(547) Bellot of Great Moreton Hall, baronets and of Bochym Manor, baronets

Bellot of Great Moreton and
Bochym Manor

The Bellot family (the name is spelled in many different ways, including Bellott, Belot, Billott and Bellett, but the most common spelling of Bellot has been adopted for this article) are said to have been settled in Norfolk until, in the early 15th century, John Bellot married Katherine de Moreton, who brought him the manor of Great Moreton in Cheshire. It subsequently passed to their son and grandson, both called Thomas Moreton, whose dates of birth and death are unknown. The younger Thomas (with whom the genealogy below begins) had two sons, of whom the elder, John Bellot, inherited Great Moreton, while the younger, Thomas Bellot, moved to Wiltshire. This John Bellot of Great Moreton married Joan, daughter of Ralph Moreton of Little Moreton Hall, and it has sometimes been presumed incorrectly that it was this marriage which brought Great Moreton to the Bellots, although their landholding in the area may have been strengthened by the marriage.

John and Joan's eldest son, Thomas Bellot, was probably born about 1515, and married Alice Roydon, who brought him lands at Burton (Denbighs.) to add to his Cheshire estates. In 1552 he bought further property at Burton and Gresford (Denbighs.), and some sources state that he was High Sheriff of that county in 1556. John and Alice had a very large family, with at least ten sons and six daughters, many of whom had notable careers of which something can be traced. Apart from Edward Bellot (b. c.1540), the eldest son, who was heir to the Great Moreton estate, these included Thomas Bellot (c.1541-1611) and Owen Bellot (d. 1612), who became senior and confidential servants in the households of Lord Burghley and the Earl of Shrewsbury respectively, and the Rt. Rev. Hugh Bellot (1542-96) and Ven. Cuthbert Bellot (c.1560-1620), who entered the church. Hugh became bishop of Bangor (Caernarvons.) in 1585 and was translated to Chester in 1595, and although he died soon afterwards it was not before he had appointed his younger brother as Archdeacon of Chester, a post which Cuthbert held until shortly before his death.

Edward Bellot (b. c.1540) actually died in the lifetime of his father, so on the latter's death (which I have been unable to trace), Great Moreton was inherited by Edward's son, Edward Moreton (c.1570-1622). It is said to have been he who rebuilt the manor house at Great Moreton in about 1606, creating the timber-framed house which survived until the 19th century and was recorded by Edward Blore before demolition,

Great Moreton Hall: the 17th century house, as recorded by Edward Blore.
Image: Victoria & Albert Museum.

 although the appearance of the building might suggest a rather later date. Edward's eldest son, John Bellot (c.1594-1659) inherited other properties. As a result of his marriage to Ursula Bentley in about 1612, John acquired The Ashes at Endon (Staffs), although he did not come into possession until 1638, and he also acquired Thringston Hall (Leics) in 1631 as a result of bequest by his childless great-uncle, George Bellot. Thringston was probably sold soon afterwards, but The Ashes remained in the family for several generations, and was probably rebuilt in the mid 17th century, either by John Bellot (d. 1659) or more probably by his son, Sir John Bellot (c.1619-74), 1st bt. The Ashes is a stone-built house, on the cusp between being a farmhouse and a minor gentry house.

The Ashes, Endon: the house as rebuilt in the mid 17th century,
probably for Sir John Bellot (c.1619-74), 1st bt.

The elder John was High Sheriff of Cheshire in 1640-41 and of Denbighshire in 1642-43: tricky positions in the run up to the Civil War, in which he struggled to reconcile the competing requirements of the Crown and Parliament. Eventually forced into taking sides, John - perhaps rather reluctantly - supported the Royalists, and his estates were subsequently sequestrated for delinquency. He recovered them in 1647 on payment of a composition fine, albeit a relatively modest one of £940. His son, later Sir John Bellot, may have been a more enthusiastic Royalist as he was in arms for the king, and he was certainly in favour at the Restoration, being High Sheriff of Staffordshire in 1662-63 and being created a baronet in 1663.

Sir John was succeeded as 2nd baronet by his only surviving son, Sir Thomas Bellot (1651-99), 2nd bt., who became a freeman of Newcastle-under-Lyme in 1678 and was elected to Parliament for the borough in 1679-81, 1690-95 and 1698-99. He unwisely acted as one of the sureties for Morgan Whitley, Receiver-General of Taxes for Cheshire and North Wales, who became financially embarrassed and was involved in long-running negotiations with the Treasury which ended in 1706 in a compromise under which less was paid than was due. We do not know what the financial impact of this on the Bellots was, but it must at least have created a period of anxiety and uncertainty for Sir Thomas' heir, Sir Thomas Bellot (1679-1710), 3rd bt., and probably delayed his marriage, which did not take place until 1706, the year of the compromise. Sir Thomas and his wife did have a son but he died in infancy, and so when Sir Thomas himself died at the beginning of 1710, the baronetcy and estates passed to his younger brother, Sir John Bellot (1680-1714), 4th bt., who sold The Ashes to the Debank family later the same year. Sir John remained unmarried, and at his death, lacking close male relatives, he bequeathed Great Moreton to a friend, who was charged with clearing his debts and paying pecuniary legacies to his relatives, and who subsequently sold Great Moreton to make this possible.

