East Cheshire Past and Present by J. P. Earwaker (1880)

  The following is an extract from the book "East Cheshire Past and Present" by J. P. Earwaker, published in 1880. It includes the sections relating to the townships of Taxal and Yeardsley-cum-Whaley, the Downes and Jodrell families and Taxal Church.

______________________

East Cheshire:

PAST AND PRESENT;
O R
A HISTORY OF THE HUNDRED

of
MACCLESFIELD,
IN THE

 COUNTY PALATINE 

of

CHESTER. 

from original records
B Y
J. P. E A R W A K E R, M. A., F. S. A.

( OF MERTON COLLEGE, OXFORD. )

 
IN TWO VOLUMES - VOLUME II

 
"IF ANY THERE BE WHICH ARE DESIROUS TO BE STRANGERS IN THEIRE OWNE SOILE AND FORRAINERS
IH THEIR OWNE CITIE, THEY MAY SO CONTINUE, AND THEREIN FLATTER THEMSELVES ; FOR SUCH LIKE
I HAVE NOT WRITTEN THESE LINES, NOR TAKEN THESE PAINES."— Camden.

 
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR,
MDCCCLXXX.

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Parish of Taxal. ..  ...  ...   ...  ...   ...  ...  ...  ...   ...   ...  ...  ...  ... 

Taxal Township ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...  ...   ...  
  Downes of Downes and Taxal Pedigree     ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ... 

 
Yeardsley-cum-Whaley Township  ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ... 
  Jodrell of Yeardsley Pedigree  ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ... 


The Church  ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ... 
  The Bells   
...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...                                       The Monumental Inscriptions    ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...                                   The Charities      ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...                                  The  List of Rectors  ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...                                                                                     ---------------------------------------------

 

 PARISH OF TAXAL.

CONTAINING

The Townships of

Taxal and Yeardsley-cum-Whaley.

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 TAXAL is a long, narrow parish, situated on the extreme eastern side of the Hundred of Macclesfield, and bordering upon Derbyshire, from which it is separated by the picturesque river Goit. On the western side it is surrounded by the parish of Prestbury, from which, at an early period, it was probably taken. A range of hills planted with larch and fir on the more sheltered sides, forms the boundary between it and the eastern portion of Prestbury parish.
There is no mention of Taxal in the Domesday Survey, and it was probably then open moorland, subsequently included as part of Macclesfield Forest. Hence much of the land in the parish was held directly from the Earl of Chester by Forest service.

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Taxal Township 

 IN the latter part of the thirteenth century the manor of Taxal was held by Robert De Dunes or Downes, on whose death an Inquisition post mortem was taken at Macclesfield on the 23 Feb., i Edward I. [1273], by which it was returned that he held of the Lord Edward [the King, then Earl of Chester], in capite, the manor of Dounes, and the manor of Tackeshalch, by Forestry, and that John, his son, was next heir, and then twenty -four years of age.(a) This John de Downes appears to have died without issue, and to have been succeeded by his nephew, Edmund de Downes,(b) who was living in 1296, and who presented to Taxal Church in 1316, 1327, and 1331. He married Margery, eldest daughter and heiress of Roger Throsle, of Macclesfield,(c) and by her had a large family, of which Roger de Downes (? the eldest son), who was living in 1307, was dead before 1339. For in that year Queen Isabella granted, that in consideration of the fine which " Edmund, son of Edmund de Downes has made to us, we have pardoned to him as much as in us lies, the transgression which he made in taking to himself and his heirs, from his father, Edmund, a certain bailiwick \ballivani\ of Forestry in our Forest of Macclesfield, with lands, &c., to the same forestership belonging, which are held of us in capite, our licence for the same not having been obtained(d) This Edmund de Downes, the second of that name, obtained in 1342 the following Royal confirmation of his father's settlement, which contains some interesting information(e)—

   Edward, King of England, &c., confirms the donation which Edmund de Downes made to Edmund his son, of the manor of Downes, in the Forest of Macclesfield, and of the manor of Taxhall, together with the advowson ofthe said church in the same Forest, and of the Forestership of the said Forest, and of the rent and services of William, son of the said Edmund de Downes for his lands in Taxhall,(f) so that if the said Edmund should die without heirs male of his body, that then they shall remain to Williatn, brother of the said Edmund, son of Edmund, then to Thotnas, brother of the said William, then to John, brother of Thomas, then to Nic/tolas, brother of John, then to Hugh, brother of Nicholas, then to Henry, brother of Hugh, then to Robert, brother of Henry, with remainder to the right heirs of the said Edmund, son of Edmund, In witness of which we have made these our Letters Patent Dated at Westminster 20 Oct., the i8th of our reign, and of France the fifth [1342.]

(a) General Inquisitions post mortem. — Record Ofiice. The
Jurors' names were, Henry de Birchelis [Birtles], William de
Bosedon, Jordan de Distilegh, Giym de Stanlegh, John de
Horderne, David de Sykelegh (?), Walter de Chinlegh, Adam
de Pexhull, Adam de la Brod , . , , , Robert de Hirdisfeld,
William de Montlawe, Thomas de Davenport, and Hugh del
Dene.
(b) Another brother of this Edmund, Robert de Downes,
married Margery, daughter of Sir Hugh Fitton, Knt., and
sister of Edmund Fitton, of Bolyn, from whom she had lands
in Chorley, near Wilmslow. They had an only daughter and
heiress, Matilda de Do-wnes, who married William de Morburlegh.
Both Robert and Margery were living in 1348.
(c) Sir Peter Leycester says (Tabley MSS., vol. ii.f 131), "This
Roger Throsle, of Maxfield, gives all his landes in Maxfield &
all his landes in Alderley & Hulme unto Edmund Downes and
Margeiy his wife, eldest daughter of the sayd Roger Throsle,
1297." They were both living in 1337.

 Edmund de Downes, the second of that name, died in September, 1375, seised of the manors of Taksale and Downes, his son and heir, Edmund, being then 22 years of age. (g) This Edmund de Downes died in 1399, when the following Inquisition post
mortem was taken.(h)

  Inquisition taken at Macclesfield before Adam de Kyngeslegh, Escheator, the Thursday next after the
Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary|[Sept. 8], 23 Richard II. [1399], by the oath of Benedict de Assheton, Roger del Dounes, William le Frensh, Adam de Tyderynton, Roger del Bowre, John de Falybrom, John del Shydyord, Richard de Sutton, John Dycon, forester, William, the son of Richard le Taillor, Nicholas Parfay and John de Hanlegh, who say that Edmund del Dounes was seised in his demesne as of fee of the manors of Dounes and Taksale, and a certain pasture called Oxfordcroft, and also of a certain Forestership in fee, within the Forest of Macclesfeld, together with the advowson of the church of Taksale, held of the King as Earl of Chester, as of the lordship of Macclesfeld in capite by grand serjeantcy, the same being worth per annum  13s, 4d, And John, son ofthe said Edmund is his next heir, aged 12 years, the Friday in the vigil of the Translation of St, Thomas the Martyr [July 7] last.

 John de Downes came of age in 1409, and his " proof of age " was taken in that
year.(i) He died in May, 1421, but his InquisitioJt post mortem was not taken till 1437.

