th January 1805 and died on the
26th February 1886. Apart from his Masonic activities he was a Justice of the
Peace, a Deputy Lieutenant and was appointed High Sheriff of Staffordshire in
1867. He had a second residence in Malvern, Worcestershire which explains his
close connections with that Province. The family no longer reside at Hilton
Park but it is of some interest that when our present Provincial Grand Master,
W. Bro. Stanley Barrington, was looking for likely sites for the Major Wilson
Keys Memorial Fund, this house was considered. Unfortunately because of certain
restrictions, negotiations could not proceed. The family at that time owned
considerable land and also an interest in coal minerals. In the nearby Church
at Shareshill there are plaques of bequests made by the family and a stained
glass window as a memorial to H.C. Vernon, the son of the Grand Superintendent
who died at the early age of 26.
2
On the l1th March 1828 he married Katherine, daughter of Richard Bryce
Williams, Esq., of Cardiff and it could be that his Masonic interest in Bristol
was in some way connected with his in-laws, for he was initiated on the 13th
April 1831 in the Royal Sussex Lodge of Hospitality No. 221 (now 187) Bristol,
passed on the 11th May 1831 and raised on the 8th May 1833 in the same Lodge.
In 1835 he became a joining member of the Clarence Lodge of Mariners No. 81
Bristo1 and also of the Moira Lodge No. 408 Bristol, occupying the Worshipful
Master's Chair in both Lodges in 1835 and 1836 respectively.
I am indebted to E. Comp. Mickleburgh for an extract from the Minutes of Moira
Lodge of the 26th July 1836, which states that the Worshipful Master (Bro.
R.B. Callender) informed the Lodge that having been elected Master in the year
1831 and no Brother having since been elected to that office, he could not
consistently with the Constitutions remain in the Chair; but this not being
the time by the bye-laws for the election of Officers, he thought the brethren
could not at present proceed to such an election. He therefore begged to move
that Bro. H.C. Vernon Graham being the W.M. of a Warranted Lodge be requested
to take the Chair until the time appointed for the election of a Worshipful
Master. This was seconded by a Brother Burroughs and carried unanimously.
Brother Graham was immediately conducted into the Chair". On the 5th
October 1834 he also became a joining member of St. Peter's Lodge No.607 (now
419) Wolverhampton. On the 3rd April 1848 he also became a joining member of
the Lodge of Light, Warwickshire No. 689 (now 468), but had resigned by the end
of 1851. He was appointed Provincial Senior Grand Warden of Staffordshire in
1835, and in 1847 was installed as Deputy Provincial Grand Master of the
Province, an office which he held until he resigned in 1853. In 1848 he was
appointed a Senior Grand Warden of the United Grand Lodge of Eng1and and two
years later, as well as being he Deputy Grand Master of Staffordshire he was
installed as the Provincial Grand Master of Worcestershire under Patent dated
20th June 1850 an office he held until 1863.
In Royal Arch Masonry he was exalted on the 5th June 1834 into the Chapter of
Charity No. 221 (now 187) Bristol and became a joining member of St. Peter's
Chapter No. 607 (now 419) Wolverhampton in 1846 and of the Sutherland Chapter
No. 660 Burslem (now defunct) in 1847. He was installed as 3rd Principal of
the latter Chapter in 1848 and presumably proceeded through the Chairs, that is
if that Chapter had not ceased to meet soon afterwards. He was appointed First
Assistant Grand Sojourner in 1848 and in 1849 was designated by Supreme Grand
Chapter as the M.E. Grand Superintendent of Staffordshire, a position he held for
four years. When he resigned as Grand Superintendent of Staffordshire in 1853,
he was appointed M.E. Grand Superintendent of Worcestershire, a position he
held until 1866.
-3
part from his interest in the Craft and the Royal Arch he had connections in
other Masonic Orders. In the Ancient and Accepted Rite he was Perfected on the
24th of August 1855 in St. Peter and St. Paul Chapter (now No.6) and promoted
to the 30° on 31st October 1855, to the 31° on 14th October 1856 to the 32° on
the 13th October 1857 and was elected to the 33° in 1860, becoming a Grand
Captain General in 1861, a position which he held until 1868. In the same year
he was appointed Grand Secretary General and in 1862 appointed Grand Treasurer
General and in 1869 Lieutenant Grand Commander which he resigned in 1871.
In the Knights Templar he was installed into Beauceant Preceptory and on the
Consecration of Godefroi de Bouillon Preceptory in 1853 he was installed as its
first Preceptor by his brother George Augustus Vernon. He was appointed Second
Great Captain in l854. It is recorded by V. Em. Kt. John Francis Moxon in his
history of the Province of Staffordshire and Shropshire of the Religious and
Military Order of the Temple, that at the Consecration of Richard de Vernon
Preceptory in 1857, Charles Henry Vernon became Provincial Prior or Provincial
Grand Commander of Worcestershire, which office he held until 1886.
The first Meeting of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Staffordshire was held on
the 21st May 1850 at the Castle Hotel, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire
under the Banner of the Chapter of Perseverance No. 674. This Hotel which was
situated in High Street, Newcastle is now a Supermarket and has been since
about 1975, although the facade has been retained as it was a listed building.
A copy of the original Minutes are as follows:
The circumstances in which E. Comp. H.C. Vernon was designated as first M.E.
Grand Superintendent is not clear but it is assumed that as he was the Deputy
Provincial Grand Master of the Province and a very active Mason that he was the
obvious choice for that office. One can only conjecture the reason for holding
the Meeting at Newcastle-under-Lyme instead of under the Banner of St. Peter's
Chapter, Wolverhampton which was much nearer to Hilton Park. There are two
explanations, the first one being that in 1849 a Provincial Grand Lodge Meeting
was cancelled at Wolverhampton and held at Newcastle-under-Lyme because of the
cholera plague which had then struck Wolverhampton and its districts resulting
in the death of 1500 and it being thought not wise to hold the Meeting at Wolverhampton. On the other hand it could be because he was a member of the Sutherland
Chapter which met at the Castle Hotel, Newcastle and he preferred to hold the
Meeting under the Banner of the Chapter where he had or was occupying one of
the Chairs.
Fortunately all the Minute Books since 1850 have been preserved and are in the
possession of the Provincial Grand Chapter. The Minutes of the first Meeting
are beautifully written but unfortunately, apart from Comp. G.A. Vernon, no
initials of the Companions are recorded nor are the numbers of the Chapters.
However I am indebted to E. Comp. Hamill for a copy of the Freemasons Quarterly
Review for June 1850 which gives a full list of the Officers appointed.
Appendix 2: Vernon Trees
Jennie's family trees
Entries: 14227 Updated: Mon Jun 17 15:19:09
2002 Contact: Jennie Macfie jenniesmail@uk2.net
Most info given here comes from Burkes Landed Gentry 1863, Burkes Peerage 1891,
Armorial Families 1910, notes from family conversations, emails from relations
Index | Individual | Register | Download GEDCOM
1 Edward VERNON b: 14 DEC 1584 d: 16 JUN 1657
+ Margaret VERNON
2 Mary Catherine Grace Elizabeth VERNON
2 Anne VERNON
+ George HARPER
2 John VERNON d: 13 MAR 1670
+ Anne HUISH
3 John VERNON
+ Elizabeth WALWYN
3 Edward VERNON
+ Lettice BANKES
4 John VERNON
+ Dorothea GRAHN
5 George VERNON d: XXX 1786
+ Elizabeth SCIENCE
5 Edward VERNON
+ Caroline Catherine YEATES
5 Charlotte VERNON
+ Thomas WRIGHT
4 Edward VERNON d: 1765
4 Catherine VERNON
+ YEATES
5 Caroline Catherine YEATES
+ Edward VERNON
3 Mary VERNON
3 Elizabeth VERNON
2 Edward VERNON
+ GULDEFORD
3 Elizabeth VERNON
3 Mary VERNON
2 Henry VERNON
+ Maud (Muriel) VERNON
3 Henry VERNON b: 1636
+ Margaret LADKINS b: XXX 1639 d: 1699
4 Henry VERNON b: 1663 d: 24 JUL 1732
+ Penelope PHILLIPS b: XXX 1697 d: 25 JAN 1726
5 Henry VERNON b: 13 SEP 1718
+ Henrietta WENTWORTH b: XXX 1720 d: 12 APR 1786
6 Anne VERNON b: XXX 1744 d: 23 MAR 1797
+ BERWICK
6 Henrietta VERNON b: XXX 1745 d: 1828
+ Richard GROSVENOR
+ George PORTER
6 Lucy VERNON b: XXX 1746 d: 1783
6 Henry VERNON b: 21 MAR 1748 d: 21 OCT 1814
+ Penelope GRAHAM
7 Henry Charles Edward VERNON-GRAHAM b: 28SEP1779 d:22MAR1861
+ Maria COOK b: XXX 1784 d: 3 OCT 1827
8 Emma Penelope VERNON
8 Henry Charles VERNON b: 9 JAN 1805
+ Catherine WILLIAMS
9 Maria VERNON
9 Catherine VERNON
9 Henry VERNON b: 16 DEC 1828 d: 19 FEB 1855
9 Augustus William VERNON b: 15 JUN 1834 d: 6 AUG 1834
9 Augustus Levison VERNON b: 30 SEP 1836
9 Frederick Wentworth VERNON b: 8 JAN 1839
9 William George VERNON b: 8 APR 1840
9 Edward VERNON b: 16 JAN 1844
8 William Frederick VERNON b: 7 NOV 1807
+ Elizabeth SHUTTLEWORTH d: 3 MAR 1853
8 George Augustus VERNON b: 31 MAY 1811
+ Louisa Jane Frances CATOR