The Thomas Bellot who settled in Wiltshire in the early 16th century, the son of Thomas Bellot of Great Moreton, had one recorded son, Richard Bellot (d. c.1558), who leased the Rectory Manor at Corsham (Wilts) from Syon Abbey and, after the Dissolution of the Monasteries, from the Crown. He and his wife Alice Earle had a large family, but his eldest son, Francis Bellot (d. 1597) married a daughter of Reginald Mohun of Boconnoc in Cornwall, who settled Bochym Manor at Cury (Cornw.) on the couple, and this remained the home of their descendants until the 18th century. Francis and his wife had seven sons and one daughter. The eldest son, John Bellot, probably did not live to inherit the estate, although it is known only that he had died by 1608. Since the second son, Thomas Bellot, had gone to seek his fortune in Ireland, Bochym descended to the third brother, the Rev. Reginald Bellot (c.1555-1600), who did not long survive his father, but left a son and daughter. The son, Renatus Bellot (b. 1588), who was still living in 1654, acquired the manor of Bochym (which the Mohuns had retained when the house on the estate was given to the Bellots) in 1616. He was a Royalist in the Civil War, but compounded for his delinquency in 1651. He had probably died before 1660, having outlived most of his children by his first wife, Philippa Bere. His second wife was the sister of General George Monck (1608-70), whose critical role in bringing the interregnum to a peaceful end in 1660 was rewarded with the Dukedom of Albemarle and a period of great influence at the Restoration court. The Bochym estate passed to Renatus' youngest son, Christopher Bellot (c.1622-92), who from 1661-68 leased the coinage duty on tin from Cornwall jointly with another Cornish landowner, Samuel Enys. Surviving correspondence suggests that securing the lease was a ticklish job, and it may well be that the Duke of Albemarle's influence with the king was employed to secure it. Presumably the patent did not prove as profitable as Bellot and Enys expected, however, for after renewing it once they agreed to give it up in exchange of an annual salary of £500, presumably for acting as collectors of the tax on behalf of the Crown.

Christopher Bellot was High Sheriff of Cornwall in 1681-82 and married Bridget, the daughter of William Pendarves of Roscrowe (Cornw.). They had eight daughters but only one son, Renatus Bellot (1674-1710), who was still a minor when his father died. He served briefly as MP for one of the Cornish pocket boroughs from 1702-05, and was twice elected as a member of the Stannary Parliament, which was supposed to regulate the affairs of the tin industry in Cornwall, but was rapidly ceasing to have any meaningful function at this time. In 1697, the year of his mother's death, he married a Cornish heiress, Mary Spoure of Trebartha, and perhaps with an eye to his future acquisition of this more significant estate, he lived beyond his means and encumbered his own estate with debts.

Trebartha Hall: a view of the medieval and Tudor house replaced in the 18th century.
Image: The History of North Hill

He died, however, in May 1710, before he and his wife had succeeded to Trebartha, and Bochym Manor was placed in the hands of trustees for his infant son, Renatus Bellot (1704-12). When the child died two years later, however, the trustees sold the Bochym estate in order to liquidate the debts. Mary married again and she and her second husband, Charles Grylls (d. 1727) lived at Trebartha, but they had no children, and when she died in 1729 she left Trebartha to her cousin, Francis Rodd (d. 1736), on the slightly curious proviso that he never married Jane Parker of Covent Garden; a temptation which he apparently successfully resisted! The Rodd family remained at Trebartha until 1947, but the very large house, which had been rebuilt in the 18th century and enlarged later, was pulled down in 1949.

Great Moreton Hall, Cheshire

An account of this house has been given in a previous post on the Ackers family. 

Bochym Manor, Cornwall

Bochym (pronounced Botcheem) Manor at Cury on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall, is an ancient manorial site. It was forfeited to the Crown in 1549 when the owner, John Winslade, joined a rebellion against the religious reforms of the day and was executed. King Edward VI granted the estate to Reginald Mohun, who settled it on one of his daughters when she married Francis Bellot. The house we see today has 16th and 17th century origins and a remarkable plan which speaks vividly of long and incoherent development.

Bochym Manor: the house today.

The house is said to have been damaged in the Civil War, and there was evidently a refit in the 1690s when a formal garden was laid out, the hard landscaping of which survives. The client for this was Renatus Bellot (d. 1710), whose initials and the date 1699 appear on a datestone on the house. Renatus died young, leaving a small son who was the last of his line and after whose death in 1712 the house was sold to George Robinson of Nansloe Manor, who was perhaps responsible for a further early 18th century remodelling: in 1952 there was a fine early 18th century panelled room on the first floor, with the chimneypiece framed by giant pilasters, but this seems to have been taken out in the 1960s or 1970s, and was presumably sold.

Bochym Manor: the staircase in 1952. Image: Herbert Felton/Historic England AA52/10915.

Bochym Manor: the library.

Bochym Manor: the drawing room in 1952. Image: Herbert Felton/Historic England AA52/10912.

