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Introduction

ALFORD is a surname evidently of local origin, the ancient form of which was Aldeford, signifying "Old Ford", whence Aldford, and the modern form Alford. Places thus named are found in Cheshire, Lincoln-shire, and Somerset, and it is probable that from these the various families of Alford or Aldford have taken their name. From the western county comes the family to which the compiler of these notes belongs, whose pedigree in the College of Arms dates from 1564.

In early days, however, the Aldford family of most repute was that springing from the North of England. The lords of Aldford are mentioned in the Cheshire Domesday Book, and from the Aldford in this county that family took its name.

"There was in ancient times a castle, the chief seat of the family of Aldford, who had large possessions in Cheshire." The earth-work remains of Aldford Castle are still visible, overlooking the old ford across the river Dee, about four miles above Chester. The Roman road from that city leads straight as an arrow to the ford, and the immediate vicinity of the then hostile and wild Welsh tribes shows at once the importance of the position from a military point of view.
In 1160 the command of this Castle was given to "Robertus, miles, a descendant of de Bigot, probably by female descent", who thus became lord of Aldford, and the founder of the family that has since borne that name.

The command of the Castle appears to have been regarded as hereditary, for Robertus de Aldford was succeeded by his son, Richard Aldford, living in the time of King John, who married Sara, dau. of Richard FitzEustace, Baron of Halton. To him succeeded his son, also Richard de Aldford, who held Aldford, and the manor of Newton, Sussex. By one of these Aldford Hall was built, a neighbouring mansion, afterwards used as a farm house, and now rebuilt. It was, however, "for many generations the seat and manor of the ancient family of the Aldfords, who acquired it by grant from one of the Earls of Chester".

Although these early members of the family were thus Lords of Aldford, they were not barons or peers,, but "tenants in chief of the crown by military service The title, therefore, was dependent upon the office, and was not hereditary.

The Castle of Aldford had an ancient claim upon lands at Barrington and Chillington, in the county of Somerset, for the provision of a man to serve at that Castle in time of war. The direct male line of the family became extinct in 1202, when Margaret, daughter and heiress of Richard de Aldford, last named, married Sir John Arderne. The chief part of the property thus passed to the Ardernes, through them to the Fittons and Grosvenors, and was eventually sold. Younger branches, however, still continued, in Thomas, who took the name of his wife and her property, and in Robert de Alford, whose descendants for several generations held the manor, though not the Castle, of Aldford, but at length sold it.

His son, Thomas Alford, from whom sprang the various branches of the family, held the castle of Holt in Denbighshire~ which is about two miles higher up the river Dee, and upon the opposite bank, the places being thus adjacent, although in different counties. The ruins of Holt Castle are most interesting. It was destroyed by Cromwell's soldiers in 1650, having been sold by John Alford some fifty years before.
In 1604 an enquiry took place at Farndon (a town of some importance in those days, and joined to Holt by a curious bridge across the Dee), in a suit of William Tatton and Roger Puleston, concerning "lord Afford's lands", which included property in Overton and in Norton-Madock.

The interest in this is deepened by the reference to the latter property in the will of Robert, Alford of London, I 546, founder of the Sussex and Hertfordshire branch of the family; and also by the marriage of Anne, daughter of Richard Alford of Overton, with John Puleston, recorded on a tablet in Farndon church bearing the Alford arms: Six pears, stalks upward, as for Berks and Bucks.

It may also be appropriately mentioned here, as showing the possible connection of the various families of the name, that "from the Alfords of Holt descended Joseph Alford, author of two religious treatises published in London in 1649" under the titles of The Soul Dispensatory and The Church Triumphant. These books are dedicated to Sir John Brownlow, and Joseph Alford, the author, was born at Winsham in Somerset.
It is worthy of note that the Brownlow family use this name as a title for the eldest son, Viscount and Lady


Marion Alford honourably bearing it during the last century. The estates of this family lie largely in the eastern counties, where it is interesting to find that "Roger Bigot, ancestor of the Earls of Norfolk, and of the family of Aldford, held the manors of Pulling and of Thurne in the county of Norfolk", both of which rectories were held in the fifteenth century by members of the Alford family.

The various BRANCHES of the family springing from Thomas Alford of Holt (No. 8 in Table I) must now be noticed.
· The eldest son, John, continued the line which remained at Holt for some years, but became well-known later in Yorkshire, and also in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.