9 Edith Henrietta Sophia VERNON
9 Louisa Jane VERNON
9 Lizzie VERNON
9 Mary VERNON
9 Muriel Isabel VERNON
9 George Edward VERNON b: 8 NOV 1843
9 Bertie Wentworth VERNON b: 26 OCT 1846
9 Herbert Charles Erskine VERNON b: 28 SEP 1851
+ Margaret FISHER
7 Frederick William Thomas VERNON-WENTWORTH b: 20 SEP 1795
+ Augusta BRUDENELL-BRUCE
8 Louisa Mary Henrietta VERNON-WENTWORTH
8 Henrietta Frances Elizabeth VERNON-WENTWORTH
+ THELLUSSON
8 Thomas Frederick Charles VERNON-WENTWORTH b: 20 OCT 1831
+ Harriet DE BURGH
9 Harriet VERNON-WENTWORTH
9 Augusta VERNON-WENTWORTH d: 1861
9 VERNON-WENTWORTH b: 1 JAN 1863
7 George Augustus Frederick VERNON b: NOV 1798 d: 1815
6 William VERNON b: XXX 1749 d: JUN 1775
6 Caroline VERNON b: 1751 d: 1829
6 Jane VERNON b: XXX 1752 d: 1805
6 Levison VERNON b: XXX 1753 d: 21 SEP 1831
5 Thomas Phillips VERNON b: 20 NOV 1719 d: 1755
5 John VERNON b: 20 JAN 1720 d: 16 MAY 1747
5 Edward VERNON b: 1721 d: 1794
5 Penelope VERNON b: 6 JUN 1722
+ William Duckenfield DANIEL
5 Elizabeth VERNON b: 17 JAN 1724 d: 28 JAN 1726
5 Richard VERNON b: 18 JUN 1726 d: XXX
+ Evelyn LEVESON
6 Henrietta VERNON
+ George BROKE
4 Edward VERNON b: 28 DEC 1665 d: 1742
5 James VERNON
+ Lydia PURNELL
6 Elizabeth VERNON
+ Thomas DU PONT
6 Louisa VERNON
+ William MACKINNON
6 Caroline VERNON
+ John DEWAR
4 George VERNON b: 15 AUG 1667 d: XXX
4 Thomas VERNON b: 1674 d: 4 APR 1742
Entries: 14227 Updated: Mon Jun
17 15:19:09 2002 
Most info given here comes from Burkes Landed Gentry 1863, Burkes Peerage 1891, Armorial Families 1910, notes from family conversations, emails from relations
Index | Individual | Ahnentafel | Download GEDCOM
Display pedigree in table format
/Edward VERNON b:14/12/1584
d: 16 JUN 1657
/Henry VERNON
| | /Henry VERNON
| \Margaret VERNON
/Henry VERNON b: 1636
| | /George VERNON
| \Maud (Muriel) VERNON
/Henry VERNON b: 1663 d: 24 JUL 1732
| | /William LADKINS
| \Margaret LADKINS b: XXX 1639 d: 1699
/Henry VERNON b: 13 SEP 1718
| | /Robert PHILLIPS
| \Penelope PHILLIPS b: XXX 1697 d: 25 JAN 1726
/Henry VERNON b: 21 MAR 1748 d: 21 OCT 1814
| | /William WENTWORTH d: 1614
| | /William WENTWORTH b: XXX 1594
| | | \Anne ATKINS
| | /William WENTWORTH
| | | | /Thomas SAVILE
| | | \Elizabeth SAVILE
| | /Thomas WENTWORTH d: 15 NOV 1739
| | | | /Allan APSLEY
| | | \Isabella APSLEY
| \Henrietta WENTWORTH b: XXX 1720 d: 12 APR 1786
| | /Henry JOHNSON
| \Anne JOHNSON d: 19 SEP 1754
/Henry Charles Edward VERNON -GRAHAM b: 28 SEP 1779 d: 22 MAR 1861
| | /Arthur GRAHAM
| \Penelope GRAHAM
/Henry Charles VERNON b: 9 JAN 1805
| | /John COOKE
| | /George COOKE b: 1676 d: 1741
| | /George COOK b: XXX 1710 d: 1768
| | | | /Edward JENNINGS
| | | \Anne JENNINGS b: 1681 d: 1736
| | /George John COOK b: XXX 1735 d: 1784
| | | | /Thomas TWYSDEN
| | | \Catherine TWYSDEN d: 1765
| | | | /Francis WITHERS
| | | \Catherine WITHERS
| \Maria COOK b: XXX 1784 d: 3 OCT 1827
| | /William BOWYER
| \Penelope BOWYER b: XXX 1745 d: 1821
Augustus Levison VERNON b: 30 SEP 1836
| /Richard WILLIAMS
\Catherine WILLIAMS
Appendix 3: Atcherley Family
Armorial Families:
Sons of Francis Topping Atcherley, Lt Col 35th Regt, by his wife Emma Arabella, dau of Francis Harris Heward of Toronto.
1. Richard Topping Beverley Atcherley, gent, b 1866. M. Caroline May dau of William Wynne Ffoukes:
Issue: Mary Elizabeth Hope & Hester Mary.
2. Major General Sir Llewellyn William Atcherley, Kt Bach 1925, CMG, MVO, Col late RASC. Maj Gen 1918. Controlle of Salvage at War Office 1917. M. 1897 Eleanor Francis dau of Richard Micklethwaite JP DL. Res Fulford Villa, Fulford, York.
Issue:
2/1. David Francis William Atcherley, RAF , 12/1/1904.
2/2. Richard Llewellyn Roger Atcherley, RAF., 12/1/1904.
Ancestry.com:
David Francis Atcherley, born West House, Buxton,
died Marton Hall, Salop, 1887
Married: Caroline Frances Amhurst Stacey, b Kent.
Dau of Courtney Stacey (b. 10/10/1789, Sanding Place, Maidstone)
& Charlotte Daniel-Thyssen (b.12/7/1800, Rochester)
CFS died 1898.
Issue Rosamund Minnie Margaret Atcherley, married E. France-Hayhurst.
David Francis Atcherley appointed by the Bishop of Durham Attorney General 29/1/1835.
Air Vice Marshal D F W Atcherley
David Francis William b: 12 Jan 1904 d: 8 Jun 1952
CB - 1950, CBE - 1946, DSO - 1944, DFC - 1942.
(Army) - 2 Lt: xx xxx 1924, Lt: xx xxx xxxx.
(RAF) Fg Off: 19 Mar 1927, Flt Lt: 5 Nov 1930, Sqn Ldr:: 1 Feb 1937, Act Wg Cdr: xx xxx 1939, (T) Wg Cdr: 1 Mar 1940, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Mar 1942, Act A/Cdre: 14 Jul 1944?, Gp Capt (WS): 14 Dec 1944, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1946, A/Cdre: 1 Jul 1947, AVM: 1 Jul 1950,
xx xxx 1922: Attended Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.
xx xxx 1924: Officer, East Lancashire Regiment.
19 Mar 1927: U/T Pilot, No 5 FTS.
20 Feb 1928: Pilot, No 2 Sqn.
xx xxx xxxx: QFI Course, Central Flying School.
xx xxx xxxx: Pilot/QFI, 'D' Flight, Central Flying School.
5 Aug 1930: QFI, RAF College - Cranwell.
16 Oct 1931: Flight Commander, No 28 Sqn.
29 May 1933: Flight Commander, No 20 Sqn.
21 Jan 1936: Attended RAF Staff College.
2 Jan 1937: Air Staff, HQ No 16 (Reconnaissance) Group.
27 Sep 1938: Officer Commanding, No 85 Sqn. (Hurricane)
xx Jan 1940: Staff, HQ No 60 (Fighter) Wing, Air Component of the BEF.?
xx May 1940: Officer Commanding, No 253 Sqn.
xx Jun 1940?: Officer Commanding, RAF Castletown.
xx Feb 1941: Officer Commanding, No 25 Sqn. (Beaufighters, Wittering)
xx xxx 1941: Officer Commanding, RAF Hawarden.
xx xxx 1942: Officer Commanding, RAF Fairwood Common.
xx xxx 1942: Officer Commanding, No 323 Wing?, DAF.
8 Oct 1943: SASO, HQ No 2 Group.
xx Dec 1945: AOC, No 48 Group.
15 May 1946?: AOC, No 47 Group.
xx Oct 1946: Director of Air Support and Transport Operations.
xx xxx 1948: Commandant, Central Fighter Establishment.
21 Jan 1950: SASO, HQ Fighter Command.
xx Feb 1952: AOC, No 205 Group.
David Atcherley and his identical twin brother, Richard,
become a legend in the RAF. Their father was an Army officer, who took up
ballooning before the first world war and would eventually rise to the rank of
Major-General. Rejected for RAF service on medical grounds he entered the Sandhurst instead. His wish to fly was achieved after a couple of years in the Army, when
he was accepted for secondment to the RAF. Proving to be as excellent a pilot
as his brother he was able to have his secondment converted into a permanent
transfer. Whilst at the Central Flying School, Wittering, he and a fellow
pilot were detailed to fly two airmen to Halton to participate in a tennis
tournament. for the return flight, David made a typical Atcherley suggestion,
that they see who could perform the most slow rolls between Halton and
Wittering. Having completed over 100 in the 65 mile journey, he won
comfortably but on arriving back at Wittering, their aircraft where covered in
a film of oil thrown out by the gyrations of their flight. Their flight
commander, Basil Embry, then pointed out to them the AOC was due to make an
inspection the following day and that their aircraft had better be clean by
then. Setting about the job themselves, they gracefully cleaned their aircraft
and the following day had the two cleanest aircraft on display.
One of the units based at Castletown at the time was No 801 Squadron FAA and
when they where detailed to carry out deck landing practice, he decided to pay
his respects to the Captain of the carrier. Landing unannounced, he made a
successful landing but promptly disappeared down an open lift shift, wrecking
his aircraft but giving him a photograph for use on his Christmas cards that
year. It was at Wittering whilst commanding 25 Squadron that his career nearly
ended. Whilst taking off, he mistook an obstruction light for a flare path
light as a result of which he collided with a tree shortly after take off, breaking
his back. However, this did not stop him flying, although it did require six
ground crew to get him into and out of his aircraft. During a conference at
the Air Ministry, the matter of night fighters was brought up and when asked
what type of aircraft would make a good night fighter, he suggested the
Messerschmitt 110 which had an uplifting effect on the others, somewhat
different to the effect a similar remark had had on Goering when Adolf Galland
had requested a 'Squadron of Spitfires' during the Battle of Britain.
He found himself working alongside Basil Embry yet again when in 1943, he
returned to Britain becoming Embry's Senior Air Staff Officer at 2 Group.
Embry often flew on operations as 'Wg Cdr Smith' and it was not unusual to see
David Atcherley sitting beside him on one of these 'jollies', once he even flew
with his arm in a plaster, having broken it the night before during a mess
party.
Appointed AOC of No 205 Group in Egypt, within six months he became the centre
of a mysterious disappearance whilst flying a Meteor FR10 from Fayid in Egypt
bound for Cyprus. His aircraft never arrived in Cyprus, no radio message was
received from him and no sign of him or his aircraft was ever found despite an
extensive search being carried out by RAF, Israeli, Turkish and USAF aircraft.
