General history: Gentry families of uncertain survival

Families of whom it has not been ascertained whether they are or are not extinct.

Abell, of Stapenhill. This family was among those who proved their right to arms at the Visitation in 1611; but no pedigree of it is given in that Visitation. It is believed to be extinct: there are no traces of it at Stapenhill.

Arms: — Argent, on a saltier, engrailed, Azure, nine fleurs de lis of the field.

Alestrey or Allestrey, of Turndich, Alvaston, a.nd Walton. — This ancient family is mentioned in deeds of the thirteenth century by the name of De Adlardestre or Alastre, from the village now called Allestrey, the original place of their residence. They were at that time retainers to the Lords Audley. The elder branch had been some time settled at Turndich at the time of the visitation of 1634; but probably was extinct before that of 1662, in which only the younger branch, settled for four descents at Alvaston, is mentioned. There were then numerous descendants. Dr. Richard Allestrey, a divine of some note in the seventeenth century, was grandson of William Allestrey of Alvaston: his father lived at Uppington in Shropshire. William Allestrey, Esq., of Walton, was sheriff of the county in 1683.

Arms of Allestrey of Turndich: — Argent, a chief; Gules, over all a bend, Azure, charged with three escutcheons, Or, with chiefs, Gules. The Alvaston branch bore the escutcheons, Gules, with chiefs, Or, and a martlet for difference.

Asshenhurst, of Beard-hall. — Married the elder coheiress of Beard, Three descents are described in the Visitation of 1662. Randle Ashenhurst, the representative of the family, was then 77 years of age, and had several sons.

Arms: — Or, a cockatrice, the tail nowed, with a serpent's head, Sable, the comb, wattles, and head, Gules; in his beak a trefoil, Vert.

Crest: — A cockatrice, as in the arms.

Ashton, of Killamarsh. — Descended from Sir John Ashton, a natural son of Sir John Ashton of Ashton-under-line.Godfrey was the representative of this family at the time of Flower's visitation in 1569; he was married, but does not appear to have then had any issue.

Arms: — Arg., a mullet, Sable, a baton sinister, Gules.

Crest: — A mower with his scythe; his face and hands, Proper; his cap and habit counter-changed, Arg. and Sab., the handle of the scythe Or, the blade, Arg., as in action.

Atherley, of Derby. — Three descents are described in the Visitation of 1634.

Arms: — Argent, on a bend, Azure, three lozenges of the field, each charged with a pheon, Gules.

Barnsley, of Alkmanton, descended from Worcestershire, settled at Alkmanton soon after the Reformation. The estate was sold about the latter end of the seventeenth century,

Arms: — Sable, a cross between four roses, slipped, Argent.

Crest: — A man's head, full face, with lank hair.

Bennet, of Little-Over and Snelston. — Three descents are described in Dugdale's Visitation. Gervase Bennet of Snelston, aged 50, in 1662, married a coheiress of Rowe, and had a son, Robert. The estate was sold in 1682.

Arms: —Argent, a cross, Gules, charged with a bezant, between four demi-lions rampant, Gules, each holding a bezant.

Birom, of Hulland and Ashborne-green. — Three descents are described in Dugdale's Visitation. George Birom married the heiress of Hurt, of Ashborne-green, and had a son, George, aged nine in 1662.

Arms: — Argent, on a chevron, between three hedgehogs, Sable, three plates.

Crest: — A hedge-hog, Sable.

Blythe, of Norton. — William Blythe, of Norton, father of John Blythe, Bishop of Salisbury, and of Geffrey Blythe, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry had a grant of arms in the reign of Hen. VII. Charles Blythe, his descendant, sold his estate at Norton in 1624. A junior branch continued at Norton-Lees till a later date: the representatives of this branch now reside at Birmingham. In Dugdale's Visitation there is a pedigree with five descents of the family of Blithe, of Burchet in Dronfield, bearing the same arms. Charles Blithe, the representative of this branch, was seven years of age in 1662.

Arms: — Ermine, three roebucks trippant, Gules, attired, Or.

Crest: — On a wreath, a roebuck's head, erased, Gules, attired, Or, gorged with a chaplet, Vert.

