BULKELEY OF CHEADLE AND BEAUMARIS

This family is unusual among the Cheshire gentry. They moved to Anglesey in the early 15 th century and in succeeding generations some married into Welsh families and into families based in Lancashire, Derbyshire, Surrey and Essex as well as the Cheshire gentry. Their eventual demise is not related in detail by Earwaker but they were overtaken by debt in the 18 th century. The family's Cheshire estates were sold by Act of Parliament in 1756 when the 7th Viscount was only 4. He went on to marry the very wealthy heiress of the Warren family of Poynton but had no issue and left his Welsh estates to his uterine half brother.

• 1. Richard de Bulelegh of Cheadle in right of his wife, second son of Robert de Bulkelegh of Eaton near Davenham, died 1349.
• + Agnes, dau and coheiress of Roger de Chedle, by Matilda, the dau and heiress of … de Mascy of Timperley, married before 1326. This couple had two sons, William, the heir, and Peter who was rector of Cheadle from 1371-1410. Their daughter, Margery married Sir Lawrence Warren.
  • 2. William de Bulkelegh of Cheadle, born 1346, died 1379.
  • + Alice dau of Sir Ralph Bostock of Bostock. She died in 1385. In addition to Richard, they had a son, Nicholas de Bulkelegh, known to be living in 1399.
    • 3. Richard de Bulkelegh of Cheadle, born 1369 and died 1390.
    • + Margery, dau of Hugh de Venables of Kinderton, married about 1387. Remarried to Randle Mainwaring of Over Peover before 1391, died 1459 and tomb at Over Peover. This couple had four children although Richard was only 21 at this death. In 1391, Alice was three, Margaret was 2 and Clemence 1. Richard's heir, also Richard, was born posthumously.
      • 4. Richard de Bulkeley, born 1391 and died 1454. The name of his wife is unknown but they had a son William and other issue not named in Earwaker's tree.
        • 5. William de Bulkeley of Cheadle, born about 1418 and died 1488. Went to Anglesey and was Constable of Beaumaris in 1440.
        • + Ellen, dau of Guilim ap Griffith of Penrhyn in Caernarvonshire. This couple had William, Richard, Rowland, Hugh, Edmund, and a second Hugh. The eventual heir was the third son, Rowland.
          • 6. William Bulkeley of Cheadle, born about 1444, married but died without issue in 24 Dec 1516.
          • 6. Richard Bulkeley, clerk in holy orders, Rector of Cheadle 1486 to 1525, Arcdeacon of Merioneth from about 1483 to 1500 when he became Archdeacon of Anglesey until 1524. Succeeded his brother in 1517 and died on 29 May 1525.
          • 6. Rowland Bulkeley, 3rd son, aged 64 in 1525, succeeded his brother in 1525 and died in 1537.
          • + Alice, dau and heiress of William Beconsall of Beconsall in Lancashire. This couple had in addition to their heir, Richard, John, Rector of Cheadle, 1525-1545; Robert, the ancestor of the Bulkeleys of Gronant on Anglesey; Thomas, who may have been rector of Cheadle from 1551-1563; William, ancestor of the Bulkeleys of Porthamel on Anglesey; Hugh, Rowland, and Henry. They also had two daughters, Katherine was the last Abbess of Godstow near Oxford, appointed in 1535 and buried at Cheadle on 13 Feb 1559/60; Ellen married Sir William Norres of Speake in Lancashire.
            • 7. Sir Richard Bulkeley of Beaumaris and Cheadle, born 1501, Chamberlain of North Wales in 1534, knighted about 1534, died 26 Jan 1546/7 buried at Beaumaris. Formerly an inscription in old glass at Middlewich church.
            • + Katherine, dau of Sir William Griffith, jun, of Penrhyn, Carnarvonshire, died before her husband. This couple had in addition to their heir Richard: Thomas, Rowland, John, Jane and Ellen. The latter married Ralph Arderne of Harden Hall in Cheshire, marriage articles of 1558.
              • 8. Sir Richard Bulkeley of Beaumaris and Cheadle, born about 1529, knighted 3 October 1547, MP for Anglesey in the time of Queen Mary and Elizabeth. Will administration in 1573. He married twice and we follow the line from his first wife. His second wife was Agnes dau of Thomas Needham of Shenton, Esq, by whom he had eight sons and two daughters, some of whom died young but Launcelot became Archbishop of Dublin from 1619 to 1650.
              • + 1st wife, Margaret, dau of Sir John Savage of Clifton in Cheshire, knight, married before 16 April 1544. They had seven sons, Richard, John, Thomas, Rowland, Charles and Daniel and four daughters, Elizabeth, Katherine, Jane and Margaret.
                • 9. Sir Richard Bulkeley of Beaumaris and Cheadle, born 1533, knighted at Whitehall in 1576, built mansion of Baron Hill in 1618, died Beaumaris 28 Jun 1621 and buried there. He married twice and it was from his second wife the line eventually descended so we must follow the progeny from both wives.
                • + 1st wife, Katherine, dau of Sir Will. Davenport of Bramall. She died 21 Oct 1573. From this union came Richard, Elizabeth, who was mentioned in her father's funeral certificate in 1621 and possibly also a Katherine.
                  • 10. Richard Bulkeley of Cheadle, died before his father.
                  • + Katherine dau of George Needham of Thornset in Derbyshire. She was buried at Cheadle on 4 January 1643/4. This couple had in additon to their heir, Richard, two more sons, shown below, and four daughters, Dorothy, Lucy, Katherine and Frances, which latter inherited the Cheadle estate from her brother Humphrey.
                    • 11. Richard Bulkeley, heir to his grandfather to the Cheadle estates, baptised at Stockport on 8 July 1610, died at Peele and buried Cheadle on 27 Sep 1633.
