There is little point in repeating the tales of old that ‘attached’ by intermarriage the family of Egerton to the Earls of Chester. Neither is it safe to give undue credence to the genealogies given in such as Burke, copyest of earlier works and transmitter of their mistaken assumptions. The earlier part of the following construction of the Egerton pedigree is at least feasible, a remark that may be apt to the pedigrees of associated families. However, the general point is missed. These families were so intermarried that in one sense they were the same family, acting on behalf of its various sub-divisions; indeed, many of these families probably shared common ancestors hidden by the fog of time. In what follows, I have not detailed the many instances of step-siblings marrying; of a relict marrying her deceased husband’s cousin, etc., as the sheer complexity of such an account would overwhelm, and add little to the general sense of a deeply-intermarried kinship group that circled the premier Egerton lords, seeking furtherance by closer association.

As an aid to understanding the structure of any English kinship group, the method of seeing it through the prism of it premier family is not to be equalled – its gravity clearly attracting those in its orbit and their origins – as the Bennetts to the Harris in Virginia. Such ‘solar systems’ of association conquered the vast wilderness of early Virginia; indeed, nothing less than their combined resource could have. The myth of individual enterprise outside its framework of support is but a latter-day political invention. When Geffrey or Rachel Minshull, as follow, stood on New World soil, they did so with a sound sense of their family’s past and assistance from kin, factors that gave strength to combat the many trials facing them. In what follows, I have also omitted the many instances of marriages to a sole heiress – interbreeding had resulted in extinction of many male lines.

1. Philip, high-sheriff of Cheshire, temp. Edw. I., possessed the manor of Egerton, near Malpas, Cheshire.
2. David de Malpas, alias Egerton.
3. Philip, sheriff of Cheshire, 1308.
4. David de Malpas, alias Egerton, sheriff of Cheshire (1311 and 1333), m. Isabel, dau. of Richard Fairhurst, of Crewe, esq.
5 Philip Egerton.
6. Ellen Egerton, m. Sir William Brereton.
7. Isabel Egerton, m. Sir John Delves.

5 Urian Egerton, m. Amelia, dau. of John Warburton, of Warburton, Esq.
6. John Egerton.
7. Sir John Egerton, killed at battle of Blore-Heath, Stafford, Sept. 1459, m. Margaret, dau. of Sir John Fitton, of Cheshire.
8. Philip Egerton, m. Margaret Mainwaring, dau. of William Mainwaring and Margaret Warenne.
9. John Egerton, m. Elizabeth, dau. of Hugh Done, of Oulton, Esq.
10. Philip Egerton, of Egerton and Oulton, m. Jane, dau. of Sir Gilbert Smith, of Cuerdley.

11. Margaret Egerton, m. Hugh Starkey, d. 1500. ‘Hic jacet corpora Hugonis Starkey de Olton armi et Margaret uxoris ejus’. The tomb once bore two brass effigies, with armorial bearings. The Starkeys appear to have been persons of great influence and station at one time. They resided at a place called Darley Hall, which stood at the back of the present Oulton Hall, and which was pulled down by Mr. Egerton many years ago. Oulton Park and demesne were their property, and they held the manor of Knights Grange, the manor of Olton, one-third of the manor of Erdswick, and lands in Minshull Vernon’. (Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, vol. 7, p. 36, 1855).
12. Hugh Starkey, by Will dated July 3, 1526, leaves ‘£5 towarde byying off bells to Budworth Church’.
12. Elizabeth Starkey, m. Thomas Brooke, of Dutton; his mon. there bes. the Warburtons.
13. Elizabeth Brooke, m. Richard Walker of Lee Green, safely assumed to be of the family of Thomas Walker, of Lee Grene (in Minshull Vernon), who m. Elizabeth Egerton; their dau. m. Thomas Minshull of Erdswick (in Minshull), as follows.
13. Christian Brooke, m. Richard Starkey of Appleton and Stretton, d. 1461, second wife.
14. Geoffrey Starkey, of of the Lower Hall in Stretton, m. Joan, dau. of Roger Derbie of Chester.
15. Richard Starkey, d. 1527, requested to be ‘buryed in the channcell of the pisshe church of Budworth where my gr’nte fadr and my fadr be buryed’, named ‘my sonnes Richard and Peyrs … my sone Thomas’.
16. Richard Starkey.
16. Thomas Starkey.
17. Richard Starkey.
17. John Starkey, m. Anne Litler (in Budworth), dau. of Christopher Litler, and sister of William Litler, bapt. Dec. 14, 1604.

