(225) Atcherley of Marton

Atcherley of Marton

The Atcherley family can be traced at Stanwardine in the parish of Baschurch (Shropshire) from the 14th century and in 1511 a member of this family, Roger Atcherley (d. 1521), who had become a London merchant, was made Lord Mayor of London and knighted. Their emergence into the landed gentry dates, however, from the 17th century, when Thomas Atcherley (d. 1658), son of Richard Atcherley of Stanwardine, bought a property at Marton in the parish of Myddle and established a successful tannery there. With the property came a house where Thomas lived, which had formerly been occupied by Mr. Lloyd Peirce; this was presumably the predecessor of Marton Hall. Thomas later acquired property elsewhere in Shropshire and at the time of his death (when he had probably retired from business) he was living at Wolverley in the parish of Wem. Thomas' son and successor, Thomas Atcherley (1609-81) continued to operate the tannery and also dealt in timber, but seems to have been the last of the family to engage in trade. He is said to have rebuilt the house at Marton, perhaps in 1666. He also invested in further land acquisitions in Shropshire and especially at Cilcewydd and Fron in Montgomeryshire. At his death he left his elder son, Andrew Atcherley (1649-1710), the Montgomeryshire property, which he therefore probably regarded as his main estate; his younger son, Richard Atcherley (1653-82) inherited Marton, but when Richard died without male issue Marton also came to Andrew.

Like his father, Andrew Atcherley left two surviving sons and he divided his property between them. The elder, Richard Atcherley (1679-1750), who was evidently established at Marton in his father's lifetime, received that estate, while the younger, Andrew Atcherley (1686-1730) inherited the Forden estate in Montgomeryshire. Richard was probably responsible for building the Georgian wing of Marton Hall after he came into his inheritance. He again had two sons, but the elder, Thomas Atcherley (1704-38), died in his father's lifetime, so it was Richard's grandson, Richard Atcherley (1732-66), who inherited Marton in 1750.

Richard, whose first marriage to a shopkeeper's daughter from Kent looks like an unsanctioned mésalliance, produced a family by his second wife but died very young, leaving as heir his three-year-old son, Richard Atcherley (1763-1834), who married but died without issue. He bequeathed Marton Hall to his nephew, David Francis Jones (1783-1845), one of the Serjeants-at-law, on condition that he took the name Atcherley, which he did in 1834. Mr. Serjeant Atcherley produced a large family, and his eldest son, also David Francis Atcherley (1818-87) inherited Marton. The younger David married fairly late in life and produced only one child, a daughter, and at his death Marton therefore passed to his younger brother's son, Francis Robinson Hartland Atcherley (1865-95). F.R.H. Atcherley died young leaving only a daughter, and his widow quickly married again to Walter Vernon of Hilton Park (Staffs). Atcherley's daughter and heiress, Muriel Hope Atcherley (1890-1978) was therefore not brought up at Marton, and when she married and came of age in 1911 she sold the estate, bring to an end nearly three hundred years of family ownership. The story of her subsequent life in Kenya and South Africa is well told on the family genealogical blog, to which I am generally indebted for much of the information in this post. If every landed family had such an assiduous chronicler, there would be little need for my labours!

Marton Hall, Myddle, Shropshire

Marton Hall in about 1900, from an old postcard.

The house is said to have been rebuilt in the mid 17th century for Thomas Atcherley (c.1610-81), but by the time the photograph above was taken the house was an L-shaped, two and three-storey building, apparently mostly of later date. The three-storey shorter wing on the right could perhaps have been 17th century in origin, but if so it had been re-fenestrated and re-roofed later. The longer wing, with a modillion cornice and a pediment that incorporated a chimney, was probably basically early to mid 18th century, but had been given later plate-glass windows and a variety of incongruous Victorian bay windows.

Marton Hall: as rebuilt in 1913-14 by J.D. Coleridge,

After the Atcherley family sold Marton in c.1911 to Capt. W.S. Gosling, this architecturally undistinguished house was rebuilt in 1913-14 by John Duke Coleridge (1879-1934), who had worked briefly in Lutyens' office in 1900-01. He produced a comfortably-proportioned Tudor-style house built of squared, snecked red sandstone that stands on a new site a little further from the road than the old building. Some materials from the old building are said to have been reused in the new house, including an oak panelled room and a cupboard dated 1666.