  Inquisition taken at Prestbury before John de Legh del Rigge, Escheator, the Thursday next after the Feast of St, Barnabas the Apostle [June 11], 15 Henry VI, [1437] by the oath of Robert del Dounes, John de Worth, William de Assheton, John de Cresswell, senior, Roger de Falybrome, Robert de Worth, William de Bolynton, Reginald de Shrigley, Hugh del Dene, John Plont, senior, and John Plont, junior, and William Jonesson of Sutton, who say, that John del Dounes died seised in his demesne as of fee, of the manor of Tackeshale,. together with the advowson of the church there, held of the King as Earl of Chester, by Knight's service, and' worth per annum 26s, 8d, Also he died seised of 100 acres of land in le Dounes, near Macclesfeld, within the Forest of Macclesfeld, together with the office of a Forester within the said Forest, held of the King, as Earl of Chester, by Knight's service, and worth per annum 13s, 4d. The said John del Dounes, died on the Wednesday before the Feast of St. Petronilla [May 31], 9 Henry V. [142 1], and Reginald del Dounes his son and' heir [then under age] is now of full age. And the King, Henry V,, by Letters Patent, dated January 13, 1422,. after the death of the said John, granted to John Savage, junior, and James de Legh, of Adlyngton, the custody of the said lands, &c., together with the marriage of the said Reginald, And the said Reginald was married to Katherine, daughter of Robert de Dounes,(j) at Tackeshale, the Monday next after the Feast of St. Dionysius the Martyr [April 8], 4 Henry VI, [1426,]

(d) Deed penes Downes, of Downes and Taxall, 1654," copied
by Sir Peter Leycester (Tabley MSS,, Liber A, f, 131 b,) 
(e) Deed penes 1654," Anne Downes, of Buristall, in 
Pott-Shrigley, copied by Sir Peter Leycester (ibid, ibid,, i. 132),
(f)This William de Downes died 8 Sept,, 1365, when an
Inq. p. m. was taken at " Chelleford," the Friday next after
the Feast of St, Andrew the Apostle, 39 Edward III, [1365],
by the oath of William Pigot, Thomas Wylot, Richard de
¦ , . . , Richard de Baskervill, Richard de Henneshagh,
Edmund de Homeldon, Richard le Warde, of Somerford,
John de Snelleston de Whystansfeld, John, the son of
Richard de Sutton, Thomas de Davenport, of Wheltrogh, and
John Bateman, who say that William de Downes, held by the
gift of his father, Edmund de Detunes, one messuage, &c,, in
Taxhale, and Margaret, his daughter, is his next heir and of
full age.
(g) Inq. p. m. taken at Macclesfield before John de Scolehall,
Escheator, the Tuesday next after the Feast of Easter, 50
Edward III. [1376], by the oath of Robert de Staveley, John
de Dokenfeld, William de Hulme, Hugh de Ardern, Benedict
de Assheton, John de Chorlegh, Roger de Mottrum, Thomas
de Shriggelegh, Henry Pygot, John de Cressewall, John de
Sutton, and Hugh del Shert.
(h)Cheshire Inquisitions post mortem,— Record Office,
(i)Cheshire Inquisitions.—Record Office. His lands h.ad been
in the custody of Richard, son of Thomas Fyton, of Pownall,

 Reginald de Downes's "proof of age" was taken in the same year as the above-.
Inquisition, but beyond stating that he was baptized at Tackeshale and his name entered
in a certain missal there, it does not contain anything of importance. The date of his
death has not occurred, nor is any Inquisition taken after his death now known. He
was succeeded by his son, Richard de Downes, who is called " of Taksall," in 1497.
The latter died in 1512, when his Inquisition post mortem was taken, which states thathe
died seised of the same manors. Sec. (certain lands excepted) as his grandfather.(k)
His marriage settlement (not dated) with Margery, daughter of Robert de Downes (of
Shrigley) is referred to (in which he calls himself " Richard, son of Reginald Downes"),,
as also are life rents, left to his younger sons, Reginald and Christopher. Of his son and
heir, John Downes, who was then 21 years of age, little appears to be on record.
Neither the date of his death nor any Inquisition post mortem is known, but he was
living in 1564,(l) and was succeeded by Reginald Downes, who is called his son and
heir-apparent in 1554.(m) This Reginald died on Aug. 20, 1592,(n)and his Inquisition post
mortem, taken on April 10, 1594, states that he died seised ofthe manors of Downes and
Taxal, with the advowson ofthe church there, and a messuage (Overton Hall), nineteen
cottages, a water-mill, and 200 acres of land in Downes and Taxal, and also of a certain
Forestership within the Forest ofMacclesfield, held of Queen Elizabeth, as Countess
Chester, by grand sergeantcy, and worth per annum, 26s. 8d. He had no legitimate
issue, but there is mention of his illegitimate children, Roger Shrigley, alias Downes, and
Anne Watson, alias Downes, the latter of whom married Reginald Downes, son oL
his brother, Humphrey Downes, and nephew and next heir to the said Reginald
Downes, senior. This Reginald, who at the time of his uncle's death was 17 years of age, died on July 26, 1610; but the following return after his death was not taken till 1612. (o)

Inquisition taken at Chester, Sept. 24, 10 James I. [1612], before Henry Mainwaryng and Hugh Mainwaryng, Escheators, by the oath of John Golborne, of Golborne, gent,, William Davenport, of Boughton, gent,,James Doe, of Saughall, gent,, Richard Ashton, of Chorlton, gent,, Thomas Barlowe, gent,, John Doe, gent,,Humphrey Page, gent,, John Rode, of Wallhill, gent,, John Hollinshead, of Buglawton, gent., John Robinson,of Stockport, gent,, Julius Wynnington, of Birches, gent,, Roger Neild, of Shurlach, gent,, Reginald Finlowe, of Hulme Walfield, gent., John Eaton, gent., and Thomas Browne, of Boughton, gent., who say that Reginald Downes of Overton was seised in his demesne as of fee, of two parts of the manor of Taxall, together with the advowson ofthe church of Taxall, and a messuage called the Hall of Overton, &c., and a Forester's place in the Forest ofMacclesfield, held of Henry, Prince of Wales, as Earl of Chester, by grand serjeanty, together with the reversion of the third part of the said manor after the death of Anne Swettenham, now the wife of William Swettenham, and late wife of Reginald Downes [the elder], deceased, held by her for her life. And a certain George Lowe, of Macclesfield park, yeoman, was seised in his demesne as of fee, of and in the manor of Downes in Sutton, and by an indenture dated 20 Feb. 1610, infeoffed Peter Leighe, of Lyme, Laurence Downes,
of Worth and Shrigley, Jasper Worth, of Titherington, and Thomas Stapleton, of Upton, in all the said lands which the said George Lowe and Thomas Shert, deceased, had acquired of the aforesaid Reginald Downes [junior] to the use of the said Reginald for his life, and afterwards to the use of Anne [Watson], wife of the said Reginald for her life, and after her decease to the use of John Downes, eldest son of the said Reginald, and his heirs male, in default to Richard Downes, second son, and his heirs male, then to Edmund Downes, third son, and his heirs male ; then to right heirs of the said John. By virtue of this indenture the said Reginald was seised of these lands as tenant for life, and died so seised on the 26 day of July, 1610, Itdcwing John Downes, his son and heir, aged 14 years, 6 months, and 13 days, on the day ofthe taking of this Inquisition.

(j) Of Shrigley and Worth,
(k) Cheshire Inquisitions, —Record Office, This Inq. P. M.
was taken at Chester on the Tuesday next after the Feast of
Trinity, 4 Henry VIII, [1512], by the oath of Richard Gerard,
of Crewode, John Dutton, of Hellesby, John Aldersey, Richard
Whitmore, William Rotor, of Frodsham, Robert Bostocke, of
Multon, Robert Cotgreve, Laurence Savage, Hugh Tilston, of
Huxley, Nicholas Huxley, John Walton, of Sutton, and Robert
Cotgreve, junr,
(l) He presented to Taxal Church in 1532, In 1529, a re
covery was suffered against John Downes, of Taxhall, and John
Sutton, of the manor of Overton in Taxhall, 8 messuages, 300
acres of land, 40 acres of meadow, 500 acres of pasture, 40 acres .
of wood, and 3,000 acres of moor and turf in Taxhall and
Downes, together with the advowson of the church of Taxhall.
(Cheshire Plea Rolls.— Record Office.)
(m) Reginald Downes, forester of Macclesfield Forest, wasexempted
from serving at assizes, cStc, outside the said Forest
on April 26, 1567, (Ches, Recog, Rolls.)
(n) His will, as that of "Renold Downes, of Overton, co,
Chester, gent,," is dated 27 Aug,, 33 Elizabeth [1591], and was
proved at Chester, 28 Sept,, 1592, He mentions Anne, his wife
and wills that Roger Shrigley, alias Downes, his bastard,.
son, shall have the next presentation to Taxal church.