18. George Starkey, bapt. 1613 (Budworth), m. Margaret Minshull, 1638, likely sister of John Minshull, father of John Minshull, bapt. Feb. 29, 1640, father of Rachel Minshall, bapt. April 30, 1679, who m (1) Thomas Taylor (1700, in Philadelphia), (2) Samuel Littler (July 31, 1707, in Maryland), (3) Thomas Oldham (1728, in Pennsylvania). John Minshull, father of Rachel, is shown has a landholder in Appleton under the Warburtons of Arley, together with Thomas Warburton, of Hillcliffe, Mary Wright, for Southerne’s Land; John Webster, of Appleton; and Joseph Watts. (See Daniel King, et al. The History of Cheshire, vol. 2. p. 663, 1778). The families of Southerne, Watts, and Webster were intermarried with the Starkeys). Thomas Oldham was likely of the Cheshire family of Jonathon Oldham, the administrator of the estate of John Oldham, merchant, of Cheshire, England, Aug. 22, 1698, Philip Andrew being security. John Oldham died intestate, and is recorded in the grant of administration as having land in Pennsylvania. (See also Boome v Cholmondeley. Plaintiffs: Ralph Boome. Defendants: Francis Cholmondeley, Thomas Minshull, Mary Brookes, Robert Hyde, Daniel Barker and Thomas Oldham and others. Subject: money matters, Cheshire. 1695. (C 10/532/7). 1. Thomas Cholmondeley m. Elizabeth Minshull, dau. of John Minshull and Frances Egerton, as follows. 2. Thomas Cholmondeley, m. Jane, dau. of Sir Lionel Tollemache, 2nd Bt. 3. Mary Cholmondeley, m. John Egerton, of Egerton and Oulton, Esq. 2. Francis Cholmondeley, 1635-1713.

17. Sibilla Starkey, Sir John Warburton, of Warburton and Arley.
18. Sir Piers Warburton, lord of above, and of Budworth and Appleton, etc.
19. Jane Warburton, m. Sir William Brereton, of Brereton.
19. Anne Warburton, m. Sir Edward Fitton, of Gawsworth.
19. Sir John Warburton, bur. at Great Budworth.
20. Peter Warburton, Esq., m. Mary, dau. of Sir John Holcroft, of Holcroft.
21. Jane Warburton, m. William Brereton, of Ashley.
21. Isabel Warburton, m. Sir Edward Stanley, of Bickerstaffe.
21. Eleanor Warburton, m. Thomas Marbury, of Marbury (a cousin of the Starkeys).

11. Sir Philip Egerton, m. Eleanor, dau. of Sir Randal Brereton, of Ipstone, chamberlain of Cheshire and Flintshire.
12. John Egerton, Esq., m. Jane, dau. of Piers Mostyn, of Talacre, co. of Flint, Esq.; that is, Piers ap Richard ap Hywel, d. 1580, third son of Richard ap Howel (d. 1539) and Catherine, dau. of Thomas Salusbury, of Lleweni, Denbighshire, and Margaret, dau. of Morys Wynn, Esq., of Gwydir. Piers was the br. of Thomas Mostyn, d. 1558, whose eldest son, William, d. 1576, was sheriff of Flintshire three times. His eldest son by his first wife (Margred, dau. of Robert Powel of Parc-y-Drewen, Whittington) was Thomas Mostyn, d. 1618. Margred was the granddau. of Thomas Powell, Sheriff of Shropshire (d. 1588) and Mary, dau. of Sir Robert Corbet of Moreton Corbet. and Elizabeth Vernon; and the sister of Blanche Powell, who m. Thomas Williams of Wollaston (Willaston).
12. Elizabeth, m. Sir William Stanley, of Hooton, co. Chester.
12. Sir John Egerton, b. 1551, d. 1614; m. Margaret, dau. of Sir Rowland Stanley, of Hooton. He was of Egerton and Oulton, Cheshire and Wrinehill, Staffs.
13. Frances Egerton, m. John Minshull, Esq., d. 1654, of Church Minshull.
14. Elizabeth, sole dau. and heir of John Minshull, Esq. He was the son of a namesake, and br. of Catherine, the second wife of John Poole (Pole), Esq. (his first being Susan, dau. of Sir John Fitton of Gawsworth), by whom he had issue: John Poole, esq., who m. Mary, dau. of Sir Rowland Stanley.