Air Marshal Sir Richard Atcherley
Richard Llewelyn Roger b: 12 Jan 1904 r: 4 Apr 1959 d:
18 Apr 1970
KBE - 1956 (CBE - 1945, OBE - 1941), CB - 1950, AFC - 1940, Bar – 1942, 1st Prize, 'R M Groves' Competition - 1924
Plt Off: 31 Jul 1924, Fg Off: 31 Jan 1926, Flt Lt: 13 Nov 1929, Sqn Ldr:: 1 Apr 1937, (T) Wg Cdr: 1 Mar 1940, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Mar 1942, Act A/Cdre: 9 Jan 1944?, Gp Capt (WS): 9 Jul 1944, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1946, A/Cdre: 1 Jul 1947, Act AVM: 31 Jan 1949, AVM: 1 Jan 1951, Act AM: 20 Dec 1955, AM: 1 May 1956,.
xx xxx 1922: Flight Cadet, 'A' Sqn, RAF College. (Flt Cdt Sgt)
31 Jul 1924: Pilot, No 29 Sqn. (Snipe - Duxford)
xx xxx 1925: Attended Central Flying School.
xx xxx 1925: Pilot/QFI, No 29 Sqn. (Snipes – Duxford)
26 Oct 1925: Pilot/QFI, No 23 Sqn. (Snipes – Henlow)
4 Aug 1926: QFI, Central Flying School.
6 Oct 1928: Pilot, RAF High Speed Flight.
10 Oct 1929: QFI, Central Flying School.
9 Dec 1929: Flight Commander, No 23 Sqn.
13 Oct 1930: Flight Commander, No 14 Sqn..
xx Sep 1934: Test Pilot, Experimental Section, RAE.
xx Jan 1937: Attended RAF Staff College.
1 Jan 1938: Air Staff, HQ Training Command
1 Jul 1939: Staff of AM Sir Charles Burnett, Inspector-General of the RAF.
xx Oct 1939: Officer Commanding, No 219 Sqn
xx May 1940?: Officer Commanding, Air Element BEF, Norway.
1940: Officer Commanding, RAF Drem.
1941: Officer Commanding, No 54 OTU - RAF Church Fenton.
1942: Officer Commanding, RAF Fairwood Common.
1942: Officer Commanding, RAF Kenley.
11 Apr 1943: AOC, No 211 Group - Tripoli
1944: Gp Capt - Training, HQ Fighter Command.
1944: Head of RAF Section (Temporary), Training Section, HQ AEAF.
1944: Deputy Head of RAF Section , Training Section, HQ AEAF.
xx xxx 1945: Commandant, Central Fighter Establishment.
xx xxx 1945: SASO, Commonwealth Tactical Air Force.
xx Sep 1945: Commandant, RAF College - Cranwell.
31 Jan 1949: Chief of the Air Staff, Royal Pakistani Air Force.
1 Jun 1951: AOC, No 12 Group
xx xxx 1953: Head of RAF Staff - British Joint Services Mission, Washington.
20 Dec 1955: AOC in C, Flying Training Command.
Richard Atcherley, universally known as 'Batchy' gained a
reputation together with his twin brother, David, as a practical joker, despite
which he was an exceptional pilot and a charismatic leader. Their father, a
retired army major and then Chief Constable of the West Riding of Yorkshire (he
was recalled during WW1 becoming Major-General Sir Llewelyn) had taken up
ballooning in the early part of the 20th Century. They attended Oundle School and both applied for admission into the RAF as Flight Cadets at the RAF College, Cranwell. Richard was accepted whilst his brother was turned down on medical
grounds. In 1927 he was selected to fly as a member of the School's aerobatic
team and remained a member for the next two seasons.
In 1929, he was selected as a member of the RAF High Speed Flight which was
tasked with flying Britain's entries in the Schneider Trophy Air Races.
Selected to fly N248 in the competition, he unfortunately turned inside a pylon
and was disqualified, however he subsequently went on to set records at 50 and
100 km of 332 and 331 mph respectively. Another aspect of the work of the High
Speed Flight was exhibited in 1929, when 'Batchy' with G H Stainforth as
navigator, took part in the King's Cup Air Race. They flew a 2 seater Grebe
and won the competition at an average speed of 150.3 mph. His success in the
Schneider Trophy and King's Cup Air Races had brought him fame around the world
and in 1930 he was invited to take part in the Chicago Air Races in the USA. On arrival it was apparent that his demonstration of aerobatics in a standard British
light aircraft would fall short of the American experts in their specially
designed high performance aircraft. Therefore he decided to give a display of
'crazy flying', in which he flew the aircraft as though it was being flown by
an unqualified pilot. His display was so spectacular that he was asked to
return the following year, although by then he had been posted to Amman in
Trans-Jordan with No 14 Squadron and this annual visit to the USA had to start
with a flight home to the UK in his own aircraft.
Whilst serving in Palestine, he carried out night flying/navigation experiments
which he would later perfect into an approved night landing system. Another of
his eccentricities at this time was his menagerie, which included a pet lion
which he often took flying with him. Prior to leaving the Middle East,
however, his antics caught up with him, when he carried out an aerobatic
display over a tennis party which included the AOC, Sir Cyril Newell. Court
Martialed, he lost 50 places in the seniority lists and was prevented from
attending the RAF Staff College.
Whilst he was in Chicago, he witnessed some experiments in Air to Air
Refuelling and was immediately fascinated by them. As a result in 1934 he
found himself posted to the second of his initial ambitions, the Royal Aircraft
Establishment at Farnborough, where he was able develop his ideas on air
refuelling alongside other methodes then being tested. He also continued his
previous experiments in night landing systems and even suggested that aircrews
should wear specially designed flying suits based on the ski-suit (another
common feature today). Following his tour at Farnborough, he was allowed to
attend the course at the RAF Staff College at Andover from which he had been
previously been barred.
Appointed a staff officer at HQ Training Command, he was tasked with increasing
the output of the command, which required both aircraft and airfields. He used
his own aircraft for both searching for suitable airfield sites and for
visiting Public Schools. He set up the Public School's Air Cadet Wing, whereby
Schools' OTCs were affiliated to RAF Stations and at least two masters in each
school were responsible for the training of OTC cadets in air matters. He went
further, setting up annual camps for these cadets with Air Experience in Ansons
and initial flying training for selected cadets in Tiger Moths. His brother
David also assisted him and when unable to run the last camp before the war,
David successfully stepped in and took over.
With the German invasion of Norway, he was sent to organise the airfield at
Bardufoss for the Gladiators of No 263 Sqn and later the Hurricanes of 46 Sqn.
In order to make the landing ground safe. it was necessary to clear the snow
from the runways. With limited resources, he was able to coerce the local
population to undertake the task. With the situation in Norway becoming untenable the RAF personnel were ordered to evacuate and burn their
aircraft. However, not wishing to lose valuable aircraft, he and 'Bing' Cross
(OC, No 46 Sqn), decided to attempt the evacuation of the Hurricanes and Gladiators
by landing them aboard HMS Glorious rather than destroying and abandoning them
in Norway. The actual landing of the squadrons aboard the carrier was a
complete success, but unfortunately it was sunk on it's way to Britain.
On his return to the UK, he assumed command of RAF Drem in Scotland, where he continued development of his night landing light system, eventually
adopted by the RAF and known as the 'Drem' system. Later at Fairwood Common,
he was replaced by his brother and many of the station personnel did not even
notice the change. At Kenley he often flew with the Wing but after protests
from the squadron commanders that he could not see the enemy quick enough and
when asked by the AOC in C to stop flying with the Wing he readily agreed. However,
the next day the AOC in C, was informed the 'Batchy' had been shot down and was
at that moment was somewhere in the English Channel.
Rescued from the Channel having been wounded in the engagement a period of
recovery was followed by a posting to the Middle East, where having been
promoted Act A/Cdre in the Western Desert Air Force he crashed a new Kittyhawk,
incurring the wrath of new AOC, AVM Harry Broadhurst. As a result he found
himself returned to the UK as a Group Captain.
Whilst at HQ AEAF, he had proposed the idea of a Central Fighter Establishment
and when the idea was eventually put into action in 1945, it was logical and
appropriate that 'Batchy' should become it's first Commandant. This unit was
responsible for developing new tactics and assessing new fighter designs. The
dropping of the Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki removed the need for the
planned Commonwealth force of which he was to have been the SASO and instead he
became the first ex-Cranwell cadet to become Commandant of the RAF College. Here he developed a technique whereby he inspected the whole station,
permanent staff, cadets and apprentices whilst flying inverted in his personal
Gloster Meteor. He was also responsible for returning Cranwell to the glory of
its pre-war years.
Leaving Cranwell, he then proceeded overseas to take command of the newly
created Royal Pakistan Air Force which came into being following Indian
independence and partition. Here he set about giving the new service the firm
foundations needed for a growing air force and established its own 'Cranwell'.
Rejoining Fighter Command, as AOC, No 12 Group after which he moved to the USA to take over as Head of the RAF staff attached to the British Joint Services Mission.
Having managed to fly both the Hunter and Swift in Britain before leaving for
America, he was able to add to his total there when he was allowed to fly the
F86 Sabre, CF-100, although even he was unable to persuade the US General in
command of the base to allow him to fly the prototype F-100 Super Sabre. In
his final appointment as AOC in C, Flying Training Command he introduced the
Jet Provost into the training syllabus and recommended the adoption of the Gnat
as the RAF's new advanced trainer. Following his retirement from the RAF, he
retained his connection with aviation by joining the Folland Aircraft Company
as Sales Director, a post he held until 1965.
Appendix 4: Hilton Main Colliery:
Internet 1/2/2003
Extracts:
Hilton was the site of the Holly Bank mine, which was started
in 1922. It was the first colliery in South Staffordshire to be run solely on
electricity - marking a new era in local mining. The huge power station was
said to be without equal in the Midlands coalfields and its electrical
equipment was described as "the latest word."
In 1924 the Hilton Main Colliery was opened and the two were linked together
but production at Holly Bank declined due to geological faults and production
ceased in 1952. Hilton Main closed in 1969.
1922:
Holly Bank mine sunk at Hilton: Engineering and colliery
chiefs turned out in force in September for the new "sinking" of the
Holly Bank Colliery Company at Hilton, near Shareshill.
The company faced tremendous difficulties in sinking the Hilton shaft but the
end result was praised by visitors from the South Staffordshire and
Warwickshire Mining Engineers, and the South Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and
Worcestershire Colliery managers during a conducted tour of the premises.
The huge power station was said to be without equal in the Midlands coalfields
and its electrical equipment was described as "the latest word."
It was revealed that Hilton would be the first colliery in South Staffordshire
to be run solely on electricity - marking a new era in local mining.
The main discussions centred round a massive diagram fixed in the power station
showing sections of the shaft.
It was pointed out that the shaft would have sunk 1,890ft when it was
completed.
