Chequers Court

[bagie101]

Hi

My ancestor William ROGERS (1802-85) was Butler to the Frankland/Russell/Astley families at Chequers Court in Ellesborough from 1841 until about 1875. I wonder if anyone has any information on Chequers Court at that time (I know it now the country seat of Tony).
In particular where records might be held re the estate at the time or if there are photographs etc of the household. A long shot but any information welcome.

Thanks

[behindthefrogs]

If you go to your local library you will find that half of the prime minister's wives in the last half century have written a history of Chequers in some form.

It was originally built by the Hawtry family and seems to have been their family seat since around 1300.

My interest in them is that one branch of their family the Hawtrys of Ruislip married with the Edlin family of which I have made a major study.

The main reference that I have used is

Chequers : A History of the Prime Minister's Buckinghamshire Home

by J Gilbert Jenkins FSA

published by Pergamon Press

I am afraid that I only have notes up to the 17th century as my interest is in the Hawtry family.

The house was rebuilt in 1565 and was sold to the Wolley family in 1594.  Sir John Wolley's son Francis had married Mary Hawtrey and there was no male heir.

I am not sure which publication if any might refer to your ancestors

David

[behindthefrogs]

One of the families who descended from the Hawtreys at Ruislip were a Rogers family.

Jane Hawtrey (1688- 1735) married John Rogers (1688 - 1709).  I have four children identified.

James
John
Ralph died 1735
Elizabeth 1727- 1803.

If your Rogers are related I can take Jane's history back seven generations to Thomas Hawtrey and Agnes Browne.  Thomas belonged to the Chequers family and that would take you back another 200 years.

Could there be a link?

[Lesanne]

Hello David,
Are you still working/have notes on the Hawtrey family of Ruislip?
My interest is Mary Hawtrey c 1590ish.

Lesanne. 

[behindthefrogs]

I don't have any dates but

Edward Hawtrey of Hedsor Bucks married Eliabeth Dormer of Lee Bucks.  They had the following children:

Rafe of Ruislip (1570-1638) who married Mary Altham
Winifred who died unmarried
Elizabeth wife of John Carter of London
Mary wife of Francis Brand of London

Edward was the second son of Rafe of Ruislip (1494-1576) whose parents were Thomas and Agnes of Chequers.

Is that the right Mary?

[Lesanne]

Thanks for your reply David. Am putting this link as it gives info that I'm checking out. I'm sure there's a bit more to it.   

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Bankes

[behindthefrogs]

Thank you for your reply.  I was a bit confused by you estimate of Mary's birth as being c1590 and didn't consider the daughter of Rafe and Mary Atham.  I knew that Mary Altham wasn't born until 1578 and so was too young to have her daughter Mary in 1590.

Rafe and Mary had three boys and some of the children and grand children of John(1670) married into the Clitherow family who were aldermen and Lord Mayor of London.  This line is the ancestry of the Edelen dynasty in the USA through a marriage with the Offley family.

I have more on the Hawtry family but I am not clear in which direction your interest lies.