Bonnington, of Barrowcote. — This family was of Barrowcote in the reign of Henry IV. Ralph Bonnington, its representative, was aged 30 in 1662, and had two younger brothers. The estate was sold not long afterwards.

Arms: — Sable, a chevron between three roses, Or.

Bradbourn, of Bradbourn, of the Hough, and Lea-hall. — Goddard de Bradbourn was of Bradbourn in the reign of Henry III.; his great-greatgrandson is described as of the Hogh. John, the fifth in descent from this Roger, married a coheiress of Cotton of Rid ware. William Bradbourn, Esq., who was of the Hough in 1569, had five younger brothers: the estate was sold before 1600.

Arms: — Arg., on a bend, Gules, three mullets, pierced, Or.

Crest: — A pine-tree, fructed, Vert.

Bradbury, of Ollerset. — This family was of Ollerset as early as the reign of Henry VI. Edward Bradbury, the representative of the family, was 27 years of age in 1662, and had several younger brothers.

Arms: — Sable, a chevron, Ermine, between three round buckles, Argent, the tongues pendent; a fleur-delis for difference, Or.

Browne, of Marsh-hall. — This family was for some descents of Whitfield in Glossop, before they removed to Marsh-hall. Nicholas, 11 years of age at the time of the Visitation of 1611, had a younger brother Thomas.

Arms: — Argent, on a chevron, Gules, three roses of the field.

Crest: — A lion rampant, Argent, ducally crowned, Or, supporting a tilting-spear, Proper, headed, Argent.

Browne, of Snelston. — Three descents of this family are described in the Visitation of 1569. William, the representative, was then n years of age, and had a younger brother. The heiress of Shirley, of Stanton in Leicestershire, married into this family.

Arms: — Sable, three lions passant in bend, between two cottises, Argent; in chief, a trefoil, slipped, Ermine.

Crest: — A griffon's head erased, Sable, ears, beak, and collar, Orj beneath the collar, a trefoil, slipped, Ermine.

Browne, of Hungry.Bentley. — Two descents are described in Dugdale's Visitation. They sold the neighbouring manor of Alkmanton in 1727.

Arms: — Ermine, on a fesse embattled counter-embattled, Sable, three escallops, Argent.

Crest: — Out of a mural crown, Gules, a stork's head, Ermine.

Bulkeley, of Stapenhill, descended from the Bulkeleys of Leeke in Staffordshire. John Bulkdey, the representative, in 1662 was aged 12, and had younger brothers.

Arms: — Sable, two chevronels between three bulls' heads caboshed, Argent; a canton, Or.

Chaloner of Duffield. — Four descents of this family are described in Vincent's Derbyshire, 1634. Thomas, the son and heir, was then 15 years of age. It is probable that William Chaloner, Esq., of Boylstone, who died in 1665, and whose heiress married the Reverend Thomas Gilbert, was of this family.

Arms: — Azure, a chevron engrailed, between three cherubs heads, Argent.

Crest: — A cherub, Argent.

Charleton, of Risley and Breaston. — Four descents are described in Dugdale's Visitation. John Charleton, the representative, was 33 years of age in 1662, and had two sons.

Arms: — Azure, on a chevron, Or, between three swans, Argent, as many cinquefoils, Gules.

Crest: — A swan's head erased, Argent, bill, Gules, gorged with a chaplet, Vert.

Cocks, of Stapenhill. — Four descents of this family are described in Dugdale's Visitation. John Cocks, the representative, in 1662 was aged 36, and had a son, of his own name, two years of age. There are no traces of this family now at Stapenhill.

Arms: — Argent, on a chief, Gules, two roses of the field.

Colwich, of Styd and Darley-moor. — Three descents of this family are described in Dugdale's Visitation: they settled at Styd in 1559. Francis Colwich, the representative, was 23 years of age in 1662.

Arms: — Argent, a fesse, between three bats displayed, Sable.

Curteis, of Somerleis and Dronfield. — Four descents are described in Dugdale's Visitation. Robert Curteis, of Somerleis, the representative was 16 years of age in 1662.

Arms: — Party per saltire, Arg. and Sable, four bears passant, counter-changed; in the centre, a bezant.

