Catalogue description CHETWODE OF OAKLEY, STAFFORDSHIRE AND OF LOWER WHITLEY

The records are grouped together as follows:

CR 70/1 - 36 Deeds and papers relating to Cheshire

CR 70/37 - 49 Deeds and papers relating to other counties

CR 70/50 Miscellanea

Some related records are in the Venables of Agden Collection at the Cheshire Record Office, their ref. DVA.

Chetwode family, baronets, of Oakley, Staffordshire

Prior notice required for access EXCEPT CR 70/30/10 AND CR 70/46, CR 70/35/35

The collection was given to Chester Archaeological Society by Sir Philip Chetwode in 1921 (see C.A.S. minutes, 1921, ref. CR75/7 p.241, J.C.A.S. New Series, vol. 25, p.256) and was transferred from the Society's Library to the City Record Office in December 1969.

• Lower Whitley, Cheshire

The Chetwode family acquired their Cheshire estates through marriages to heiresses, viz. estates in the Nantwich - Sound area through the marriage of John Chetwode to the co-heiress of Johanna de Sound temp. Henry VI (see Ormerod, 1882 edn., vol.III, p.419); estates in Whitley area through the marriage of Philip Chetwode to Hester, daughter and heiress of William Touchet of Lower Whitley (d.1684) (see Ormerod, 1882 edn., vol I, p.662); estates in Agden - Hartford - Middlewich area through the marriage of Sir Philip Touchet Chetwode (d.1764) to Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of George Venables of Agden in 1727 (see Ormerod, 1882 edn., vol. I, p.540); and estates in Romiley - Werneth area through the marriage of Sir John Chetwode (d.1779) to Dorothy, third daughter and co-heiress of Tobias Bretland of Thorncliffe in 1756 (see Ormerod, 1882 edn., vol. I, p.662). The Bretland estates were the subject of dispute and litigation for some twenty years following the death of George Bretland in 1740, and that of Tobias Bretland, his successor, in 1750, leaving three co-heiresses, minors, a fourth daughter being excluded from inheritance because of her marriage to her father's servant without her father's consent (see J.P. Earwaker, East Cheshire, vol. II, p.148). These estates were purchased by William Tatton of Wythenshawe c.1768.