The visitors went down the shaft to inspect the progress but it was stressed
that it would be another 15 to 18 months before coal could be mined in the new
colliery.
Cutting from Newspaper:
NEW HILTON
Sinking:
TASK HALF
DONE
Big Obstacles
Overcome
WITHIN a year of commencing their operations, the sinkers of the new shaft
at Hilton Main Colliery have nearly surmounted their greatest obstacle - the
water-bearing strata - and they are hopeful that by the time another year has
passed they will have arrived at the end of their journey 630 yards from the
surface.
They have got down at present 185 yards and they expect to be able to
pierce through the remaining 445 yards in as many month's as they have made the
first, and most critical, part of the advances.
There has been water with which to contend, of course, but it has kept well
under control, and the fact that the pumps have now been dispensed with and
only a water barrel is being used is welcome evidence that things are going
remarkably well at Hilton.
The extent of the success of the sinkers in the first 185 yards is in extraordinary
contrast to the alarming incidents which the sinkers of the first shaft at
Hilton experienced when they had reached a depth of 150 yards.
S 0 S FOR PUMPS
Those down below had to rush for their lives when the
water poured into the shaft with great volume and climbed steadily upward. A
hurried search was made throughout the country for pumps to deal with the
serious situation, but it was found that the pumps needed had been taken over
the Channel to assist in reclaiming the mines which had suffered from the
German invasion of the coalfields in Northern France.
Eventually powerful pumps came to hand which made it possible for the water
to be overcome. But before it could be held completely in check however,
thousands of bags of cement had to be thrown down the shaft to form a solid
block of concrete. This acted as a plug and it became possible to adopt other
precautionary measures. Subsequently this mass of concrete was bored out and
the sinking of the shaft was proceeded with.
I visited Hilton Main to-day and saw the excellent progress which had been
made in the sinking of No 2 shaft. At present the sinkers are passing through a
dozen yards of marl which is child's play compared with the stiff task they had
to deal with when, some weeks ago, they were fighting their way through a dozen
yards of conglomerate.
DAYS OF SLOW PROGRESS
This was at 160 to 172 yards depth. In a whole day of
three shifts not more than two feet of the tough compost could be pierced, and
in the contest between man, the machine and nature there was an astonishing
mortality of drills.
At the pit-head there can be seen specimens of strata which had been
subjected to the particular cementation process which is making the shaft
watertight. There was a fissure of five inches width at one part of the shaft
which had to be dealt with and so effective was the cementation application
that the sinkers were able at a later stage to meet with the fissure completely
closed by the injection of cement.
The electric winder which is being used for the sinking of the shaft has
been made at the Stafford works of the English Electric Co and will ultimately
deal with coal and men. The estimated output per hour of coal is 100 tons, the
weight of coal per wind 5,376lbs, and the net time of each wind 73 seconds.
The winder is 600 b.h.p.
Mr. Carl Nelson who has charge of the Hilton Main undertaking, told me they
were continuing to make good progress, for some months they had not lost a
single shift
BALLOT FOR BATHS
The question of the provision of pit-head baths had been engaging the
attention of the management, and the workmen at Hilton Main were to be balloted
on the question in the near future. It is felt that the installation of such
baths would be a great boon to the men, many of whom travel far distances to
the pit from their homes.
Plenty of bricks will be available on the spot for the building of the baths,
for big headings are being driven into the mountains of dirt which are
supplying material for the machines and the kilns which are turning out 250000
bricks weekly. Another 200,000 bricks a week are being made at the Holly Bank
plant of the company, so that what in the past has been looked upon as waste is
being transformed into houses.
"Do you think you will ever get rid of those mountains of dirt, and so
get back something of the beauty of Hilton?" was the question I put to Mr.
Nelson, and he replied that if they continued at their present rate there was
not the least doubt that the Hilton landmark pyramids would vanish in due
course.
Hilton is a wonderful place for bluebells. They are at the moment in mass
formation about the base of the mounds, close up to the sinkers' piles of
equipment, and about the walls of the electricity sub-station, waiting for the
warmer sun to bring them into full colour, and at the earliest opportunity they
will reclaim and repossess their old habitations, where tens of thousands of
corms lie submerged by disfiguring debris.
PITMAN.
Express & Star 1932:
HILTON MAIN AND HOLLY BANK PITS
FOR AUCTION
NEWEST CHASE SINKING
ENOUGH COAL FOR A CENTURY
LEASES and plant of Hilton Main and Holly Bank collieries are to be offered for sale by auction.
Hilton Main, the most westerly of the Cannock Chase coalfield, is one of the newest sinkings, and for some time has been the only shaft of the Holly Bank Company from which coal has been drawn.
The sale, which is fixed for next month, is by order of the
receivers for the debenture holders of the Holly Bank Coal Company Ltd owners
of the two pits, an offer for sale by private treaty made in 1930 not having
been taken up.
Hilton Main's output of coal did not commence until the autumn of 1926, after
tremendous difficulties had been experienced in dealing with an unexpected
fault, which led to serious and unanticipated delays.
It was stated six years ago, however, when the seams were first tapped, that it
was estimated there was sufficient coal workable from the Hilton Main shaft to
last for a century.
Since 1927 no coal has been raised from the Holly Bank shaft, work having been
concentrated on the seams more readily reached from Hilton.
QUEEN'S PARLOUR
The Queen's Parlour seam at Holly Bank is intact, and there are large areas of
other seams remaining to be worked.
The seam now being worked from Hilton is the 8ft. or Mitre seam, of which there
is a total face open of 1,060 yards.
The colliery is being developed for an output of 10,000 tons a week. 95 per
cent, of which will be obtained By electric or compressed air machinery.
The agreed standard tonnage of Hilton Main under the quota scheme is 440,000
tons a year.
Leases of the collieries are conterminous 1976 to 1981, and cover 7,542 acres
of various measures at Hilton and 1,440 acres at Holly Bank.
NINE MILES OF RAILWAY
Included in the sale will be plant at Hilton Main electric winders, screening
plant, haulage and coal-cutting machinery capable of dealing with 2,000 tons a
day, and gear at Holly Bank, over nine miles of railway sidings connecting with
the L.M.S. line, three locomotives and a large number of wagons, coal tubs,
over 14 miles of tub rail track, and railway repair shops.
There are also various land sale wharves, a boat dock rented from the canal
company at Short Heath, a brickworks with kilns having a capacity of 400,000
bricks, and the office buildings at Essington.
Wolverhampton Express & Star extract:
"Nature Turned Against Hilton Main, The Pit They said Would Go On for
Years.
In The End the Rock has Beaten the asses coal.
Tomorrow's closure of production at Hilton Main Colliery ends a three
century era dating to the days of Wolverhampton's "asses' coal."
Hilton had its roots in 18th century mines of the Essington area, where
black faced miners hacked out nuts which were carried on donkeys' backs to the
town and sold by the "ass load."
In the 17th and 18th centuries there was always a good market for the 1oads
they called Squire Vernon's coal" after the Hilton autocracy of the
times.
The black-diamond zone north of Wolverhampton - where dozens of narrow
shafts still lie capped and covered, but unfilled - fathered the Cannock Chase
coalfield itself.
The miners worked the seam northwards, and new pits and new communities were
born as the old pits died.
Hilton itself was conceived to extend the Holly Bank Colliery operations
into seams north and west of Essington.
Good coal "panels" were proved in 1908, and 14 years later the
first shaft was driven. In 1924 up came the first coal, from 3Oom. year old
measures.
In mining tradition the first nuggets were toasted in good ale, and the
future seemed assured.
But it soon became clear that Hilton's seams had a Jekyll-and-Hyde character
of rock-faulting. Good coal could turn suddenly into red or gray rock where a seam
had slipped.
It often needed steep gradients to keep working yet the coal was
determinedly mined and in 1927 Hilton took over when the Essington pit closed.
There was even a plan to open another pit at Four Ashes, a few miles
westwards.
Hilton made history as the Midlands' first all-electric pit and survived a
company liquidation in 1936.
Its second shaft went down in 1936, and at 637 yards was one of the deepest
in the Cannock field roughly as far as far Wolverhampton's Queen-Square to Chapel-ash.
The pit passed to the National Coal Board after the war and as late as 1964,
was rated a "1ong-life" pit. A miners' union official predicted
enough coal "for 25 years or more."
Now the rock has won, despite the miners' desperate "donkey work"
to find consistently profitable coal through new tunnelling.
And tomorrow, although the pit will live on for salvage, the era of the
asses' coal will end.
Misc Letters & Papers - 19thC
Letter to Henry Vernon-Graham
Hilton Park 25th December 1834, Thursday Xmas Day Evening.
Refers to Injury to HVG
…. Xmas audit 1834 Hilton household expenses very considerably reduced this half year and if the New Colliery Expenses, for the same period, had been equally beneficial we would have done great things - but as it is, with a heavy loss of upwards of £385 - in the last half year, on the colliery concern, by the reduced expenses of the Hilton Household, amounting to upwards of £300 in the last half year, I have been enabled to meet the whole of the Tradesmans Bills amounting to £720 sent for payment at this Xmas audit 1834, and the Hilton Household Expenses for the Current half year, ending 15th June 1835, and to pay to Drummonds on your account £600. And also to inclose for you in this ??? £100 - which I shall leave for you with Wm Taverner, making to you £700 out of which is to be paid the £50 allowance half yearly to your children. Without you being obliged to sell out of the funds any stocks to meet the expenses of the current half year. I shall be in Town on the 2nd and 3rd of January, in the New Year 1835, and when you are in Town, after that time, I shall be most happy in the opportunity of explaining to you, all matters of importance relating to our Xmas Audit 1834.
…..
Wm Lowe,
Inclosed are 5-20 Coy Notes = £100.
To Lt Col Vernon Graham, Barbadoes.
Ref 3500 lent by HCV to late father.
Sold the Cobham Estate for 11000 to Lord Carhampton, lent pa 3500.
Estate will do, to set off the £2000 - given to you by his will and the £900 - advanced to you in 1812 or 1813, and the furniture in Hilton Hall value about £600 - w.. I make ….. £3500 - add the £3500 .. you lent you father in the year 1800 - they balance the account and there for you to release your ….. in the £10000. Under your father's will, whci must remain a charge upon both the settled and unsettled part of the Staffordshire Estates, …. To all the prior mortgages theron … etc
Willm Lowe, Temple, 15 January 1817
Hilton Park 25 June 1822.
