Family Pedigree of the Helsby Family

This page has been transferred from a paper copy that my Grandfather researched over ten years ago and has been transferred into HTML with the use of various Word Processing packages. I have tried to be faithful to the original layout, spelling and detail that he used when writing the document the first time round. The picture on the right is the Family Coat of Arms
For links to other Helsby sites click for the linking page

		 	A NormanFrench Pedigree

                          Helsby of Helsby

                            by Thomas Helsby,
                              Barrister at Law.	Book1

   [Reprinted from the "Religuary quarterly archeological
journal and review", edited by Llewellynn Jewitt, F.S.A.No
XXXVI, for April 1869.  London and Derby: Bemrose & Sons.  ]


  	A NormanFrench Pedigree by Thomas Helsby,Esq., of
 Lincoln's Inn.

	The accompanying pedigree is a copy of an ancient 
illuminated roll of about the reign of EdwardIV, and written 
throughout in NormanFrench, perhaps one of the most unique and 
earliest specimens of geneological art that has survived, 
almost uninjured, to modern times.  It relates to the family of 
Hellesby or Helsby in Cheshire, which from the reign of Richard 
Coeux de Lion to that of EdwII held the three manors of Helsby, 
Chorlton, and ActoninDelamere, and many other lands in the 
county of Chester, when on the death of Sir William de 
Hellesby, Knt, a Crusader, and tenant in capite to EdwII, the 
manors and lands fell to his five coheiresses.  The manor of 
Acton, however, which was held by feudal or military service 
from the Abbey of Vale Royal in Delamere Forest, had previously 
descended from Sir Jocelyne de Hellesby,Knt, a crusader with 
Coeur de Lion, and the patriach of the family, to his second 
son, Lord Adam de Hellesby, whose grandson, Lord Ranulph de 
Acton, would seem to have aquired the name of his manor, and, 
in fact adopted a coat of arms entirely different to his 
paternal coat. The sole daughter and heir of Ranulph was Lady 
Maude de Acton, who carried this manor and other Cheshire lands 
to her husband and third cousin, Lord Adam de Hellesby, the 
second brother of Sir William, the father of Sir William the 
Crusader.  It then appears that Adam de Hellesby exchanged 
Acton with his nephew, the latter Sir William, for lands in 
Helsby and Chorlton, and these, with lands he held in Acton, 
Bacford, and other places, by grant from his father and eldest 
brother, descended to his son, Sir Richard de Hellesby, Knt, 
and his posterity, the chief Manor of Helsby, in the meantime, 
going in equal moities to the heirs of Sir William the 
Crusader, the Beestons of Beeston in Cheshire, and the 
Traffords of Trafford in Lancashire.  For a minor history, 
however, I shall reserve my pen until the publication of 
another and very long vellum/roll of CharlesI time, mentioned 
at the end of this paper, and which appears to have been 
substituted for the present smaller one.  The latter measures 
about twelve feet, and is eight inches in breadth, on fine 
vellum, fastened together by rough twisted vellum throngs; it 
is worn and eaten a little here and there, but well preserved, 
even to the strong dark brown of the writing.  A shield of ten 
quarterings (carefully engraved on plateXXX) ,is emblazoned 
with it's curiously cut mantle, and the motto, "Eu dieu est mon 
esperance" at the head of the pedigree; above these quarterings 
being four heater shaped shields respectively charged with the 
arms of 1. Helsby, 2. Hatton, 3. Acton, and 4. Cholmondeley.  
Unlike the generality of pedigrees, the names of each descent, 
in lieu of the circle, is contained in folding label or square, 
with half open gilded sides, like a book, and several names are 
sometimes crowded intoÜ one square; immediately below, and 
adjoining, come the heater shields and their impalements; a few 
triangular banners are scattered up and down, whilst up the 
main line of the descent spread the green stem and branches of 
an oak, with it's gilded fruit and verdant leaves of the same 
notchy shape as we see them in our day, having it's root in the 
centre, apparently, of the maor of Helsby  a hill being drawn, 
crowned with a castle, on the one side, and the village on the 
other, which includes a representation of the Hall or 
Moathouse.  The descent ends with Ranulph Fitz Hugh, and his 
cousin Richard Fitz William, who were married in EdwIV time, 
and with some of their brothers and sisters, children and 
grandchildren, who were certainly living in HenryVIII time.  
At this point several additions have been made, and two 
generations added in two different hands, the latest being, 
apparently, of the time of Jac.I or Car.I. Immediately 
following the additions is an emblazoned shield of sixteen 
quarterings of the coats of 1. Helsby 2. Stanlery 3. Bamville 
4. Sylvester 5. Stourton 6. Hooton 7. Leftwich 8. Haughton 
9. Grosvenor 10. Mobberley 11. Downes 12. Pulford 13. Harington 
14. Flemyng 15. Cancefield and 16. Helsby.