Descent: sold 1622 to Thomas Atcherley (d. 1658); to son, Thomas Atcherley (1609-81); to son, Richard Atcherley (1652-82); to brother, Andrew Atcherley (1649-1709); to son, Richard Atcherley (1679-1750); to grandson, Richard Atcherley (1732-66); to son, Richard Atcherley (1763-1834); to nephew, David Francis Jones (later Atcherley) (1783-1845); to son, David Francis Atcherley (1818-87); to nephew, Francis Robinson Hartland Atcherley (1865-95); to daughter, Muriel Hope Atcherley (1890-1978), later wife of Henry Hemsted MD (d. 1945) and Charles Edward Stuart-Prince (b. 1893), who sold c.1911 to Capt. William Sullivan Gosling (1869-1952); sold after his death to William Lewis Richards Gwilt (b. 1915).

Atcherley family of Marton

Atcherley, Thomas (d. 1658). Said to have been the son of Richard Atcherley of Stanwardine in Baschurch, born about 1585. Tanner. Churchwarden of Myddle in 1608. He married 1st, Elizabeth [surname unknown] (d. 1612), 2nd, 17 June 1612 at Myddle, Jane (1589-1627), daughter of Edward Hinks of Burlton, and 3rd, Anne (d. 1660), daughter or widow of Nicholas Gough of Wolverley, and had issue:
(1.1) Thomas Atcherley (1609-81) (q.v.);
(2.1) Eliza Atcherley (1615-73), baptised at Myddle, 1 June 1615; probably died young;
(2.2) Elizabeth Atcherley (b. 1618), baptised at Myddle, 11 October 1618; married John Chetwood of Whitchurch (Shropshire) and had issue six children; buried at Whitchurch, 20 June 1673;
(2.3) Mary Atcherley (1623-62), baptised at Myddle, 2 February 1622/3; married, c.1652, Roger Griffiths (d. 1699), alderman (and later Mayor) of Shrewsbury (who m2, 24 September 1663 at Fitz (Shropshire), Elinor Heynes (d. 1703)), and had issue two sons and another child who died unbaptised; buried at St Chad, Shrewsbury, 3 October 1662;
(2.4) Richard Atcherley (1625-72), baptised at Myddle, 21 August 1625; married, 20 February 1650, Susannah Brooks (d. 1714), and had issue three sons and five daughters; buried at Wem, 6 April 1672.
He also had an illegitimate son by Jane, daughter of 'old Edge':
(X1) Thomas Atcherley alias Edge (1617-79) of Twyford and West Felton (Shropshire), baptised at Myddle, 5 January 1617/8; married, 24 November 1655 at Myddle, Mary (b. 1634), daughter of Richard Groome of Myddle, and had issue two sons and five daughters; buried at West Felton, 16 December 1679.
He bought the Marton estate in 1622. He acquired property elsewhere in Shropshire and lived latterly at Wolverley in the parish of Wem.
He was buried at Wem, 24 February 1657/8. His first wife was buried at Myddle, 15 January 1611/2. His second wife was buried 15 April 1627.