In the 18th century the house changed hands several times; it was owned briefly by Robert Furneaux, who designed the first Lizard lighthouse, and was sold in 1825 to Stephen Davey from Redruth, whose fortune was derived from tin mining and brewing (the Redruth Brewery). During his ownership the house flourished and was extensively remodelled in the 1840s. The open well staircase, French Empire drawing room and the Italian walnut panelled library probably date from this time. A fanciful cruciform lodge was built on the south drive in 1851, with walls made of serpentine blocks from the quarries on the estate. The battlemented clock tower near the house was added to mark Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887.

The Davey family remained at Bochym until at least 1916, but I have not been able to trace the 20th century ownership until the house was bought in 1974 by Stanley May, who opened it as 'a pub with a difference'. That seems to have been a short-lived venture, and the house returned to private ownership. By 2014 the house was in poor condition, with many fittings having been removed or damaged in the preceding years. It was sold in that year to the present owners, who have been restoring the house with a view to it becoming a wedding venue as well as their home.

Descent: Crown granted c.1550 to Reginald Mohun; to daughter, Anne, wife of Francis Bellot (d. 1597); to son, Rev. Reginald Bellot (c.1555-1600); to son, Renatus Bellot (b. 1588; fl. 1654); to son, Christopher Bellot (c.1622-92); to son, Renatus Bellot (1674-1710); to trustees for son, Renatus Bellot (1704-12), who sold after his death to George Robinson of Nansloe; to son, Edmund Robinson, who sold 1725 to Thomas Fonnereau; sold? 1780 to Christopher Wallis; sold 1785 to Sir Harry Trelawny, bt.; to son, William Lewis Salisbury Trelawny; sold to [fu] Graham of Penquoit; sold to Thomas Hartley, who let to a tenant farmer; sold 1825 to Robert Davey of Redruth; to ?son, Horton Davey... sold 1974 to Stanley May... sold 2000 to Dr Mark Payne; sold 2014 to Martin and Sarah Caton.

Bellot family of Great Moreton Hall, baronets

Bellot, Thomas. Only known son of Thomas Bellot and his first wife, Margaret, daughter of John Spencer. He married 1st, Katherine, eldest daughter and co-heiress of Thurstan Gawen, and 2nd, Elizabeth, daughter of William Liversage of Macclesfield and widow of [fu] Creswall, and had issue:

(1.1) John Bellot (q.v.);

(2.1) Thomas Bellot [for whom see below, Bellot of Bochym Manor];

(2.2) Katherine Bellot; married William Lawton (d. 1551) of Lawton.

He inherited the manor of Great Moreton from his father.

His date of death is unknown. His first wife's date of death is unknown. His second wife's date of death is unknown.

Bellot, John. Elder son of Thomas Bellot and his first wife, Katherine, eldest daughter and co-heiress of Thurstan Gawen. He married Joan, daughter of Ralph Moreton of Little Moreton, and had issue:

(1) Thomas Bellot (q.v.);

(2) Robert Bellot (d. 1561?), of Great Moreton; married Ellen Sandford and had issue two sons; will proved at Chester, 1561;

(3) Philip Bellot; married and had issue one son;

(4) Blanche Bellot; married Robert/Roger Sparke;

(5) Mary Bellot; married Roger Grene;

(6) Margery Bellot; married Randle Thornton;

(7) Ursula Bellot; married Edward Unwin of Chaterley (Staffs);

(8) Elizabeth Bellot; married Roger Davenport of Chorley;

(9) Emma Bellot; married John Comerford;

(10) Catherine Bellot; married John Creswall.

He inherited Great Moreton from his father.

His date of death is unknown. His wife's date of death is unknown.

Bellot, Thomas (b. c.1515). Eldest son of John Bellot and his wife Joan, daughter of Ralph Moreton of Little Moreton Hall. Said by some sources to have been High Sheriff of Denbighshire, 1556. He married Alice, eldest daughter and co-heir of William Roydon (b. c.1490) of Talwyn in Burton (Denbighs.), and had issue:

(1) Edward Bellot (b. c.1540) (q.v.);

(2) Thomas Bellot (c.1541-1611); steward and the most trusted and confidential servant of William Cecil (1520-98), 1st Baron Burghley from 1566; Court of Wards feodary for Denbighshire, 1575-78; Collector of Customs for the Port of London, and later jointly held a lease of the customs on cloth, c.1604-10; maintained a household in the parish of St Clement Danes, London, and another at Cheshunt (Herts), probably on his employer's Theobalds estate; probably died unmarried; will proved 11 October 1611;

(3) Rt. Rev. Hugh Bellot (1542-96), born 1542; educated at Christ's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1561; BA 1564; MA 1567; DD 1579); probably ordained at Ely, c.1570; Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, 1567-73; university proctor, 1570; chaplain to Bishop of Ely; rector of Tydd St Giles (Norfk), 1571 and Doddington (Cambs), 1573; vicar of Gresford (Denbighs), 1579 and rector of Caersws (Flints), 1584;  bishop of Bangor, 1585-95 (and also dean, 1587-93); bishop of Chester, 1595-96; a member of the Council of the Marches of Wales; a scholarly and conscientious bishop, but reputedly a misogynist and a persecutor of Roman Catholics; he died unmarried, 13 June 1596 and was buried at Wrexham (Denbighs.), where he is commemorated by a monument, after a funeral in Chester Cathedral on 22 June 1596;