· Launcelot Alford, his youngest son, settled at Meaux Abbey in Yorkshire, "a splendid pile, the pride and ornament of that part of Holderness", of which, unfortunately, there now are scarcely any remains left.






Members of the family also became possessed of property at Beverley, which place they represented in Parliament, and at Bilton in Holderness; but these Yorkshire Alfords failed in a male heir, and appear to have died out in the middle of the seventeenth century. On the sale of Holt Castle, about the year 1600, as already related, John Alford, grandson of John of Holt above mentioned, took up his abode at Fawley Court, in the county of Buckingham. His grandson, Henry Alford, afterwards became possessed of Hall Place, Hurley, in Berkshire, but a short distance from Fawley, the boundary of the counties passing through the lawn of Fawley Court.Thus the family spread into Berkshire, where we find also Francis Alford, esquire, of Lambourn, in 1589, and his son, Henry Alford, of Wokingham, in 1619, who were members, however, of the second branch of the family. Thomas Alford of this line was mayor of High Wycombe, and died in 1704, while George Alford held the same office in 1710.

The Bucks and Berks Alfords, however, like those of Yorkshire, seem to have become extinct, or to have failed to maintain a position of importance. Particulars of these lines follow in due course.
Going back again to Thomas Alford of Holt Castle, in order to trace the second branch, we find that Robert, his second son, went to London, and through his grandson, Edward Alford, of Offington, founded the family settled in Sussex and Hertfordshire. The association with the latter county was merely by marriage; but it is interesting to note that the connection with Sussex was of much earlier date, Richard de Alford (see Table I), whose daughter and heiress married Sir John Arderne, having held the Manor of Newton, co. Sussex. Offington House, the Sussex family seat, is in the parish of Broadwater, near the modern town of Worthing, but passed away from the Alford family in 1744.
This branch ended with the death of John Alford, esq., of Coombs, co. Sussex, "the last of the ancient family of that nameAn account of these Sussex and Hertfordshire branches is given later, with accompanying table pedigree.
Going back once more to Thomas Alford of Holt, we find in his youngest son, Thomas (Table I), the founder of the third branch of the old northern stock, the Alfords of Hereford and Coventry. Of him some interesting notes will be found hereafter.
Thomas Alford, though his official positions connected him especially with London, obtained property in Herefordshire. In that part of the country his family maintained their interest for the next hundred years or so at Cawtherhill and Norton Canon, in co. Hereford, and at Coventry, Tewkesbury and Daventry.

The London interest was of longer duration, but at the close of another hundred years the senior line apparently died out, and though it may be that junior lines continued the family, it has not been found possible to trace their descendants. Particulars of the Alfords of Hereford and Coventry follow in Chapter IV.


Various settlements of the name occur in other counties, which it seems desirable to record here so far as they have been noted, and we may commence with instances in Norfolk and Suffolk.
· Roger Bigot, ancestor of the Earl of Norfolk, and of the Alfords, held the Manors of Pulling and of Thurne, in the county of Norfolk.
· Thomas Alford was Rector of Thurne, Norfolk, 1438
· Thomas Alford, Rector of Bereford, Norfolk,1451.
· Thomas Alford was Prebendary of Lincoln Cathedral from 1466 to 1485, in which latter year he died and was buried in the Cathedral.
· Richard Alford was Vicar of Burnham, Norfolk, in 1485.
· Thomas Alford was Rector of Pulling, Norfolk, 1503.
· Thomas Alford in 35 Henry VIII,, held the Manor of
· Osmunds, in Sutton, with one hundred acres of land, of the Duke of Norfolk.
· The connection with Norfolk may have led to an expansion into Suffolk, for a grant of arms to Alfords of Suffolk is recorded-"on a saltire, between four griffin's heads, a lion passant."
In Nottinghamshire we find from Thoroton's Antiquities of Nottinghamshire that Henry Al ford held the manor of Hockerton, in that county, in the reign of Henry VII; and was patron of the living in 9 Henry VII. He married, 1494, Christiana Multon, of Rousby, Linco]nshire. Robert Alford was their only son and heir.