From this point downwards follow a series of heater shields slung 
on belts on the branches of the oak, the centre of the oak being
occupied with square shields of quarterings of the female lines.  
My opinion is however, that this latter part, which is some five 
feet in length, formed no part, originally, of the pedigree, 
but was added in the reign of Elizabeth, and my reasons for 
thinking are, first, that the original pedigree was brought 
down to the reign in which it was written, the handwriting 
being clearly of EdwIV time, and terminated with the last 
mentioned Ranulph and Richard.  My grandfather, who was 
something of an antiquary had, I believe, an opinion that a 
portion of the roll had been lost, which bought the descent 
down originally a generation or two lower, but that could not 
be, since on the same skin of vellum, with which the descent 
ends, room was left for two more generations, and besides, the 
style of caligraphy is altogether against such a supposition; 
the vellum also is somewhat fresher, such asmight have been 
added a century later; and again, the quarterings of Stanley 
(the daughter of a younger son of Hooton) ,did not come in 
before 1570; and lastly, I think I can show the very 
interesting fact that this was a pedigree drawn and engrossed 
simply for the purpose of some law suit, by a Friar of the 
neighbouring Priory of Norton, for, on turning to the back of 
the last of, what I may assume to be, the only original skins, 
is found written in a rather large and plain hand 
"Hec est geneologie exhibin Cure dni Regis apud Westmonast' 
die mercur' post fest'Assump be marie virgin Anno regno henr' Reg'
sep a Conquestu ijEx' per Ric' Pole." 

There is some ambiguity as to whether the date refers to the time 
the roll was produced in court, or to when the endorsement was made,
but in any case these facts do not militate against the hypothesis 
of the writing being in existence many years before the 2.Henry.7. 
I think it highly probable that it had been executed for and used 
in a former suit, which, indeed, may have been the very 
identical suit, which was evidently in, if not before the 
court, in the second year of the reign of Henry7., and there is 
some strength in this opinion when we consider that this was a 
very disturbed period, and no doubt lawsuits of the simplest 
kind drew their slow length along for years and years, even 
from Edw.IV days to and throughout Hen.7.  About a hundred to 
one hundred and fifty years later, however, another suit, or 
intended suit, appears to have turned up, which may further 
illustrate my argument.  This was a suit or rather an action at 
law that Randle, the son of Ranulph Fitz Hugh was apparently 
intending to bring or defend, previous to which he took 
counsel's opinion.  Both case and opinion are written on a 
sheet of foolscap, and it is of great interest, particularly to 
lawyers, as much from the name of the counsel engaged as from 
the nature of the subject, and the manner of drawing up the 
case, I give the following copy: 


