(465) Bayley of Willaston Hall, Wistaston

The Bayley family were established as minor gentry in Staffordshire by the 16th century, and by the late 17th century James Bayley (1622-1704), with whom the genealogy below begins, was living at Madeley, on the northern edge of that county. James's eldest son, James Bayley (1668-1747), purchased various scattered estates in south Cheshire, including the manor of Hankelow near Audlem, the Stapeley Hall estate at Haslington, and - reputedly in 1713 - the Willaston estate at Wistaston near Nantwich. It was probably James who built the modest three-bay gabled house which forms the core of the present Willaston Hall. He was the only member of the family to be chosen as High Sheriff of Cheshire. When he died in 1747 he left a large family, and his estates were divided. His eldest son, James Bayley (1692-1764) received Stapeley Hall - a long-demolished moated manor house about which little is known - and most of the outlying properties, but Willaston Hall passed to his second son, John Bayley (1700-84), who was probably already living there, since the refronting of the house in 1737 is attributed to him. The younger brothers of James and John seem not to have been left property, but were established in the professions or in trade; William Bayley (1705-73) may have farmed on his brothers' estates.

John Bayley (1700-84) married late and had only two children: a son who predeceased him and a daughter, Ellen Bayley (1752-1832) who married Charles Salmon (1751-1824). Charles and Ellen inherited the Willaston estate, but left no surviving issue, so on Ellen's death in 1832 she bequeathed it to her first cousin, twice removed, James Bayley (1782-1842) of Stapeley Hall, reuniting the two properties.

James Bayley (1692-1764), who inherited Stapeley Hall from his father, evidently amassed considerable debts during his lifetime, and in his will he appointed trustees, including one of his younger sons, William Bayley (1724-80), to sell part of his estates to pay off his creditors. Disputes over the will meant that the sale was delayed until a Master in Chancery ordered it to proceed in 1770, and three years later William was still reassuring the creditors that there would be sufficient funds to meet his father's debts in full. The sale did not include Stapeley Hall itself, which descended to William's elder brother, James Bayley (1718-79), who in turn left it to his son James Bayley (1759-1840). The estate he inherited must have been severely depleted, and there is still evidence of financial pressure on the family for much of his life, but James had better luck than his forbears. In 1780 he married Penelope, the daughter and co-heiress of Edward Salmon of Hassall Hall (Ches.), and the couple lived at Hassall until 1797. By then he had successfully overturned the will of a distant kinsman, James Bayley of Stourport (Worcs), who committed suicide in 1785, and as a result had inherited 'a very considerable estate'. In the early 19th century he demolished Stapeley Hall and replaced it with a smaller house nearby, which he let to a farmer. 

James' eldest son, James Bayley (1782-1842) followed his father's example by marrying an heiress, in this case Elizabeth, the daughter of John Franklin of Rumleigh House near Plymouth (Devon). The couple lived at Rumleigh until James inherited Willaston Hall from his distant cousin, Ellen Salmon, in 1832. Over the next five years, he made additions to Willaston Hall, which became his principal seat. At his death, Willaston passed to his younger son, John Salmon Bayley (1827-59), in accordance with the will of Ellen Salmon, while much of his other property passed to his eldest son, James Franklin Bayley (1814-59); although since the latter died unmarried and childless, the family property came back together again later. 

John Salmon Bayley's relations with his wife in the 1850s suggest strongly that he was mentally unstable, and he committed suicide in 1859, leaving an infant son and two daughters. His tragic death was not the first, and not the last in this family, which seems to have been more dogged by misfortune - or perhaps by mental illness - than most. John Salmon Bayley's son, James Bayley (1857-1922) came of age in 1878 and inherited property in Essex and perhaps in Buckinghamshire, from an unidentified source. He was killed in 1922 in a bizarre accident during the demonstration of a milling machine on a farm in Buckinghamshire, when a long dust coat he was wearing was caught in the machinery and strangled him. His eldest son and heir, Commander James Bayley RN (1880-1933) inherited Willaston Hall on his father's death, but he too came to a tragic end, apparently shooting himself accidentally while test-firing a pistol he had bought for his wife to defend herself from motor bandits. Although nothing in his personal or financial circumstances suggested a motive for suicide, the coroner tried to steer the jury to an open verdict, but the jury - perhaps for reasons of compassion - gave a verdict of accidental death. Commander Bayley, who had been very active in taking measures to relieve unemployment in his locality and other charitable works, died without issue, and when his widow remarried in 1937 his trustees sold Willaston Hall, bringing to an end the family's time as Cheshire landed gentry.

