The Leghs of Adlington were established by Robert de Leigh who inherited the lordship of the manor of Adlington from his mother Elena de Corona (''née'' de Baguley). His father, John de Leigh, who was

lord of the manor Lord of the Manor is a title that, in Anglo-Saxon England, referred to the landholder of a rural estate. The lord enjoyed manorial rights (the rights to establish and occupy a residence, known as the manor house and demesne) as well as seig ...

of Over Knutsford and seated at Norbury Booths, descended in the

male line Patrilineality, also known as the male line, the spear side or agnatic kinship, is a common kinship system in which an individual's family membership derives from and is recorded through their father's lineage. It generally involves the inheritan ...

from the Venable family. Robert de Leigh, lieutenant to Sir Thomas de Ferrers “Lieutenant of the Prince’s Bachelor”, was a Riding-Forester of the Forest of Macclesfield, Bailiff of the Hundred of Macclesfield and a Justice in Eyre for Cheshire. Robert de Legh, the second in succession, was one of the Black Prince's Esquires. Sir Robert Legh the third in succession was

knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...

ed during the reign of Richard II. He was twice

Sheriff of Cheshire This is a list of Sheriffs (and after 1 April 1974, High Sheriffs) of Cheshire. The Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most ...

. He fought at the

Battle of Shrewsbury The Battle of Shrewsbury was a battle fought on 21 July 1403, waged between an army led by the Lancastrian King Henry IV and a rebel army led by Henry "Harry Hotspur" Percy from Northumberland. The battle, the first in which English archers ...

in 1403 against Henry IV. Robert Legh the fourth in succession was preparing to take part in the Battle of Agincourt but died of pestilence ten days before the battle. Some years after the dissolution of the monasteries, Thomas Legh the tenth in succession acquired the rights to the manor of Prestbury, together with the

advowson Advowson () or patronage is the right in English law of a patron (avowee) to present to the diocesan bishop (or in some cases the ordinary if not the same person) a nominee for appointment to a vacant ecclesiastical benefice or church living ...

of the

parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...

and

tithe A tithe (; from Old English: ''teogoþa'' "tenth") is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash or cheques or more ...

s. Leghs became patrons of the Living and Lay Rectors of Prestbury as they still are. Thomas Legh served as

High Sheriff of Cheshire This is a list of Sheriffs (and after 1 April 1974, High Sheriffs) of Cheshire. The Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most ...

for 1588/89. Sir Urian Legh was

ed for

military service Military service is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, air forces, and naval forces, whether as a chosen job ( volunteer) or as a result of an involuntary draft (conscription). Some nations (e.g., Mexico) require ...

s by taking

Cádiz Cádiz (, , ) is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the Province of Cádiz, one of eight that make up the autonomous community of Andalusia. Cádiz, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe, ...

in 1596. He was appointed High Sheriff in 1613. Thomas Legh (1593–1644), the twelfth in succession, was twice High Sheriff of Cheshire (1629 and 1642) and a Colonel in the

Royalist A royalist supports a particular monarch as head of state for a particular kingdom, or of a particular dynastic claim. In the abstract, this position is royalism. It is distinct from monarchism, which advocates a monarchical system of governm ...

Army during the Civil War. He lost Adlington Hall in December 1642 but regained it later. In February 1644 the house was again besieged. This time it had to be surrendered to the Parliamentarians in order to prevent severe damage. It was not returned to the family until 1656 after heavy fines had been paid. Thomas Legh (1614–1687), the thirteenth in succession, was gazetted

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

Militia A militia () is generally an army or some other fighting organization of non-professional soldiers, citizens of a country, or subjects of a state, who may perform military service during a time of need, as opposed to a professional force of r ...

and appointed High Sheriff in 1662 in recognition of his services to the Stuarts. The next three in succession were also Colonels of Militia and High Sheriffs,

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Secon ...

(the fifteenth) also serving as MP for Bodmin from 1715 to 1722. On the death of Charles Legh in 1781 the direct male line expired but the succession continued through Charles' niece Elizabeth Rowlls who assumed the surname of Legh by Royal Sign Manual.

Succession of the Legh family of Adlington

* Robert de Leigh (1308–1370) * Robert de Legh (1330–1382) * Sir Robert Legh (1362–1408) * Robert Legh (1386–1415) * Robert Legh (1410–1478) * Robert Legh (1428–1487) * Thomas Legh (1452–1519) * George Legh (1497–1529) * Thomas Legh (1527–1548) * Thomas Legh (1547–1601) * Sir Urian Legh (1566–1627) * Thomas Legh (1593–1644) * Thomas Legh (1614–1687) * Thomas Legh (1644–1691) * John Legh (1668–1739) * Charles Legh (1697–1781) * Elizabeth Rowlls Legh (1728–1806) * Richard Crosse Legh (1754–1822) * Thomas Legh (1795–1829) * Charles Richard Banastre Legh (1821–1888) * Caroline Mary Florence Legh (1873–1940) * Cynthia Combermere Legh (1896–1983) * Charles Francis Legh (1922–1992) * Camilla Jane Corona Legh (1960–)

References

External links

* ''

Burke's Landed Gentry ''Burke's Landed Gentry'' (originally titled ''Burke's Commoners'') is a reference work listing families in Great Britain and Ireland who have owned rural estates of some size. The work has been in existence from the first half of the 19th cen ...

'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Leghs Of Adlington English families English gentry families People from Cheshire

Succession of the Legh family of Adlington

See also

References

External links