In Nortltamptonshire occur the following
· Thomas Alford, Vicar of Lamport, Northamptonshire, 1463.
· Thomas Alford was Vicar of Cranford, in the same county, 1488.
· The Probate Registry at Northampton, 1510-1520, contains the will of John Alforde, of Clipstone (Bk. A, p. i). To the Alfords of Northants are ascribed the arms, 'a shield fretty".
· Lincoln Marriage Licences, supply
· 1639, January i5. Zacharie Alford, of Great Grimsbie, gent. 35, and Anne Clayton, of same, widow,34
· 1669, May 6. Robert Alford, of Great Grimsby, mariner, and Katherine Thorold.Amongst the Wills in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, are
· Robert Alford, of Lincoln, 1654. Will, 131' Alchin.
· Zachary Altord, Lincoln,1655.Admon.Ann Afford, of Lincoln,1659. Will,12 Pel].
We now turn to the Alfords of the West of England. Between these and the foregoing family of Northern descent a possible connection has already been alluded to in the claim for service from Somersetshire at Aldford Castle, and also at a later date, with reference to Joseph Alford the author. It appears again in the fact that Thomas Alford, of the present Somersetshire family,was presented to the Vicarage of Weston Zoyland, by the Bridges family, which latter family was connected by marriage with the Alfords of the Northern stock.

The name of Alford occurs in Somerset in Domesday Book, and with the same variety of spelling, which seems to have been a matter of absolute indifference. The Bruton and Montacute cartularies mention Thomas de Alditheford, and Roger Alditheford, while the name Aldeforde also occurs in these records.

The existence of the parish of Alford, in Somerset, would naturally suggest that the Somersetshire families derived their surname from that place, and it is interesting to note that while no proof is forthcoming of this, the Somerset Alfords cluster in a circle at various distances from the village of Alford.

The name of Alford occurs as early as 1327 in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset, and by the sixteenth century, when wills were available and parish registers commenced, there were families bearing the name in several parts of the south-west of England, and some of them distinctly in good position in life.

At Mere, in the county of Wilts, we find the family that afterwards spread to Stourton. At Winsham, on the borders of Somersetshire, resided a family that continued there for many a year, and also gave rise to the Dorsetshire Alfords who were settled at Lyme Regis. Through William Alford, of Lyme, sprang also the family of Qttery St. Mary. Through John Alford, who died in 1562, came the Alfords of Bridport, in whom the connection with the Mere and Stourton branch is afterwards evident, as also the Devonshire families which sprang up at Bowe, Okehampton, and Wear Gifford. And through Henry Alford, living at Weston Zoyland in the time of Elizabeth, came, with a pedigree recorded through eleven generations in Heralds' College. the present-day Somerset line.

This introduction would be incomplete unless it looked also beyond the seas, for in America and in Australia are many bearing the name of Alford who will be interested to trace their descent from the old country.

In the United States are some who now spell their name "Alvord", the corruption itself leading back to Somersetshire. It will be seen in the following pages how these are for the most part descended from an Alexander Alford of Whitestaunton, near Chard, who settled at Windsor, Connecticut. Other families, however, must seek their descent from a William Alford of London, who settled a little later at Salem, Massachusetts.

With regard to Australia, the connection is of course more recent, and the Somersetshire notes will readily show to some a descent from the "Bishop's branch" of the Alford family of that county.

THE EARLY CHESHIRE ALFORDS

THE foregoing Pedigree, with its Latin notes from the British Museum manuscripts furnishes an authentic account of this early Aldford,and afterwards Alford,family. It is clear that some generations are omitted, but no doubt is possible as to the general accuracy of the descent.
The Aldfords of Aldford bore as their armsGules, fretty ermine. A grant of arms is also recorded as made to Laurence Alford in the reign of Richard III.



The Cheshire collection contains many deeds of Richard de Aldford, who lived in the reign of King John. Among these documents occurs a fragment of his seal. This displays a man clad in armour with shield in his left hand and an uplifted sword in his right. He is seated upon a horse at full gallop. Round this remains part of the inscriptionRIC…………D The only remains of Aldford Castle are the earth-works, which are extensive and interesting. They occupy an angle formed by the junction of a tributary stream with the River Dee, about four miles above Chester. An iron bridge has of late years replaced an old ferry across the Dee, which ferry had replaced the old ford (Alde-ford), from which the family name originated. When visiting the place some years ago, a man of 75 stated to the writer that as a boy he remembered this ferry, and that when the water was low the ferry-boat had to avoid a stone course crossing the bottom of the river, doubtless the remains of the ancient ford. The Roman road from Chester leads through the Eaton estate straight to the ford. The site of the Keep of the Castle is now locally called "Blobb Hill". The village of Aldford lies just to the south of the Castle; and about three quarters of a mile still further south, near the road to Farndon and Holt, stands a new farm-house, which replaced the old Aldford Hall, which was pulled down in 1883.