Willaston Hall, Wistaston, Cheshire

Willaston Hall: entrance front, 2011. Image: Robin Bayley.

A two-and-a-half storey red brick house, built after 1713 and refronted (in 1737 according to the date on the rainwater heads) in brick with prominent white quoins. The gabled rear elevation indicates the original appearance of the house, and when the new front was added the height of the roof was not increased, so that gabled dormers are concealed behind the tall urn-topped parapet. The symmetrical lower wings to either side, and the tripartite windows on the ground floor, were added in 1833-38 for James Bayley (1782-1842), who had inherited the house in 1832. The dated rainwater heads were originally on the side elevations and were moved to the front at the same time. 

Willaston Hall: the former library, with decoration of 1737.

Inside, the panelled former library to the right of the entrance is substantially of 1737, and has a deep modillion cornice and a large carved chimneypiece in a provincial Kentian style, the mantelshelf of which is supported by buxom maidens, each clutching one breast, and evidently representing Night and Day, since one has her eyes closed. In the centre of the mantlepiece is the head of Apollo within a sunburst. Also apparently of the 1730s is the staircase, which rises in a narrow straight flight out of the entrance hall. In the early 21st century the house was acquired and extensively redecorated by kitchen-designer-to-the-stars, Clive Christian, rendering much of the interior glitzy but rather characterless.

Descent: built for James Bayley (1668-1747); to son, John Bayley (1699-1784); to daughter, Ellen (1752-1832), wife of Charles Salmon (1751-1824); to first cousin twice removed, James Bayley (1782-1842); to son, John Salmon Bayley (1827-59); to son, James Bayley (1857-1922); to son, Cdr. James Bayley (1880-1933); sold by his executors c.1937 to E.B. Lomax; sold 1958... sold c.2004 to Clive Christian OBE (b. 1951); sold 2016...

Bayley family of Willaston Hall

Bayley, James (1622-1704). Eldest son of Matthew Bayley (1581-1666) of Weston Wood (Staffs) and his wife, Joyce Green of Offley Park (Staffs), baptised at Norbury, 8 December 1622. He married 1st, 15 August 1654 at Madeley (Staffs), Jane (1626-59), daughter of Hugh Weston of Madeley, and 2nd, c.1662, Elizabeth [surname unknown], and had issue:

(1.1) Elizabeth Bayley (1655-1710), baptised at Madeley, 5 July 1655; married, 25 May 1677 at Trentham (Staffs), William Swinnerton (d. 1724), and had issue; buried at Swynnerton (Staffs), 8 August 1710;

(1.2) Weston Bayley (1657-1724), born 1 May 1657; educated at St Alban Hall, Oxford (matriculated 1675); married, 1684 (licence 25 July), Elizabeth Jervis (d. 1732) and had issue three sons and three daughters; buried at Madeley, 27 September 1724;

(1.3) Ann Bayley (1659-1727), born 23 May 1659; married, 11 August 1680 at Madeley, Edward Wade (1657-1735) of Wades Green Hall, Church Minshull (Ches.); buried at Church Minshull, 7 September 1727;

(2.1) Theophila Bayley (1662-1743), baptised at Madeley, 15 January 1663; married, 11 August 1683 at Madeley, John Craddock (1656-1721) of Audley (Staffs), son of John Craddock, and had issue three sons and six daughters; buried at Aston (Staffs), 9 September 1743;

(2.2) James Bayley (1668-1747) (q.v.);

(2.3) Mary Bayley (1670-97), born 20 October and baptised at Madeley, 14 November 1670; died unmarried and was buried at Madeley, 3 September 1697;

(2.4) Thomas Bayley (1672-1714), born 15 April and baptised at Madeley, 6 May 1672; married, 2 December 1702 at Kingsley (Staffs), Jane (c.1671-1745), daughter of John Stubbs of Kingsley, and had issue one son and one daughter; buried at Madeley, 26 August 1714.

He lived at Madeley (Staffs).

He was buried at Madeley, 30 June 1704. His first wife was buried at Madeley, 6 October 1659. His second wife was buried at Madeley, 23 April 1695.