 May 29, 1620, John Downes, of Overton, gent, on attaining the age of twenty-one,
had livery of his lands granted to him, but a few months later he died and was buried at
Taxal on Jan. 21, 1621-2. His Inquisition post mortem, taken on April 24, 1623,(p) is
a somewhat long document reciting various deeds of settlement, &c. He died seised of
the manors of Taxal and Downes as before, except certain lands settled in dower on his
mother, &c. His four daughters, Margaret, aged eight, Anne, aged six, Mary, aged four,
and Sara, aged two, were his co-heirs. Owing to the failure of male issue, he was suc
ceeded by his brother, Edmund Downes, who, on June 20, 1627, had livery ofthe manor
of Taxal, together with the advowson of the church there, the Hall of Overton, 12 messu
ages, I water mill, 100 acres of land, 20 acres of meadow, 30 acres of pasture, 40 acres
of heath and moor in Taxal, a forestership in Macclesfield Forest, and the manor of
Downes, in Sutton, and 2 messuages and 60 acres of land there. He was buried at Taxal
on March 17, 167 1-2, and was succeeded by his son and heir, Reginald Downes, of Overton, gent., who in 1691, with the consent of his son and heir-apparent, Edmund
Downes, sold the manor and advowson of Taxal to John Shallcross, of Shallcross, co.
Derby, Esq., to whom "John Downes, second son of Reginald Downes, late of Overton
in Taxall, gent.," confirmed the same by a release dated 1715.(q) The manor of Downes
in Sutton, near Macclesfield, appears to have been sold to the Leghs of Ridge in that
township.

(o) A second Inq, P.M. was taken at Macclesfield on Jan. 21, 1595. by the oath of Richard Davenport, Ralph Winnington, Geoffrey Mottershead, William Okes, Thomas Pygott, Edward Thornicroft, Hugh Mottram, Randle Grastye, Anthony Reddiche, Richard Hondford, Thomas Hyde, Nicholas Shawe, ThomasMottershead, John Bretland, Thomas Fytton, Laurence Upton, John Higham, and Richard Rowe, in which the messuage called Overton Hall is mentioned by name, and an indenture, dated 1588, is referred to, by which the estates were settled on Reginald Downes, senr. , for his life, then to Reginald Downes, junr,, son and heir of Humphrey Downes, deceased, brother to the said Reginald Downes, senr., the heirs male of  his body, and that of Anne Watson, alias Downes, his wife, in default to the heirs male of Reginald Downes, junr,, then to Humphrey Downes, his brother, with remainder to Peter Downes and his heirs male. It also states that the marriage between Reginald Downes the younger, and the said Anne Watson, alias Downes, the bastard daughter of the said Reginald Downes the elder, was about to be consummated.                                                                                              p This Inq. P.M. was taken at Knottesford 24 April, 21 James [1623], before Hugh Maynwaring, Esq., Escheator, by the oath of William Leigh, gent,, Thomas Gleave, of High Leigh, gent., Edward Harper, of the same place, gent,, Richard Steele, of Reddish, gent., William Morris, of Gropenhale, gent., Thomas Middlehurst, of the same place, gent., John Lanckshawe, of Latchford, gent., John Hatton, of the same place, gent., Philip Antrobus, of Peover, gent., Philip Downes, of Toft, gent., Alexander Duncalf, of Mobberley, gent,, Richard Wright, of Ashley, gent,, Thomas Shawe, of Millington, gent., Edmund Hoole, of Ollerton, gent., John  Acton, of the same place, gent,, and Robert Webster, of the same place, gent,

 The following pedigree, based on a number of early deeds, Inquisitions post mortem,
the Cheshire Visitation of 1566, the Taxal Registers, &c. &c., traces the descent of the
Downes family for a period of about five centuries :—



Amongst a variety of old deeds relating to Taxal, communicated to Dr. Ormerod by David Browne, Esq., of Macclesfield, and printed by the former (" History of Cheshire," vol. iii., p. 380, notes), are various depositions, &c., made about 1720, showing the curious manorial rights stated to have been enjoyed by the Downes family. These specify their getting turves and coal, claiming waifs and strays, maintaining their pinfold, and there is reference to a boast of the last Reginald Downes, that
 
 " Hee could bring all Taxall to his court to be kept in his compass window, commonly called by the name of the bay window, adjoining the houseplace [the hall or living room] at Overton, where the courts had been formerly kept.''
"That hee when ye 'King came a hunting allways rowsed ye stagg, and when ye King came to ye forest Mr. D. held ye King's stirrup and ye lord Darby held ye [sic for his, i.e. Mr. Downes'] stirrup; and that ye lord Derby, instead of actually holding ye stirrup, put his strop or whip and held it towards ye stirrup whilst Mr. Downes mounted."
" That the said Mr, Downes has informed this deponent that he held his land by a blast of his horn on
Midsummer day and paying a pepper corn yearly ; and that once about 63 or 64 years agoe, this deponent was with the said Mr. Downes when he blowed his horn at Windgather (a range of high rocks above Taxal) on that occasion,"(r)
" That there is a common tradition yet ye said Mr. Downes' family had formerly the liberty to hang and
draw within themselves, and that a spott of land near Overton Hall (wch goes by the name of the gallows yard) was the place where the offenders have been formerly executed,"(s)
 
The same depositions are said to record the sale of a tenement in Taxal, together with 1000 acres of common, temp. Elizabeth, to the Leghs of East Hall, which tenement is said to be called " The Castid."
In 1733, the manor of Taxal and the Overton Hall estate were sold by John Shallcross, Esq., to John Dickenson, of Manchester, merchant, from whose representative they were purchased in 1793, by Foster Bower, Esq., Q.C, Recorder of Chester, who greatly improved the property by making extensive plantations, &c. He died in 1795, leaving the bulk of his lands to his brother, John Bower, Esq., who had taken the name of Jodrell in 1775, on marrying Frances, the heiress of that family. John Bower Jodrell, Esq., also purchased the estate of Henbury, near Macclesfield, from Sir William Meredith, Bart. (,see p. 420), and made that his chief place of residence. He died at Bath on Nov. 4, 1796, leaving three sons and two daughters. The eldest son, Francis Jodrell, Esq., succeeded his father, and died on March 5, 1829, when the estates descended to his eldest son, John William Jodrell, Esq., who died unmarried in 1858. His only surviving brother, Francis Charles Jodrell, Esq., then succeeded, but died in June 1868 without legitimate surviving issue. Harriet Jodrell, the eldest daughter of John Bower Jodrell, Esq., married in 1799 Shakespear Phillips, of Manchester, Esq., and in 1868 his eldest surviving son, Thomas Jodrell Phillips, succeeded to the estates of his cousin, and in July of that year took the name and arms of Jodrell.
Thomas Jodrell Phillips Jodrell, Esq., now lord of the manor of Taxal, is unmarried, his next heirs being the descendants of his sister Harriet Sophia Phillips,who married the Rev. Henry Tomkinson, of Reaseheath, near Northwich, co. Chester,  and has issue. The advowson of Taxal was separated from the manor about 1730, and has since passed through several hands, as shown in the records of the presentations given on pages 547-8.

r Sir Walter Scott in his Ballads, speaks of the barony of
 Pennycuik, where the proprietor was bound to sit upon a large
rocky fragment called the Buckstone, and to blow three blasts
 of a horn when the king shall come to hunt in the Borough
 Mair, near Edinburgh,
s The power over life and death on the persons of felons
 seized within the Forest of Macclesfield, was vested in the
 Davenports, and none of the subordinate foresters could exercise 
this power. It is possible, however, that felons had been executed 
in the "gallows yard," near Overton, and that in the lapse of time
 this privilege had been thought to have belonged to the lords of 
Taxal and Overton,
 
 Overton Hall, the old residence of the Downes family, was pulled down about the beginning of this century. On its site a house called Taxal Lodge was erected, but this was also taken down in 1835.
Errwood Hall, a large modern residence near Goyt Bridge, is the property and residence of Samuel Grimshaw, Esq.
A small. estate and farm-house in this township, called Ringstones, was owned in he 16th century by the families of Ridgway and More, and in the 17th century by a family named Needham, to which the following Inquisition post mortem relates :—
 
 Inquisition taken 14 April, 7 Charles I, [1631], The jury state that a certain Reginald Downes, late of Overton, deceased, was seised in his demesne as of fee, of one messuage with its appurtenances, commonly called Cowparkehouse and of 10 acres of land, 4 acres of meadow and 10 acres of pasture in Taxal, and being seised by an indenture dated 10 December, 2 James [1604], made between the said Reginald Downes of the first part, and James Needham, of Ringstones, in the parish of Taxal, yeoman, of the second part, and others, and by a fine levied in due course, the said lands were transferred to the-said James Needham, who was then seised of them in his demesne as of fee. And the jury further say, that the said Reginald Downes by his charter dated I Sept., 7 James [1609] in consideration of ;^ioo, sold two other messuages and a cottage to the said James Needham and his heirs for ever. And the said James Needham died at Ringstones 23 January last past, 1631, ¦seised of the above lands, &c., held of the King as Earl of Chester, by grand serjeanty, and Peter Needham was son and next heir, aged 17 years, on the 23 October last.
 