The Harleian Society's volume for Cheshire records the marriage of "Robert (Richard) Alford, Knight, with Mary, daughter of Richard Fitz-Eustace". The pedigree of the family and descendants of Henry Alford, alias Fallows or Falwiz, who, about the year 1300, being a "younger son of the ancient family of the Aldfords", "assumed the name of his wife and her property" will be found in Earwaker's Cheshire.

Holt Castle came into the possession of Thomas Alford, second son of Robert de Afford, probably by his marriage, about the year i 500. An old oil painting still exists at Holt of the Castle as it stood in those days. The little town of Holt is less than three miles from Aldford, but being on the opposite bank of the Dee it is in Denbighshire. The position of the Castle of Holt is remarkable. It was perched upon a red rock, almost a pentagon in shape, surrounded by a moat filled from the River Dee, which runs but a few yards distant and formed a natural defence upon the eastern side. The other sides of the Castle were protected by the sharp rise in the level of the ground in each direction, cut away artificially so as to form a perpendicular face of cliff. The picturesque ruin now belongs to Lord Kenyon.








Four generations of the Alford family held the Castle of Holt, the fourth,John Alford of Fawley Court selling it shortly before his death in 1600.The Holt Parish Registers only go back as far as 1662, and therefore contain no entries relating to the Alford family. It will be desirable to record here the following wills
· Johanne A/Jorc4 widowe, late wyfe of Peter Alford, citizen of London, 1493. To be buried "in the parishe Churche of St. George in Podyng Lane, otherwise called Rose Lane, where the bodie of my husband lyes". To the Church of St. George "a goblett of sylver gyltt". To Margaret my servant. Residue to my well-beloved Cosen Thomas Makworth.29, Dogett, F.C.C.
· Roger A/ford of Chelmsford, Essex, 1517. "To Margaret my wyffe . . . . to John my sonne my geldyng that goeth in Stansted Park; my service of sylver and gylt ;" etc. My cousin Robert Alford of London, and Sir John Stafford, Executors.5, Ayloffe, F.C.C.
· John ALFORD~ citizen of London, ~ "1 bequith my soule unto Almightie God, and to his moste glorious Mother our Ladye, and my bodie to be buryed in the parishe Church of St. Swithin in London, in the cloyster there." To my Cousin Johanne Alforde residue unto Alice my wife. My right trustie friend Robert Alforde and the said Alice, Executors. "To my Cousin Launcelott Alford a blak gowne".20, Hogen, F.C.C.
·
The Chester wills begin only at 1545, previous to which year Wills of that district were proved at Lichfield, out of which diocese that of Chester was formed. No Alford wills are to be found at either Registry.A mural tablet at the east end of the north aisle in Farndon Church, which is upon the Cheshire bank of the Dee, immediately opposite Holt, records a marriage of
Puleston with Alford, and bears the arms of Alford of Holt: Six pears with a chief.

We now deal with the founders of the three branches of the Cheshire Alfords.
John Alford, the eldest son of Thomas Alford of Holt and Jane Salisbury his wife, in due course became the possessor of Holt Castle. He married and continued the senior line of the family through his eldest son, John Alford (junior), afterwards also of Holt Castle. The Bucks and Berks and Yorkshire Alfords were his descendantsthose of the former counties through this eldest son, and those of Yorkshire at first in his sons Peter and Launcelot, but ultimately also through his son John above mentioned. See Table II and following notes.
Robert Alford, the second son of Thomas of Holt and Jane his wife, was the founder of the Sussex and Hertfordshire branch. He married into the family of Brydges of Gloucestershire and of Somerset. Three of his sons entered into political life, causing the Alford name to be familiar in Parliamentary Reports and State Records. See Table III and following notes.
Thomas Alford, the fifth and youngest son of Thomas and Jane of Holt, was apparently the founder of the Hereford and Coventry family. He is mentioned in an ancient deed in 1505, as "of the county of Hereford". In 1529 he was a Gentleman Usher in the Court of King Henry VIII, and was afterwards appointed "Signer or Sealer in Chancery", which office he held until his death in 1535 ~ See Table IV and following notes.