Atcherley, Thomas (1609-81). Only son of Thomas Atcherley (d. 1658) of Marton Hall and his first wife, Elizabeth [surname unknown], baptised at Myddle, 31 December 1609. A tanner and dealer in timber. He married, 14 July 1642 at St Chad, Shrewsbury, Eleanor (d. c.1687), daughter of Robert Griffiths, alderman of Shrewsbury, and had issue:
(1) Ann Atcherley (1643-1717), born 31 July 1643*; married 1st, 14 July 1665 at St. Alkmund, Shrewsbury, Owen Clutton (1642-79) of Malpas (Cheshire) and had issue seven children; married 2nd, 29 October 1684 at Malpas, Jonathan Bradley; buried at Malpas, 25 December 1717;
(2) Sarah Atcherley (1645-64), born 6 September 1645*; died unmarried and was buried at Myddle, 4 September 1664;
(3) Thomas Atcherley (1647-73), born 14 February* and baptised at Myddle, 28 February 1646/7; draper in Shrewsbury; died unmarried and without issue, 1673; will proved in the PCC, 17 December 1673;
(4) Andrew Atcherley (1649-1709) (q.v.);
(5) Eleanor Atcherley (b. 1650), born 16 November 1650*; married 1st, 29 January 1674/5 at Myddle, Nathaniel Kynaston (d. 1678) of Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain (Montgomerys.) and 2nd, Rev. Griffith Lloyd (d. 1696), vicar of Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain, but died without issue;
(6) Richard Atcherley (1652-82), born 2 October 1652*; inherited Marton Hall from his father in 1681; married, 17 June 1680 at Hodnet (Shropshire), Margaret (1657-1734) (who m2, Thomas Harwood (1661-1739) of Tern Hall and had five further children), daughter of Rowland Hill of Hawkestone, and had issue one daughter; buried at Myddle, 29 December 1682;
(7) Jane Atcherley (1654-1719), born 19 March 1653/4; married, 10 January 1681/2, Thomas Cole (d. 1729) of Gagden, Shrewsbury (Shropshire), but died without issue and was buried 24 April 1719;
(8) Mary Atcherley (1657-1702), born 29 September 1657*; married, 14 July 1683, Charles Chambre (1662-1731) (who m2, 23 July 1703, Ann (d. 1730), daughter of [forename unknown] Roe and widow of Charles Heath), son of Arthur Chambre of Burlton and had issue four children, who all died without issue; buried 11 March 1701/2 at Loppington.
He inherited the Marton Hall estate from his father and rebuilt the house (possibly in 1666, the date on a fitted cupboard removed to the new Marton Hall in 1914). He purchased property elsewhere in Shropshire and Montgomeryshire. At his death his Montgomeryshire estates passed to his elder surviving son, Andrew, and Marton Hall to his younger son, Richard.
He was buried 6 August 1681. His widow's will was proved 13 April 1687.
* Dates from a family bible quoted on www.atcherley.org.uk/wp/trees/thomas-of-marton/.

Atcherley, Andrew (1649-1710). Second but eldest surviving son of Thomas Atcherley (1609-81) and his wife Eleanor, daughter of Alderman Robert Griffiths of Shrewsbury, born 7 April 1649. He married, 19 November 1670 at Forden (Montgomerys.), Jane Lloyd (1648-1720) of Letty Gonworch (Montgomerys.) and had issue:
(1) Thomas Atcherley (1671-91), baptised at Forden, 8/31 August 1671; died unmarried and without issue and was buried at Forden, 20 March 1691;
(2) Sarah Atcherley (1673-1745), baptised at Forden, 24 August 1673; married, 7 April 1703 at St. Alkmund, Shrewsbury, Henry Phillips (1678-1712) of Pontesbury, and had issue five children; buried at Pontesbury, 21 January 1744/5;
(3) Jane Atcherley (1674-1711?), baptised at Forden, 13 February 1674; married, 6 June 1705 at Uffington (Shropshire), Samuel Roofe, and had issue four children; probably buried 7 September 1711 at Uffington;
(4) Ellinor Atcherley (1677-93), baptised at Forden, 7 June 1677; died young and was buried at Forden, 16 April 1693;
(5) twin, Isaac Atcherley (b. & d. 1678); buried at Forden, 24 September 1678;
(6) twin, Jacob Atcherley (b. & d. 1678); buried at Forden, 24 September 1678;
(7) Richard Atcherley (1679-1750) (q.v.);
(8) Mary Atcherley (b. 1681), baptised at Forden, 17 April 1681; according to an old pedigree in Shropshire Archives she is said to have married a 'Mr Kynnerley';
(9) Roger Atcherley (1682-86), baptised 13 January 1682/3; died young and was buried 23 August 1686;
(10) Anne Atcherley (b. 1684), baptised at Forden, 16 February 1683/4; according to an old pedigree in Shropshire Archives she is said to have married a 'Mr Jones';
(11) Andrew Atcherley (1686-1730) of Cilcewydd, Forden, baptised at Forden, 8 May 1686; inherited his father's property at Forden; died unmarried and was buried at Forden, 2 October 1730;
(12) Elizabeth Atcherley (b. 1688), baptised at Forden, 19 October 1688; according to an old pedigree in Shropshire Archives she is said to have married a 'Mr Davies';
(13) Frances Atcherley (b. 1689), baptised 9 November 1689; married, 13 February 1709 at Forden, Griffith Griffiths (d. 1742) and had issue one daughter.
He inherited his father's property at Forden (Montgomerys.) in 1681 and Marton Hall from his younger brother in 1682. He appears to have lived chiefly at Forden.
He was buried 9 February 1709/10; his will was proved in the PCC, 6 May 1710. His widow was buried at Forden, 9 August 1720.