It is with much concern I inform you that at my Rent Day on the 21st instant the Rents reced are upwards of £370 deficient to pay the half years Interest and Rent charges now due to Mre Vernon and the Mortgagors and that there is no prospect of my receiving the deficiency before the end of Oct next - I allowed the Tenants 10% of their Rents, but they all declared it was too little and they could not go on without their rents being much lowered - (details of farms)
Mr Willoughby has had many great expensive difficulties to encounter, which are it is to be hoped at length overcome and he has now gained a new Pit of Maiden Coal, as it is termed, that is a Pit of entire new coal which has never before been opened and which all concur in saying both large in quantity and good in quality and that W Willoughby may now get what quantity of Coals he pleases and Mr Smith says he thinks Mr W may find a sale for all the coal he gets - hitherto however W. W has not been able to pay and Rent at all but for future .. pay rents with punctuality, but owing tot he low price of coal, .. reduce the royalty due from 1/6 to 1/- per ton …
….I am unable to afford Mrs Vernon Graham and pecuniary assistance …. Discussion of the debts of Mrs VG.
The allowance for Mrs VG for herself and children as follows:
To Mrs VG for pin money £300
To Mrs VG for her household expenses £1000
£1300
To Mrs VG for Henry £500
William £200
George £200 £900
£2200
and for the £2200 Mrs VG is to have the power to draw on Mrs Drummonds as her occasion may require to be answered by the Irish Rents remitted by Mr Mayne.
More details
Wm Lowe
Account for the running to the "Cutter Dolphins" July 1836-May 1837 £1015-5-1 (about £78000 2002) to Lt Col HC VG.
Letter from Lt Col HC Vernon Graham, Inspector Ionia in Malta, Corfu 7/2/1825.
Essington Colliery - From February 1st 1833 to February 28th 1833
Coals sold the first 2 weeks ending 14th Feb 177T 2cwt 0Q
Coals sold the second do ending 28th feb 225 18 2
403 0 2.
Sales 1st 2 weeks
Cash recd Ready money 16/2/6.5
On credit 46/13/9
62/16/3.5
Sales 2nd
Cash 14/9/5.5
Credit 68/9/10
83/19/3.5
146/15/7
Expenses 1st 2 weeks
Expenses at the pits 54/5/6
Bills 3/8/0
Carrying, Boating & Commission 12/12/4.5
70/5/10.5
Expenses 2nd weeks
At Pits 46/1/10
Carrying etc 18/1/4
Bills 4/10/11
68/14/1
138/19/11.5
7/15/7.5
Coals on the Bank raised within the month
Best coal 7 tons at 6/6 per ton 2/5/6 Count? Coal 10 tons at 4/6 per ton 2/5/0
4/10/6
12/6/1.5
Deduct Mr WW Bailey salary for 4 weeks 4/0/0
Balance in favour of colliery 8/6/1.5
Deduct (error above) 1/0/0
7/6/1.5
Hilton Park 3/3/1833, Nicholas Taverner.
Letter re debts mentions colliery 8/3/1779.
Appendix 5 – Unknown Letter:
Transcript of a letter found in RL Vernon's desk, but with the top cut off: who
is Shiela?? The letter was probably written to Betty (then Kirk-Owen, later Vernon) in 1973, and the reference to Jacqueline was probably to Jacqueline Burton, and
old friend of Betty's. Jan 2003.
The Nugent family described here were descendants of Robert Craggs-Nugent, 1st
Earl Nugent PC (1702 – October 13, 1788).
The text:
My mother died about a year and a half ago. I loved her very much and was
very sad and upset although she hadn't been well for ages. She died while I
was touring so when I came home we buried her and I went straight back to work
- it seemed the best thing to do and kept me distracted. About two months later
I was home between tours for about three weeks and as my husband was away
climbing mountains, I was alone. Feeling calmer, I decided to look at a trunk
of letters and photographs we had in the attic that came here when my father
died and which we'd never got around to looking at - for one reason, I always
thought it would upset Mama who absolutely adored my father.
Anyway I went to the attic and opened up. I found vast packets of love
letters from my parents who met at 19 and 21 which were very moving - it was
like meeting two quite different people on very intimate terms. I found my
grandfather's diary at Eton around 1850 - not really interesting and yet it was
in a way, just because he'd started writing it at 12 or something - they went
there younger in those days and he was over fifty when Mama was born.
I then found my gt gt grandmothers diary - actually it wasn't lost but
I'd never bothered to read it properly but now did so. She was American and
married my Irish gt gt grandfather George Nugent. I was also left with a large
family tree and various documents so for the first time I began looking at the
names and linking them and becoming increasingly confused at strange gaps. I
went to the public library round the corner and by looking into old editions of
Burkes and National Biographies etc I finally got things sorted out a bit.
There seems to have been an excessive amount of illegitimacy with marriages after
and all that - including that of my grandfather!
By this time, I was fascinated - it was like working at a detective
story. You see I had grown up with miniatures and prints of several people
without having had any curiosity as to who they might be or what they did.
I was surprised that though my American gt gt grandma's lineage was set out for
instance in the diary, the page about my gt gt grandpa had been torn out. At
the time I felt annoyed not realizing that it must have been done on purpose by
my grandmother who gave the book to me when I was born.
Anyway National Biography said he was acknowledged natural grandson of Robert
Craggs Nugent - at that time I didn't know much about him either. However
luckily I got his life out of the London Library and then everything was made
clear.
-2-
It seems Robert first seduced his cousin Clare in Ireland then ran off to London - she ran after him with a maid, a priest and some Jewelery and sent
him constant imploring notes all of which he refused to answer. She finally
had an illegitimate child, was practically starving having sold all her Jewels,
and later returned to her family.
Robert went back to Ireland and married Emilia Plunkett and she died
giving birth to their son, Edmund. It says he was deeply in love with her and
as she died she asked him to make amends to Clare. He said he would, in fact he
tried to do so but when he arrived at the Byrne household the butler slammed
the door in his face telling him Miss Clare was marrying someone else the very
next day! Robert then went to England and after a time married Ann Craggs the
daughter and heiress of the South Sea Bubble man who conveniently died or
committed suicide the very night before the date set for the enquiry into his
activities. The daughter had already been married twice and was very rich
settling 100,000 on Robert immediately. The marriage lasted about ten years.
It sounds as if at first they were happy then later not - she was much older
and he wanted children and she didn't have any. She finally died leaving him
Gosfield in Essex. He promptly remarried this time Elizabeth Berkeley who gave
him a daughter Mary whom he adored and another daughter whose paternity he
denied and the marriage ended in divorce.
His son by Emilia, Edmund, went to school in Dublin and was put in the
army. Somehow and sometime he secretly married in Church Elizabeth Vernon - I
think she was nineteen and he was 22. They had three children, George (my gt
gt grandfather) Charles, and a daughter who died at 19. (This Elizabeth was the
grand daughter of Henry Vernon – b 1637 - of Hilton, ref AAAM).
Finally, it transpired their marriage was invalid and both their families
persuaded them to separate. They abandoned the children - Elizabeth returned
to Hilton and later married a Count Thomas du Pont. Edmund went back to his
regiment and got engaged to someone called Violet Edgar but died at 39 before
he ever married her. Robert meanwhile relented and took charge of the three
children (at least this is what I gather! they boys were put to school in Dublin and his unmarried sister cared for them quite a bit.
Later, his daughter Mary (by his 3rd marriage) married George Grenville
who in due course inherited Stowe and Robert (he was now an Earl) got George
made the Marquis of Buckingham.. (the Grenvilles were pretty grand anyway with Chatham and Pitt as Uncle and Cousin and George's father was Prime Minister, so I guess
this wasn't difficult) Robert had by now grown very fond of his grandsons and I
believe they spent a lot of time at Stowe. I read a letter somewhere written
from Stowe in which he said they were having a quiet family life, he was very
happy and that his two grandsons were everything he could desire. As my gt gt
grandmothers diary makes frequent references to weekends at Stows this must
have been true.
Could you please ask Richard if or what he knows about Elizabeth and if he
has a photograph or is there a book I could read or anything? I was so
surprised that both of them walked out on their children so seemingly
callously. Why did they split up - is it documented at all? Who was Du Pont and
what happened to Elizabeth afterwards? Who were her parents as they'd be my 4th
grandparents on that side? I have miniatures of my gt gt grandparents and
xeroxed Gainsborough's portraits of Robert and Edmund. I believe Baron Thyssen
bought the portrait of Robert fairly recently but don't know where the other
paintings would be. I've never been to Gosfield though it is open to the public
occasionally - I mean I suppose there might be some portraits there though they
probably went in the various Stowe sales.
I have xeroxed a couple of pages I took from the book (Robert, Earl
Nugent I had to give back to the London Library) It refers I think to the death
-3-
of Elizabeth's daughter and made me think Du Pont must have
been Belgian -? Did she have more children?
I found the whole saga rather strange and romantic - its hard to imagine
how couples managed to vanish from home and get secretly married two hundred
years ago - I mean now its commonplace - but then'. I did wonder why Robert
and the Vernons didnt encourage them to remarry legally instead of discouraging
them - as I read - but I suppose they'd stopped loving each other and no longer
wanted to be together.
My mother was a Clayton and another gt gt grandaunt Marion had married
Charles Fox's younger brother Henry Edward who was in the army. They had three
children and as the parents were often abroad the children were partly brought
up at St Annes Hill by Mrs Charles Fox. Maria, my American gt gt refused to be
introduced to her at some party "though she looked very amiable." It
could have been on moral grounds of course, as she was originally a courtesan,
but I took it to be because of the Pitt-Fox rivalry. (note in hand my gt
granpa) ref Pitt) Anyway Maria's daughter Amelia married Rice Richard Clayton
who I think would have been Marion Fox's nephew so I thought it rather
ironical!
I don't know if Mama's family is typical of the way everyone went on but
another gt aunt or something ran off to Gretna Green in 1840 and her father
chased after her but in that case the families accepted it and the couple were
married a second time a fortnight later in London. She had a rather dramatic
story too - her husband accidentally shot himself twenty years later - he was
heavily in debt so suicide was suggested though not proved. Her eldest son
sounded rather brutal, her second son got killed at 13 coming down the
Matterhorn - they were the first people ever to get to the top, one of her
grandsons was killed hunting and another got into a big scandal, and she ended
as a nun in a convent...Sort of sad romantic!
Well, I'd better stop. Do hope you haven't been too bored by all this.
It seemed too complicated to explain verbally so Jacqueline said she'd take
this letter with her. I would never have bothered Richard out of the blue but
as you're there I feel I can and I would be so happy if he has any background
information to fill in my gaps - particularly I'd love to know what Elizabeth
looked like.