	A breiffe rewe of the effect of certane evidencs towdhinge 
Helsby & other lands & hereditaments in Chesshyre belonginge
to Randle Helsby of the Mote house gentleman & of other matters
whereby it may appeare what sight & interest he hath or ought to
ave in the Marsh Waste & Comons ffisheril & other
hereditaments of Helsby,  viz Sryz Jocelyne Lord of Hellesby 
knyght giveth unto Richarde sone to Syr John de Hellesby knt.  
his sonne totam terra mea in villa de Hellesby selt que 
vocat'mares Ley incipiendo & cu com pastur'et oib coimb 
aisaments &c Habend &c.in aquis viis et in semitis in viuarries 
et in motendinis &c.Reddend, inde annuation mihi et hered meis 
vnum saggitam ad fest S.Johan Baptist &c. Syr John de Hellesby 
knt doth geve to Ric his sonne totam terr mea in Hellesby sclit 
que vocat'moteleghe &c.salvo mi et heredibs mei acqua de 
llewellynes broke &c. Tenen de me, et h.ms &c. 	  Note thatt 
Maresley called att this day Marley is nigh the River Meresy & 
thatt the Water of Llewellynes broke is the boundarie betwixt 
Helsby & ffrodsham & ye Motelegh is p'cell of Helsby halle or 
as called tyme out of mynd the Mote house & upon which broke 
ther was in auntiente tymes amilne within Helsby belonging ye 
Lords thereof.Sir William de Hellesby knt then Lord of Helsby & 
heyre to Sir William Lord de Hellesby his father the sonne and 
heire to Alan Lord of Hellesby, geve to his cosin(which was ye 
second sonne to Alan) Adam de 	hellesbie ducenti acras terr cu 
edificiis in villa de hellesbie &c.cu oibs pertinencys &c.in 
bosco, in plano in pratis in pascuis in moris in mariscis in 
turbarys molendinis in acquis in stagnis in vigis in semitis in 
servitis liberorum hominum in hominibus et natieus &c.reddend 
una rosa &c.Note thatt this rent is t paid att this day. an 
auncient rental doth make mencon of this rent. The hall part of 
this land att this daie belongeth unto John Savage and ye reste 
thereof to Mr. Helsby with demennes of Helsby ye same is 
occupied.  The said Mr.Helsby descendeth from ye foresaid Adam 
de Hellesby as appereth by diueis evidencs which are now 
wrought in a pedigree which shall be delivered unto you 
speedily.   Adam de Hellesby sonne of Alan doth geve to Syr 
Bertram de Hellesby his younger sone septe acr & terre mee de 
novs approviaments in villa de Hellesby pene ad tota vita suoe 
&c. peddend una saggit'&c.   Sir Richard de Hellesby  knt sonne 
and heyre of Adam geve to Peres de trayffurd et Mawde sorore 
mee uno'camp et mesuagiu'que vocat'Brukaker &c.infra hiis 
divisus &c.vsqrz ad medin'de streme de llewellyn &c., et cu 
coin pastus'ad oiu aversia et hoc m moris, &c.  This land is 
knowne to this day & is nowe called Trofrdesaker & was of late 
purchased by Sir John Savage of Rockesavage knt, the rent is 
lost but there yeldeth also a rent servisse of a day sheringe 
in harvest.  There is lykewise another dede from Adam to Syr 
Reginalde de Hellesby knt. another sonne butt the copie is t 
now to be founde.  Johes de Hellesby & Lucye his wyffe sosor 
Johan sauvage de Clyffetone ded release &c.Will Venables de 
Doneham Massey totuis mim et clamu qd &c.,in illis terris et 
vastis eu ptinent qd p'dcas Will pet ex dono feffamento radi de 
Hellesby pater me fil Ric'de Hellesby milit' Katherine ux'pdci 
radi Thoma de Hellesby milit frat' pdci Radi Will de Hellesby 
clerc' Edward Vernon et Angillyn ux eius soror' p'dci radi in 
villa de Hellesby Habend &c. Will venables inde confepleins 
&c. to the uses conteyned in her dede &c.   This was a grete 
portion butt not all helsby lands helde by john de Hellesby. 
William Venables Baron of Dunham M. geve the seizin thereof to 
William de Beestone who held land there as Lord of moytie of 
the Maour by right of his grete father his mother ye Ladye 
Mawde ye doghter & coheyze of Sir Peers de thornetone knt & his 
wyffe the Ladye Lucy de Hellesby doghter &coheir to Sir William 
the cozyn of e aforesayde Sir Richard, the grete father of the 
sayde John fil Radi. Johes de Hellesby & Randulph hellesbe his 
sonne and heire apparent doth geve to John le Tayleur Ryc'le 
burges John le Smythe & others et heredibs &c.dua bouvate terre 
in helesbe vocat, '&c.,Tenend, &c.,cu comun pastur',&c.reddend 
xd.   This land is called the Taylors at this day & was of late 
the inheritance of one Ales Taylor deceased who paid rent:The 
same is now ye land of Thomas Helsby gent'elder sone and heire 
apparent of Mr. Helsby who purchased ye same & settled itt with 
o lan le, when hee married the doghter of Mr.Rotter of 
Knygesley Hall esuire. William Hellesby  of Hellesby Esquire 
doth geve to Hugh Hellesby of Chester gent'his brother & Mabell 
Starkey his wyfe et heredibx, &c.,oma terr'mee in villa 
Hellesby scilit vocat'Ladyes Walke &c. quod Johan Pecocke qudm 
tenuit de dna Lucy Hellesby avia me & ex dono feffamento Radi 
Hellesby  of Hellesby Esq.  pater me &c.,cu'coi pastur'oibs 
averijs, &c. William Hellesby of Hellesby Esq.  doth geve to 
Johan Vernon de haslyngton Esq. 7c.  ,omia terras, &c. cu coi 
pastur'&c.in' Actone &c. to uses conteyned in an other dedc. 
These pecs of evidencs I pec'of the heres of Mr.vernons 
ffeffees viz., Sir Hugh Beeston knt ye present ffeffee in 
truste(&must have them redelivered unto him) &c.which doe 
im.....lands &comons in ye possession of Mr Helsby. Md that the 
said Mr Helsby hath gotten in his time upon the wasts in Helsby 
stones for is milne, digged sodds for brickkylnes &c.gotten 
sande, & his tenants have digged and soe soe upon the wasts 
luiffs sodds &c. without contradiction, & have taken in some 
pts of the wasts & enclosed them,&c.   I have advisedly perused 
theise copyes & in my opinion they do veri plainye argue that 
the Auncester of Mr. Hellesby had an interest in the wasts of 
Helsby & that especially by these fore which are noted in the 
margent by this mark S.& especially by the first second and 
third the first being a grant of 200 acres of land, the second 
of a field & house, & the third and most material in my mind 
being a grant of 2 bouuates which being so late as 13. hen 4 
argueth when taken with the first an estate in the granteis in 
the soyle of the same comonable lands.   Nevertheless, I do not 
hence perceive which part of the wasts hath been claemed or 
doth belong by these deeds or deeds nor at there hath been use 
or profitt inioyed for any portision and in case ofspeciall 
pleading it will bee very difficult to plead the title to the 
soyle.   FFor better information wherein it were convenient to 
search the records of the tower and as I think those would 
declare who of auncient time was or were Lords of that toune or 
manor before sir Jocelyne of Hellesby and if that portion of 
the wasts &ffishery were then part of the said manor of of 
ffrodsham.