Atcherley, Richard (1679-1750). Second but eldest surviving son of Andrew Atcherley (1649-1710) and his wife Jane Lloyd of Letty Gonworch (Montgomerys.), baptised 1 October 1679 at Forden (Montgomerys.). Churchwarden of Myddle, 1723. He married, 28 January 1702/3 at Battlefield (Shropshire), Elizabeth (1681-1755), daughter of Edward Lloyd of Leaton in Pimhill (Shropshire), and had issue:
(1) Thomas Atcherley (1704-38) (q.v.);
(2) Richard Atcherley (1705-66) of Wem, baptised 30 October 1705 at Myddle; died unmarried and without issue, 12 April, and was buried 16 April 1766 at Myddle, where is commemorated on a monument.
He inherited Marton Hall from his father in 1709 and may have built the Georgian wing of the house.
He died 11 May and was buried at Myddle, 15 May 1750. His widow was buried 28 July 1755.

Atcherley, Thomas (1704-38). Elder son of Richard Atcherley (1679-1750) and his wife Elizabeth Lloyd, baptised 6 April 1704. He married, 4 July 1722 at Acton (Cheshire), Dorothy (1704-92), daughter of Robert Whitney of Newhall (Cheshire) and had issue, with two other children who died young:
(1) Thomas Atcherley (1723-43), baptised at Wrenbury (Cheshire), 25 May 1723; died unmarried and was buried at Myddle, 27 July 1743;
(2) Jane Atcherley (c.1724-39); died young and was buried at Myddle, 16 March 1738/9;

(3) Elizabeth Atcherley (1726-88), baptised at Loppington (Shropshire), 3 June 1726; married 1st, 2 February 1748/9 at Myddle, Richard Palin (d. 1751) and had issue one son (who died without issue); married 2nd, 26 August 1762 at Prees (Shropshire), Richard Chambre (1722-1803) and had further issue two children (who died young); she died at Shrewsbury, 28 October and was buried at Wem (Shropshire), 3 November 1788;

(4) Dorothy Atcherley (1727-88), baptised at Loppington, 16 September 1727; died unmarried at Wem and was buried at Myddle, 16 March 1788;
(5) Richard Atcherley (b. & d. 1729), baptised at Loppington, 28 August 1729; died in infancy and was buried at the same place, 17 September 1729;
(6) Robert Atcherley (1731-58), baptised at Loppington, 8 January 1731; married, 14 December 1755 at Alberbury (Shropshire), Elizabeth Crump (1724-80) (who m2, 20 September 1773 at St Chad, Shrewsbury, Francis Lomax (d. 1782), surgeon, of Shrewsbury) but died without issue; buried at Myddle, 13 September 1758, where he is commemorated by a monument;
(7) Richard Atcherley (1732-66) (q.v.);
(8) Hugh Atcherley (1733-34), baptised at Loppington, 14 September 1733; died in infancy and was buried in the same place, 5 March 1733/4;
(9) John Atcherley (b. & d. 1735), baptised at Loppington, 15 March 1734/5; died in infancy and was buried in the same place, 25 March 1735;
(10) Thomasin Atcherley (1736-39), baptised at Myddle, 4 May or 1 July 1736; died young and was buried in the same place, 24 April 1739.
He lived at Loppington.
He died in the lifetime of his father, and was buried 29 December 1738. His widow lived at More (Shropshire) and was buried at Myddle, 29 May 1792.