Do hope you're fine and Happy '73. Are you surrounded by dreadful pig
problems - it's so sad - I always hate it when hear of hundreds of animals
being slaughtered. Come and see me one day in my falling down house in
Kensington!
With love Shiela
Appendix 6: VERNON DOCS Re HILTON COAL:
MINING ENGINEERS & VALUERS,
CHARTERED CIVIL ENGINEERS & SURVEYORS.
THOMAS HENRY BAILEY, M.lnst.C.E., M.I.Min.E.,F.S.I.
CECIL HENRY BAILEY, B.Se.M.I nsKC.E., M.I.M i n. E..RS.I.
THOMAS GEORGE BOCKING, M.Insi.C.E,,M.I.Mtn. E..RS.I.
Telegrams, "MINING,BIRMINGHAM'.
Telephone, MIDLAND 5340.
CHB/EMS la
Princes Chambers,
6, Corporation Street, Birmingham, 2.
16th July 1936.
Dear Mr. Vernon,
I have this morning been rung up on the telephone by Mr. Holland, who asked me
to find out from you whether you would be willing to consider the suggestion
that the Colliery Company should purchase Hilton Hall from you.
The reason for this is that the pillar which they are leaving for the support
of the Hall is interfering with the coal workings,and further the coal in the
pillar happens to be specially good quality coal.
As far as your income from coal royalties is concerned I think 1 may say that
it will not be affected one way or the other, so that it is purely a question
-
(1) Whether you want to consider the suggestion at all,
(2) Whether the price which the Company will give will cover the value of the
Hall, and at the same time compensate you for disturbance.
If the answer to the first of these questions is that you are willing to
consider the proposal, I think perhaps the next move would be for me to meet
you with Mr. Wright so that we can decide what the next move should be.
I am sending a copy of this letter to Mr. Wright for his information.
Yours faithfully-,
W. B.W.Vernon Esq Hilton Park,,
20th July, 1936.
Dear Mr. Vernon,
I am much obliged for your letter. I should prefer to talk to you about one
or two points in it rather than to write and for that purpose should like to
call on you on Thursday afternoon next, when I have to be at Cannock earlier in
the day
The most important point so far as I am concerned is to tell you that I am not
too confident that any offer the Company might make at present would hold good
for more than a month or two. The reason for this is that one of the main
working faces has come dead up against one side of the pillar, and if you
decide not to sell they will withdraw and it is difficult to say when, if ever,
a similar set of circumstances will rise again.
Yours faithfully,
5th August, 1936.
Dear Mr Vernon,
Mr Holland rang me up again this morning and asked me whether I had got any
decision from you as to the Hall. I told him that you had considered the
matter, and practically decided that you did not want to be disturbed. Some
further conversation revealed the fact that the working of the coal is not the
only project which the Company have in mind. Apparently they would like to use
the Hall as an Institute, and to lay out recreation grounds around it. This
is quite a new idea to me. Mr Holland mentioned the figure of £8,000 as
having been discussed on the occasion when the purchase was talked about
before. I said that my recollection was that it was more like £10,000 and
that I thought that it was very unlikely that that amount would induce you to
alter your decision, but that if they liked to suggest a much bigger figure I
would see whether you are to be tempted. Holland then said that it depended
upon the amount of land round the Hall which you would include in the
arrangement, the amount previously intended to be included not having been
sufficient for the Company's purpose. I asked him to let me know how much
land he required and he has promised to call in here.
It occurs to me that possibly there may be more in this, and that talk about an
Institute may only be an excuse to get hold of the Hall and grounds for some
more profitable enterprise, such as the lay out of a place of public
entertainment .
I am sending a copy of this to Mr Wright and will communicate again with you
when I have heard from Holland again.
Yours faithfully,
W.B.W. Vernon Esq., Hilton Park,
WOLVERHAMPTON.
Memorandum of meeting with Mr. Holland and Mr. Nelson Junr.
20th August, 1936.
Mr. Nelson said that the pillar of coal as at present set out under the Hall
was 32 acres. There is a "barren area crossing the pillar which
reduces the workable area to 18 acres. The yield of the Eight Feet Coal is
9,000 tons to the acre, which gives 160,000 tons of coal available.
The suggestion was that the Company should pay £10,000 for 29 acres of surface,
including the Hall, and in addition pay
Side note: Actually 33.758 ac.
for the coal worked in the area over and above the minimum rent. It was
reckoned that the output would be about 300 tons a day for 270 days in a year,
making about 81,000 tons a year, which means that the coal would be worked out
probably in two years. 81,000 tons at 3d. a ton is approximately £1,000 a year,
so that Mr Vernon would in this way get a £1,000 a year in addition to the
minimum rent for two years.
Mr Nelson suggested that they would agree to let Mr Vernon live in the Hall
rent free for a period of 5 years and thereafter, if the Hall was not seriously
damaged, at a nominal rent. The Company would be responsible for repairs
during that period, provided they did not exceed a reasonable amount.
Another suggestion made was that the Company should pay now for 160,000 tons of
coal at 6d. a ton, which is £4,000, -in other words they should purchase the
available coal now sterilised under the Hall for the sum of £4,000, and in
addition it was suggested that a sum of £2,000 should be paid for the Hall.
Mr. C.H.Bailey said that the latter of the two suggestions had no chance
whatever of being accepted, and that he did not think the first suggestion was
one which Mr. Vernon would consider. At the same time he agreed to consult Mr.
Vernon on the subject, and possibly put forward alternative suggestions.
copy/
FOWLER, LANGLEY and WRIGHT.
20, Waterloo Road,
Wolverhampton.
15th September 1936.
Dear Sirs,
Hilton Estate.
Mr. Vernon will be glad to discuss the question of the sale of the Hall to the
Hilton Main Colliery Co. on Wednesday next, September 23rd, at 11 o'clock or
11-15 here if that will suit Mr. Bailey.
Mr. Wright had some conversation with Mr. Vernon on the subject today and it
may be helpful to Mr. Bailey to know something of the points that were raised
so that he may be ready to deal with them next week. They were as follows :-
(1) Mr. Nelson's statement as to the area of the coal under the pillar, the
expanse of barren area, the amount of coal available and the length of time it
would take to work it are all set out in the Memorandum of August 20th, but Mr.
Vernon would like to have Mr. Bailey's figures on the point.
(2) Supposing coal royalties are nationalized, how much would Mr. Vernon get
for this coal?
(3) The sum of £10,000 is expressed to be paid for surface premises, but
presumably it includes a good deal for damage to buildings.
(4) Is it necessary to include the frontage to the road and the Worth
Lodge? They are not part of the pillar on the plan on the Lease.
(5) Would the working of the coal make the Hall unsafe to live in?
(6) The arrangements for looking after the estate will be much more difficult
if Mr. Vernon sells the Hall and goes to live at a distance.
(7) Mr. Vernon i3 afraid that the working of this coal will not only take
away the water which now supplies the Hall and buildings, but may also affect
the water supply to some of the farms and cottages.
Yours faithfully,
Messrs. S. t J. Bailey. isgcl.) FOWLER LANGLEY & WRIGHT
21st September 1936.
HILTON
HA L L.
MEMORANDUM as to value of coal reserved for support and
other matters connected therewith.
Referring to the meeting with Mr. Holland and Mr. Nelson on 20th August 1936,
and letter from Messrs. Fowler Langley & Wright dated 15th September 1936
:-
As against Mr. Nelson's figure of 18 acres of coal available for working, it Is
probable that there is 27 acres.
9,000 tons per acre can be agreed to as the yield of the seam.
The thickness of the seam can be taken at 6' 3", which at the royalty £15
per foot-acre reserved in the lease means a royalty of £93.15.0 per acre.
9,000 tons at 3d. a ton offered by Mr. Nelson is £112.10.0 per acre.
In view of the importance to the Colliery Company of the power to work this
coal it might be possible to press for £120 per acre.
Then 27 acres at £120 = £3,240
Say, 3,250.
The value of the whole of the rest of the seams in the pillar may be taken to
be about half this, say - £1,750,
making a total of £5,000, which is probably the maximum which the Colliery
Company would be prepared to give at present.
The whole of the "shorts" will probably be paid off at the end of the
current half year, so that no account need be taken of the effect of the
minimum rent and recoupment arrangements in considering the effect on Mr.
Vernon's income for the next few years of carrying out this transaction in the
form of a sale as at 1st January 1937.
During the last five years an average of 83 foot-acres per half year has been
worked out of the royalty coal.
83 foot-acres £15 = £1,245,
which means that from this source Mr. Vernon's gross income has been, say -
£1,200 per half year.
In fact, however, the amount of coal worked has been increasing, and last half
year 117 foot-acres were worked out.
It would probably be reasonable to assume that for the next few years Mr.
Vernon might anticipate say, 100 foot-acres being worked each half year,
yielding a gross income of £1,500 per half year.
If the coal under the Hall is sold, part of this 100 foot-acres would come from
that coal.
Taking Mr. Nelson's figure of 300 tons a day for 135 days (a half year) the
half yearly output from this coal would be 40,500 tons, which is equivalent to
28 foot-acres.
This means that the royalty paying coal might be reduced to say, 70 foot-acres
per half year, which would yield an income of £1,000 per half year.
If it took three years to work out the coal in the pillar, this means that
instead of getting £1,500 per half year, Mr. Vernon would get £1,000 per half
year for six half years.
This does not necessarily mean that the total income would fall below the
minimum rent (£1,388 per half year), because ironstone and brick royalties are
included in the minimum rent, and it is probable that these will exceed the
£388 necessary to make up the amount.
Mr. Vernon therefore as far as the coal is concerned has to choose between
(a) A probable immediate income of £1,500 per half year,
(b) An immediate income of £1,000 per half year for six half years with a
possible income of £1,500 per half year thereafter, together with a lump sum
which will not exceed £5,000.
£500 for six half years = £3,000 and the Present Value is not far short of
that.
The following are some advantages which accrue if a lump sum is accepted
(a) It is cash down.
(b) Free of Income Tax and Super Tax.
(c) Free of Mineral Rights Duty and Royalties Welfare Levy.
(d) In the event of nationalisation Mr. Vernon will have this money anyway,
and it will make no difference to the value of his interest in the lease.
(e) The working of this coal will facilitate the working of the Colliery
generally, and so far as it does that it increases the prospect which Mr.
Vernon has of receiving a larger income for the ensuing period of years.
(2) It would have to be assumed that if coal were to be nationalised now, that
is before any special contract relating to Hilton Hall were made, Mr. Vernon
would be paid out on the value of the lease as it stands, and there would be no
special value attaching to this coal in particular.
The sale of this coal to the Company would make no difference actually to the
value of the lease to Mr. Vernon.