 The Rev. Peter Needham, who was rector of Taxal from 1686 to 1690, was most probably a member of this family.
 
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 Yeardsley-cum-Whaley Township
 
 THERE does not appear to have been any manor in this township, and the lands here were chiefly held by the Jodrells of Yeardsley Hall, the Downes, and the Shallcrosses.
The Jodrell family, which was seated here for many generations, was descended from a Derbyshire family of that name, holding lands in the High Peak. The first who settled in Cheshire was William Jodrell, who served as an archer under the Black Prince, (a)  and who is found holding lands in Macclesfield Forest in 1351. (b)  He died in 1375, and on Jan. 27, 1376, his son and heir, Roger Jodrell, was admitted in the Halmote Court of the Forest of Macclesfield, to his father's lands there.(c) This Roger was Esquire of the body to Richard 11., whom he served in Ireland and elsewhere. He
furnished six archers for the war against the Scots, for which he had a grant of the manor of Weston, Co. Leicester, for his life, dated 22 Rich. II. ,
1398-9.(d)  His name occurs amongst those present at the battle of Agincourt in 1415, and he died in 1423.(e) In his will, dated Oct. 4, he desired to be buried " in the chancel of the church of Tackesand to the said church he left a garment of worsted to make a vestment.(f)  His son, George Jodrell, succeeded him, and on his death, c. 1463, was followed by his son
and heir, Roger Jodrell, the date of whose death has not occurred. Nicholas Jodrell, the son and heir of Roger, succeeded his father, and died in 1527. By his will, dated May 15 in that year he describes himself as " Nicholas Jawdrell of Erdesley," and desires to be buried " in Takkeshall church among my ancestours," and he wills that " one kowe shall be geven and delyvered to ye servyce of our lady of Takkeshall that he might there be prayed for. (g)
He was succeeded by his son and heir, Roger Jodrell, who was twice  married, first to Isabel, daughter of John Sutton, of Sutton, Esq., with whom he had lands in Whaley, called Hawkshurst,'' and secondly to Ellen, daughter and coheiress of Roger Knotsford, with whom he had lands in Twemlow, co. Chester. He died on Feb. 5, 1547-8, and in his will, dated Feb. i,' he styles himself "Roger Jodrell of Yerdysley and desires to be buried "in the paryshe churche of Saynt Leonard''' att Tackessall." (k)
His Inqttisition post mortem was taken in April, as follows :(l)—
 
 Inquisition taken at Chester 14 April, 2 Edward VI, [1548], before Sir Urian Brereton, senior, Knt.,
Escheator, by the oath of John Mynshull, Esq,, John Warde, of Capesthorn, Esq,, John Legh of Rygge, Esq,, Laurence Swetenham, of Somerford, Richard Gerard, of Cruewode, Edward Frodesham, of Elton, Randle Dodde, of Broxon, William Bromley, of Norbury, Robert Bostock, of Churton, Ralph Bostock, of Multon, Robert Eitton, of Carden, William Wrenche, of Lostock, Thomas Stepulton [Stapleton], of Upton, Peter Paver, of Northwich, Randle Ferror, of Weverham, John Lightfote, of Bromhill, Thomas Warde, of Sornerford, Robert Crokett, of Barton, and John Strynger, of Crue, who say that Roger Jodrell was seised in his demesne as of fee, of and in 6 messuages, 100 acres of land, 30 acres of meadow, 100 acres of pasture, and 40 acres of wood with appurtenances in Yerdesley, Distley, Waleys and Ketulshulme, and died so seised. And the said Roger died n Feb, 5, before the date of this Inquisition, and Edmund Jodrell is son and next heir, and was aged 6 years and 7 months at the time of the death of the said Roger,

(d) Jodrell deeds.
(e) To a charter of Roger Jodrell's, dated 1401, there is  a seal
 bearing the Jodrell arms as now borne, 1 and 4, 3 buckles, 2
and 3, a star argent, crest a cock's head and neck. (f) Jodrell deeds. 
He named all his sons and daughters in his will, as see in the 
pedigree, p. 538, The will was proved Nov, 9, 1423, at 
Macclesfield, before the [Rural] Dean of Macclesfield.
B Jodrell deeds, " Sir John Honsard, curatt of Tacksall,"
is one of the witnesses. It was proved at Macclesfield, 18 May,
1528. (h) The marriage articles are dated 12 Oct., 1500, between
John Sutton, of Sutton, gentleman, and Nicholas Jowderell, of
Yerdysley, gentleman, and witness " that Roger, son and heir apparent
of the said Nicholas, shall take to wyfe and wedde Isabell, doghter of 
the said John, at the resonable request of the sayd John, or his heyrez
if the law of the churche will suffert, before the feast of the Nativitie 
of Saint John the Baptist, the which shall be in the yere of our lorde 
1511, showing that both the contracted parties were very young at
 that time. In some old pedigrees Roger Jodrell is stated to have 
married for his first wife Amy, daughter of Anthony Shallcross, of 
Shallcross, gent, ,but that seems to be an error.
(i) Amongst the Jodrell deeds is another will, dated 21 Jan.,1528, but 
not proved. To this will the witnesses are Thomas Lewyns, parson of 
Rothewell (? Co, Derby), Thomas Damport [Davenport], chaplain
 [at Disley], and Olyver Clerk, priest, curate of the said church of 
Takkeshall,
 (j) This is curious, showing how at Taxal, as elsewhere, the old 
dedication has been altered. The church is now dedicated to St, James, 
See for Macclesfield, p, 488,
and also Alderley,
(k) To this will Nycholas ffedeler, preist and pson of Tackesall, is one 
of the witnesses. There is a long list of those to whom Roger Jodrell 
owed various sums of money.'
(l) Cheshire Inquisitions, — Record Ofiice,