Bayley, James (1668-1747). Elder son of James Bayley (1622-1704) of Madeley (Staffs) and his second wife Elizabeth [surname unknown], born 30 November and baptised at Madeley, 4 December 1668. High Sheriff of Cheshire, 1716-17. He married, 25 October 1691 at Ashley (Staffs), Eleanor (c.1670-1770), daughter of John Jervis of Chatcull in Eccleshall (Staffs), and had issue:

(1) James Bayley (1692-1764) (q.v.);

(2) Eleanor Bayley (1694-1768), baptised at Wistaston, 31 July 1694; married, 31 October 1714 at Baddiley (Ches.), John Puleston (1673-1748) of Pickhill Hall (Flints.), and had issue thirteen children; buried at Worthenbury (Flints), 24 September 1768;

(3) Elizabeth Bayley (1695-1702), baptised at Wistaston, 5 January 1696; died young and was buried 9 December 1702;

(4) Frances Bayley (1698-1727), baptised at Wistaston, 13 June 1698; died unmarried and was buried at Wistaston, 23 June 1727;

(5) John Bayley (1700-84) (q.v.);

(6) Rev. Thomas Bayley (1701-32), baptised at Wistaston, 4 April 1701; educated at Exeter College, Oxford (matriculated 1720; BA 1724; MA 1727); curate of Barthomley (Ches.); died unmarried and was buried at Barthomley, 22 February 1732;

(7) Elizabeth Bayley (1703-43), baptised at Wistaston, 28 December 1703; married, 12 February 1726/7 at Barthomley, William Peters (1702-89), son of Ralph Peters, Town Clerk of Liverpool, and had issue; buried at Wistaston, 8 June 1743;

(8) William Bayley (1705-73), baptised at Wistaston, 8 March 1705; married 1st, 1735 (licence 6 October), Elizabeth White (d. by 1743) of Risley (Derbys); married 2nd, 30 June 1743 at Astley (Ches.), Elizabeth Merrill (b. c.1721) of Congleton, and had issue four sons; died intestate and was buried at Wistaston, 2 August 1773;

(9) Matthew Bayley (1708-75), baptised at Wistaston, 9 September 1708; wine merchant in Chester, who in 1740 was picked to serve as a common councilman for the city but declined to serve and paid a fine of £20 to be excused; married, 8 December 1740 at Pulford (Ches.), Margaret Read (d. 1767), and had issue one daughter; buried at Wrenbury (Ches.), 4 May 1775;

(10) Mary Bayley (1711-69?), baptised at Wistaston, 23 January 1710/11; married, 16 December 1728 at Barthomley, as his second wife, John Swinnerton (b. 1693), son of William Swinnerton of Butterton (Staffs), and had issue; probably the Mary Swinnerton of Burston (Staffs), widow, whose will was proved in 1769;

(11) George Bayley (b. 1714), baptised at Wistaston, 27 August 1714; married by 1733 and had issue two sons and two daughters; death not traced.

He purchased various estates in Cheshire and was lord of the manor of Hankelow. He acquired land at Willaston in Wistaston in 1713, and probably built Willaston Hall soon afterwards.

He was buried at Wistaston, 29 April 1747. His widow is said to have died aged 100 and was buried at Wistaston, 28 June 1770.

Bayley, John (1700-1784). Second son of James Bayley (1668-1747) and his wife Eleanor, daughter of John Jervis of Chatcull, baptised at Wistaston (Ches.), 15 February 1699/1700. He married, 8 February 1749/50 at St Michael, Chester, Mary Massey (d. 1798), and had issue:

(1) John Bayley (1750-79), baptised at Wybunbury, 31 December 1750; died unmarried in the lifetime of his father, 8 May, and was buried at Wybunbury, 13 May 1779;

(2) Ellen Bayley (1752-1832) (q.v.).

He inherited the Willaston Hall estate from his father in 1747. At his death it passed to his daughter and her husband.

He died 19 June and was buried at Wybunbury, 26 June 1784 in a vault which he had constructed in the church there; his will was proved in the PCC, 15 October 1785. His widow was buried at Wybunbury, 11 April 1798.

Bayley, Ellen (1752-1832). Only daughter of John Bayley (1700-84) and his wife Mary Massey, baptised at Wybunbury, 23 July 1752. She married, 9 June 1772 at Wybunbury, Charles Salmon (1751-1824), and had issue:

(1) Eliza Salmon (b. & d. 1781), baptised at Wybunbury, 27 July 1781; died in infancy and was buried at Wybunbury, 8 August 1781;

(2) Charles Bayley Salmon (d. 1788); buried at Wybunbury, 20 August 1788.

She and her husband inherited Willaston Hall from her father in 1784. At her death she left it to her first cousin twice removed, James Bayley (1782-1842) (q.v.).