6. David de Egerton. d. 1352, m. Jane Pichard, of Almaly.
7. Ralph de Egerton.
8. William de Egerton, d. 1421, m. a dau. of John Hawkestone, and Annabella Bromley.
9. Ralph de Egerton, of Wrinehill, m. Elizabeth, dau. of Randle Mainwaring, of Over Peover, and Margery de Venables.
10. Hugh Egerton, m. (1443) Margaret Dutton, sister of Sir Thomas Dutton, the half-br. of William Mainwaring.
11. John Egerton, d. 1518. m. … Cotes. He subsequently m. Eleanor Brereton, dau. of Sir Randle Brereton and Katherine Bulkeley.
Eleanor’s sister, Elizabeth, m. Sir Randall Mainwaring, of Over Peover (d. 1557); having issue: Margaret Mainwaring, who m. Sir Arthur Mainwaring of Ightfield, Sheriff of Shropshire; their dau. Elizabeth Mainwaring, m. Peter Shakerley, of Hulme (d.1553), having issue: Eleanor Shakerley, wife of Thomas Minshull, of Erdswick, as follows.
12. Elizabeth Egerton, m. Thomas Walker, of Lee Grene (in Minshull).
13. Margaret Walker, m. Thomas Minshull of Erdswick (ob. 1556), son of William Minshull of Erdswick (d 1558) and Margaret Fitton (d. 1555), dau. of Thomas Fitton of Pownall. She was the relict of James Mainwaring, son of Charles Mainwaring of Croxton, Esq. Thomas Fitton, aet. 35 in 1476, d. 1507, had m. Cicely, dau. of Hugh Mainwaring of Croxton. Thomas Fitton was the son of John Fitton, and Ellen, dau. of Lawrence Fitton, of Gawsworth, who m. ca. 1440, per heraldic glass in Gawsworth Church. (See John Parsons Earwaker, Cheshire: Past and Present, vol. 1, p. 121, 1887). ‘Pownall, John; asks for licence to alienate the manor of Erdeswik, together with lands in Wrenbury and Minshull Vernon to Ralph Vernon, Esq., Thomas Pull, son of Sir Thomas Pull, Jordan Stafford, Robert Dokenfeld, Thomas Roode junior, and Richard Starky, son of Geoffiry Starky, to hold during the life of Thomas Fitton, of Pownall, with remainder to the heirs male of the said Thomas Fitton, and, failing them, to his daughter Margaret and her heirs by her husband, Jacob Mainwaring, son of Charles Mainwaring, of Croxton, and, failing them, to the heir and assigns of the said Margaret Licence granted on payment of fine of 20 marks, the annual value of the lands not exceeding 22/. Charles Mainwaring and Hugh Hurleton, sureties for payment of the fine’. (Hen. 7. Reports from Commissioners, vol. 27, p. 27, 1865).
Thus, a most common feature is evidenced – consanguineous links that became weaker over time, were continuosly strengthened by the intermarriage of distant cousins.