(4) John Bellot (fl. 1603); Court of Wards feodary for Denbighshire, 1578-1603; servant and later steward to Edward Manners, Earl of Rutland;

(5) George Bellot (d. 1627), of Thrington Hall (Leics); Receiver-General of Westminster Abbey, 1593-1608; died unmarried, 1627; will proved in the PCC, 5 October 1627;

(6) Robert Bellot (d. 1643), of Beyham (Denbighs.); a servant to Lord Burghley; married Dorothy, daughter of Robert Brereton of Wettenhall, and had issue at least one son and one daughter; buried at Wrexham (Denbighs.), 8 March 1642/3;

(7) David Bellot (d. 1619?); steward to Sir Reginald Mohun; probably the 'David Byllet' buried at Ruabon (Denbighs.), 11 September 1619;

(8) Matthew Bellot;

(9) Owen Bellot (d. 1612); sacrist and keeper of the monuments in Westminster Abbey, 1579 and clerk of the second kitchen, 1581; steward to Lord Norris of Rycote and later servant to Gilbert Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury; buried at Astbury, 14 October 1612;

(10) Ven. Cuthbert Bellot (c.1560-1620); educated at Jesus and St John's Colleges, Cambridge (matriculated 1578; BA 1582; MA 1585; BD 1592); Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, 1586-94; prebendary of Bangor, 1593 and Westminster, 1594; archdeacon of Chester, 1596-1619;

(11) Dorothy Bellot; married John Drinkwater (fl. 1586) of Chester, ironmonger, and had issue at least one son and one daughter;

(12) Erminia Bellot (d. 1612?); married 1st, as his second wife, John Manley of Pulton Hall, and 2nd, also as his second wife, Thomas Manley (d. 1617) of Lach, but had no issue; said to have been buried 4 February 1611/2;

(13) Mary Bellot (d. 1608); married 1st, Richard Minshull (d. 1586), and 2nd, Archer Starkey (d. 1622) of Wrenbury (who married 2nd, Anne/Mary, daughter of Charles/Edward Hughes of Holt (Derbys) and widow of John Massey of Coddington (Ches.)), and had issue at least one son; died 1608;

(14) Jane Bellot;

(15) Elizabeth Bellot;

(16) Susan Bellot.

He inherited Great Moreton from his father and purchased lands in Burton and Gresford (Denbighs.) in 1552. He was also farmer of St John's Hospital, Chester

His date of death is unknown, but he is said to have been buried at Gresford (Denbighs.). His wife's date of death is unknown but she is also said to have been buried at Gresford.

Bellot, Edward (b. c.1540). Eldest son of Thomas Bellot (b. c.1515) and his wife Alice, daughter and heir of William Roydon of Denbigshire, born about 1540. He married* Anne, daughter of Edward Moston or Mostyn, and had issue:

(1) Edward Bellot (c.1570-1622) (q.v.);

(2) Thomas Bellot (d. 1654); died unmarried and without issue, and was buried at Astbury, 10 November 1654; will proved in the central Probate Court, 5 March 1654/5;

(3) John Bellot;

(4) George Bellot; living in 1624;

(5) Dorothy Bellot; married, as his second wife, William Griffith of Plas Cichle, Beaumaris (Anglesey), son of John Griffith of Plas Cichle, but died without issue;

(6) Magdalen Bellot (d. 1631); married, 1604 (contract 4 February), Peter (or Piers) Wynne Ffoulkes (d. 1636) of Ereifiad, Henllan (Denbighs.), escheator of Denbighshire, son of John Wyn Ffoulkes (d. 1598), and had issue at least one son and one daughter; buried at Henllan, 30 December 1631;

(7) Katherine Bellot (d. 1654); married 1st, John Conwy of Rhuddlan and 2nd, Piers Conwy of Yr Hendref; died 2 August 1654.

He died in the lifetime of his father but his date of death is unknown. His wife's date of death is unknown.

* Lloyd, History of the princes of Powys, 1882, p.232 says he was married 1st to Ursula Unwin, by whom he had no issue, and 2nd to Anne Mostyn, but I have found no other evidence for the reputed first marriage.

Bellot, Edward (c.1570-1622). Eldest son of Edward Bellot (b. c.1540) and his wife Anne, daughter of Edward Moston or Mostyn, born about 1570. He married, c.1590, Amy (d. 1612), second daughter and co-heir of Anthony Grosvenor of Dodleston (Ches.), and had issue:

(1) John Bellot (c.1594-1659) (q.v.);

(2) Susan Bellot (c.1596-1652); married, 1616/7 (licence 26 February), John Broughton (d. 1655) of Broughton (Flints.), eldest son of Randle Broughton, and had issue at least three sons and two daughters; buried at Worthenbury (Flints), 2 March 1651/2;

(3) George Bellot (b. c.1600), of Odd Rode (Ches.), born about 1600; an officer in the Parliamentarian army (Capt.); MP for Staffordshire, 1653; married, 1641 (licence 29 June), Eleanor, daughter of William Lawton (d. 1613) of Church Lawton (Ches.) and had issue two daughters;

(4) Thomas Bellot (d. 1627); will proved in the PCC, 22 January 1627/8; 

