Christopher Heveningham

VI. CHRISTOPHER HEVENINGHAM (son of Simon). He was evidently under age in 1658. He made what seems to have been an advantageous marriage, his wife being Mary, only daughter and heir of William Brooke of Elford in the County of Stafford, but as he states in the 'Case,' he dissipated her fortune in the attempt to wrest the Heveningham estates from the Simeon family. He settled at Lichfield and was certainly the 'Mr. Christopher Heveningha, Heveningham, Henningham, whose name occurs in the poll-books of that City down to 1718. But the Christopher Haveningham, Heveningham, who appears in 1721 and 1727 may be his son.

From a series of original deeds in my possession, I learn that on the 11th and 12th November, 1692, Mary Brooke, described as 'of Tamworth, co. Warwick, spinster,' mortgaged The Holms and other lands appurtenant to Elford Mills, to Samuel White of Middleton, co. Warwick, Yeoman, as security for the repayment of sixty-three Pounds on the 13th November, 1694. The documents are accompanied by an affidavit that she was unmarried and at her own disposal, and at the foot of this is wirtten :- The abovesaid, Mary bruks was maried to one. Mr. Henignham by parson bowyer at meryuale church nouember the 28th, 1692.

At the back of this paper are acknowledgments that "all Mr. Heningham's intrust" had been paid up to May, 1697.

In another deed dated 15th April, 1699, Samuel White's interest was transferred to William Lovelace of Clifton Campvile, Gent. In this, Christopher Heveningham is described as late of Elford, now of Burton upon Trent, Gent., and Mary his wife as daughter ad heir of William Brooke late of Haslour in the said County of Stafford, gent., deceased. The last deed of the series, dated 10 May, 1700 is an assignment by Isaac Hawkins of Burton upon Trent, Esquire and William Lovelace, of their interest in the property mortgaged by Christopher and Mary Heveningham. But what they now assign is not merely the Holms and other lands appurtenant to Elford Mills, but the Mills themselves with all the 'lands appertaining to them, and also all the lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever of Christopher and Mary in the parish of Elford. The Assignees were John Goldsmith of the city and county of Lichfield, milliner, and Ellinor his wife. Christopher Heveningham is described in this document as late of Burton upon Trent, now of the city of Lichfield, gent. It may also be added that in a previous document dated 12th October, 1699, to which Isaac Hawkins was a party. Mary Heveningham's father William Brooke was described as 'nephew and heir of John Brooke heretofore of Harleston in the said county of Stafford.' This description was no doubt, inserted because some of the Elford property was derived from this John, who by his Will dated 1670, and proved (in P.C.C.), 1673, bequeathed his mill and lands in Elford to his nephew William Brooke Esquire for life, remainder to William's son if any, or to a 'daughter if there was no son.'

Christopher Heveningham towards the end fo his life removed to Tenford in the parish of Cheadle. He was evidently a rolling stone, and wasted his substance in improfitable ligitation, the consequence being that probably some of his children, and certainly many of his remoter descendants, were and are in quite humble circumstances. There can be little doubt that from him have descended all subsequent Heveninghams and Henninghams of the South Staffordshire and Birmingham district.

As to the merits of his claim against Sir James Simeon it would be difficult without much further research to pronounce an opinion. Many expectant heirs have had their hopes overthrown by a Fine and Recovery, and Christopher's claim that the last Settlement of he estates had been made in the reign of James the first seems to overlook the fact that there had been a settlement on the marriage of Walter Heveningham and Mary Middlemore in 1642 and a subsequent revocation of Uses in 1652.

The Will of Christopher Heveningham dated 23rd November, 1737 which was proved at Lichfield (Diocesan Court) on the 3rd of March 1737-8 :

Christopher Heveningham of Tennford in the parish of Cheadle, Gentleman. (The religious phrases of the opening sentence are undoubtedly those of a Protestant). The Testator leaves to his son Brooke Heveningham all personal estate, and the messuage at Tenford which Testator now inhabits and which he purchased from Edward Hale of Cranidge, Cheshire, Gent., with all its appurtenances. He leaves one shilling to his son Henry Heveningham of Spade Green, Staffordshire, to his son Christopher Heveningham, and to his daugher Henrietta Maria Picken wife of William Picken of Eccleshale. He makes his loving son Brooke Heveningham Executor. Witnesses: - Edward Smith, Arthur Browne. He seals with A wheatsheaf fesswide, thereon a bird. The Inventory amounts to £25 6 11. The Testator's signature is very feeble and sprawling, and suspisciously unlike his signatures to various deeds which are extant, not only in the form of the initial C but even in the spelling of the name. It may be represented thus: - Christ o pher Heavingham.

As the children mentioned in his Will correspond exactly with these mentioned in the 'Case,' it may be assumed that Christopher and Mary Heveningham left only the surviving issue given below, but there had been another son also named Brooke, who was Baptized at St. Mary's, Lichfield on 11 Jan., 1700, and buried in June, 1703. Christopher's wife evidently the 'Mary wife of Christo Heningham' buried at St. Mary's Lichfield on the 4th April, 1721. The notes supplied by Grazebook to the 1663-4 Visitation of Staffordshire seem to show that the correct surname of her family was 'Brookes.' The pedigree entered does not attempt to prove any connection with the Brookes of Norton, Cheshire, yet the Arms of that well-known family (Argent a cross engrailed per pale sable and gules) were allowed to the ******** Brookes, differenced merely by an annulet gules in the dexter quarter.