Picton

THE LORDSHIP of the Manor of Picton lies within the township of the same name and is contained in the parish of Plemstall. It lies one and a half miles west of Mickle Trafford and four miles from Chester. It covers an area of 860 acres.

After the Norman Conquest, the Lordship was held by Richard de Vernon, Baron of Shipbrook. The family came from Vernon in Normandy and Richard’s father, William, had founded and endowed the collegiate church of St Mary there in 1052. His tomb, of white marble, still lies there in the choir. Richard had travelled with the Conqueror to England and been created Baron of Shipbrook by Hugh Lupus, who had been granted the county palatine of Chester in 1086. This was the year of Domesday Book and the entry for Picton reads:

Picton. Toki held it; he was a free man.

1 hide paying tax.

Land for 3 ploughs. In Lordship 1; 2 ploughmen;

1 rider and 3 smallholders with 1 plough.

Meadow ½ acre. Value before 1066, 30s, later 5s; now 16s.

Picton continued in the hands of the Vernons for the next two centuries and Richard’s descendants seem to have had a rather uneventful time though, William de Vernon had been Chief Justice of Chester during the reign of Henry III (1216–1272). This continued until the reign of Henry IV when Sir Richard de Vernon was beheaded after the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403 for his part in the Welsh rising of Owen Glendower. After this Picton seems to have [passed] into the Crown.

During the reign of Henry VI (1422–1461) the Manor was granted to Sir John Savage. This family had for generations resided at Frodsham Castle in Cheshire. John Savage, who lived during the reign of Edward III (1327–1377), had increased the family’s fortunes by marrying the daughter of a wealthy merchant, John Ratcliffe. John’s grandson, also John, was knighted during the reign of Henry VI (1422–1461). His son and namesake married the daughter of Lord Stanley, ancestor of the present Earl of Derby, and died in 1495. This was three years after the death of his son John. This John had been knighted by Edward IV (1461–1483) on the occasion of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth Woodville, in 1465. On the death of the King in 1483, Savage was one of those chosen to help bear Edward’s body into Westminster Abbey. A year later he became mayor of Chester. After the tragic reign of Edward V, one of the Princes murdered in the Tower of London, Savage became a favourite of Richard III (1483–1485). Despite the shower of royal approval, Savage was soon busy plotting with the Earl of Richmond, Henry Tudor, then an exile in Brittany. Once his treachery became apparent to the King, Savage fled to join Richmond who had landed at Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire. At the Battle of Bosworth, he commanded Richmond’s left wing and after Henry’s victory, Savage was rewarded for his support with a number of estates in the Midlands. He continued as a soldier in Henry’s army, and fought at the siege of Boulogne in October 1492, during which he was captured and killed by the French.

The Lordship of Picton then descended to Sir John’s son, also Sir John, [who] was knighted by Henry VII and served as Sheriff of Worcestershire. It then remained with this family until the end of the 16th century when it passed to the Hurlestones. This family had been settled at Hurlstone Hall in Lancashire from at least the reign of Edward III (1327–1377). The first recorded Hurlestone Lord of Picton was Richard, son of Thomas. Richard died in 1589 and is buried in Plemstall. He was succeeded by his son John who lived only until 1593. His son John held the Lordship until his death in 1669. His son and namesake lived until 1687 and was succeeded by his eldest son Charles. In 1734 on the death of Charles Hurlestone, the estate was divided between his four nieces. Picton came to Mary Leche. Later it passed to the Aston family before coming into the possession of the Earls of Shrewsbury, whose descent lies on the following pages ((see digital copy)).

Source notes

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Historical holder / succession information

1. Sir John Savage
   1422|1461 · granted_to · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: During the reign of Henry VI (1422–1461) the Manor was granted to Sir John Savage.
2. Sir John’s son, also Sir John, [who] was knighted [source claim requiring identity review]
   passed_to · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: The Lordship of Picton then descended to Sir John’s son, also Sir John, [who] was knighted by Henry VII and served as Sheriff of Worcestershire.
3. His son John [source claim requiring identity review]
   1669 · held_manor · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: His son John held the Lordship until his death in 1669.