(5) Frances Bellot (d. 1631?); married, 1629 (licence 22 May), Peter Legh (d. 1641) (who m2, 12 December 1632 at St Mary-on-the-Hill, Chester, Anne (d. 1688), daughter of Henry Birkenhead of Backford (Ches.), and had further issue two sons), third son of Sir Peter Legh of Lyme Park, and had issue one son, who died young; probably died in 1631;

(6) Elizabeth Bellot (d. 1669?); married, about August 1624, Thomas Bromley (c.1592-1660) of Hampton (Ches.), and had issue one son and two daughters; possibly the woman of this name buried at Marbury (Ches.), 2 March 1668/9;

(7) Mary Bellot (1609-31), baptised at Astbury, 18 September 1609; married, c.1629, Thomas Gamull (1604-35), son of William Gamull, alderman of Chester, and had issue one daughter; died 23 December 1631.

He inherited Great Moreton from his grandfather, and is said to have been responsible for building the timber-framed house there in about 1606. He also owned property at Burton (Denbighshire).

He died 7 August 1622 and was buried at Astbury; his will was proved in 1622 and an inquisition post mortem was held 28 March 1623. His wife died 1 September 1612 and was buried at Astbury.

Bellot, John (c.1594-1659). Eldest son of Edward Bellot (c.1570-1622) and his wife Amy, daughter and co-heir of Anthony Grosvenor of Dodleston (Ches.), born about 1594. Educated at Grays Inn (admitted 1613). JP and DL for Cheshire. High Sheriff of Cheshire, 1640-41 and of Denbighshire, 1642-43. He adhered to the Royalist party in the Civil War and his lands were sequestrated but redeemed in 1647 on the payment of a fine of £940. He married Ursula, daughter and sole heir of John Bentley of The Ashes, Endon (Staffs), and had issue, with two other children who died in infancy:

(1) Edward Bellot (c.1613-c.1645); married, 18 March 1639/40 at Deddington (Oxon), Sybil (d. 1661) (who m2, 11 September 1649, Sir Edmund Anderson (1605-61), 1st bt. of Broughton and Lea Hall, Gainsborough (Lincs)), daughter of Sir Rowland Egerton (d. 1646), 1st bt. of Farthinghoe (Northants), but died without issue before 1649;

(2) Thomas Bellot (b. c.1618); educated at Trinity College, Oxford (matriculated 1634; BA 1637) and Grays Inn (admitted 1640); died unmarried in the lifetime of his father; 

(3) Sir John Bellot (c.1619-74), 1st bt. (q.v.);

(4) Philip Bellot; died unmarried;

(5) George Bellot (c.1624-60), born about 1624; educated at Hart Hall, Oxford (matriculated 1640); married, 6 November 1647 at Uttoxeter (Staffs), Ann (d. 1666), the daughter and sole heiress of Thomas Colte of Rotherham (Yorks WR), ironmonger, and widow of William Cotton (d. 1641) of Crakemarsh Hall (Staffs), but died without issue and was buried at Uttoxeter, 11 October 1660;

(6) Anne Bellot; married John Ferne (d. 1658) of Crakemarsh (Staffs), son of William Ferne (d. 1651);

(7) Ursula Bellot (d. 1664); married, 1641 (licence 4 December), Thomas Stockton (1609-74), of Cuddington (Ches.) and Grays Inn, barrister-at-law and a judge in Ireland, and had issue at least two sons and one daughter; died 1664.

He inherited Great Moreton Hall from his father in 1622. He also inherited Thringston Hall (Leics) from his great-uncle, George Bellott, in 1631, and The Ashes in right of his wife, gaining possession in 1638.

He died 9 November 1659 and was buried at Astbury (Ches.); his will was proved in the PCC, 14 June 1660. His wife's date of death is unknown.

Bellot, Sir John (c.1619-74), 1st bt. Third, but eldest surviving, son of John Bellot (c.1594-1659) and his wife Ursula, daughter and sole heir of John Bentley of The Ashes, Leek (Staffs), born about 1619. He was a Royalist in the Civil War and was in arms for the king, but was pardoned by Parliament in 1647. High Sheriff of Staffordshire, 1662-63. He was created a baronet, 30 June 1663. He married, c.1650, Anne (c.1627-1711), daughter of Roger Wilbraham of Dorfold (Ches.), and had issue: 

(1) Sir Thomas Bellot (1651-99), 2nd bt. (q.v.);

(2) Mary alias Marjorie Bellot (b. 1653), born 22 September 1653; living unmarried, in 1708;

(3) John Bellot (c.1658-68); died young and was buried at Astbury, 9 January 1667/8;

(4) Elizabeth Bellot (b. 1659), born 21 October 1659; died unmarried after 1708;

(5) Anne Bellot (1664-72), born 1 August 1664; died young and was buried at Astbury, 27 May 1672.

He inherited Great Moreton Hall and The Ashes from his father in 1659, and probably built the present house at The Ashes soon afterwards.

He died 14 July and was buried at Astbury (Ches.), 21 July 1674. His widow died 27 December 1711 and was buried at Astbury, 1 January 1711/2; administration of her goods was granted at Chester, 1713.