 				Humpfray Davenport.
 						17 may 1606


This was the style of a counsellers opinion in that day, and it 
is remarkable how little, in form, it is removed from 
presentthe moderns usually commencing "I have perused"&c."and 
am of opinion"&c.proving how purely conservative are the 
lawyers.  Certainly they are the least destructive of all 
mankind, as the bundles of apparently useless, dirty, mouldy 
papers in their chambers and offices so strongly attest. 
besides no race even reverenced half as much their great 
predecessors, whom they called up to a recent date "sages of 
the law", and to whose decisions, from learned and hoary 
Glanville, Bracton, and Fleta, revered Fitzherbert, and honored 
Littleton, they bow with humility and affection even to this 
day. It is to be regretted that all these abstracts of charters 
were not fully set out in the case, or brief, as the Attorneys 
called it in those times, but I have one or two of the 
originals in my possesion, also a letter of Sir Humphrey 
Davenport's which I regret, however, at present I cannot find, 
for I am under the impression that it relates this case, but, 
what is more interesting, mentions the fact of the pedigree 
here described being the identical pedigree laid before him, 
and which has no doubt done other legal duty, for a somewhat 
amusing letter of 1666 from a Richard Ffrost, apparently an 
attorney of Chester, indicates the beginning of more law, but 
this time on the equitable side of the dreadful machine of 
justice.  These, however, I hope to give on some future 
occasion, but I may include in this article the copy of n 
ancient and somewhat picturesque description of the principal 
boundaries of Helsby and Frodsham.