Ellen, the wife of Roger Jodrell, was living at the time of his death, but did not long survive him, dying on May 3, 1548. As she was an heiress, an Inquisition post mortem was taken in 1550,(m) by which it was found that she had died seised of the third part of the manor of Twemlowe, and of and in certain messuages and lands, &c., there, and a rent in Knottesford, and that Edmund Jodrell was her son and next heir, and that Elizabeth Knottesford [her sister] had occupied the said lands, &c., since the date of her death.
Edmund Jodrell, of Yeardsley and Twemlow, Esq., who succeeded his father, in 1548, married, about 1560, Katherine, daughter of James Kelsall, of Bradshaw, in Cheadle parish,(n) by whom he had a large family. He lived to a great age, being buried at Taxal on August 31, 1630, when nearly ninety years of age.(o) He made his will on April 28, 1628, and describes himself as being then "aged and of many yeares, yett in good and perfecte memory laude and prayse be geven to God therefore." At the time of his death he had the large sum of _;£1,409 owing to him from various people, a long list of whom is given with the inventory ofhis effects, his live stock, &c., being valued at ;£449. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Roger Jodrell, Esq., who did not long survive his father, being buried at Taxal 19 June, 1632, without issue. On Sept. 6, 1631, he paid a composition of "for his contempte in not attendinge and receiving the order of Knighthood at his Highnes Coronacon according to ye lawe in that case provided." His will bears date 25 Oct., 1631.(p) His brother, Edmund Jodrell, Esq., succeeded him, and amongst the Jodrell MSS. are a number of very interesting papers relating to the Civil War and the troubles he experienced on account of his early leanings towards the Royalist side. Having sent an armed man to serve with Colonel Legh of Adlington, an ardent Royalist, in December, 1642, this was constantly being brought up against him,(q)! although a few months later, in reply to repeated solicitations, he contributed £20 towards the funds of the Parliamentary commanders in Cheshire. This, however, was not sufficient, and in March he was arrested by order of these officers and imprisoned at Stockport, and on March 21, 1642-3, was ordered to be removed thence
to Nantwich. During his imprisonment his house at Yeardsley was entered and pillaged(r) and in spite of his petitions it was not till late in the year before he was released. The order for his release, which was signed on Oct. 29, 1643, states, that "whereas Edmund Jodrell of Yeardsley, Esq., was by Sir William Brereton sent as a prisoner to Stafford for non-payment of the proposicion monies imposed upon him and hath now given satisfaccon to the said Sir Wm. Brereton for the same. It is therefore by him the said Sir Wm. Brereton and the Comittee of Stafford ordered that the said Mr Jodrell shall be forthwith enlarged from his imprisonment." He had to promise to
pay £200 within a few months after his release, and having paid this he appears to have thrown in his lot with the Parliamentary party, and on Nov. 7, 1650, was appointed by  "the Keepers of the liberty of England by authority of Parliament " to the office of High Sheriff of Cheshire for the following year, and, in Nov., 165 1, he surrendered that office to John Crewe, of Crewe, Esq.

(m) Taken at Northwich, 10 March, 4 Edward VI. [1550].
Cheshire Inquisitions. —Record Office,
(n) See vol I. pp, 194-5, for a pedigree of this family.
(o) In a petition to the Privy Council, dated 1625, for a
reduction in the amount at which he had been assessed, he
then speaks of himself as being "an ould decrepitt man, aged
almost nyntie yeares," the whole revenue of whose lands did
not amount £360per annum,
(p) The following legacies to the poor of Taxal, &c., named in
this will appear never to have been paid, as Edmund Jodrell
probably considered they were not binding upon him, and per
haps could not be legally enforced, " First, as touchinge all
my lands, I give them to my brother Edmund Jodrell, provided
that he pay out of my lands lyeinge in Yeardsley Weyley the
summe of tenn pounds yearely for ever to the poore within the
 parish of Taxall, and in like manner my will is that he pay five
pounds yearely out of my lands lyeinge in Disley Standley to
the poore within the said townshippe for ever, and likewise out
of my lands in Glossop parishe 40 shillings to the poore of the
said parishe yearely for ever,"
(q) In the Royalist Composition papers in the Record Office,
vol, Ixxxviii,, is a letter from the sequestrators in Macclesfield
Hundred, inclosing some depositions taken at "Bullock
Smithy," in March, 1647-8, against Edmund Jodrell, Esq,, in
which this fact comes prominently forward,
(r) Capt. Henry Zanchie, or Sankey, commanded the troops
who visited the Hall, and Mr, Jodrell, in a long schedule of
the losses, &c., he had incurred during the four years, 1642-1645,
assessed the value of goods then removed at ;£94.
 
 Edmund Jodrell made his will on Aug, 13, 1653, and was buried at Taxal on
Oct. 13, 1657, leaving an only son and heir, Edmund Jodrell, Esq., who succeeded him, and was appointed High Sheriff of Cheshire, on Nov. 19, 1670, in succession to Roger Wilbraham, Esq., of Nantwich. By his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Francis Burdett, of Foremark, co. Derby, Bart., whom he married in 1661, he had five sons and three daughters. He was buried at Taxal on Dec. 17, 1713, and his estates descended to his son and heir, Edmund Jodrell, of Yeardsley, and Twemlow, Esq., who had married, in 1688, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Molyneux, of Teversal, Co. Notts,
Bart., and who appears to have died about 1714, leaving his estates to his eldest son,. Francis Jodrell, Esq. The latter was High Sheriff of Cheshire in 1715, and was buried at Goostrey, 16 Jan., 1757, his son and heir-apparent, Francis Jodrell, Esq., having died before him on July 2, 1756, leaving two daughters, co-heiresses. Of these the eldest. Frances Jodrell, born c. 1752, was married at the Collegiate church, Manchester, Edmund Jodrell made his will on Aug, 13, 1653, and was buried at Taxal on Oct. 13, 1657, leaving an only son and heir, Edmund Jodrell, Esq., who succeeded him, and was appointed High Sheriff of Cheshire, on Nov. 19, 1670, in succession to
Roger Wilbraham, Esq., of Nantwich. By his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Francis Burdett, of Foremark, Co. Derby, Bart., whom he married in 1661, he had five sons and three daughters. He was buried at Taxal on Dec. 17, 1713, and his estates descended to his son and heir, Edmund Jodrell, of Yeardsley, and Twemlow, Esq., who had married, in 1688, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Molyneux, of Teversal, Co. Notts, Bart., and who appears to have died about 1714, leaving his estates to his eldest son,. Francis Jodrell, Esq. The latter was High Sheriff of Cheshire in 1715, and was buried at Goostrey, 16 Jan., 1757, his son and heir-apparent, Francis Jodrell, Esq., having died before him on July 2, 1756, leaving two daughters, co-heiresses. Of these the eldest. Frances Jodrell, born c. 1752, was married at the Collegiate church, Manchester on Jan. 13, 1775, to John Bower, Esq., of Manchester, who took the name and arms of Jodrell in 1775, in accordance with the will of Francis Jodrell, Esq. The other daughter and coheiress, Elizabeth Jodrell, was married at Rostherne on Sept. 21, 1778, to Egerton Leigh, of the West Hall, High Leigh, Co. Chester, Esq. The Jodrell estates were divided, the lands at Taxal, Yeardsley, &c., going to the eldest daughter and her husband, John Bower Jodrell, Esq., and the Twemlow estates to the youngest daughter, in the possession of whose descendant. Captain Egerton Leigh, they are now vested. John Bower Jodrell, Esq., purchased the manor of Henbury, near Macclesfield, on December 17, 1779 (see p, 420), and made that his chief place of residence.(s)  He died at Bath on November 4, 1796, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Francis Jodrell, Esq., born in 1776, who was High Sheriff" of Cheshire in 1813, and died 5 March, 1829, leaving his estates to his eldest son, John William Jodrell, Esq., who sold Henbury in 1835, and died in 1858 without issue. He was succeeded by his only surviving brother, Francis Charles Jodrell, Esq., who died in June, 1868, without legitimate surviving issue. Miss Harriet Jodrell, eldest sister of Francis Jodrell, Esq., was married at Prestbury on Dec. 4, 1799, to Shakespear Phillips, Esq., of Manchester, by whom she had three sons and two daughters ; the eldest son died young, the second in 1849 ; and in 1868 the third son, Thomas Jodrell Phillips, Esq., succeeded on Jan. 13, 1775, to John Bower, Esq., of Manchester, who took the name and arms of Jodrell in 1775, in accordance with the will of Francis Jodrell, Esq. to the estates of his cousin, F. C. Jodrell, Esq., and in compliance with the will of the latter, took the name and arms of Jodrell in July of that year. Thomas Jodrell Phillips Jodrell, Esq., is unmarried, and lives chiefly in London, and to him I am under many obligations for the loan of the transcripts of the old Jodrell deeds and papers, of which I have availed myself in these pages.
The pedigree on the next and following pages traces the descent of the Jodrell family down to the present representative.
 
 (s) His elder brother, Foster Bower, Esq, , Recorder of Chester,
 purchased the manor of Taxal, and also Shallcross Hall, in
 Derbyshire, just over the river Goyt, On his death, without
 issue, he left these two estates to his brother John Bower
 Jodrell, Esq., and they have descended with the rest of the
 Jodrell estates (see p, 532).
 