                    • + Dorothy, dau of Sir Tho: Hoskins of Oxsted in Surrey. She survived her husband living to at least 1694. This couple had two children.
                      • 12. Humphrey Bulkeley of Cheadle, posthumous son, born 29 Nov 1633 and died in infancy 17 Feb 1636/7. The Cheadle estates passed first to his uncle Humphrey (see three entries below in generation 11)
                      • 12. Dorothy Bulkeley, only daughter and heiress, married Henry, son of Sir B. Ayloffe of Great Braxstead in Essex.
                    • 11. Peter Bulkeley, died without issue and buried at Cheadle on 16 May 1628
                    • 11. Humphrey Bulkeley, born 1618, who succeeded his nephew Humphrey to the the Cheadle estates, served in the army of Parliament and buried at Cheadle on 8 Sep 1678. His Cheadle estate went to his sister Frances as described in the text below.
                • + 2nd wife of Sir Richard Bulkeley was Mary, dau of Sir William Burgh, Lord Burgh of Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, married about 1577. She outlived her husband and was alive at least until 1638. This couple had two sons whom we follow below and daughters, Mary, Margaret, Frances Elizabeth, Katherine, Eleanor and Penelope.
                  • 10. Sir Richard Bulkeley of Beaumaris, bapt at Cheadle 24 Mar 1580/1 and died 25 Jan 1645/6 buried at Penmon Priory where there is a monument.
                  • + Anne, dau of Sir Thomas Wilford of Idlington, Kent. In addition to the two sons, who died without issue, there were daughters, Mary and Anne.
                    • 11. Richard Bulkeley of Beaumaris, Esq died Caernarvon, 5 Mar 1639/40 without issue. As a result Richard's uncle was the next heir.
                    • 11. Robert Bulkeley, illegitimate son, who married Priscilla dau of Sir H Bunbury of Stanney in Kent and died aged 69 without issue on 27 Oct 1679, buried at St. John's Chester.
                  • 10. Thomas Bulkeley, bapt at Cheadle, 10 Aug 1585, ultimately succeeded his brother and succeeded to the Baron Hill Estates on the death of his nephew Richard in March 1639/40. Created Viscount Bulkeley of Cashel in the county of Tipperary by Charles I on 19 Jan 1643/4, died 1659.
                  • + Blanch dau of Robert Cotymore of Cotymore in Caenarvonshire, about 1624 and secondly married the daughter of his steward. This couple had sons Richard and Robert covered below and also Thomas, a Royalist Captain in the Civil War of Dinas in Caernarvonshire and Henry, Master of the Household to Charles II and James II. There were also four daughters, who all married, Mary, Lumley, Catherine and Penelope.
                    • 11. Richard Bulkeley, Royalist Colonel in the Civil War until 1646. Killed in a duel with Thomas Cheadle of Lavan Sands on 19 Feb 1649/50 for which the latter executed at Conway. He married but died without issue before his father.
                    • 11. Robert Bulkeley of Beaumaris, 2nd Viscount died 18 Oct 1688 and buried at Beamaris.
                    • + Sarah, dau of Daniel Harvey of Combe in Surrey. Buried at Llanfor Church in Merionethshire, 18 Jun 1715, where there is a monument. In addition to the heir, Richard, there were sons: James who became MP or Beaumaris; Thomas who became MP for Caernarvon; Robert; and John. Daugthers were Elizabeth, Catherine, Penelope, Eleanor, Martha, Ellen and Lumley.
                      • 12. Richard Bulkeley, 3rd Viscount, buried Beaumaris 31 Aug 1704. Married twice but there was no issue from his second wife, Elizabeth, dau of Henry White, Esq of Hawthlin in Pembrokeshire.
                      • + 1 st wife, Mary dau of Sir Philip Egerton of Oulton in Cheshire, knight. They had two sons, the younger, Thomas died when a month old in Feb 1683/4.
                        • 13. Richard Bulkeley, 4th Viscount. bapt at Beaumaris on 7 Oct 1682 and died 4 Jun 1724.
                        • + Lady Bridget Bertie, eldest dau of James, 1st Earl of Abingdon, marriage settlement dated 1702. This couple had two sons and several daughters not named in Earwaker's tree. We need to follow both sons.
                          • 14. Richard Bulkeley, 5th Viscount, bapt at Beaumaris 18 April 1707, married but died without issue on 15 Mar 1738.
                          • 14. James Bulkeley, 6th Viscount, bapt Beaumaris on 2 Mar 1717/8, succeeded his brother an died 23 Apr 1753.
                          • + Emma Bridget dau and heir of Thomas Rowlands of Nant, Caernarvonshire and Caerau, Anglesey, married 5 August 1749. Her second husband was Sir Hugh Williams of Penrhyn see below for separate tree of her family
                            • 15. Thomas 7th Viscount, born 12 Dec 1752. His Cheadle and other estates were sold by Act of Parliament in 1756. He took the name of Warren-Bulkeley on his marriage and was created Baron Bulkeley of Beaumaris on 11 May 1784. He died 3 Jun 1822 and left his Welsh estates to Sir Richard Bulkeley Williams, the eldest son of his uterine half-brother, who then took the name of Bulkeley.
                          • 14.  Emma Bridget dau and heir of Thomas Rowlands of Nant, Caernarvonshire and Caerau, Anglesey, married 5 August 1749.
                          • +2nd husband was Sir Hugh Williams of Penrhyn.
                            • 15. Sir Robert Williams, Bart, born 20 July 1764
                            • + Anne dau of the Rev. Edward Hughes, of Kinmel Park in Denbighshire. Married 1799.
                              • 16. Sir Richard Bulkeley Williams-Bulkeley of Penrhyn, baronet, born 23 September 1801, eventual successor of the estates of the 7th Viscount Bulkeley.