Bellot, Sir Thomas (1651-99), 2nd bt. Only surviving son of Sir John Bellot (c.1619-74), 1st bt., and his wife Anne, daughter of Roger Wilbraham of Dorfold (Ches.), born 22 October 1651. Educated at Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1668) and Lincoln's Inn (admitted 1671). Freeman of Newcastle-under-Lyme, 1678; MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme, 1679-81, 1690-95 and 1698-99. He succeeded his father as 2nd baronet, 14 July 1674. He unwisely acted as a surety for Morgan Whitley, who defaulted as receiver-general of taxes for Cheshire and North Wales and when the Treasury took proceedings against his executors in October 1703, it may have caused financial difficulties for his son. He married, 4 February 1674/5 at St Margaret, Leicester (Leics), Susanna (1654-85?), third daughter of Christopher Packe (1595-1682) of London and Cotes (Leics), draper and Lord Mayor of London in 1654, and had issue:

(1) John Bellot (1676-77), baptised at Astbury (Ches.), 14 December 1676; died in infancy and was buried at Astbury, 5 March 1676/7;

(2) Anne Bellot (1677-1713?), baptised 5 February 1677; died unmarried; administration of goods granted to her sister Elizabeth, 3 September 1713;

(3) Sir Thomas Bellot (1679-1710), 3rd bt. (q.v.);

(4) Sir John Bellot (1680-1714), 4th bt. (q.v.);

(5) Elizabeth Bellot (1682-1732), baptised 7 February 1681/2; died unmarried and was buried at St John the Baptist, Chester, 2 October 1731; administration of goods granted, 12 April 1732;

(6) Susanna Bellot (1683-96), baptised at Astbury, 1 October 1683; died young and was buried at Astbury, 11 November 1696;

(7) Christopher Bellot (b. & d. 1684), baptised at Astbury, 25 November 1684; died in infancy and was buried at Astbury, 31 December 1684;

(8) Edward Bellot (d. 1693); buried at Astbury, 3 October 1693.

He inherited Great Moreton Hall and The Ashes from his father in 1674.

He died 28 November 1699; administration of his goods was granted to his elder surviving son, 3 March 1699/1700. His wife's date of death has not been traced, but it seems likely she died in about 1685.

Bellot, Sir Thomas (1679-1710), 3rd bt. Second, but eldest surviving, son of Sir Thomas Bellot (1651-99), 2nd bt., and his wife Susanna, daughter of Christopher Packe of London and Cotes (Leics), draper, baptised 18 July 1679. Educated at Chester and Trinity College, Cambridge (matriculated 1699). He succeeded his father as 3rd baronet, 28 November 1699. MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme, 1705-06, 1708-09. He married, 11 July 1706 at Biddulph (Staffs), Anne (1687-1754), daughter and co-heir of Sir William Bowyer (1654-1702), 4th bt., and had issue:

(1) Thomas Bellot (b. 1707), baptised at Astbury, 4 December 1707; died in infancy and predeceased his father.

He inherited Great Moreton Hall and The Ashes from his father in 1699.

He died by 22 January 1709/10, and his will was proved at Chester. His widow married 2nd, 2 June 1728 at Stapenhill (Derbys), Rowe Pert (d. 1749) of Ilam Hall (Staffs), and died 19 July 1754; she was buried at Biddulph, 31 July 1754.

Bellot, Sir John (1680-1714), 4th bt. Third son of Sir Thomas Bellot (1651-99), 2nd bt., and his wife Susanna, daughter of Christopher Packe of London and Cotes (Leics), draper, baptised at Astbury (Ches.), 14 October 1680. Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge (matriculated 1699; BA 1704). He succeeded his elder brother as 4th baronet by 22 January 1709. He was unmarried, and had no issue.

He inherited Great Moreton Hall and The Ashes from his brother in 1710, but sold The Ashes to John Debank later that year. At his death he bequeathed the Great Moreton estate to his friend and executor, Richard Vernon of Middlewich (Ches.), charged with the payment of his debts and legacies. It was sold soon afterwards to the Powis family from Staffordshire.

He was buried 8 February 1713/4, when his baronetcy became extinct; his will was proved at Chester, 28 September 1715.

Bellot family of Bochym Manor

Bellot, Thomas. Only known son of Thomas Bellot and his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of William Liversage of Macclesfield and widow of [forename unknown] Creswall. He married [forename unknown] Combesford, and had issue:

(1) Richard Bellot (d. c.1558) (q.v.);

(2) Elizabeth Bellot; married Raffe Brodhurst and had issue at least one daughter.

He settled in Wiltshire.

His date of death is unknown. His wife's date of death is unknown.

Bellot, Richard (d. c.1558). Only recorded son of Thomas Bellot and his wife [forename unknown] Combesford. He married Alice (fl. 1558), daughter of Richard Earle, and had issue:

(1) Francis Bellot (d. 1597) (q.v.);

(2) Thomas Bellot (fl. 1558); living, unmarried, in 1558;

(3) Robert Bellot (fl. 1558); living, unmarried, in 1558;

(4) Bridget Bellot (d. 1608); married John Smith (d. 1564?*) of Corsham (Wilts), son of John Smyth (d. 1538) of Corsham, clothier, and had issue six sons and three daughters; will proved in the Corsham Peculiar Court, 16 December 1608;

(5) Dorothy Bellot (fl. 1558); married Robert Chivers (fl. 1558);

(6) Margaret Bellot (fl. 1558); married [forename unknown] Best/Bisse;

(7) Anne Bellot (fl. 1558); married [forename unknown] Hodges;

(8) Katherine Bellot (fl. 1558); living, unmarried, in 1558;

(9) Christian Bellot (fl. 1558); living, unmarried, in 1558;

(10) Elizabeth Bellot (fl. 1558); living, unmarried, in 1558;

(11) Edith Bellot (fl. 1558); living, unmarried, in 1558;

(12) Mary Bellot (fl. 1558); living, unmarried, in 1558.