Dalton, of Derby. — Two descents only are described in the Visitation of 1662. John Dalton, then aged 52, had two sons.

Arms: — Semée of cross-crosslets, a lion rampant, (the colours not expressed.)

Deane, of Matlock, afterwards of Beeley, descended from the Deanes, of Deane-hall, in Cheshire. — Five descents are described in the Visitation of 1611. Edward Deane, then living had a son, Robert, 13 years of age. This family removed to Ashborne, became reduced, and is supposed to be extinct.

Arms:-Or, a fesse dancettée; in chief, three crescents, Gules.

Draycot, of Loscoe. — This family was originally of Draycote, in Staffordshire: they seem to have settled at Loscoe, about the latter end of the fifteenth century. John Draycot, of Loscoe, who was aged 28 in 1662, had three sons. A younger branch was of Crofthill in North-Winfield in 1708.

Arms: — Paly of six, Or and Gules, a bend, Ermine.

Crest: — A dragon's head erased, Gules.

Fox, of Youlgrave. — Three persons of this name are mentioned in the list of Gentry temp. Hen. VI.; but none of them then settled at Youlgrave. The Youlgrave estate was sold in 1711, by Francis Fox, who had a son then living, 11 years of age. The family is supposed to be extinct.

Arms: — Or, a chevron, Gules, between three foxes' heads erased, Azure.

Crest: — A fox passant, Azure.

Greensmith, of Steeple-grange near Wirksworth. — Robert Greensmith, Esq., was sheriff in 1715.

Arms granted in 1714: — Vert, on a fesse, Or, between three doves close, Argent, beaked and legged, Gules, each with an ear of wheat in its bill, of the second, as many pigs of lead, Azure.

Crest: — A like dove, Arg., beaked, and legged, Gules, with an ear of wheat in its bill, Or, standing on a pig of lead, Azure.

Gregson, of Turndich. — This family had been for three generations at Turndich in 1662, when Henry Gregson, its representative, was twentyfive years of age. They had been before for two generations of Sherowhall in this county in consequence of a match with the heiress of Twyford. This family is supposed to be extinct.

Arms: — Argent, a saltier, Gules; a canton, cheeky, Or and Azure.

Crest: — A cubit arm, erect, vested,. Arg., charged with three bends wavy, Sable, holding in the hand, Proper, a battle-axe, Sable, the blade, Or.

Hacker, of Sawley. — Two generations of this family, which came from Yeovil in Somersetshire, are given in the Visitation of 1611, when John Hacker the son and heir was 12 years of age, and had a younger brother. No arms are described.

Hunt, of Ashover, afterwards of Aston-on-Trent. This ancient family was of Ashover as early as the reign of Henry III. They removed to Aston in the reign of Henry VIII. Their descendant sold their estates in the last-mentioned parish about a century ago.

Arms: — Argent, a bugle horn, Sable, stringed, Vert; on a chief, Gules, three mullets pierced, of the field.

Crest: — A bugle horn, as in the arms.

Jackson, of Bubnell. — Three generations are described in the Visitation of 1662.

Arms, as described, but said not to have been proved: — Argent, a lion passant, Gules, on a chief of the second, three battle-axes of the field.

Johnson, of Horsley and Kilburn. — Three descents are described in the Visitation of 1611. Patrick Johnson was at that time the representative. The arms are not described.

Kinardsley, of Brailsford. — Three descents are described in the Visitation of 1611. John Kinardsley had then a son, Edward.

Arms: — Argent, a fesse vaire O. and G., between three eagles displayed, of the last.

Lathbury, of Holme. — Five descents of this family (a younger branch of the Lathburys of Egginton) are described in the Visitation of 1611. Francis Lathbury had then a son, William, aged ten, and two younger sons.

Arms:— Argent, two bars, Azure; on a canton of the second, a martlet, Or.

Lister, of Little-Chester. — Eight generations of this family are described in the Visitation of 1611. Anthony Lister, then the representative, had two sons, John and Anthony. John, the elder, was nine years of age. John Lister, the fourth in descent, married the heiress of Meysham of Eaton.

Arms: — Ermine, on a fesse, Sable, three mullets, Argent.

Crest: — A buck's head erased, Proper.