She died 9 November, and was buried in the family vault at Wybunbury, 17 November 1832; her will was proved in 1832. Her husband died 22 August and was buried in the Bayley vault at Wybunbury, 28 August 1824.

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Bayley, James (1692-1764). Eldest son of James Bayley (1668-1747) and his wife Eleanor, daughter of John Jervis of Chatcull, baptised at Madeley, 12 August 1692. Churchwarden of Wybunbury, 1740-42. He married 1st, 13 December 1716 at Lichfield Cathedral, his cousin, Mary (1694-1734), daughter of John Jervis of Darlaston (Staffs), and 2nd, 26 December 1734 at Wybunbury, Elizabeth (c.1692-1775), daughter of John Hough of Betley (Staffs) and Gresty (Ches.), and had issue:

(1.1) Mary Bayley (1717-88), baptised at Wrenbury (Ches), 24 October 1717; married, 8 June 1742 at Swynnerton (Staffs), Richard Hinckley (1721-72), and had issue; died 25 March 1788 and was buried at Lichfield Cathedral, 2 April 1788, where she and her husband are commemorated by a monument;

(1.2) James Bayley (1718-79) (q.v.);

(1.3) Elizabeth Bayley (1720-21), baptised at Wistaston, 3 August 1720; died in infancy and was buried at Wistaston, 30 January 1720/1;

(1.4) Rev. John Bayley (1722-83), baptised at Wistaston, 16 February 1721/2; educated at Brasenose College, Oxford (matriculated 1742; BA 1746); vicar of Brailes (Warks), 1760-83; died unmarried and was buried at Brailes, 28 June 1783; will proved 1783;

(1.5) William Bayley (1724-80), baptised at Wybunbury, 20 April 1724; was one of his father's trustees in 1770; died, probably unmarried, and was buried at Wistaston, 28 April 1780;

(1.6) Thomas Bayley (1725-98?), baptised at Wybunbury, 26 January 1725/6; living in 1764 and possibly the man of this name buried at Nantwich, 24 December 1798;

(1.7) Frances Bayley (1727-43), baptised at Wybunbury, 8 August 1727; died young and was buried at Wistaston, 19 August 1743;

(1.8) Ellen Bayley (1729-57), baptised at Wybunbury, 9 March 1728/9; died unmarried and was buried in Nantwich church, 23 October 1757;

(1.9) Helena Bayley (b. 1731), baptised at Wybunbury, 6 November 1731;

(2.1) Edward Bayley (b. 1735), baptised at Wybunbury, 28 October 1735; lived at Nechells, Wolverhampton (Staffs); declared a lunatic in 1760;

(2.2) Elizabeth Bayley (1736-91), baptised at Wybunbury, 5 October 1736; died 14 May and was buried at Wybunbury, 18 May 1791;

(2.3) Matthew Bayley (1739-86), baptised at Wybunbury, 26 March 1739; died at Betley (Staffs), 5 June, and was buried at Wybunbury, 20 June 1786;

(2.4) Peter Bayley (1742-1803), baptised at Wybunbury, 30 June 1742; solicitor in Nantwich and a shareholder in the Nantwich workhouse built in 1779; married, 22 June 1775 at Eccleshall (Staffs), Sarah Tomkinson (b. 1751?), and had issue three sons and two daughters; buried at Nantwich, 5 September 1803.

He lived at Stapeley Hall (Ches.).

He died 27 November  and was buried at Wybunbury, 30 November 1764. His will was proved in the PCC, 4 January 1765, and left part of his estates to trustees for sale to pay his debts. His first wife was buried at Wistaston, 26 February 1733/4. His widow died at Betley (Staffs), 18 November and was buried 22 November 1775.

Bayley, James (1718-79). Eldest son of James Bayley (1692-1764) and his first wife, Mary, daughter of John Jervis of Darlaston (Staffs), baptised at Nantwich (Ches.), 11 December 1718. He married, 1st, 1741 (licence 11 September), his first cousin, Anne Puleston (1715-43) of Pickhill Hall, Sesswick (Flints), daughter of John Puleston, and 2nd, 1747 (licence 20 July), Ann (1728-90), daughter of John Hamnett of Nantwich, and had issue:

(1.1) Anne Bayley (1742-43), baptised at Wistaston, 27 August 1742; died in infancy and was buried at Barthomley (Ches.), 8 April 1743;