Atcherley, Richard (1732-66). Fourth son of Thomas Atcherley (1704-38) and his wife Dorothy Whitney, baptised 24 February 1731/2. He married 1st, 9 September 1751 at Strood (Kent), Anne (b. 1727), daughter of Thomas Baker of Cobham (Kent), shopkeeper, and 2nd, 18 September 1760 at Loppington (Shropshire), Jane (1737-73), daughter of Rev. Thomas Hughes of Loppington, and had issue:
(1.1) Dorothy Atcherley (b. & d. 1753), baptised at St Andrew, Holborn (Middx), 30 March 1753; died in infancy and was buried in the same place, 15 May 1753;
(2.1) Dorothy Atcherley (b. 1761); baptised at Myddle, 14 July 1761; married, 28 May 1782 at Wem (Shropshire), Rev. Robert Taylor (1749-1833) and had issue eleven children;
(2.2) Jane Atcherley (1762-92) (q.v.);
(2.3) Richard Atcherley (1763-1834) (q.v.);
(2.4) Elizabeth Atcherley (1764-1840), born 21 December 1764 and baptised at Myddle, 1 January 1765; married, 4 March 1785 at Chester, Robert Corbett (1757-1826) of Liverpool and had issue six children; died 18 November at Arscott in Pontesbury (Shropshire), and was buried at Myddle, 24 November 1840;
(2.5) Thomas Atcherley (1766-1801), born 27 February 1766 and baptised at Myddle the following day; imprisoned for debt at Chester, 1794; died without issue, July 1801. 
He inherited Marton Hall from his grandfather in 1750.
He died at Marton, 22 April and was buried at Myddle, 26 April 1766, where he is commemorated on a monument. His first wife's date of death is unknown. His widow lived at Shrewsbury; she died 30 May and was buried at Myddle, 2 June 1773.

Atcherley, Richard (1763-1834). Elder son of Richard Atcherley (1732-66) and his second wife Jane Hughes of Loppington, baptised 15 October 1763. Articled clerk to Widdens, Potts & Leeke of Chester, solicitors, 1781, but does not seem to have pursued a legal career. He married, 26 May 1792 at Bosbury (Herefs), Elizabeth (1772-1836), daughter of Arthur Edwards of Bosbury, but had no issue.
He inherited Marton Hall from his father in 1766 and came of age in 1784. At his death it passed to his nephew, David Francis Jones (later Atcherley) (1783-1845).
He died 27 February and was buried at Myddle, 6 March 1834; his will was proved in the PCC, 24 April 1834. His widow died 27 September and was buried at Myddle, 4 October 1836, where she is commemorated on a monument.

Atcherley, Jane (1762-92). Second daughter of Richard Atcherley of Marton Hall and his wife Jane Hughes of Loppington, born 8 July and baptised 9 July 1762. She married, 2 July 1782 at Loppington, David Francis Jones (1757-1828), solicitor, of Chester and Cwmmau Hall, nr Hope (Flints.), son of David Jones of Cwmmau, and had issue:
(1) David Francis Jones (later Atcherley) (1783-1845) (q.v.).
She died 3 May 1792. Her husband married 2nd, 15 January 1795 at Whitchurch (Shropshire), Anne Sandland (1767-1829) and had further issue one son; he died 11 December and was buried at Hope (Flints.), 18 December 1828; administration of his goods with will annexed was granted in the PCC, 27 January 1829.