 Yeardsley Hall was the ancient seat of the Jodrells, and is referred to as early as 1403, when a piece of land is described as " lying opposite to the gate of the mansion house of the manor of Roger Jodrell." It is mentioned in subsequent deeds, &c., and from about 1680 was the residence of the eldest son on his marriage, the father living at Twemlow. The greater part of the old Hall was pulled down about 1830, and the remainder converted into a farm-house, for which purpose it is still used.
Whaley Bridge is a large village on the banks of the Goyt, and is partly within the county of Derby. It has increased rapidly since the opening of the Stockport and Buxton Railway in 1857. Yeardsley is a small hamlet about i^ miles from Whaley Bridge. 
Bothoms Hall, in this township, was, in the 1 7th century, the residence of
a branch of the Legh family (descended from the Leghs of Lyme), of whom a full pedigree will be found on p. 304. There are a few entries relating to this family in the Taxal and Macclesfield Registers. The Hall now belongs, I believe, to W. J. Legh, of Lyme, Esq., M.P.
 

 




The Church, dedicated to St. James,(a)  is a very plain building, erected in 1825. The old church is described in 1819 as consisting of a tower with three bells, a nave without side aisles, and a chancel ; the east window being of five lights, divided by stone shafts, which appeared originally to have terminated in lancet heads. The present building is merely a square room with plain windows without mullions, a very low chancel, the chancel arch being half-blocked up by the reading-desk and pulpit. At the east end is a plain wooden table, and the font placed on the south side of it. The vestry is on the north side, and the body of the church as well as the chancel is filled with high pews, and there is a gallery with an organ at the west end. The old tower at the west end, which is probably not older than the i6th century, has been retained, and is shown in the above view. Built in the walls of the tower are a few fragments of an earlier church.
In the tower are three Bells, two of which are pre-Reformation. On the one is the following inscription :¦—•
In Jucundate Soni Cantabo Tibi Due dulcedine Vocis Sonabo Tuo Noe
Translated: I will praise Thee O Lord with a joyful sound, I will sound with a sweet voice in Thy name.
On the other is the letter [s] , a cross and two bell-founders' marks, exacdy
similar to those figured and described in the "Reliquary," volume xiii. page 230, and there believed to be the marks of Richard Mellour, mayor of Nottingham, in 1506, who died before 1509. On the third bell, the largest of the three, are the initials and date, i.w.s.1656, showing that this bell, like the small one at Wilmslow (see vol. I. p. 68), had been cast by John Scott, bellfounder, at Wigan, in Lancashire. In the survey made in 1549, Taxal had " i white chales [chalice], i white pix and a rynge of iij [3] belles,"
two of which are evidently those described above.

 (a) It appears that the old dedication was to St. Leonard, for
in the will of Roger Jodrell, of Yeardsley, dated Feb. 1,1547-48,
he desires that his body "be buryed withinn the pyshe churche
 of Saynt Leonard att Tackessall," This affords another curious
instance of change of dedication in a church ; see p. 488, for
Macclesfield, and also under Alderley, postea.
 
 Nothing is known of any Chantries or Altars in the church, and in the Cheshire Chantry Roll of 1548, it is merely returned that at " Taxal " there was "in the hands of dyverse persons a stok of redy money liijs iiijd [53s.
4d.]," which had probably been left for religious purposes. It should, however, be mentioned that "the service of our at Taxall is referred to in 1527, as see on p. 534. This presumes that there was an altar in the church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. When Randle Holme visited the church in 1586 the only things he noticed there were "these two coates [of armes] in the one being Shallcross, and the other Argent 3 (?) heads Sable langued (? Gules). " These two coates " were also painted on the wall. Sable a stag lodged Argent attired Or within a bordure Argent, for Downes, and the quartered coat of Jodrell, i and 4 Sable an estoile of six points Argent, 2 and 3 Sable three round buckles, tongues pendant Argent Jodrell.(b) We have no other records of the old glass and monuments in the church than this.
The Monumental Inscriptions are as follows :—
On the floor of the chancel, within the altar rails, covered by the carpet, are the following six tombstones
carved in very bold letters (c)—
 
  Richard              John            Laetitia       Elizabeth            John                 Roger Iacson
Shallcross        Shallcross     Shallcross   sister to John      Shallcross          of Shallcross
       of             junior dyed      sister to      and Laetitia     of Shallcross        Esquire dyed
Shallcross    in the 21st year   John the     Shallcross            son of              Nouember the
     1675           of his age          yonger          1730             Richard and       12th 1743 and
     Anne        in his father's        1717                                   father of            was buryed
daughter of       life time                                                       John and             under this
   Sir John           1709                                                           Laetitia              stone aged
    Ardern                                                                                 1733                  58 years
     1729    
                                                             _______________
 
 On the chancel floor, partly hidden by the pews are inscriptions to Molyneux, youngest son of Edmund Jodrell, Esq., to Elizabeth, the wife of Edmund Jodrell, of Yeardsley, Esq., and daughter of Sir John Molyneux,
Baronet, of Teversall, in Nottinghamshire, who died 2 February, 1756, and to the said Edmund Jodrell, who died 2 July, 1756,
 
On a tablet on the north wall of the chancel-     On a tablet on the north wall of the chancel- 
       In a vault beneath this tablet                            In memory of John Sleight who died 
       repose the mortal remains of                                June 27th 1851, aged 71 years
Anne, wife of Samuel Grimshaw Esquire                  also of Betty, his wife who died 
        of Errwood Hall in this parish                          February 6th 1852 in her 72nd year
   who departed this life June 21st 1850    Their remains repose in the Nottingham Cemetary
                      aged 67 years                           Ille probitatis, haec exemplum fuit patientiae
            also in memory of the said                           Hoc marmor posuit Reverendus
                  Samuel Grimshaw                                     Johannes Good Sleight A. M.
who died January 27th 1851, aged 83 years                   Taxalsi Ecclesiae Rector
                      This tablet                                           filius amantissimus beneficiorum
       is erected by their only daughter                            acceptorum haud immemor.
     Margaret Elizabeth and her husband                                     ___________
        John Upton Gaskell of Ingersley
                       _____________
 
(b) Harl, MSS.,2151
(c) The Shallcross Family to members of which these stones 
relate is one frequently met with in connection with this
district. They lived in Shallcross Hall in Derbyshire, just over
 the borders of Cheshire, and were the owners of the advowson
of Taxal for many years, and presented to the church.  I have a
very full pedigree of the family , worked up from original 
sources &c, which I hope to have an opportunity of printing 
some day.

TAXAL CHURCH.

A tablet on the north wall of the church—   On a tablet on the north side of the church-
            To the Memory of                                                  Underneath                                      
           Francis Jodrell, Esq                                              Lyeth the body of
         who died at Henbury Hall                                 Michael Heathcote(d)
 on the 5th March 1829 aged 53 years                                Esquire
        and was buried in this church.                       Gentleman of the Pantry &
      This tablet is erected by his son                         Yeoman of the Mouth to
        Francis Charles Jodrell Esq'"                                 his late Majesty
              Also to the Memory                                   King George the second
  of others of the family previously                                     who Died 
                 interred here.                                               June the 22nd 1768
  [Above are the arms of Jodrell,]                                    aged 75 years
                      _______                                                          _______
On a flat stone placed under an arched canopy, now in the churchyard, opposite the east window-
 
 Here Lyeth the Body of Elizabeth
Shallcross Wife of Jon Shallcross Esq"
of Shallcross & ye Body of Frances
Higginbothom Daughter of ye Said
Jon Shallcross Wife of Tho. Higginbothom Esq 
of Buglowton Buried ye 2d day of Decemr 1682
Also ye body of Tho, Higginbothom Esq, buried 
October ye 21 Anno Domini 1706.
_________

 On the south side of the church is a fine yew-tree ; and on a sundial near it are the date 1703 and the letters A. B. E. L. The view from the churchyard is one of much beauty, the woods in the foreground, with the distant hills, making a very pleasing picture.
The Charities are enumerated on a board over the south door : (f)


    Thomas Ouffe(g) of Kettleshulme dyed in the year 1629 and left £1. 13. 4 to be given to the Poor of this Parish every Christmas Day for Ever.
    Mistress Frances Jodrell(h) of Yeardsley dyed in the year 1665 and left 12s. to be given to the Poor of this Parish every Easter for ever.
    Francis Dixon(i) of Castids dyed in the year 1665 and left 12s to be given to the Poor of this Township every Christmas Day for Ever.
    Thomas Hibbert of Foulds dyed in the year 1676 and left Sixty Pounds to be laid out for the Use of the Poor in Fearnylee, Taxal, Coumbs Edge and Whaley, the Interest of the said £60 is to be Paid Yearly for Ever to each of the said Hamlets towards putting out of a poor Child to Apprentice and the said money is fixed upon the lands of Edmund Warrington at Foulds in Derbyshire.
Mr. John Legh of Bothoms (j) dyed in the year 1692 and left 13s. 4d. to the Poor of Whaley Township and 6s. 8d, to the Poor of Taxal Township to be given every Easter for Ever.
Eideth Wood of Errwood dyed in the year 1693 and left the Interest of Twenty Pounds to be given to the Poor of this Township upon every 23rd of June for Ever.
           Ralph Pott of Taxall, Henry Wild of Whaley, Churchwardens in 1776.
 