(2.1) Elizabeth Bayley (b. 1749), baptised at Nantwich, 2 November 1749; married, 22 December 1770 at Wybunbury, John Edwards; 

(2.2) Ann Bayley (c.1755-88), born about 1755; married, 17 March 1776 at Wybunbury, William Cobbe (1751-1827); buried at Wybunbury, 2 April 1788;

(2.3) Mary Bayley (b. c.1757), born about 1757; married, 24 May 1778 at Wybunbury, Dr. John 'Cockfighting' Bellyse* (1738-1829), of Woodhouse, Audlem, surgeon, and had issue at least one son; died before 1784 when her husband married again;

(2.4) James Bayley (1759-1840) (q.v.);

(2.5) Weston Bayley (1766-1836), baptised at Wybunbury, 11 July 1766; married 1st, 31 August  1795 at Barthomley, Beatrice Savage (b. c.1775), and had issue four sons; married 2nd, 16 November 1810, at Nantwich, Jane Fowls (1784-1851), and had issue three sons and three daughters; died at Nantwich, 25 June, and was buried in the family vault at Wybunbury, 28 June 1836.

He lived at Stapeley Hall (Ches.)

He was buried at Wistaston, 5 March 1779. His first wife was buried at Wistaston, 23 April 1743. His widow was buried at Wistaston, 19 July 1790.

* For whom see also my post on the Baker family of Highfields, Audlem.

James Bayley (1759-1840) 

Bayley, James (1759-1840). Elder son of James Bayley (1718-79) and his wife Ann Hamnett, baptised at Nantwich (Ches), 24 June 1759. In 1792 he successfully upset the will of James Bayley of Stourport (Worcs) by demonstrating that the testator (who left all his property to his wife and her relatives) had been of unsound mind* at the time of drawing up the will; as a result he gained possession of 'a very considerable estate'. An officer in the Cheshire Supplementary Militia (Lt., 1797). He was a Vice-President of the Nantwich Auxiliary Bible Society. He was described by his obituarist as 'a good old English gentleman, long respected by his friends, [who] will be seriously missed by the cottagers and poor in his neighbourhood'. He married, 29 June 1780 at Sandbach (Ches.), Penelope (1759-1825), daughter of Edward Salmon of Hassall Hall (Ches.), and had issue:

(1) Ann Bayley (b. & d. 1781), died in infancy and was buried at Wybunbury, 13 October 1781;

(2) James Bayley (1782-1842) (q.v.);

(3) Edward Bayley (1783-1846), baptised at Wybunbury, 17 June 1783; officer in the Royal Marines (Lt.; on half-pay by 1815); lived latterly at Welch Row, Nantwich with his sister Penelope; died unmarried, 4 July, and was buried in the family vault at Wybunbury, 10 July 1846; will proved 1847;

(4) Elizabeth Bayley (b. & d. 1784), baptised at Wybunbury, 1 December 1784; died in infancy and was buried at Wybunbury, 16 December 1784;

(5) Richard Bayley (b. 1786), baptised at Wyburnbury, 11 June 1786; died unmarried before 1838;

(6) Frances Bayley (1787-1852), born 16 September 1787 and baptised at Sandbach, 8 May 1800; married, 21 December 1837 at Wybunbury, William Salmon (1779-1851) of Inglesea Brooking, Barthomley (Ches) and later of Betley (Staffs), son of William Salmon, maltster, but had no issue; buried at Barthomley, 3 February 1852; will proved at Chester, 7 August 1852;

(7) Ellen Bayley (b. & d. 1789), baptised at Sandbach, 26 January 1789; died in infancy and was buried at Sandbach, 18 March 1789;

(8) John Bayley (b. & d. 1790), baptised at Sandbach, 25 March 1790; died in infancy and was buried at Sandbach, 27 December 1790;

(9) Sophia Bayley (1791-1808), born 5 May 1791 and baptised at Sandbach, 8 May 1800; died unmarried and was buried at Wistaston, 23 August 1808;

(10) Penelope Bayley (b. & d. 1792); died in infancy and was buried at Sandbach, 4 September 1792;

(11) Henry Bayley (1793-94), baptised at Sandbach, 23 December 1793; died in infancy and was buried at Sandbach, 14 April 1794;

(12) Emma Bayley (1795-1842), born 28 March 1795 and baptised at Sandbach, 8 May 1800; married, 3 December 1840 at Wybunbury, George Edwards of Hough (Ches.), maltster, but had no issue; died 15 November and was buried at Wybunbury, 21 November 1842;

