Robert de Walford, Runcorn

b. Circa 1545; married Alice, only daughter of William Mathew, gent., and dying in 1602 left issue

1. JOHN (d. 17 Aug 1661)

who succeeded his father at Walford
married MARGARET HARRISON, daughter of Thomas Harrison of Acton Grange, Esq. left issue:

1.1. ROBERT, Esq. , baptized at Daresbury, 30 May 1619, inheritor of John: purchaser of Thelwall from the Mores. “Being destined for the law” was entered as a student at Gray’s Inn 1637. He married Martha, daughter of Rev. John Ley of Christ Church College, Oxford. “His ancestors were of Walford, in Mobberley, in the time of Queen Elizabeth, and in whose family it still continues to be vested.”

………  1.2. JOHN, heir of Thelwall, born 1645. He entered Gray’s Inn in 1664 and became a lawyer for only a short time because he came into an “ample fortune”. During the lifetime of his father he resided in Crowley Lodge, then moved to Thelwell. He married Abigail Sherrard. By (second marriage?) to Ann Bennett of Greenwich, he had the following issue:

……… ………  1.3. JOHN, (c. 1674, Aston, Runcorn) successor to Thelwell in 1703 and to the mannor of Hatton, under the settlement of his uncle, the Rev. Robert Pickering, in 1704. He married 23 Feb. 1695 to Charlotte, daughter of Sir. Willoughby Aston, Bart.of Aston, co. Cheshire. He died 26 Dec. 1747 From the minutes of the Steward’s Journal, “1751 April 2, the corps of Mrs. Charlotte Pickering, widow, was brought from Wavertree in a herse drawn by six horses to Thelwall, and was interred in the chappel there.”

……… ……… ……… 1.3.1. Thomas, his heir, born in 1700.
……… ……… ……… 1.3.2. Willoughby Richard of Hanover Square, London M.D.
……… ……… ……… married and had one daughter, Elizabeth Maria.
……… ……… ……… 1.3.3. John, died without issue
……… ……… ……… 1.3.4. Henry, of Westminster, succeeded to greater part of Hatton Estates
……… ……… ……… and married Miss King. He had the following issue:
……… ……… ……… ………1.3.4.1. John, who died young 12 May 1749, buried at Thelwall
……… ……… ……… ………1.3.4.2. Henry, successor to his uncle, Thomas of Thelwall
……… ……… ……… ………1.3.4.3. Robert, died unmarried in Jamaica, 28 July 1820
……… ……… ……… ……….1.3.4.4. Mary, died unmarried
……… ……… ……… ………1.3.4.5. Helena, died unmarried, 1834.
……… ……… ……… 1.3.5. Elizabeth, died unmarried
……… ……… ……… 1.3.6. Mary, died unmarried, buried at Thelwall, Will dated 12 Dec 1754.
……… ……… ……… 1.3.7. Charlotte, died unmarried, buried at Thelwall, 9 Sep 1763.

2. Sherrard, baptized at Whissendine, 11 Oct 1680

3. Danby, of London, Merchant, married and had numerous issue. From his eldest son was descendant Danby Pickering of Gray’s Inn, Barrister at Law. Several sons settled in North America. One of them, Samuel, died a merchant in South Carolina in 1757.

4. Alexander, who had a lucrative appointment under the Trinity House, which he procured through the influence of his cousin the Earl of Harborough. He married Mary, daughter of Thomas Wooley, Esq.

……… 4.1. Thomas Wooley Pickering, of Canterbury, Lieutenant R.N., married Mary, only daughter and heiress of James Abree, Esq. of that city. He died 27 Apr 1792. He had two sons:
……… ……… 4.2. Thomas Abree Pickering, ultimately inheritor of Thelwall, and
……… ……… 4.2. James, who died young
……… ……… 4.2. Mary, married in 1770 John Burnby, Esq. of Canterbury
……… ……… 4.2. Thomas, who in 1790 was a Midshipman on the HSM Monarch.
……… ……… 4.2. Lucy Elizabeth, died without marrying

……… 1.4. Robert, died in 1704 without issue. His estate was inherited by his nephew, John Pickering. He was Rector of Eccleston for over 30 years. By Will he bequeathed a “sum of money” to the poor of Thelwell.

……… 1.2. John, baptized at Daresbury, 19 Mar. 1620, settled in Cuckfield in Sussex
……… 1.3. Thomas, citizen of Chester, baptized in Daresbury in 1622; will dated Jan. 1686
……… died in 1689 leaving and only daughter, Mary who married James Gerard, Gent.
……… 1.4. Peter, citizen and Merchant of London, baptized at Daresbury 10 June 1623; died 1711
……… 1.5. Catherine, baptized in Daresbury 28 May 1626, married Thomas Chesshyre Esq. of Hallwood, in Halton.
……… 1.6. William, baptized in Daresbury 16 Sept. 1627
……… 1.7. Margaret, baptized in Daresbury 20 Nov 1627, married Thomas Hodson of Liverpool, merchant
……… 1.8. Benjamin, also of London, a member of the Merchant Taylor’s Company
……… ……… baptized in Daresbury, 24 Feb. 1632
……… 1.9. Helena (Eillena), died unmarried July 1617.

2. Robert,

who settled in East Grinstead, co. Sussex, and married Alice, daughter and sole heiress of Robert Woodcock, esq. of London, grandson and heir of Ralph Woodcock, Sheriff of Alderman of London. Second marriage: Martha daughter of Edward Lyndsey, Esq. of Buckstead co. Sussex and by that lady had three daughters:
……… 2.1. Martha
……… 2.2. Mary, married to William Fermor Esq. of Welches co. Sussex Barrister at Law
……… 2.3. Anne

Robert ( above) attained considerable eminence in his profession, and was several times elected as Reader of the Society. In 1651 he purchased, for 5,190l, amongst other premises, all that capital mansion-house called Crowley Lodge in Crowley, within a certain place called Northwood Park (formerly a part owned by the Crown), in the parish of Great Budworth, Cheshire with about 150 acres. In consequence of this purchase, he was removed of his seat at Walford, home of his ancestors, and continued to make Crowley Lodge his home until he bought Thelwall. His name appears on the Roll of Knights and Esquires in Cheshire in 1650.

The purchase of all the lands and buildings are listed in detail in the “Typographer and Genealogy”. Robert’s brothers, THOMAS of Chester, and PETER of London, along with Thomas Cheshire of Halton, were also involved in the purchase of Thelwall. The deed was signed in the presence of their brother, John in 1664.

In addition to Thelwall, Robert owned the greater part of Hatton in Cheshire, including the manor-house called Quietsy Biches, the ancient seat of the Hattons, which he purchased about 1850. In Sir Peter Leycester’s history of the county in 1666, writes “At this day Robert Pickering of Thelwall, Esq. is lord of the greatest part of Hatton; and in the adjoining township of Moor.”