14. Thomas Minshull, of Erdswick, m. Elenor Shakerley.
15. Peter Minshull, of Erdswick (obit. 1640), m. Mary, dau. of Rowland Dutton, of Hatton, son of Sir Ralf Dutton (ob. 1587), and Ann Townshend, of Ludlow.
16. Thomas Minshull, of Erdswick, ca. 1615-1657, m. Jane, dau of Sir Edward Fitton, of Gawsworth.
16. Katherine Minshull, m. Christopher Collier, of Yarlett, son of Sir Robert Collier and 3rd wife, Agnes Venables; his second wife being (m. 1552), Agnes Mainwaring, dau. of Henry Mainwaring.
16. Geffrey Minshull, b. ca. 1620. (Vis. Cheshire, 1663, Minshull of Erdswick).
11. Ralph Egerton, d. 1522.
12. William Egerton, d. 1600, m. Jane, dau. of Sir Thomas Lacon,and Maria Corbet.

(1. John Townshend of Raynham (d. 1465).
1.1. Sir Roger Townshend (obit. 1493, judge) m. Eleanor, dau. of William Lunsford, of Battle.
1.1.1. Sir Roger Townshend, of Raynham (obit. 1551) m. Anne (obit. 1551), dau. of William de Brewse, of Wenham Hall.
1.1.1.1. John Townshend, of Brampton (dvp), m. Eleanor, dau. of Sir John Heydon, of Braconsthorpe.
1.1.1.1.1. Richard Townshend, of Brampton (obit. 1544), m. Catherine, dau. of Sir Humphrey Brown, of Ridley Hall.
1.1.1.1.1.1. Sir Roger Townshend, of Raynham, (obit. 1590), m. Jane, dau of Sir Michael Stanhope, of Shelford.

1.1.1.2. Sir Robert Townshend (obit. 1556, judge in Chester), m. (1516) Alice, dau of Robert Povye, of Twyford.
1.1.1.2.1. Sir Robert Townshend, judge, of Ludlow, m. Anna, dau. of John Machill, alderman of London.
1.1.1.2.1.1. Sir John Townshend, of Ludlow, m. Alice, dau. of Richard Fitzhughes, of Walcot, Oxon. (Fitzhugh family of Virginia).
1.1.1.2.1.1.1. Anne Townshend, m. Reginald Williams of Willaston (d. 1659).
1.1.1.2.2. Thomas Townshend, of Mergate Hall, m. Elizabeth Periante; had issue in Shropshire.
1.1.1.2.3. Ann Townshend, m. Sir Ralf Dutton.
1.1.1.2.3.1. Rowland Dutton, m. Ellena, dau. of Thomas Scriven, of Frodesley, Shropshire, and Elizabeth, dau. of John Leighton, of Wattlesborough, near Alderbury; sister of Cecilia Jenyns, wife of William Jenyns, of Wallyburn, probable aunt of Eleanor, dau. of Rowland Jenyns, wife of Richard Harris, and mother of John Harris, of Cruckton, grandfather of Rowland Harris, of Ludlow, who m. Jane Langford, they almost certainly the grandparents of William and Mary Harris (Ligon) 0f Virginia. The Scrivens were lords of Frodesley Manor as a result of John Scriven, bailiff of Salop in 1402-6, marrying, Joanna, heiress of John Henaud; whose family held Frodesley in 1230. (Eyton’s Antiq. of Shropshire, vol. xi, p. 81).
1.1.1.2.3.1.1. Mary Dutton, m. Peter Minshull, of Erdswick (in MinshullVernon, temp. Henry 4, held by Fittons ).
1.1.1.2.3.1.1.1. Geffrey Minshull (per. Vis.), b. ca. 1615-1620. Perhaps he of Northampton Co., Virginia. in 1651. When inspecting all other possibilities, to the level of monumental inscriptions, he is the only one that can not be disproven, I suggest.
1.1.1.2.3.1.1.1.1. Rowland MinshulL (perhaps named after his grandfather).

They were all taken to church as children, where their attention would have been directed to the armorials on display. They were acutely aware of which family’s arms quartered their own, and of the quarterings of those families. They had a sense of historic continuity, taken with them and propagated in the New World.

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