He leased the Rectory Manor at Corsham in Wiltshire from Syon Abbey and later from the Crown.

He died after 2 December 1558, when his will was written. His widow's date of death is unknown.

* A John Smyth senior was buried at Corsham, 18 February 1563/4 and this seems likely to be the right man, but his will (written in 1563) was not proved in the PCC until 25 November 1570.

Bellot, Francis (d. 1597). Eldest son of Richard Bellot of Corsham (Wilts) and his wife Alice, daughter of Richard Earle. He married Anne/Agnes, daughter of Reginald Mohun (c.1508-67) of Boconnoc (Cornw.), and had issue:

(1) John Bellot (d. by 1608); died without issue before 29 July 1608 and probably in the lifetime of his father;

(2) Thomas Bellot (fl. 1620); living in Ireland in 1620; married Lucy (d. 1631), daughter of John Ryves, and had issue at least one son and three daughters; died before 1631;

(3) Rev. Reginald Bellot (c.1555-1600) (q.v.);

(4) Scipio Bellot; perhaps died young;

(5) William Bellot; perhaps died young;

(6) Arthur Bellot; perhaps died young;

(7) Ambrose Bellot (c.1561-1637) of Downton (Devon), born about 1561; MP for East Looe, 1597; JP for Devon by 1610; married 1st, 1596/7 (licence 14 September), Elinor, daughter and heir of Barnard Smith of Totnes and widow of John Charles of Tavistock (Devon), Sir John Fulford (d. 1580), kt. of Great Fulford (Devon) and John Wrey of Trebigh (Cornw.); married 2nd, 1627 (licence 27 June) at Dittisham, Lucy (d. 1631), daughter of [forename unknown] Stockett and widow of [forename unknown] Wood of Modbury (Devon), and had issue one daughter; administration of goods granted in the PCC, 10 October 1637;

(8) Ann Bellot.

He settled after his marriage at the house at Bochym Manor, Cury (Cornwall), which was given to him by his father-in-law. The manor of Bochym remained with the Mohuns until 1616 however.

He died in 1597. His wife's date of death is unknown.

Bellot, Rev. Reginald (c.1555-1600). Third son of Francis Bellot and his wife Anne, daughter of Reginald Mohun of Boconnoc (Cornw.), born about 1555. Educated at Exeter College, Oxford (BA 1574; MA 1577); Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, 1575-84; Rector of Menheniot (Cornw.), 1584-1600. He married Dorothy (d. 1638), daughter of John Dinham of Wortham, Lifton (Devon), and had issue:

(1) Renatus Bellot (b. c.1590; fl. 1634) (q.v.);

(2) Phoebe Bellot (fl. 1600), living in 1600 when she was mentioned in her father's will;

(3) Francis Bellot (b. & d. 1597), baptised at Menheniot, 15 March 1596/7; died in infancy and was buried in the same place, 26 March 1597.

He inherited Bochym from his father in 1597.

His will was proved at Exeter, 5 June 1600. His widow married 2nd, Thomas Hoblyn (d. 1636) of Nanswhyden, St Columb Major (Cornw.), and was buried at St Columb Major, 11 January 1637/8.

Bellot, Renatus (b. 1588; fl. 1654). Only surviving son of Rev. Reginald Bellot (c.1555-1600) and his wife Dorothy, daughter of John Dynham of Wortham, Lifton (Devon), baptised at Menheniot (Cornw.), 5 January 1588/9. Educated at Exeter College, Oxford (matriculated 1605; BA 1609). He was a Royalist in the Civil War and compounded for his delinquency in 1651. He married 1st, 1611 (licence 26 July), probably at Dittisham (Devon), Philippa (b. 1592/3), daughter and heir of William Bere of Pengelley, St. Neot (Cornw.), and 2nd, 28 July 1634 at Hartland (Devon), Mary (b. 1603), daughter of Sir Thomas Monck (1570-1627) and sister of General George Monck (1608-70), later 1st Duke of Albemarle, and had issue:

(1.1) Ambrose Bellot (b. 1612), baptised at St Neot (Cornw.), 13 September 1612; educated at Queen's College, Oxford (matriculated 1628); presumably died in the lifetime of his father;

(1.2) Dorothy Bellot (1613-14), baptised at St Neot, 12 December 1613; died in infancy and was buried at St Neot, 27 June 1614;

(1.3) Philippa Bellot (b. 1615); baptised (as Philip) at St Neot, 18 June 1615; possibly to be identified with the 'Philip Bluet' who married, 9 February 1645/6 at St Teath (Cornw.), Hugh Raw, and had issue; 

(1.4) Renatus Bellot (b. 1616), baptised at St Columb Major (Cornw.), 29 September 1616; perhaps died young;

(1.5) Frances Bellot; living in 1620;

(1.6) Loveday Bellot; living in 1620;

(1.7) Christopher Bellot (c.1622-92) (q.v.);

(1.8) Francis Bellot (c.1627-81?); educated at Exeter College, Oxford (matriculated 1647); perhaps the man of this name whose will was proved in 1681.