Jones (later Atcherley), David Francis (1783-1845). Son of David Francis Jones (1757-1828) of Cwmmau (Flints) and his wife Jane, daughter of Richard Atcherley of Marton Hall (Shropshire), born in Chester, 13 June 1783. Educated at Kings School, Chester, and Ludlow and Oswestry Grammar Schools; articled clerk to his father, 1800; an officer in the Royal Chester Volunteers (Lt., 1804); studied at Lincolns Inn (admitted 1805; called to bar, 1810). Barrister-at-law on the northern circuit; Recorder of Chester, 1814-20; Serjeant-at-law, 1827-45 and Attorney General of the Counties Palatine of Lancashire and Durham, 1835-45; DL for Flintshire; JP for Lancashire, Cheshire, Durham, Shropshire, Denbighshire and Flintshire. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society and of the Society of Antiquaries of London. A Tory in politics, he stood unsuccessfully for Parliament at York in 1837 and 1841. He assumed the name and arms of Atcherley in lieu of Jones by royal licence, 1834. He married, 29 May 1817 at St Andrew, Holborn (Middx), Anne Margaret (1788-1867), second daughter of James Topping KC of Whatcroft Hall (Cheshire) and had issue:
(1) David Francis Jones (later Atcherley) (1818-87) (q.v.);
(2) Jane Margaret Jones (later Atcherley) (1819-76), born 27 September 1819 and baptised 15 January 1820; died unmarried in London, 25 May 1876 and was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery;
(3) Emma Atcherley Jones (later Atcherley) (1820-82), born 27 December 1820 and baptised 13 June 1821; died unmarried at Rhyl (Flints.), 3 April and was buried at Hope (Flints.), 8 April 1882; will proved 2 August 1882 (effects £10,654);
(4) Elizabeth Hope Jones (later Atcherley) (1822-94), born 13 July 1822 and baptised 2 January 1823; died unmarried at Rhyl (Flints.), 4 January and was buried at Hope (Flints.), 9 January 1894; her will proved 31 March 1894 (effects £3,610);
(5) Lucy Catherine Jones (later Atcherley) (1823-99), born 29 August 1823 and baptised at Davenham (Cheshire), 8 October 1823; died unmarried in Cheltenham (Glos), 27 February and was buried at Hope (Flints.), 2 March 1899; will proved 8 April 1899 (effects £10,126);
(6) Francis Topping Jones (b. & d. 1824), born 19 June 1824; died in infancy and was buried at Davenham, 3 September 1824;
(7) Francis Robinson Jones (b. & d. 1825); died in infancy, 1 September and was buried at Davenham, 3 September 1825;
(8) Lt-Col. Francis Topping Jones (later Atcherley) (1827-75) (q.v.);
(9) Anne Eleanor Jones (later Atcherley) (1828-1905), born 18 November 1828 and baptised at Hope (Flints), 9 October 1830; died unmarried, 13 June and was buried at Hope (Flints), 16 June 1905; will proved 29 June 1905 (estate £10,086);
(10) Capt. William Atcherley Jones (later Atcherley) (1830-95), born 24 June 1830 and baptised at Hope (Flints), 9 October 1830; educated at Eton and Oriel College, Oxford (matriculated 1849; BA 1854); an officer in the army (Cornet, 1858; Lt. by 1861; Capt., 1865); died unmarried at Gresford (Denbighs.), 28 November and was buried at Hope, 2 December 1895; will proved 21 December 1895 (estate £7,596).
He inherited the Cwmmau estate in Flintshire from his father in 1828 and the Marton Hall estate from his maternal uncle in 1834.
He died in London, 6 July, and was buried at Hope (Flints), 15 July 1845; his will was proved in the PCC, 21 August 1845. His widow died at Leamington (Warks), 10 May, and was buried at Hope (Flints), 18 May 1867; her will was proved 16 November 1867 (effects under £3,000).

Atcherley, David Francis (1818-87). Eldest son of David Francis Jones (later Atcherley) (1783-1845) and his wife Anne Margaret, daughter of James Topping KC of Whatcroft Hall (Cheshire), born 1 July 1818 and baptised 3 July 1819. Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge (admitted 1836 but did not reside), University College, Oxford (matriculated 1836; BA 1842; MA 1864) and Lincolns Inn (admitted 1840; called to bar, 1850). DL for Shropshire; JP for Shropshire and Flintshire. High Sheriff of Shropshire, 1864. He was active in the Shropshire Chamber of Agriculture, and in the 1870s he and his family and friends formed the "Marton Hall Opera Company", performing selections from popular opera classics for audiences in Shrewsbury and elsewhere. He married, 10 February 1866 at St George's, Hanover Square, London, Caroline Frances Amherst (1833-89), daughter of Courtenay Stacey of Sandling (Kent) and had issue:
(1) Rosamund Minnie Margaret Atcherley (1869-1960), born 21 July 1869; married, 23 December 1890, Edward France-Hayhurst (1868-1911), late of Whatcroft Hall (Cheshire), son of Rev. Thomas William Hamilton France-Hayhurst of Davenham Lodge (Cheshire), and had issue one son and one daughter; died 31 May 1960; will proved 2 December 1960 (estate £14,180).
He inherited the Marton Hall estate from his father in 1845. At his death it passed to his nephew, Francis Robinson Hartland Atcherley (1865-95).
He died 3 May and was buried at Myddle, 9 May 1887; his will was proved 2 August 1887 (effects £45,101). His widow died in Chelsea (Middx), 6 June and was buried at Myddle, 11 June 1889; her will was proved 7 November 1889 (effects £8,879).