Additional Notes

On the death of Humphrey Bulkeley, the Cheadle estates descended to his sister, Frances Bulkeley of Cheadle, spinster, and on her death in 1688 they reverted to the Beaumaris branch of the family.

In 1702, Richard Bulkeley, afterwards Viscount Bulkeley, on his marriage to Lady Bridget Bertie, acquired for himself and his male heirs the manors of Cheadle Bulkeley, Timperley and Whatcroft and other lands in these and various places in Cheshire, which had been in the possession of Frances Bulkeley.

In 1731, after the death of Richard Viscount Bulkeley, his eldest son, Richard settled his Cheshire estates in trust to be sold for payment of his debts. An advertisement appeared in the London Gazette of 16 January 1732 announcing the sale of Cheadle, Timperley, Edgeley and Whatcroft and the advowson of the rectory of Cheadle to be held at Cheadle on 5th to 7th March. Richard died in 1738 without male heirs and was succeeded by his brother James. In 1747, the Cheshire Estates were ordered to be sold by a decree in Chancery of 1 March 1745 but the death of James prevented the sale from being completed. In 1756, an Act of Parliament was passed in which the manors and lands in Cheadle, Timperley, Edgeley and Ashley were vested in trustees, Sir William Meredith, Bart., of Henbury, and Robert Williams, Esq.  In September of the same year the manor of Cheadle Bulkeley was sold to the Rev. Thomas Egerton, clerk, Rector of Cheadle.

Sources:

East Cheshire Past and Present by J.P. Earwaker, London, 1877 (CRO, Knutsford).  Now available from the Family History Society of Cheshire on CD ROM .

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