(3) As part of the contract it would be necessary to define exactly the
buildings as to which the Company will be relieved of its responsibility for
damage. As far as the Company is concerned their proposal, as at present
understood, is that they should become owners of the 33 1/4 acres defined with
all the buildings and structures upon it, and as owners they can use their
discretion as to whether they keep these in repair or not.
(4) It is a matter of negotiation as to whether the frontage along the road is
to be included or not.
(5) The Hall would not suddenly become unsafe. The damage, if there is any,
will only gradually make itself apparent, and long before the Hall becomes
unsafe it will have become uninhabitable.
There is reason to expect that such a state of affairs will never take place, but
no assurance can be given as to the actual extent of damage.
(6) This is a matter for discussion.
(7) The working of this particular coal will not affect the water supply,
either to the Hall or to any of the farms or cottages.
If such water supply is affected at all it will be affected by the working of
the coal immediately round the pillar.
Hilton Accounts for the early 1950’s show the various coal related royalties
and rents amounting to about £1300 per quarter before tax. The amounts are made
up of various rents, wayleave payments, royalties on coal worked and on bricks.
The accounts were managed by a firm of mining engineers and Flower Langley
& Wright (the Vernon’s – and Maitlands – solicitors). The farm showed
profits of the order of £1000 p.a.
MINING ROYALTIES
Newspaper Cutting (Prob Express & Star): November 1929:
HUGE PROBLEM OF BUYING OUT ROYALTY OWNERS
£6,000,000 WOULD BE NEEDED FOR THE CHASE AND SOUTH STAFFS.
POSITION REVIEWED IN THE LIGHT OF 1919 SANKEY REPORT.
(By Pitman).
IMMENSITY of the problem that would confront the Government if it found itself
in a position to carry out its recent proposal for the nationalisation of.
mineral royalties is strikingly illustrated by a reference to some of the
evidence given before the Sankey Royal Commission in 1919, particularly in
relation to Cannock Chase and South Staffordshire coalowners.
Taking the figures of output of coal for the South Staffordshire district,
inclusive of Cannock Chase, as contained in the recently issued annual of H.M
Chief Inspector of Mines, it may be assumed that the output for the past five
years has been a total of 30,000,000 tons.
Reckoning a royalty average of 4d. per ton it will be seen
that the total is half a million of money paid to the royalty owners during the
five years.
This is the income to the royalty owners for which compensation has to be found
by the Government, or, in other words, the nation, and on Sir Richard
Redmayne's suggested figures to the Sankey Commission, between £5,000,000 and
£6,000,000 would be needed to pay out the royalty owners in South Staffordshire
and Cannock Chase.
It is proposed, we are told, that the State would grant rights to work coal and
also would, have the right to take over the ownership of coal areas, .when any
practical advantage were likely, to ensue to the industry.
OBTAINING WORKING RIGHTS.
Compensation at market value would be payable to the owners
of the property acquired, but no compensation would be payable for any coal
with no market value at the present time. Provision would be made to secure
that all surface and other rights reasonably required to work and market the
coal could be obtained.
No mention is made in the draft proposals of the probable cost of acquiring
mining royalties, or of the probable period over which the acquisition will
extend.
It was pointed out by the Sankey Commission that the coal deposits in the
kingdom were in 1919 vested in the hands of no fewer than 4,000 owners, most of
whom were reasonable, though some were a real hindrance to the development of
the national asset. Some of the owners were unknown.
State ownership would- be exercised through a Minister of Mines, the Commission
recommended. It was preferable to acquire the royalties once and for all in one
move rather than by a piecemeal procedure. Great delay and much expensive
officialism would result by a slow process of acquisition
ASSESSING A ROYALTY.
Value of the royalty should be assessed by valuers and a tribunal, and the
valuation should be of
Properties where coal has been developed;
Potential properties where, coal was known to exist and was awaiting
development;
Surface wayleaves and shaft rent in certain cases which destroyed the amenities
of the neighbouring properties.
The usual royalty charge in the district for the class of coal in question.
Valuation should not be taken of properties in which the existence of coal was
only suspected, nor for underground wayleaves.
Messrs Frank Hodges, R. Smillie, and Herbert Smith did not agree that any
compensation: whatever should be paid to the royalty owners for the mineral
royalties to be acquired by the State, and they set their views forth in a
Minority Report.
They explained, however, that this must not be taken to imply that there would
be objection to the grant of compassionate allowance in cases in which small
royalty-owners were expropriated in such a way as to deprive them of their
means of livelihood.
DWINDLING ROYALTIES.
There was a further separate report, signed by Mr. Arthur
Balfour and four others, in which was contained the information that in 1913
mining royalties amounted to ~5 per cent, of the selling value of the coal at
the pit-head, and that in 1918 that amount had dwindled to about 2 ½ per cent.
One of the witnesses .before the .Commission was the well-known mining expert,
Sir Richard Redmayne. He pointed out that a Royal Commission on Royalties was
appointed in 1891, and issued a unanimous report in 1893. The Commission was of
the opinion that only the consumer would get the advantage of any reduction in
royalties, and that the system of royalties had not n interfered with the
development of the
out at less than 4d, or about 2 per cent, mineral resources of the United
Kingdom, or with the export trade in. coal with foreign countries.
Sir Richard said the royalties varied at different collieries from a minimum of
3d a ton to a maximum of l0d. a ton, except, where, in some cases, they were
based on a sliding scale, and in some instances were higher than 10d. a ton.
He suggested that the advantages of State ownership of royalties would be that
more equitable terms could be arranged with the coalowners, and obstructive
tactics Which were practised by some royalty owners in preventing the
exploitation of coal areas would disappear.
WHAT STATE WOULD DO.
The position of the State, if it became the purchaser, would
be as follows: —
It would say, in effect, to each owner of a mineal contract: "The value of
your property to a purchaser is, in present money, so much, and you are
required to lend to the State the amount of this purchase price at, say,,5 per
cent. per annum in exchange for which you will, receive bonds bearing interest
at that rate in perpetuity, which bonds you can sell whenever you like."
Reference has been made recently to the mineral rights duty that has to be paid
by the owners of mining royalties. Figures were given in the Sankey Commission
showing that a royalty owner receiving £1,000 in royalties would have to pay
income-tax at 6s. in the £, which means a sum of £300, and he would also have
to pay £35 in mineral rights duty, leaving him a net income from, his royalties
of £665.
Among the local witnesses before the Sankey Commission were well-known mining
engineers, who gave facts relating to collieries in the South Staffordshire and
Cannock Chase Districts.
THE WESTERN FAULT.
When Holly Bank Coal Co. were exhausting the best seams on
the east side of the western boundary fault, Mr. Vernon contributed £40,000 out
of royalties, and spent £68,523 in purchasing minerals under this area for the
purpose of assisting the colliery company in their developments, strengthening
the boundary of, his mineral asset, and leaving barriers for. security against
flooding his deep seams.
While little or no return had been received by Mr. Vernon from the money
expended, said the Sankey witness, the result had been that the mines on the
throw-down side of the western boundary fault near Wolverhampton had been
proved and workable coal extending under many square miles outside Mr.
Vernon’s property was ready for development. From this Mr: Vernon, would get no
pecuniary advantage, in fact, for some time past the principals of the Holly
Bank Coal Co. had been taking up leases and purchasing minerals under this area
During the past ten years, it has to be added, things have not turned out as
favourably as was then anticipated for the Vernon family owing to seams of coal
not being found in the places expected there has not been so satisfactory a
return as had been hoped for from the immense sum of money invested by the late
Squire Vernon in the local mines.
Mr. Bailey also threw light on the position that the present Lord Hatherton in
1919 held and still holds in relation to the mines at Huntington and District.
Worked by the Littleton Collieries, Ltd.
FLOODED SHAFTS RECOVERED.
Thirty-two years ago Mr. Bailey told the Commissioners, Lord
Hatherton spent £35,000 recovering the shafts at Huntington which had been
flooded after an expenditure in sinking them of £100,000. Littleton seams had
an aggregate thickness of 97ft., and had been correlated with the Lilleshall
seams 12 miles away According to expert opinion there was no doubt that
workable coals of great value were .continuous throughout this area, and
possibly, extended to the North Staffordshire coalfield, many miles north.
On the output of the Littleton pits Lord Hatherton receives a royalty of 4d. a
ton. Holly Bank royalties in 1869 were 9d. to 6d. per ton, and are now 4d. to
3d., 75 per cent, of the output being at 3d. Lord Hatherton in 1869 obtained 6½
d. a ton royalty on coal in the Great Wyrley district.
Mr. J. Tryon representing Lord Dudley, told the Sankey Commission that
Baggeridge Colliery had a workable acreage of 3,500. Lord Dudley was
practically the only shareholder, and he had spent £400,000 in the development
of the colliery. Up to the time of the Commission his lordship had put the
whole of the profits, , including the royalties, into the development of the
undertaking.
In 1835 there were royalties paid to the Dudley family as high as 2s. per ton,
in 1842 it. was 1s. 7d. In 1919 royalties worked of the total value of the
product.
Appendix 7 - Vernon-Nugent Connection
A series of emails[iv]
from Brady Verity on the descent of the Nugent family from Elizabeth Vernon,
descendant of Henry Vernon 1637 above.
I found the will (written 8 December 1770, proved 25 June 1771) of Hon. Edmund
Craggs Nugent (1731-1771) in the P.C.C. database thru Ancestry.com. I've
attached the four pages as jpeg files. In it he gives details on his three
children (without specifically stating they are his children): "And I do
hereby direct that all the interest dividends or annual or other profits
thereof may be applied and disposed for and towards the maintenance and
education of the three several persons hereinafter respectively described: that
is to say, of George Jones an Infant who was baptized by that name on or about
the thirtieth day of June One thousand Seven hundred and fifty seven in the
parish church of Saint Andrew Holborn and who is at present at the Charterhouse
School and is commonly called or known by the name of George Jennings, likewise
of Charles Edmund Jones another Infant who was baptized by that name on or
about the nineteenth of July One thousand Seven hundred and fifty eight in the
said parish church of Saint Andrew Holborn and who is also at the said
Charterhouse School and is commonly called or known by the name of Charles
Edmund Jennings, and also towards the maintenance and education of another
Infant who was baptized by the name of Louisa the daughter of John Johnson and
Elizabeth his wife on or about the twenty second day of March in the year One
thousand seven hundred and fifty six in the parish church of Chelsea in the
County of Middlesex and who is now commonly called or known by the name of
Louisa O'Donnell to be paid to each of them respectively in such shares and
proportions at such days and times and in such manner as my said Trustees or
the Survivors or Survivor of them or his heirs shall think proper..."