(13) Penelope Bayley (1796-1850), born 10 July 1796 and baptised at Sandbach 8 May 1800; lived with her brother Edward in Nantwich; died unmarried, 31 October and was buried at Wybunbury, 6 November 1850;

(14) Henry Bayley (1799-1861), born 19 April 1799 and baptised at Sandbach, 8 May 1800; farmer at Stapeley Cottage; married, about 1825, Hannah Burgess, and had issue four sons and five daughters; died 24 August 1861;

(15) Matthew Bayley (1800-42), baptised at Nantwich, 15 August 1800; died 27 January and was buried at Nantwich, 3 February 1842;

(16) Weston Bayley (b. & d. 1802), baptised at Nantwich, 27 January 1802; died in infancy and was buried at Wistaston, 4 February 1802.

His wife inherited a long lease of Hassall Hall from her father and they lived there until they sold it in 1797 to Richard Lowndes, who held the reversionary interest. They lived later at Stapeley Hall, a moated house which he evidently demolished in the early 19th century and replaced by a small house now called Stapeley Old Hall (which he let to a farmer) and at the Red Hall, Wistaston. He also owned the manor of Hankelow, which was sold after his death.

He died 28 April and was buried at Wybunbury, 5 May 1840. His wife died 22 April 1825.

* James Bayley of Stourport committed suicide in 1785.

Bayley, James (1782-1842). Eldest son of James Bayley (1759-1840) and his wife Penelope, daughter of Edward Salmon of Hassall Hall (Ches.), born 22 May and baptised at Wybunbury (Ches.), 29 May 1782. JP for Cheshire and an officer in the Cheshire militia (Ensign, 1801; Lt., 1804; Capt.). He married, 1812 (settlement 22 August*), Elizabeth (1788-1876), daughter of John Franklin of Rumleigh House, Bere Ferrers (Devon), and had issue six sons and five daughters including:

(1) James Franklin Bayley (1814-59), baptised at Wybunbury, 18 May 1814; a Land Tax Commissioner for Cheshire, 1844, but seems to have held no later public office; lived at The Willows, Nantwich; died unmarried, 27 January 1859; administration of his goods granted to his sister Elizabeth, 21 February 1859 (effects under £200);

(2) Richard Bayley (c.1815-26); died young and was buried at Bere Ferrers, 10 March 1826;

(3) Henry Bayley (1817-18), born about December 1817; died in infancy and was buried at Bere Ferrers, 15 August 1818;

(4) Elizabeth Smith Bayley (c.1819-91), baptised at Bere Ferrers, 16 December 1821; living in 1848; married, 28 October 1863, Rev. Urquhart Cookworthy (1822-78), rector of Sandford Orcas, but had no issue; lived latterly at East Woodhay House (Berks); died 12 March and was buried at Sandford Orcas (Dorset), 17 March 1891; will proved 2 April 1891 (effects £14,046);

(5) Penelope Harriet Bayley (c.1820-30), baptised at Bere Ferrers, 16 December 1821; died young and was buried at Bere Ferrers, 25 March 1830;

(6) Maj. Edward Bayley (1821-55), baptised at Bere Ferrers, 16 December 1821; an officer in the 88th Foot (Ensign, 1839; Lt., 1841; Capt. 1847; Maj., 1855); died unmarried when he was killed at the battle of Sebastopol in the Crimean war, 7 June 1855; commemorated by a monument designed by Joseph Stephens of Worcester at Wybunbury;

(7) Emma Bayley (b. 1822), born in March and baptised at Bere Ferrers, 28 April 1822; died in infancy and was buried at Bere Ferrers, 13 February 1823;

(8) Emma Bayley (b. 1824), baptised at Bere Ferrers, 23 June 1824; living in 1848 but death not traced;

(9) John Salmon Bayley (1827-59) (q.v.);

(10) Frederick William Salmon Bayley (1831-32), baptised at Bere Ferrers, 19 December 1831; died in infancy and was buried at Bere Ferrers, 26 January 1832.

He lived at Rumleigh House until he inherited various properties from his father in 1840 and also Willaston Hall from his first cousin twice removed, Ellen Salmon, in 1832. His widow probably continued to occupy Willaston Hall after his death.

He died 27 April and was buried at Wybunbury, 5 May 1842; his will was proved in the PCC, 25 November 1843. His widow died 30 September 1876.

* The date of the settlement is given in his will, but I have not been able to locate the marriage.