THE ALFORDS OF BUCKS, BERKS AND YORKSHIRE

THIS, the senior of the three chief branches of the Alford family, extended over a period of about two hundred years, spreading from Holt Castle, in co. Denbigh, to Meaux Abbey and Beverley, and Bilton in Yorkshire, then also to Fawley Court, on the banks of the Thames, in Buckinghamshire, and finally to Hurley and High Wycombe, in Berkshire.

The armorial bearings of this branch of the family were:"Gules, six pears or, three and three, stalks upward, with a chief of the last. Crest: a boar's head."

The Coat of Arms"Gules, six pears, and a chief or' was originally granted to the Alfords of Holt, co. Denbigh, and confirmed to the descendants of this family as follows:at the Visitation of York, 1612, to Sir William Alford of Bilton at the Visitation of Sussex, 1634, to John Alford of Offington; at the Visitation of London, 1634, to John Alford of the said City.

Meaux Abbey, in the parish of Waghen or Wawne, in that part of Yorkshire called Holderness, was an ancient monastic building of much interest and importance. A drawing of the last century shows only some ruined arches and columns, but even these are now almost destroyed. Launcelot Alford, who died 1562, was the first of the family who possessed it, his nephew, Sir Launcelot, succeeding him. Sir William, his son, came
next, and there being no male heir it passed to his daughter, Dorothy Alford. Through her marriage with Sir Thomas Grantham this splendid property passed at her death (in 1657) into other hands.

The Record Office "State Papers." ~ contain "Particulars of the late Monastery of Meaux, Yorks., leased to Launcelot Alford in 1540.

In the reign of Elizabeth, Launcelot Alford was Member of Parliament for Beverley once, and Edward Alford twice. In the reign of Charles I, William Alford was returned three times, and after his third election was knighted. The History of Beverley speaks of the Alfords as ''a very old Yorkshire family.''

Beverlae (pp. 390 and 391), gives these particulars more definitely, including amongst the members for that Borough: 7th Parliament of Elizabeth, Launcelot Alford.

8th Parliament of Elizabeth, Edward Alford.

9th Parliament of Elizabeth, Edward Alford.

ist Parliament of Charles I, William Alford.

2nd Parliament of Charles I, William Alfoici.

3rd Parliament of Charles I, Sir William Alford, Knt.

We commence this line with

1. John Alford, senior, of Holt Castle, was the eldest son of Thomas Alford of Holt, and Jane Salisbury, his wife. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Bryan WiL/zyfor/lz, and through them continued the senior line of Holt Castle, and from him came also the Alfords of Berkshire, B uckinghamshire. and Yorkshire.

Their Sons were

i.JOHN ALFORD of whom hereafter (2).

ii. Willlain Alford, the second son, graduated at Oxford, and took Holy Orders. Foster's Alumni Oxoutenses records :" Alford, William, Secular Priest, B.A. 1522." He was living in 1566, when he was a legatee under his brother Peter's will.

iii. Peter A/ford of Sutton, in Yorkshire, near Meaux Abbey, died 1566, and was buried in the church of Sutton.

iv. Launcelot Alford, was the founder,through his nephew, for he left no son,of the family afterwards of some note in Yorkshire. He lived at Meaux Abbey in Holderness, of which fine estate and splendid pile he took a long lease in 1540. He died in 1562, and was buried in Beverley Minster.

2. John Alford, junior, eldest son of John Alford and Elizabeth Withyforth of Holt, succeeded his father in the possession of Holt Castle. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Pickering of HoIt, Knight, and had five sons
i. John Alford, of whom hereafter (s).

ii. Sir Launcelot Alford, nephew of the above-mentioned Launcelot, succeeded his uncle at Meaux Abbey in 1562. Amongst the "Governors of Beverley incorporated by Queen Elizabeth" stands the name of Sir Launcelot Alford, 1573. He became M.P. for Beverley in 1588, was Mayor of the Town in 1591 and was knighted by James I, at York, in 1603. He married Ann, daughter of Sir William Know/es of Bilton in Yorkshire, the estate of Bilton descending to their son.