(d) A family of the Heathcotes was long resident in this
parish. From the Taxal Registers and some deeds and papers
now in my hands, the following short pedigree has been compiled.
Michael Heathcote, gentleman, living 1666, had Francis
Heathcote, of Taxal, gent., his second son, who married for
his first wife, Anne, daughter and heir of Peter Needham, of
Ringstones, in Taxal, and had an eldest son, Rowland Heathcote,
bapt. at Taxal, 19 June, 1669, and other children, Rowland married 
Susanna, daughter of Adam Bagshaw, of Wormhill, Co, Derby, gent., 
and by her had a son, Michael Heathcote, bapt, at Taxal, in 
May, 1693, another son and daughter, and by his second wife 
(name unknown) he had Gilbert Heathcote, bapt. at Taxal 
18 Dec, 1701, who was living in 1768, and other issue. 
Michael Heathcote, whose monument is given in the text, is 
described in 1693 as of the parish of St. James, Co.Middlesex, Esq., 
and was buried at Taxal on 2 July, 1768, as "Michael Heathcote, Esq., 
from London, late groom of the Pantry to His Majesty King George II." 
He had a wife, Elizabeth, and a son, Michael Heathcote, of London, 
merchant, living in 1775. The lands owned by the family were sold to
the Shallcrosses.
(e) See note (c).
(f)  In addition to these here enumerated, Elizabeth Hulme, of
Buglawton, in 1725 left £4 per annum for providing clothes for six poor 
inhabitants of Taxal, 10s. for a sermon on the 16th of  October, being 
the day of the death of her father, Thomas Higginbothom, of Buglawton, 
and 5s. yearly to be laid out in penny loaves, and 5s. to be expended in 
repairing the tomb of the family.
(g) So named in the Charity Commissioners' Report, but on the board 
the name appears to be Ousse.
(h) I cannot identify this Mistress Frances Jodrell. I think the date must 
be wrong. The Frances Jodrell of Stockport, spinster, who died in 1631 
left a legacy of £10 to the poor of Taxal.
(i) The Dixon family are mentioned at an early date in the
Registers. Representatives of this family are now living near London
(j) For a pedigree of this family, descended from the Leghs of Lyme, see p. 304.
 
 On two wooden tablets on the north wall :—
 
  William Bradbury of Lightbirch dyed in the year 1702 and gave Forty Pounds, the Interest thereof to be paid to the Poor of Yeardsley-Whaley as Edmund Jodrell Esq, and Richard Nixon, Trustees, the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Township for the time being shall think meet and convenient for Ever.
  Item he gave Five Pounds, the Interest thereof to be paid to the Poor of Taxal in the said County as John Bennet and John Dixon, Trustees, the Church Wardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Township for the time being shall think meet and convenient for Ever.
  Francis Gaskell of Handley by his last will dated June 16, 17 18, left Twenty shillings to be given to the Poor of Whaley and Ten shillings to the Poor of Taxal upon every Saint Thomas' Day for Ever.
  The Revd John Gee(k) who died anno 1786 gave and bequeathed to John Dickenson Esq. of Taxal in the county of Chester and his Heirs for ever, one Security upon the Macclesfield Turnpike Road value £50 in Trust, to receive and dispose of the Interest arising from the same, to the Poor of the Township of Taxal for Ever. And likewise to J. B. Jodrell of Henbury in the same county Esq. and his Heirs for ever, one other Security on the same Road value £50 in Trust to receive and dispose of the Interest arising therefrom to the
Poor of the Township of Whaley.
  Mr Edmd Nixon of Hockerley died Nov"" 4*'' 1793 and by his will left the Interest of Ten Pounds to be distributed to the Poor of the Township of Whaley annually for Ever.
 
(k)Curate of Taxal for many years. see p547
      ________________
 
Rectors of Taxal 1287-1880.
 
 From the Episcopal Registers at Lichfield and Chester, the Record Office, London, the Parish Registers, &c., &c.
 
            Before 1287. William de Dounes [Downes].
Occurs as Rector of Taxal in 1287. (Rode deeds.)
1316. 3 Kalends April [March 30]. Richard del Grene.
  Presented by Edmund de Dounes.
1327. 13 Kalends April [March 20]. Richard del Downes.
  Presented by Edmund del Dounes on the death of Richard del Grene.
1331. 7 Ides December [Dec. 7]. Richard del Dounes.
  Presented by Edmund del Dounes on the resignation of the said Richard.
1365. 18 Kalends January [Dec. 15]. John Shalcross.
  Presented by Edmund del Dounes on the death of Richard del Dounes.
1383. June 26. William de Hanlegh.
  Presented by Edward Dounes on the death of John Shalcross.
1438. October  30. Robert Wyghtman.
 Presented by Reginald de Dounes of Taksale on the death of William de Hanley.
1450-1. February 19. Edmund Redich.
  Presented by Reginald de Downes, Esq., on the resignation of Robert Wyghtman,.
who received an annual pension of 40 shillings.
 1492. August 21. Richard Hollande.
  Presented by Sir John Savage, junr., Knt, by reason of a concession made to him by Richard Downes on the resignation of Edmund Redich.
1525. May 28. George Bancroft.
  Presented by John Downes, gent., on the death of Richard Hollande.
1532. May 31. Nicholas Ffydler.
  Presented by John Downes, gent., on the resignation of George Bancroft, reserving
to the said George an annual pension of £6.
1588-9. February II. Thomas Gaitskell [Gaskell]
  Presented by Peter Legh, of Lyme, Esq.,' on the death of Nicholas Ffydler.(m)
1606. Nov. II. Thomas Costentyne, M.A.
  Presented by Thomas Gee, of Lyddyate, near Eccles, in the parish of Chapel-en-le-
Frith, Co. Derby, yeoman, by reason of a certain grant of the advowson made to
him by Reginald Downes, of Overton, Esq., on the death of Thomas Gaskell. (n)
 
 In the Registers of Disley, near Stockport, is this entry, " 1609 Thomas Costentine and Anne Downes were married the xxv"' day of September," The Taxal Registers, which begin in 1610, contain the following entries relating to his family: "Samuel Costentyne bapt. 22 Sept, 1611 ; Anne Costentyne hupt 3 Aug, 1616; Thomas Costentyne bapt, 15 Oct. 1617 ; Robert Costentyne bapt. 14 March 1618-19 ; Sarah Costentyne bapt. 13 Feb, 1622-3, bur, June 1623; Dorothy Costentyne bapt, 20 July 1624," His own burial is thus recorded, " 1631
June 10 Mr, Costentyne p'son of Taxall buried," Of these sons, Robert Costentyne, born in 1619, is almost certainly to be identified with the Robert Constantine, Vicar of Oldham, in Lancashire, who was ejected from there in 1652, became an eminent Nonconformist, and died at a good old age in Dec, 1699, and was buried at Oldham, where his gravestone still exists but unfortunately does not mention his age,
 
1631. June 7. Richard Fryer.
  Presented by Godfrey Bowdon, of Heyfield, Co. Derby, yeoman, patron pro hac
vice, on the death of Thomas Costentyne.(o)
 This rector signs some pages of the Register, but either resigned or was deprived of the living in 1633.Nothing is known of his life.
 