A Note of the Boundaries of the Waste Lande Betwixte the Lorde 
	of Ffrodsham and Helsbie 

	"And for Ffrodsham to begin at haspellwell to ffynchehille 
and be following a little the brook called llewelyns brooke 
straight along to a gate called the door gappe which brooke is 
turned another way by a new gutter or dich and hen down a 
stonie waie to Calvenscrofte and then running on the lefte hand 
to the Ringyarde of Helsbie leading along to the same ringyarde 
to Heymore or Wallsmore and followinf the same Ringyarde to a 
lane called the Rake but interrupted by Helsbye mere by reason 
of a p'cell of land called the 5 Butts and then by following 
the same Ringyarde to hapsforde brooke.

	"The bounaries of Helesby to begin at a certaine marke 
fixed att Llewelyns brooke being the p'ticon between ffrodesham 
Alvanley and Helsbie at the end of an old dych and then 
followinge a littel of the same brooke where in antient tyme 
the Crosse and banner hath byne reeved in idst of the same 
brooke by ffrodesham men at a meese between the Lordshyps and 
possescion hath been received in their p'ambulacon and then 
along the same brooke to dane mere lane and where in former 
tyme the bakers of Weste chester hath sold bread unto the 
neighbours thereaboute, they Chester bakers might not sell any 
within the liberties of ffrodesham, and so still followinge the 
said brooke in closinge for the tenenants of Helesby the 
severall p'cells of land Lee moores or Washmore by the borders 
of Frodsham marsh, Ince marsh, Eltone marsh, Hapsforde more, 
allsoe that they saith the same long agoe hath byn carried to 
Helsby burne, alsoe the said brooke hath formerly runne another 
waie, that is to say down a p'ce of land called the Rydges and 
not where it doth at this p'sente as the ffrodesham men 
affyrme.