Sir Wi//lain A/]ord, only son of Sir Launcelot, was born in 1571, and matriculated at Magdalen College, Oxford, as William Alford of Yorks, gent., in 1586, aged 15. At first described as "of Bilton", he afterwards appears to have succeeded his father at Meaux Abbey. "Sir William Alford of Bilton had a grant of lands in Meaux in 1634." His London residence was in the parish of St. Dunstan, where a list of owners of "Faire Houses in the Friars, 1628", includes "Sir Win. Alford". He was Member for Beverley from 1625 to 1628, in which latter year he, too, received the honour of knighthood.



The Record Office "State Papers" give the following:"1626. Sir William Alford reports to Buckingham, proceedings under the Duke's commission with relation to three ships cast ashore at Barmeston."

Sir William was twice married, first to Elizabeth daughter of Robert Rokes of Fawley, Bucks, and secondly to Elizabeth daughter of William Clarke of Weston, Oxfordshire.

Sir William Alford had no son, but two daughters by each marriage. His eldest daughter Margaret married, in 1640, Sir Robert Strickland of Westmoreland, who fought at Edgehill for the King, and died childless. His second daughter Ann, was buried at Waghen, Yorks, in 1659, a spinster. The third daughter Elizabeth, also died unmarried. His youngest daughter, and ultimate heiress, Dorothy, married Sir Thomas Grantham, inherited Meaux Abbey from her father, and died in 1657.

A small silver ring, in the possession of the Compiler, was discovered in the ruins of Meaux Abbey some years ago. It is inscribed "Sir William Allford of Mewx".

iii. Edward Alford was M.P. for Beverley in 1592 and 1597.

iv. Arthur Alford.

v. Cativin Alford.
3. John Alford, the third of that name, of Holt, was the eldest son and heir of John Alford (junior) of Holt Castle. He married Elizabelh Oglellzorpe of Newenton, Oxfordshire, and settled at Fawley Court, Buckinghamshire, on the banks of the Thames. When, on his father's death, Holt Castle came into his possession, he sold it, together with the Manor of Aldford. shortly before i6oo, in which year he died. He had two sons, John who died in childhood, and Henry who succeeded him. John Alford was patron of the living of Fawley, and presented Richard Clerk. A.B., to it in 1583.

Langleys History of Desborougli, a part of the county of Buckingham (Pp. 187 and 198), speaks of Fawley Court and Manor, which "came to the Alfords by marriage". From Alford this Manor came to Sir James Whitelock, but whether by purchase or by descent is uncertain.

In the Royal Commission Papers, xxii, 143, etc., 1650, concerning Viscount Dunbar, mention is made of John Alford, deceased, and Sir William Alford, as trustees.





John Alforde of Fawley in the Co. of Buckingham, Esquire, 1600.
"To my wife Elizabeth . . . lands . . tenements . . . . in the County of Bucks . . . . of Oxfordshire . . . and elsewhere for her life. Remainder thereof to my son Henrie Alford, and in default of his surviving to my nephew William, son of my brother Launcelot Alforde .My cousin Edward Alforde." .P.C.C.., 20 Wallop.
John Alford and Elizabeth Oglethorpe had issue
i. John Alford died young.

ii. Henry Alford of whom next (is).
4. Henry Alford, of Hall Place, Hurley, esquire, was born about i 578, and matriculated at Exeter College, Oxford, in 1594, at the age of 15. He was admitted to Gray's Inn in i6oi, afterwards qualifying as a Barrister. Hall Place, in Berkshire, where he lived, is an estate close to Fawley, although in another county. Henry Alford married Bridge! de Ia Pole of Coates, Glos., and had four sons and four daughters. He died at the age of 67, and was buried at Fawley, in the chancel of which Church stands a monument to his memory.

Faw/ey, Buckinghamshire. (In the Chancel)

Arms :Gules, six pears or, impaling azure semé de fleur-de-lys.
"Henricus Alford, Armiger.
Equestri familiã in agro Eboracensi prognatus.Obiit apud manerium suum de
Hall Place in Hurley co. Berks.
Oct. 14, 1645. Aetatissuae 67.
Also "Brigetta de Ia Pole wife of the above Henry Alford."