Bayley, John Salmon (1827-59). Son of James Bayley (1782-1842) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of John Franklin of Rumleigh House, Bere Alston (Devon), baptised at Bere Ferrers, 23 April 1827. An officer in the 88th Foot (Ensign, 1846; retired 1849). The accounts of his conduct given at the time of his divorce suggest that he had an uncontrollable temper and was perhaps mentally unstable. He married, 6 June 1854 at Wybunbury (Ches.) (sep. 1859 on grounds of his cruelty and violent conduct), Maria (1831-94), daughter of Rev. James Hayes of Wybunbury, and had issue:

(1) Maria Elizabeth Salmon Bayley (1855-1942), born at Lower Wick Lodge, St John in Bedwardine, Worcester, 26 April ô1855, and baptised at Wybunbury, 4 January 1856; married, October 1881, Rev. George Edgar Augustus Pargiter (1857-1929), a missionary in northern India and later vicar of Normanton-by-Derby (Derbys) and West Torrington (Lincs), and had issue one son and two daughters; died 30 June 1942; administration of goods granted 19 August 1942 (estate £530);

(2) Harriet Bayley (b. 1856), born 12 May and baptised at Newland (Worcs), 15 June 1856; probably died young;

(3) James Bayley (1857-1922) (q.v.).

He inherited Willaston Hall from his father in 1842, but lived at Southwick Lodge, Worcester.

He shot himself at Anderton's Hotel, Fleet St., London, 11 March and was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery, London, 17 March 1859; administration of his goods was granted to his widow, 11 April 1859 (effects under £6,000). His widow married 2nd, 22 November 1865 at Stepney (Middx), Rev. Richard Henry Beaumont Lee (c.1802-69), the turbulent rector of Stepney, 1847-69 (bankrupt 1867), third son of Thomas Lee of Leeds (Yorks WR); she lived latterly at Park House, Tunbridge Wells (Kent) and died 20 March 1894; her will was proved 29 May 1894 (estate £375).

Bayley, James (1857-1922). Only son of John Salmon Bayley (1827-59) and his wife Maria, daughter of Rev. James Hayes of Wybunbury (Ches.), born at Lower Wick Lodge, St John's Bedwardine, Worcester, 1 July and baptised at Wybunbury, 27 September 1857. JP for Cheshire. He married, 25 January 1880 at Willesborough (Kent), Ellen Barker (d. 1923), daughter of George Andrews of Dun's Hill House, Willesborough, and had issue:

(1) Cmdr. James Bayley (1880-1933) (q.v.);

(2) Nellie Bayley (1882-1974), born 25 February and baptised at Wybunbury, 26 March 1882; married, 1907, Ernst Sehmer (d. 1928) of Saarbrucken (Germany) and Toat, Pulborough (Sussex), and had issue three sons and two daughters; died aged 92 on 30 March 1974; will proved 4 July 1974 (estate £12,780);

(3) Edward Bayley (b. & d. 1883), baptised privately at Wistaston, 9 May 1883; died in infancy, Apr-Jun 1883;

(4) Edward Vincent Bayley (1885-1917), born 5 August and baptised at Wybunbury, 1 November 1885; stockbroker in London with Keith, Bayley and Reader; served in First World War as an officer in the Royal Flying Corps (2nd Lt.); died in an accident while landing at the British Flying School, Vendôme (France), 24 February 1917; administration of goods granted 23 May 1917 (estate £2,637);

(5) Dorothy Bayley (b. 1886), born 5 September and baptised at Wybunbury, 12 December 1886; married 1st, 21 April 1910 at St Margaret, Westminster (div. 1919 on grounds of his desertion and adultery), Ronald Freeman Carrick (1886-1970), son of Albert Carrick of Ealing (Middx); married 2nd, 1922 at Bostandjik (Turkey), Maj. Meredith Denison Townsend (1887-1948), and emigrated to British Columbia (Canada), 1923, but returned to England later; living in 1948 but death not traced;

(6) Muriel Bayley (1888-1962), born 29 August and baptised at Wybunbury, 14 October 1888; married, 1 February 1915 in Paris (France), Lt-Col. the Rev. Benjamin William Rowan (c.1874-1928), a chaplain to the forces and later vicar of Ansley (Warks), and had issue one son; died 14 February 1962; will proved 25 June 1962 (estate £18,221);