 	"Mem  that the said helsbye burne is nigh Maister Randle 
helsbie his house and passeth by an antiente orcharde of trees 
app'tenant thereof."
	This description would be written about the end of Queen
Elizabeth's reign.  Helsby mere probably means Helsby moore or 
marsh, on the banks of the broad river Mersey, and Helsby burn 
is, I think, wholly forgotten; at all events some years ago I 
made enquiries about it in vain.  Neither it nor Maister Randle 
helsbie's house are to be found temp. Victoria.  The latter 
called indiferently Helsby hall or the Moat House was greatly 
damaged by fire about the reign of Car.I. and wholly destroyed 
the ginning of the last century, when the remains of  first 
conflagration were occupied as a farm house.  A rude stone 
carving of the arms quarterly with Hatton is the only stone 
left, and this, I believe, was picked up years after the last 
fire, and had probably adorned some chimney piece, for it was 
gilded and coloured.  Not a soul, as far as I can learn, has 
any tradition of the old habitation, but the plough may some 
day turn up it's site.  The Cross and banner above referred to 
consisted, according to tradition, of the Helsby Banner, that 
is, a yellow silk, bearing St Andrew's Cross (a Saltier) sable, 
and this I have heard used to be exchanged for the Ffrodsham 
Banner, a white silk, bearing an engrailed Cross(charged with 
five stars) sable.  The name Helsby was, I have no doubt, given 
by the Danes in early saxon times to the Township, which is 
very picturesqe and romantic looking, and it is not improbable 
that "Dane Mere Lane" took it's name from those rough old 
seakings. I think thirteen counties may be seen from Helsby 
Tor, the old village nestles at it's feet, and a two mile walk 
through the Manor brings you to the widespreading Mersey, on 
the banks of which, a little higher up, once stood Stanlawe, 
the mother of Whalley Abbey. 	To return, however, to 
Davenport's old case.  It will be observed that a mill belonged 
at that date to Randle Helsby, and either the same, or another, 
is refered to in the first note.  I think it probable that the 
one on Llewellyns Brook was in early times an old water mill, 
and is simply mentioned in this note to show more fully the 
rights of the ancient Lords, and that Mr Helsby's was a 
windmill.  At this day, however, neither Wind, Water Mill, or 
even LLewellyn's Brook is to be found, but there is a Windmill 
in Hapsford, situate just within the eastern boundary line of 
the latter township and the township of Helsby, which may have 
replaced the ancient Helsby Wind mill.  The brook no longer 
bears it old name, but if flows(if not as wide deep and strong 
perhaps as of old) as the eastern boundary of Helsby from 
Ffrodsham, and other townships.  I think it most probable that 
it's name came from the last Welsh Prince, for two reasons, one 
being that the daughter of LLewellyn, Prince of Wales, was wife 
of the last of the reigning Earls Palatine of Chester, and whom 
she is reported to have poisoned; the other reason being that 
on the forfeiture of the Manor and Lordship of Ffrodsham by 
Robert de Ffrodsham, for slaying some favourite Lord of the 
king (John),it was granted by Edw.I.,in 1279, to David brother 
of the Prince of Wales, but he being attainted of High Treason 
in the same year, it was agin forfeited to the Crown, and among 
the Inquisitors appointed on that occasion was Richard de 
Hellesby, the Richard FitzJohn of this pedigree, and Randle de 
Acton his cousin, and it's not a singular that, if my 
supposition should be right, a closer Welsh connection existed 
at about this time, for Adam Fitz Alan de Hellesby is temp.  
Ric.2 or thereabouts, found giving lands to the Chester Abbey 
as follows"Ad.  de Hellesby de terra in Chorleton (Gilbeto 
cognato suo fil.  Walei p'c de Frodesham.  "Who is the father 
of Gilbert(the kinsman of Alan de Hellesby) here described as 
Walei, the prince, or chief (?) of Frodsham? The latter place 
it it must be remembered was important; it had it's castle 
(burnt down temp. Car.2.) Helsby stood between it and Chester, 
and on Helsby hill stood high in the air a castle, which would 
however be a minor defence to Beeston and Chester against the 
savages of the Welsh.  the christian name of Edward Vernon 
mentioned in the case does not appear in any pedigree, and the 
charter of 2HenryIV must have entirely overlooked from first to 
last, or very slovenly perused, as also must that of 10Edw.IV., 
which states Hugh Hellesby to be of Chester.  I have seen in an 
ancient Charter a piece of woodland called the Lady Beatrix's 
Walk or Bower, and I have no doubt it refers to Beatrix de 
Hatton, the wife of Alan de Hellesby, and is the same spot 
refered to in the Charter of 10Edw.IV. as the Ladyes Walke. 
	The note in the Charter of 12Edw. fil Edw. referring to e 
pedigree, without doubt alluded to this French one, which, as 
before remarked, is mentioned in Davenport's letter.This note 
shows, I think, the case with which it was then treasured, and 
doubtless some friend travelling Londonwards, or even a 
special messenger, would carry it to the temple, where Sir 
Humphrey Davenport's chambers were situated.  Sir Humphrey was 
a son of the house of Davenport of Davenport, or one of it's 
younger houses, and was appointed a judge of the king's bench 
or Common Pleas, I think temp. Jac.I. 	Finally, I am under the 
impression that this old pedigree descended to John Helsby, the 
eldest son and coheir of Thomas temp. Car.I, and was 
afterwards recovered from this John's son or grandson by John 
Helsby, of Kingsley Hall, Cheshire, the grandson of Thomas, and 
that in consequence of e former circumstance a large, new, and 
more elaborate pedigree (containing numerous copies of 
Charters) was prepared for Randolph, the second son and coheir 
of Thomas, by a Herald Painter in Chester, and which bears date 
1645, and which has been painted with great exactitude in Dr 
Howard's "Miscellanea Genealogica"(together with a facsimile 
engraving of the large shield of quarterings emblazoned at it's 
head), and a copy of which, in English, with a minute 
description, some time ago given by the Rosiscrucian Society, 
will appear in some future number of the "Reliquary." 

		      [	Taken from the original by C.J Helsby
			and typed by Andrew Helsby 9/90     ]
		Transferred to HTML on 5/4/96 by Andy Helsby

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