Lovett, of Derby. — A younger branch of Lovett of Stanton in Leicestershire. John Lovett, of Derby, was thirty-seven years of age in 1663.

Arms: — Argent, three wolves passant, Gules.

Crest: — A wolf's head, erased, Sable.

Needham, of Thornsett, Snitterton, and Cowley, in Darley. — Six generations of this family, descended from that of the same name in Cheshire, are described in the Visitation of 1611, at which time there appeared no probability of the male line becoming extinct. The heiresses of Cadman and Garlick married into this family.

Arms: — Argent, a bend, engrailed, Azure, between two bucks heads caboshed, Sable.

Crest: — Out of a palisado coronet, Or, a buck's head, Sable, attired, of the first.

Pecke, of Brampton, a Yorkshire family; there had been only two descents at Brampton at the time of the Visitation in 1611, when Thomas, the son and heir of Thomas Pecke was eight years of age.

Arms: — Argent, on a chevron, Gules, three crosses formée of the field.

Pymme, of Long-Eaton. — Four descents of this family are described in Vincent's Derbyshire, 1634. Christopher, the son and heir, was then eleven years of age. The arms are not given.

Roper, of Turndich and Heanor. — Among the Dodsworth MSS., in the Bodleian library, is a pedigree of this family, with copies of the evidences (fn. n1), which deduces their descent from the Rospers, a younger branch of the Musards. The heiress of the last of this family is said to have married (in the reign of Henry V.) Richard Furneaux (fn. n2), of Beighton, who took the name of Roper. These latter Ropers were of Turndich, and afterwards of Heanor. Samuel Roper, Esq., of Heanor, who married a coheiress of Goodere, died in 1658; his son, Samuel Roper, Esq., was a barrister of Lincoln's-Inn, and 27 years of age in 1662.

Arms: — Sable, an eagle, close, Or.

Crest: — On a chapeau, Gules, turned up, Ermine, a blazing star, Or.

Rossington, of Youlgrave and Scropton.— The Rossingtons of Scropton were allowed by Dugdale to be descended from a younger branch of Rossington ington of Youlgrave, a coheiress of the elder brancli of which family had married Gilbertalias Kniveton, about the beginning of the fifteenth century. Thomas Rossington of Scropton, who was 45 years of age in 1662, had two sons.

Arms:—Argent, afesse between three crescents, Gules.

Crest:—A griffin's head, erased, Gules.

Rye, of Whitwell. — This family settled at Whitwell at a very early period. Edward Rye, who sold the estate in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, had two daughters: it appears, also, that he had two brothers, Roger and John.

Arms:—Gules, on a bend, Ermine, three ears of Rye, Sable.

Crest:— A cubit arm, erect, vested purpure, holding in the hand, Proper, three ears of rye, Or.

Sanders, of Lullington, Caldwell, and Little-Ireton. — Thomas Sanders, of the family of Sanders of Charlwood in Surrey, descended from the ancient family of Sandersted, of Sandersted in that county, settled at Lullington in Derbyshire, and died in 1558; his son and grandson were of Caldwell. Before their removal into Derbyshire, the heiresses or coheiresses of Salomon, Collenden of Horley, Odworth, and Carew, married into this family. Collingwood Sanders, who died in 1653, Married the heiress of Sleigh of Little-Ireton; his son, Thomas Sanders, who was a colonel in the parliamentary army, removed to that place, and purchased the estate of the Iretons there. Samuel Sanders, son of Thomas, made collections for the History of Derbyshire, and died in the year 1688, leaving two sons, John and Samuel; his younger brother, Thomas, who died in 1695, had a son, Joseph. We have not been able to trace this ancient family further with any certainty.

Arms: — Sable, on a chevron, Ermine, between three bulls heads caboshed, Argent, a rose of the field.

Crest:— A demi-bull erased, Sable, charged with a rose, Argent, barbed and seeded, Proper.

Sandford, of Bakewell. — Four descents are described in the Visitation of 1611. William Sandford, then living, had three sons, John, Roger, and William. John, the elder was eight years of age.

Arms: – Ermine, on a chief indented, Sable, three boars heads couped, Or.