Lt-Col. Francis Topping Atcherley.
Cropped from image: McCord Museum.
Some rights reserved.

Atcherley, Lt-Col. Francis Topping (1827-75). Second son of David Francis Jones (later Atcherley) (1783-1845) and his wife Anne Margaret, daughter of James Topping KC of Whatcroft Hall (Cheshire), born 17 June 1827 and was baptised at St George, Bloomsbury, 3 March 1828. An officer in 30th Regiment (Ensign, 1847; Lt., 1848; Capt., 1853; Brevet-Maj., 1855; retired as Lt. Col., 1865). He married 1st, 4 June 1863 at Toronto (Canada), Emma Arabella (d. 1871), daughter of Francis Harris Heward of Toronto, and 2nd, 21 November 1872 at Loppington (Shropshire), Jane Louisa (1832-1924), fourth daughter of Thomas Dickin of Loppington House, and had issue:
(1.1) Francis Robinson Hartland Atcherley (1865-95) (q.v.);
(1.2) Richard Topping Beverley Atcherley (1866-1909) of Stoke-upon-Tern (Shropshire), born 15 October 1866 at Prescott (Canada) and baptised 31 March 1867 at Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec (Canada); married, 18 September 1892, Caroline Mary Wynne (d. 1935), daughter of William Wynne Foulkes, and had issue two daughters; died 7 October 1909 at Chester;
(1.3) Arthur William Atcherley (b. & d. 1868), born 2 January 1868  at Brockville, Ontario (Canada); died in infancy, 14 August and was buried at Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec (Canada), 16 August 1868;
(1.4) Catherine Emma Grace Atcherley (1869-1938), born 21 July at Brockville, Ontario (Canada) and baptised 28 August 1869 at Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec (Canada); died unmarried, 1 June and was buried at Hope, 3 June 1938;
(1.5) Maj-Gen. Sir Llewellyn William Atcherley (1871-1954), born 1 March 1871 at Brockrilla (Canada); educated at Oundle School; an officer in the East Lancashire Regiment and Army Service Corps, c.1895-1905, 1914-18 (2nd Lt., 1890; Lt., 1891; Capt., 1898; Maj., 1900; Lt-Col., Maj-Gen); Chief Constable of Shropshire, 1906-08 and of West Riding of Yorkshire, 1908-19; HM Inspector of constabulary, 1919-36, 1940-46; appointed MVO, 1912; CMG, 1916; CVO, 1918 and knighted, 1925; married, 11 November 1897, Eleanor Frances (fl. 1954), younger daughter of Richard Micklethwait of Ardsley Hall, Yorks (WR) and had issue two sons and two daughters; died 17 February 1954; will proved 5 April 1954 (estate £12,557).
He died 16 June 1875 and was buried at Hope, 22 June 1875. His first wife died 16 March 1871 at Brockville, Ontario (Canada). His widow died in London, 5 August 1924.

