Heron, Fenwick, Swynburne, & Shafto Families in Northumberland

The Shafto, Fenwick, and Swynburne families appear repeatedly in connection to the estates of Brenkley (in Ponteland Parish), Little Bavington (in Thockrington Parish), and Great [or Mikle] Bavington (in Kirkwhelpington Parish), all in Northumberland.Another common thread is that they all also intermarried with the Heron family of Chipchase (in Chollerton Parish).
I would appreciate hearing from anyone working on these families especially in relation to these estates.

Edward Shaftowe [occurred 1503 & 1526] married Elizabeth Swynburne, daughter of Thomas Swynburne [fl. 1482-1509] of Nafferton by his wife Margaret Mitchelson, heiress of Mikle Bavington and daughter of Robert Mitchelson of Offerton, Durham.Their eldest son:

Cuthbert Shafto [alive 1544] of Bavington married Isabell Bertram [d. by 1544], co-heiress of Brenkley and Benwell, and daughter of Roger Bertram.Their eldest son:

John Shafto [d. by 1565], Esq., of Bavington, Brenkley, and Benwell.He was one of the supervisors of the 1554 will of Martin Turpyn of Langley, who was the second husband of his sister Agnes Shafto.John Shafto married Anne Ellerker, daughter of Sir William Ellerker [d. 1526] of Dunstanburgh and Warkworth Castles, Sheriff of Northumberland 1522 & 1525, by his wife Dame Marjory (Percy) Widdrington [alive 1537].The children of John Shafto and Anne Ellerker:

a. John Shafto of Bavington
In 1565 he and his mother both had debts to his uncle Sir Robert Ellerker of Alnwick.He was a supervisor to the 1572 will of his father's second cousin Thomas Swynburne, Esq., of Edlingham Castle, Newton, Mykle Bavington, &c.He appears to have died without issue, but there was an inventory recorded in 1583 for John Shafto, merchant, of Newcastle, but I think this might be an individual from a cadet line.

b. Edward Shafto [d. by 1593], Esq., of Mikle Bavington.
He married MARGERIE HERON [alive 1599] of Chipchase and left issue, including eldest son William Shafto, Esq., of Little Bavington and Mykle Bavington, who by his wife Frances Dalston was the father of among others:George Shafto [d. 1679], Esq., of Little Bavington, and Mary Shafto who was the wife of CUTHBERT FENWICK of Great Bavington.

c. Luke Shafto
Nothing further known.

d. William Shafto [d. 6 Oct. 1599], Esq., of Little Bavington & also land and tithes in Ponteland Parish.He requested burial in Thockrington Church.He was also one of the supervisors to the 21 Jul. 1572 will of Thomas Swynburne, Esq., of Edlingham Castle.In his own 14 Jul. 1599 will he arranged for the marriage of his daughter Margerie Shafto with Edward, son of Reynold Shafto of Thockrington, as well as providing for his nephews, the sons of Edward and Margerie (Heron) Shafto.

e. Jane Shafto

f. Mary Shafto

g. Dorothy Shafto

h. Grace Shafto

One of these daughters appears to have brought the Shafto third of the Brenkley estate in marriage by 1571 to JOHN FENWICK, Gent., of Brenkley.John Fenwick's cousin MARMADUKE FENWICK, Gent., of Kirkharle, besides holding free land and a leased farmhold in Mikle Bavington, was the guardian of Clement Shafto in 1590.Was Marmaduke married to one of these daughters as well?



MARGERIE HERON, wife of Edward Shafto of Mykle Bavington, had at least one brother and two sisters:

1. JOHN HERON [d. 1590-91], Esq., of Chipchase, husband of Margerie Grey [d. 1612-13].

2. ISABELL HERON [alive 1580], wife of JOHN FENWICK [d. 1580-81], Gent., of Walker [in Longbenton Parish], Northumberland.[Possibly the parents of John Fenwick, Gent., of Brenkley?]

3. THOMASYNE HERON [alive 1582], wife of LANCELOT THIRLWALL [d. 1582-83] of Thirlwall [in Haltwhistle Parish], Northumberland.