1633. May 21. Anthony Elcocke.
  Presented by Edmund Downes, Esq. [no cause of vacancy assigned].
 He was the son of Francis Elcocke, of Whitepoole, co, Chester (also of Stockport and Manchester), and matriculated at Oxford from Brasenose College on Dec, 5, 1623, aged 18, as son of Francis Elcocke, of Manchester. He was at Taxal in 1640,(p) and probably was ejected by the Parliamentary party, c. 1643, He is said to have attained to the dignity of Dean of York, but this seems to be a mistake. He was collated to the prebend of Southwell, 20 Nov., 1660, and was sub-dean of York from 1660 till his death in 1670, He was twice married, his first wife dying in childbirth, as thus recorded in the Registers, "1635 Mrs Alice Elcocke and her child unbaptyzed buried June 2," On July 3, 1639, "Anne Elcocke daughter of Mr. Anthonie Elcocke Rector of Taxall," was baptized there, and on Nov. 23, 1640, Anthony Elcocke, a son, was baptized. There is a gap in the Registers from 1641 to 1651.

c. 1644. William Burges.
  [Put in by the Parliamentary party c. 1644.]
 He was the son of William Burges, of Macclesfield, and was educated at Brasenose College, Oxford. He was certainly at Taxal in 1647, but the Registers being defective, the first entry in which his name occurs is in 1651, when "Mary, daughter of Mr. William Burges, Rector of Taxal, and Elizabeth his wife," was baptized on July 9. A William, was baptized there Oct. 10, 1652; a son, Richard, on Oct, 28, 1657; Thomas, on Aug, 3, 1660, His burial is recorded on Dec. 4, 1660, He left no will, but administration of his effects
was granted to his widow, Elizabeth, March 12, 1660-1,

1661. Oct. 18. Bradley Hayhurst.
  Presented by Edmund and Reginald Downes, gents, [on the death of William Burges].
He remained here for a very short time only, and was subsequently Minister of Macclesfield, where a notice of his life is given (see p. 505).

c. 1663. Francis Lowe.
His name occurs in the Registers as Rector in 1663, and the baptism of his son John is recorded on Aug. I, 1665. He was a younger son of Francis Lowe, of Horderne, in Rainow, baptized at Macclesfield on March 25, 1618, and matriculated at Oxford from Brasenose College, on March 24, 1636-7, aged 18. He married Mary, daughter of Francis Craven, of Congleton, and by her had four sons and four daughters.(q) He "was Incumbent of Marple from c. 1649 to 1662 (see p. 57), and dying in Oct. 1672, was buried at Taxal on the
18th of that month, where, on the floor of the chancel, is a stone bearing the letters FL1672 His widow was buried there on July 12, 1687.

1672-3. Feb. I. William Higginbotham.
  Presented by William Goddard, of Chatsworth, Co. Derby, by reason of a concession of the advowson by Reginald Downes, of Overton, (r) on the death of Francis Lowe.

He is mentioned in the Registers in 1673, in which year a daughter, Hannah, was born May 19, another daughter, Anne, was baptized Jan, 6, 1675-6; Mary, on Feb, 7, 1680-1, and Elizabeth, on March 16, 1682-3. His burial is recorded on Nov, 21, 1685.

1686. April 13. Peter Needham.
 Presented by King James II. [? through lapse] on the death of William Higgin
botham.

This rector is probably to be identified with the Peter Needham who matriculated at Oxford, from Queen's College, as a servitor, on Oct. 25, 1659 (no other particulars being given), and who was B.A. of St.Edmund Hall, 17 Nov., 1663. A family named Needham owned a farm called Ringstones in this parish (see p. 533), with which he was probably connected ; a Peter Needham, of Ringstones, being buried at Taxal on Sept. 14, 1689. This rector's name does not occur in the Registers.

(p) On Aug. 5, 1633, Alexander Elcocke and Anne Rowe
were married at Taxal, Query, brother of the Rector?
Elcocke was living at Kettleshulme in 1657,
(q) John, died young ; Francis, settled in Ireland ; Thomas, 
of Daybrooke ; John ; Anne, died young ; Jane, bur, at Taxal,
20 Nov,, 1684; Anne, bur, at Taxal, 24 May, 1680; and
Elizabeth, marr, at Taxal, 21 Nov., 1672, to Thomas Pickford,
of Adlington. For the baptisms of some of these children, see
p57, note (r) 
(r) On Sept, 29, 1683, Reginald Downes, of Overton, gent,
 and Edmund Downes, his son and heir-apparent, mortgaged
 the next presentation of Taxal to William Brock, of Oldfield,
 in the parish of Taxal, gentleman, for £75,
 
1690. July 23. James Bowker, M.A.
  Presented by Reginald Downes, of Overton, Esq., on the resignation of Peter Needham.
He appears to have been curate here before 1690, for in the Marple Registers in 1688 he signs himself as " Minister of Taxal." In 1685, he occurs in the same Registers as Curate of Whitley. Ralph Bowker, Curate of Marple (see p, 57), was probably his brother,^ His name does not occur in the Oxford or Cambridge lists of Graduates, Although he appears to have resigned in 1703, his burial is thus recorded on Aug, 14, 17 11, " James Bowker Rector of Taxall buried,"
 
1703. Oct. 26. Roger Bolton, M.A.
  Presented by John Shallcross, Esq., on the resignation of James Bowker.
Query of Jesus College, Cambridge, B.A,, 1677, M.A., 1681, His name does not occur in the Registers.
 
 c. 1715.] William Newton.
He died in 1726, but there is no mention of him in the Registers.
 
1726. June 29. Joseph Dale.
  Presented by John Shallcross, of Shallcross, Esq., on the death of William
Newton.
An entry in the Registers states, "The Rev. Mr, Dale was confirmed Rector of Taxall parish, July 17th 1726," but Benfamin Pownall occurs as Curate in 1727. He matriculated at Oxford from Trinity College, 4 May, 1699, aged 18, son of Roger Dale, clerk, of Molesworth [Mouldsworth], co. Chester. His name is not in the list of graduates.

1727. Dec. 27. Edward Potts, B.A.
  Presented by John Shallcross, of Shallcross, Esq,, on the resignation of Joseph Dale.
This rector is probably to be identified with the Edward Pott who matriculated at Oxford from Brasenose College, March 22, 1698-9, aged 19, son of John Pott (not Potts), of Morton, co, Chester, B,A, 13 Oct,, 1702, The only entry in the Registers relating to him is the record of his burial, " 1753 July 9 Edward Potts, clerk. Rector of Taxall buried." A small brass on the north wall ofthe chancel records his death on July 5th, 1753, but does not mention his age.

1753. Sept. 12. John Lowe, M.A.
  Presented by Joseph Dale, clerk, on the death of Edward Potts.
Mr. Lowe held, together with Taxal, the living of Elvaston, co. Derby, and between June and November, 1767, is this entry, " The Rev, Mr. Lowe Rector of Taxall died and was buried at Elvaston." The Rev. John Gee was Curate herefrom 1757, if not earlier, and he remained here till 1786, his burial, on July 2, in that year being recorded in the Register, His tombstone is on the floor of the chancel, " Here lie the remains of | the Revd John Gee, Minister | of this Place who Died | June the 28th 1786 [ Aged 54 Years," Together with
the Curacy of Taxal, he appears to have held that of Chapel-en-le-Frith. He married Ellen, daughter of William Brocklehurst, of Lyme, and her death is thus recorded on a gravestone in Taxal churchyard : " Here lieth the Body of | Ellen Gee Widow of the late |
ReV" John Gee of Chappel | in le Frith Curate of Taxal | Who departed this Life | May the 15th 1789 Aged 51 Years."

1768. Jan. 30. John Swain, B.A.
Presented by Elizabeth Lowe, spinster, and Thomas Hatsell, junr., on the death of
John Lowe.
(s)On March 29, 1691, James, son of Mr. Ralph Bowker, minister, was baptized at Taxal,

 
 

 
 

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