Atcherley, Francis Robinson Hartland (1865-95). Eldest son of Lt-Col. Francis Topping Atcherley (1827-75) and his first wife, Emma Arabella, daughter of Francis Harris Heward of Toronto (Canada), born 8 January 1865 at Toronto (Canada). Educated at Karlsruhe (Germany). JP for Shropshire. Captain in 3rd battn, Shropshire Light Infantry. He married, 22 August 1889 at Altrincham (Cheshire), Esther Hodgson (1869-1957), daughter of John Mills of Northwold, Bowden (Cheshire), and had issue:
(1) Muriel Hope Atcherley (1890-1978) (q.v.).
He inherited the Marton Hall estate from his uncle in 1887 but lived at Stone House, Sutton in West Felton (Shropshire).
He died 16 November and was buried at Myddle, 19 November 1895; his will was proved 16 January 1896 (effects £7,427). His widow married 2nd, 15 September 1897 at Welsh Frankton (Shropshire), Walter Bertie William Vernon (1871-1948) of Hilton Park (Staffs) and had further issue one son; she died 21 March 1957.

Atcherley, Muriel Hope (1890-1978). Only child of Francis Robinson Hartland Atcherley (1865-95) and his wife Esther Hodgson, daughter of John Mills of Northwold, Bowden (Cheshire), born 6 July and baptised at West Felton, 7 August 1890. In 1912-13 she and her husband travelled to Kenya and in 1914 to Canada and the USA. In 1914 they moved to Cape Town (South Africa) where her husband joined the South African Medical Corps and they both joined the hospital ship Ebani, remaining with her after she was transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1915, but later transferring to HMHS Neuralia. After the end of the First World War they emigrated once more and became coffee-planters at Chestnut Farm, Ngong (Kenya) in 1920 until they moved to Naivasha (Kenya) in the mid-1930s. After the death of her first husband she returned to England and married again, going out first to Kenya once more but moving in the early 1950s to South Africa, where she and her husband became naturalised citizens in 1960. She married 1st, 29 March 1911 at St Margaret, Westminster (Middx), Dr. Henry Hemsted MD (d. 1945) of Purewell Hill, Christchurch (Hants) and 2nd, 18 September 1946 in London, Charles Edward Stuart-Prince (b. 1893) (who m1, 1918, Gwladys Mary Harrison), and had issue:
(1.1) Rupert Henry Atcherley Hemsted (b. & d. 1911); born and died Oct-Dec 1911;
(1.2) Elizabeth Gay Atcherley Hemsted (b. 1913), born 10 July 1913; apparently living in 1919 but probably died young;
(1.3) Rupert Henry Rustat Hemsted (1921-44), born 30 May 1921; served in Second World War with RAF Volunteer Reserve and was died in Italy, 18 January 1944; buried in Naples War Cemetery;
(1.4) Penelope Atcherley Hemstead (b. 1922), born 14 July 1922; lived at Dersley, Transvaal (South Africa); married, before 1948, Owen Deane and had issue one son;
(1.5) William Richard Tobias Hemsted (b. 1924), born 8 October 1924; married Margaret Evangeline Stratford (1920-2012) and had issue one son and one daughter.
She inherited the Marton Hall estate from her father in 1895 and came of age in 1911. She sold the estate soon afterwards.
She died in South Africa, 17 May 1978. Her first husband died at Naivasha (Kenya), 15 December 1945. Her second husband's date of death is unknown.

Sources

Burke's Landed Gentry, 1952, pp. 71-72; J. Newman & Sir N. Pevsner, The buildings of England: Shropshire, 2006, p. 137; A. Ruscoe, Landed Estates and the Gentry in North Shropshire: vol. 9, Whitchurch, Wem and Baschurch, 2009, pp. 27-29; http://www.myddle.net/history/myddlehistoryproject/Original%20Document%20pages%2095%20-%20108.pdf; http://www.atcherley.org.uk/wp/welcome/;

Location of archives

No significant archive is known to survive, but there are many documents referring to the family scattered across family and solicitors' collections at Shropshire Archives.

Coat of arms

Gules on a fesse engrailed argent between three griffin's heads erased or, as many crosses pattée fitchy sable.


Can you help?
Here are a few notes about information and images which would help to improve the account above. If you can help with any of these or with other additions or corrections, please use the contact form in the sidebar to get in touch.

• Can anyone provide a plan or additional photographs of Marton Hall, before or after the early 20th century rebuilding? Any interior views of either house would be especially welcome.

Revision and acknowledgements

This post was first published 17th August 2016. I wish to record my indebtedness to the Atcherley One Name Study website: http://www.atcherley.org.uk.