Here are the confirming baptism entries.
Name: George Jones
Gender: Male
Baptism Date: 30 Jun 1757
Baptism Place: Saint Andrew,Holborn,London,England
Father: Edmund Jones
Mother: Elizabeth
FHL Film Number: 374353
Name: Charles Edmund Jones
Gender: Male
Baptism Date: 19 Jul 1758
Baptism Place: Saint Andrew,Holborn,London,England
Father: Edmund Jones
Mother: Elizabeth
FHL Film Number: 374353
Name: Louisa Johnson
Gender: Female
Baptism Date: 22 Mar 1756
Baptism Place: Saint Luke,Chelsea,London,England
Father: John Johnson
Mother: Elizabeth
FHL Film Number: 585471
I found the christening record (25 March 1735 at St Botolph Bishopsgate, London) of Elizabeth Vernon but haven't yet found a death or burial record for her, or any information on her husband Thomas Du Pont. I imagine that she was the "Madame Du Pont" whom Maria Skinner Nugent visited at Reading in September 1805, and who fussed over Maria's children (and so her own grandchildren):
http://books.google.ca/books?id=yavJoHc3138C&pg=PA258&dq=Madame+Du+Pont+Nugent&hl=en&sa=X&ei=kV1JU9ugOoWFyQHS8oGQDg&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Madame%20Du%20Pont%20Nugent&f=false
Given that 'Elizabeth' was the first name of the mother of all three children on their christening entries, and that 'Edmund' was the first name of the father of the two boys, it seems we can accept the tradition among the descendants that Elizabeth Vernon was the mother.
Email 2:
Per his bio in History of Parliament, "Two things seem clear about Edmund
Nugent: he was a rake, and he suffered from ill-health":
http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1754-1790/member/nugent-edmund-1731-71
He does seem to have taken responsibility for his children with Elizabeth Vernon, whether or not they actually had been married, and that is commendable.
We can be certain that the Elizabeth Vernon christened at St Botolph Bishopsgate, London on 24 March 1735 was your ancestor, the mother of Edmund Nugent's children, because her parents are listed as James and Lydia Vernon:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NYFM-DD9
James and Lydia Vernon also had a son Edward christened there on 4 May 1732:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JWQY-XG9
A son Thomas christened there on 23 March 1733:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JS1B-ZJV
And a daughter Louisa christened there on 5 July 1738:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NLN6-724
Finally, a daughter Caroline was christened several years later at St Stephen Coleman Street, London on 5 March 1747/8:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V5JD-BNL
The Maitland website states, "Lydia, nee Purnell, and James Vernon also had two boys, Edward b1732 Bishopsgate, London, and more importantly my ancestor, Thomas b1733 also in Bishopsgate. Thomas married Roxanna and I now know her surname too! Roxanna married a Greek priest in 1770 after Thomas's death. The two boys are older than the three girls. Elizabeth and Caroline were twins b1734 and Louisa the youngest b1738."
This is incorrect about Elizabeth and Caroline having been twins and Louisa the youngest. The account of the family in Burke's Landed Gentry in 1894 makes no such claim about them:
https://archive.org/stream/genealogicalhera02inburk#page/2096/mode/2up
The marriage entry for James Vernon and Lydia Purnell on 3 July 1731 at St James Clerkenwell is here:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V52M-FRQ
Attached is the will of Lydia Purnell Vernon. It is 5 pages, each a pdf file. Unfortunately, the handwritten script is hard to make out clearly.
Luckily, there was a case in Chancery regarding the will, so details of it have been written up in Law Journals. This one mentions Elizabeth Dupont. "Mrs. Dupont, Mrs. Vernon's third child, died without children, in -----, but had made a will, by which she bequeathed whatever she was entitled to under her mother's will, to Daniel Mackinnon, her great-nephew":
http://books.google.ca/books?id=aYgsAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA162&dq=caroline+vernon+dewar&hl=en&sa=X&ei=R8JNU7y_G6Tm2QWv7oGoCA&ved=0CEQQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=caroline%20vernon%20dewar&f=false
Frustratingly, the report does not provide Elizabeth
Dupont's date of death. It would be great to track down her will, if possible,
but a search through the P.C.C. database has not yet yielded it.
Email 3:
The christening record of Elizabeth Vernon's mother Lydia Purnell on 14 August
1714 at St John Hackney is here:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NPSP-4HH
The will of Lydia's mother Angela Purnell of St John Hackney, dated 5 April 1757, is 2 pages and attached. In it she mentions "Lydia Vernon widow of James Vernon Esq." as one of her children.
The burial record of Angela Purnell on 10 April 1757 at St John Hackney is also attached (entry is 4th down on left page).
Angela mentions among her children in her will "Edward Purnell of London Merchant". His christening record on 15 April 1713 at St John Hackney is here:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NYRM-SJH
The other son Angela mentions in her will is "George Purnell Merchant now in the East Indies". His christening record on 20 December 1715 at St John Hackney is here:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NPSP-M5T
The burial record of Lydia Purnell Vernon's father "John Purnel Gentleman" on 13 September 1743 at St John Hackney is also attached (entry is 16th down on left page).
The death notice in Gentleman's Magazine for John Purnell reads (p. 498), under September 8, "John Purnell, Esq; aged 86, Consul for many Years at Aleppo":
http://books.google.ca/books?id=GXBIAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA498&dq=john+purnell+1743&hl=en&sa=X&ei=EpNOU9_IKIbi2gXBjIGIAQ&ved=0CCwQ6AEwADgU#v=onepage&q=john%20purnell%201743&f=false
You would think that a man of John Purnell's age and profession would have left a will, but I cannot locate one for him in Ancestry. Perhaps it is mis-indexed.
John Purnell was English Consul at Aleppo from 1717-1727, per this list:
http://books.google.ca/books?id=wN-UEPS8pvgC&pg=PA70&lpg=PA70&dq=John+Purnell+1717-1727&source=bl&ots=svBIOV7ioI&sig=f3CldEJ9VMCGC3yVvmoCN6H4H8k&hl=en&sa=X&ei=g5lOU_WDMYaD2AX204HACw&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=John%20Purnell%201717-1727&f=false
Notice that the English Consul who followed immediately after him at Aleppo, from 1727-1733, was Daniel Boumeester. This was apparently Purnell's son-in-law, for Angela Purnell names as one of her children in her 1757 will "Anna Sophia Boumeester Widow of Daniel Boumeester deceased".
Here is the christening record on 16 October 1708 at St Olave Hart Street, London, for Anna Sophia Purnell:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NG1X-P29
I cannot locate a marriage for Lydia Purnell's parents, so I
don't know the maiden name of her mother Angela, which is a shame. But at least
we have enough now to form a relatively good picture of Lydia's immediate
family.
Email 4:
It seems Burke's, as happens often enough, is incorrect as to the death date of Edward Vernon, "Merchant of London", father of James Vernon.
Edward Vernon did indeed have associations with Aleppo - including as you point out, the fact that his son James Vernon married in 1731 the daughter of the recent English Consul there. At the time Aleppo was part of Turkey 'The Ottoman Empire'.
The burial record for "Mr Edward Vernon a Turkey Merchant" on 13 February 1733 at St Botolph Aldgate is attached (the entry is about halfway down the left side page).
The will of "Edward Vernon of London Merchant" is also attached. The fact that it was proved 11 February 1733, two days before Edward's burial, and that he makes his son James Vernon the executor and chief beneficiary, shows that not only is this will a match to the burial entry above, but also that this is the will of the Edward Vernon, ancestor of Field Marshal Sir George Nugent, that we need.
It's interesting that the will was proved before Edward was buried. As the will was written about five months prior to the burial, perhaps Edward did die in Aleppo and his body was brought home for burial? '1742' as Burke's has could be a mistake for '1732'?
In addition to James, Edward makes bequests to "Edward my Son by my last Wife Ann deceased", and to "Elizabeth Wife of my Son Henry deceased".
It stands to reason that Edward's wife would have been buried in the same church as he was laid to rest. The burial entry for "Mrs Ann Vernon" on 31 October 1717 at St Botolph Aldgate is also attached (entry is 12th down on left side page).
Also attached is the document of Edward, son of Henry Vernon of Hilton, Staffordshire, Gent., being apprenticed in September 1683 to "Peter Paravirlin"(? - the surname is really hard to make out), a merchant taylor of London.
The marriage of "Edward Vernon Batch.[elor] and Ann Wildman Sp.[inster] both of Stepney[?]" on 29 May 1694 at St Botolph Aldgate is also attached.
An Edward Vernon, son of Edward and Ann Vernon, was christened at St Botolph Aldgate on 10 September 1713. This works well chronologically to be the son Edward whom Edward Vernon leaves a bequest in his 1732 will - the son Edward would have been age 19 then, if the same Edward as the christening entry:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JMW9-B8J
Edward Vernon also in his will mentions a deceased son Henry Vernon. There is a Henry Vernon, son of Edward and Elizabeth Vernon, christened 10 September 1693 at St Botolph Aldgate:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JQLW-VQ2
Edward Vernon refers in his will to his "last wife Ann". He could have had a previous wife Elizabeth who died, probably in giving birth to his son Henry. However, there are two other sons of Edward & Elizabeth Vernon christened at St Botolph Aldgate, Edward in 1694 and George in 1695, which don't reconcile with Edward Vernon's marriage to Ann Wildman in May 1694:
https://familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&query=%2Bsurname%3AVernon~%20%2Bbatch_number%3AC02555-5
There is an Ann Wildman christened 25 October 1674 at St Giles Cripplegate, London. She works well chronologically and geographically to have been Edward Vernon's wife, but much more info is needed before we can be certain:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JMWJ-MHV
And more research is required into Edward Vernon the
merchant, as his family is still cloudy. And nowhere can I locate a christening
record for James Vernon, son of Edward Vernon, in the appropriate time period.
It's quite possible, given his father's mercantile profession, that James was
born abroad, perhaps in Turkey.
5/12/2000, edited.
6/6/2001: HTML saved from Word
6/10/2001: Mrs ALV death notice/obituary.
10/12/2001: Leveson note.
22/1/2003: Atcherleys, Hilton info. ALV obit.
28/1/2003: Burkes info on ancestors.
28/3/2003: Appendices
3/12/2003: edited and additions to RLV
25/5/2007: reformatted
21/4/2009: Added RLV hunting reports.
21/9/2011: edited
11/10/2012: Combined Vernon appendix & other small additions.
11/2/2014: minor additions
4/9/2014: Nugent emails & wills.
21/1/2020: layout edited