(7) Henry Bayley (1890-1956), born 2 May and baptised at Wybunbury, 27 July 1890; rubber planter in Malaya before emigrating in 1930 to British Columbia (Canada); lived in Australia, 1939-44 before returning to Canada; married 1st, 1924 in Victoria (Australia), Agnes Winsome (1896-1939), daughter of Herbert Osburn Cowen, and had issue one son; married 2nd, 1940, in Australia, Clarice Marjorie Cook (b. c.1913); buried at Duncan, British Columbia, 8 May 1956;

(8) Marjorie Bayley (1893-1967), born 20 May and baptised at Wybunbury, 13 August 1893; married, 3 November 1920 at St Peter, Eaton Sq., Westminster (Middx), Maj. Gordon William Forsayeth (1884-1963) of Hardham House, Pulborough (Sussex), son of Surgeon Lt-Col. Richard William Forsayeth of Whitechurch (Co. Waterford), and had issue one son; died 9 September 1967; will proved 10 January 1968 (estate £11,130);

(9) Pyrethia Bayley (b. 1899), born 30 January and baptised at Wybunbury, 19 March 1899; living in 1901 but probably died young.

He inherited Willaston Hall from his father in 1859 and came of age in 1878.

He was killed in a bizarre accident during the trial of a milling machine at Luckings Farm, Coleshill (Bucks), 19 May, and was buried at Wybunbury, 25 May 1922; administration of his goods (with will annexed) was granted to his eldest son, 20 September 1922 (estate £45,878) and a further grant was made to two of his daughters, 1 November 1943. His widow died 28 June 1923; her will was proved 23 October 1923 (estate £887).

Bayley, Cmdr. James (1880-1933). Eldest son of James Bayley (1857-1922) and his wife Ellen Barker, daughter of George Andrews of Dun's Hill House, Willesborough (Kent), born at Dorfold Cottage, Acton near Nantwich (Ches), 14 February and baptised at Wybunbury, 5 December 1880. Educated at HMS Britannia. He entered the Royal Navy in 1895 (Cadet, and Midshipman, 1897; Lt., 1902; retired 1910; returned to service, 1914 and was promoted Lt-Cdr., 1916 and retired as Cdr., 1919). After inheriting his estates he proved an enterprising farmer, and was also active as a housing developer in Nantwich. During the period of mass unemployment in the 1920s and early 1930s, he devised and invested his own money in schemes to help relieve unemployment, including one by which unemployed men sold tea door to door, which is said to have taken 100 men off the dole. He was a Conservative in politics, but never sought office himself. He married, 19 December 1907 at Holbeton (Devon), Constance Theodora Mitford (1884-1957), youngest daughter of Charles Henry Ogbourne of Efford, Holbeton (Devon), underwriter, but had no issue.

He inherited Willaston Hall from his father in 1922. After his widow's remarriage, his executors sold the estate in 1937.

He died from a gunshot wound while testing a revolver he had bought to provide protection for his wife while she was motoring alone, 27 January 1933; there were strong suspicions that his death might have been suicide, but the evidence at the coroner's inquest made this seem unlikely and the jury rejected the coroner's guidance towards an open verdict and recorded a verdict of accidental death; his will was proved 1 June 1933 (estate £34,432). His widow built up a herd of Freisian cattle at Willaston and after a brief engagement to Lord Robert Edward Innes-Ker (1885-1958), married 2nd, 19 August 1937, Istvan Basil Jarmay (1884-1946) of Bulkeley Hall (Ches.), son of Sir John Jarmay, kt., who shared her passion for Freisians; she died 6 October 1957 and her will was proved 17 December 1957 (estate £53,969).

Principal sources

Burke's Landed Gentry, 1937, p. 124; P. de Figueiredo & J. Treuherz, Cheshire country houses, 1988, pp. 239, 282; C. Hartwell, M. Hyde, E. Hubbard & Sir N. Pevsner, The buildings of England: Cheshire, 2nd edn., 2011, p. 668;  http://www.carlolittle.com/ft/people/p0000009.htm#I754

Location of archives

Bayley family of Willaston Hall: deeds, family and estate papers, 17th-20th cents. [Cheshire Archives & Local Studies, D4415, D8070]

Coat of arms

None recorded.

Can you help?

• I should be most grateful if anyone can provide photographs or portraits of people whose names appear in bold above, and who are not already illustrated.
• If anyone can offer further information or corrections I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from descendants of the family who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.

Revision and acknowledgements

This post was first published 8 August 2021 and was updated 10 August 2021 and 8-9 February 2024. I am grateful to Andrew Timmis and Jason Hoole for corrections.