Savage, of Castleton, a branch of the Cheshire family of that name. — Five generations are described in the Visitation of 1611. Henry Savage, who was then the representative, had two sons. A coheiress of Stafford, of Eyam, married into, this family.

Arms:— Argent, a pale fuzilly, Sable, a crescent for difference.

Crest: — An unicorn's head, erased, Gules, charged with a crescent.

Shakerley, of Longstone. — This family was settled at Longstone, as early as the reign of Henry VI.: it is probable that they were descended from a younger branch of the Cheshire family of that name. Robert Shakerley, first mentioned in the pedigree, married the heiress of Levett. His son Robert's eldest son by his first wife was of Longstone; and had a son, Leonard, who had three sons living in 1569. Robert, son of Robert Shakerley, the younger, by his second wife, was of Herber-hill, in the parish of Chesterfield, and had two sons.

Arms: — Argent, on a chevron, Gules, between three bundles of rushes, Vert, banded, Or, a mullet of the last.

Shepherd, alias Thwattes, of Miln-hay in Heanor, and of Remerston, about the time of Henry IV. Three generations only are described in the Visitation of 1611. Dr. Pegge speaks of the heir of this family as being nine years of age in 1708.

Arms: — Argent, on a fesse, Sable, between three fleursde-lis, Gules, as many bezants.

Crest: — A hind's head.

Smith, of Derby. — Four descents of this family are described in Vincent's Derbyshire, 1634.

Arms: — Azure, a chevron, Or, between three leopards' heads erased of the second, charged with pellets.

Crest: — A ship, Gules.

Smith, of Denby. — Matthew Smith, Esq., of this family, was sheriff of the county in 1685.

Arms granted in 1685: — Per chevron, Azure and Or, three escallop-shells, counter-changed.

Crest: — An escallop-shell, per fesse, Or and Azure.

Stone, of Carsington. — Four generations are described in the Visitation of 1611; Robert Stone, then of Carsington, had by his wife a son, Thomas, 28 years of age, and by his second wife a son, Anthony. This family is supposed to be extinct. The arms are not described.

Stringer, of Norton. — Thomas Stringer, a younger son of a Yorkshire family, was of Norton in 1611: he is supposed to have died without issue.

Arms: — Sable, three eagles displayed, Erminois.

Crest: — An eagle's head erased, Erminois.

Tunsted, of Tunsted. — It appears that this family was of Tunsted in the reign of Henry VI. James Tunsted, of Tunsted, was aged 61 in 1664: his son Francis, aged 32, is described in Dugdale's Visitation as a citizen of London.

Arms: — Sable, three doves (fn. n3), Argent.

Wagstaffe, of Hasland. — This family appears to have been of Glossop in the reign of Henry VI., afterwards of North-Winfield, and of Hasland in Chesterfield. Anthony Wagstaffe, living at Hasland in 1611, had three sons.

Arms, confirmed by St. George in 1611: — Argent, two bends raguly, Sable, the lower one couped at the top.

Crest: — Out of a ducal coronet, Or, a staff couped and raguly, erect, Sable.

Wakelin, or WALKELIN, of Rosleston, Bretby, and Hilton. — A branch of a Northampton shire family. John Wakelin, of Hilton, was 42 years of age in 1663.

Arms: — Argent, on a cross, Sable, five lions rampant, Or.

Crest: — A lion rampant, Or, holding a tulip, Gules, the leaves Vert.

White, of Duffield. — William White, son of John White, of Bere in Dors etshire, settled at Duffield about the year 1600. William White, of Duffield, his son, married a coheiress of Talbot, of Yorkshire.

Arms: — Gules, a chevron Argent, between three goats' heads, couped, of the second, attired, Or.

Crest: — A goat's head, Gules, attired, Or; in his mouth an oak-branch, Vert, fructed, Or.

Wigfall, of Charter-hall. — Four descents of this family are described in Vincent's Derbyshire, 1634. William, the heir of, the family, was then two years of age.

Wigfall, of Renishaw. — Three descents of this family are described in the Visitation of 1662. John, the representative of this branch, who was then 25 years of age, had a daughter and younger brother.

Arms: — Sable, a sword erect, Argent, hilted, Or; on a chief indented, Gules, a ducal coronet between two escallop-shells, Or.