The children of Henry and Bridget Alford were
i. Henry Alford.
ii. Thomas Alford, of whom next (5).
iii. William Alford, to whom the following probably refers
In the Civil War in the reign of Charles I, "William Alford, Lieutenant in Lord Grandison s Regiment in the Royalist army", is mentioned in 1640; also "Captain Alford in 1642 who 'took part in the taking of Cirencester by Prince Rupert, under whom he served in the King's Army'."
iv. John A/ford
v. Mary.
vi.Catherine m. 1625, George Manby.
vii. Beatrice.
viii. Agnes.


5. Thomas Alford of Hall Place, of whom we have no further particulars, is presumed to have been the father of Anne Alford of Hall Place, who was doubtless the last of this line of Alford. She died in 1679, and her will is to the following effect

Anne Alford of Hall Place, in the parish of Hur]ey in the co. of Berks, spinster, 1679. "To be buried att the Parish Church of Fawley, under that stone where my Ancestors lye buried . . . My
Kinswoman Katherine Powle, daughter of Henry Powle of WilliamStrop* in the Co. of Gloucester To the poore of Harley To the Poore of Fawley . . . . To my niece's husband George Bewes, Clerke, a ring . . . . To the said Henry Powle and to George Penn of Harley, all my estate in houses, lands, etc., upon trust for my beloved niece Elizabeth Bewes, wife of the said George Bewes of Sprotby in the County of York, Clerke, and to her children; and failing issue, to my loving Cosen Henry Powle of Williamstrop, Esquire." P.C.C., 125 King.

Williamstrip, in 1670 the property of Henry Powle, Speaker of the House of Commons, is now a seat of Viscount St. Aldwyn. Henry Powle was summoned to the Heralds' Visitation of Gloucestershire in 1683-4, but did not enter his pedigree. It seems probable that the Alfords who settled at High Wycombe, in Buckinghamshire. were cadets of the Berkshire family.

Thomas Alford was Mayor of Chipping, or High Wycombe. in Buckinghamshire. in the reign of William and Mary. and again in the reign of Anne, 1702 to 1704. He died in the latter year, and his monument, beaning the Alford arms, is in the parish church. High Wycombe Buckinghamshire. Arms :Six pears or.

"Here lyeth the body of Thomas Alford, of this town, who departed this life the i7th day of July, 1704; in the 59th year of his age, and during the second time of his Mayoralty."

George A/ford, son of the above Thomas, and also of High Wycombe. became Mayor of that town in 1710, and died childless in the same year. His will is to the following effect

George Alford, of Cheping Wycomb (High Wycombe), Bucks, Gentleman, 1710. "To my dear Wife Isabela Alford, messuages, with stables, out-houses, orchards, gardens, where I now dwell, in Mary Street. My nephew Thomas Alford Anderton my niece his sister. My sister Mary Anderton My mother in law Alford, my aunt Susan Bringhurst, my brother in law John Storer, to each of them a gold ring. My said wife Isabela, Executrix P.C.C,103 Smith.

This senior, or first, branch of the northern family appears to have died out. Nothing has been found to indicate that it has been continued by any cadet lines.





THE ALFORDS OF SURREY LONDON AND HERTFORDSHIRE

THE connection of the Alford family with the county of Sussex is of very early date, Richard, lord of Aldford in Cheshire, in 1200, having "held the Manor of Newton in the county of Sussex"; while the Sussex Archaeological CoIlections mention Adam Alford among the "armigeri" of that county who fought at Agincourt in 1415 ; but the line now to be traced came into the county at a later date, being descended from the second son of Thomas Alford and Jane Salisbury his wife, of Holt. See Table i.

We therefore commence with
i. Robert Alford, of London, and of Erbistock in Flintshire, not far from Holt and Aldford (which property he purchased from his uncle Richard Alford), was the stockfather of the Sussex and Hertfordshire families. He married Anne, daughter of Edmund Brydges of Sudeley, Gloucestershire, thus forming a connection between the Alfords and that well-known and distinguished family of Brydges of Gloucester and Somerset.*
*A pedigree of" Brydges, with descente of Alforde"is given in the British Museum MS. Harl.,1160,101b and in 1156,49 and 49b; and it may be observed that the living of Weston Zoyland, in Somersetshire, was in the gift of the Brydges family, and was afterwards held by the Somerset Alfords, who al

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