He inherited Bochym Manor from his father c.1600, and in 1616 he acquired the manor which had been separated from the house in the mid 16th century.

He was living in 1654 when he was involved in a legal dispute and probably died before 1660. His first wife died between 1627 and 1634. His second wife's date of death is unknown.

Bellot, Christopher (c.1622-92). Third, but eldest surviving, son of Renatus Bellot (b. 1588) and his wife, born about 1622. Educated at Exeter College, Oxford (matriculated 1639). He farmed the coinage duty on tin for Cornwall jointly with Samuel Enys, 1661-68, but subsequently gave up the patent in return for a salary of £500 a year, presumably for acting as collector of the duty. High Sheriff of Cornwall, 1681-82. He married, 5 June 1666 at St Gluvais (Cornw.), Bridget (1643-97), daughter of William Pendarves (d. 1673) of Roscrowe (Cornw.), and had issue:

(1) Anne Bellot (b. 1667), baptised at Cury, 28 April 1667; married, 29 May 1683 at Cury (Cornw.), as his second wife, Thomas Hawkins (1650-1716) of Helston and Trewinnard, St. Erth (Cornw.), and had issue four sons and six daughters;

(2) Loveday Bellot (d. 1711), died unmarried of smallpox, and was buried at All Hallows, Exeter (Devon), 16 September 1711, where she was commemorated by a monument; will proved in Exeter, 1712;

(3) Renatus Bellot (1674-1710) (q.v.);

(4) Catherine Bellot (1676-1717), baptised at Cury, 28 March 1676; died of smallpox in 1717;

(5) Bridget Bellot (d. 1719); married, 25 September 1708 at North Hill (Cornw.), Sampson Hele of Exeter (Devon), merchant (who m2, 12 July 1720 at Exeter Cathedral, Elizabeth March); died of smallpox, 10 June 1719, and was buried at All Hallows, Exeter, where she was commemorated by a monument;

(6) Grace Bellot (d. 1717), of Fowey (Cornw.); died unmarried of smallpox in 1717; will proved 1717;

(7) Elizabeth Bellot (fl. c.1711); living c.1711;

(8) Jane Bellot (d. 1717), of Fowey; died unmarried of smallpox in 1717; will proved 1717;

(9) Mary Bellot (1687-1717) of Fowey (Cornw.), baptised at Cury, 4 April 1687; died of smallpox in 1717; administration of her goods was granted in 1717.

He inherited Bochym Manor from his father, and also had a house at Temple Bar, London.

He was buried at Cury, 10 June 1692. His widow was buried at Cury, 23 November 1697.

Bellot, Renatus (1674-1710). Only son of Christopher Bellot (c.1622-92) and his wife Bridget, daughter of William Pendarves of Roscrowe, baptised at Cury, 26 January 1673/4. Educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge (matriculated 1691) and Middle Temple (admitted 1691). Tory MP for Mitchell (Cornw.), 1702-05; JP for Cornwall. Stannator (elected member of the Stannary Parliament) for Penwith and Kerrier, 1703, 1710. He was said by a near contemporary to have spent all his estate ‘by riot and excess’. He married, 1697 (settlement 3 April), Mary (c.1680-1729), daughter and heiress of Edmund Spoure of Trebartha (Cornw.), and had issue:

(1) Renatus Bellot (1704-12), baptised at Cury, 18 October 1704; died young, 11 July 1712 and was buried at North Hill (Cornw.), where he is commemorated by a monument.

He inherited Bochym Manor from his father in 1692 and came of age in 1695. After his death it passed to trustees for his son, but following his son's death the estate was sold in 1713 for the payment of his debts. His widow was heiress to the Trebartha estate, which she bequeathed to her friend and cousin Francis Rodd (d. 1736) subject to his not marrying Jane Parker of Covent Garden (which he didn't).

He died of a fever and was buried at Cury (Cornw.), 22 May 1710; his will was proved in 1710. His widow married 2nd, 27 December 1716 at Lewannick (Cornw.), Charles Grylls (d. 1727), and was buried at North Hill, 6 May 1729; her will was proved in the PCC, 7 June 1729.

Principal sources

Burke's Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies, 2nd edn., 1841, pp. 54-55; https://www.stirnet.com/genie/data/british/bb4ae/bellot1.php; 

https://www.northhillhistory.co.uk/rodd.htm; ODNB entry for Hugh Bellot (1542-96), bishop of Bangor and Chester.

Location of archives

No significant accumulation is known to survive.

Coat of arms

Argent, on a chief gules, three cinquefoils of the first.

Can you help?

• Can anyone provide further information about the ownership of Bochym Manor in the 20th century?
• Can anyone provide portraits or photographs of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?
• If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.

Revision and acknowledgements

This post was first published 16 June 2023 and updated 19 June 2023.