Mark Shafto

High Sheriff, County Durham, 1709

Sir Robert Shafto of Whitworth, baptised 13 May 1634, barrister of Gray's Inn; Recorder of Newcastle 1660; Knighted at Whitehall 26 June 1670; Sergeant-at-law 1674; buried 25 May 1705 at St. Nicholas' Church, Newcastle [Memorial Inscription MI] married Catherine Widdrington, daughter and co-heir of Sir Thomas Widdrington of Cheeseburn Grange, Northumberland; married on 18 July 1664 at St. Pancras [Old Church], Co. Middlesex; buried at St. John's Newcastle 2 September 1676

Shafto's of Newcastle and Whitworth Mark Shafto, third son of Edward Shafto of Bavington, married Margaret Riddell of Newcastle. He became a merchant in that city and served as its Mayor in 1548. His first son, Edward a merchant adventurer, married Isabel Ogle (see Ogle family). His second son, Mark was Sheriff of Newcastle in 1575 and Mayor in 1578. A third son Ninian, married a daughter of Henry Brandling (see Brandling of Newcastle).

Ninian's son, Robert Shafto was Sheriff of Newcastle in 1607. He bequeathed Benwell Towers to his eldest son also Robert (see later). Roberts younger brother Mark Shafto (1601-1659), was a Gray's Inn barrister, and was appointed Recorder of Newcastle in 1648. In 1652 he purchased the Whitworth Hall estate in County Durham. Whitworth Hall, Stanner's Lane, Spennymoor, County Durham DL16 7QX 54.707, -1.633

His son Robert Shafto (1634-1705), was also a barrister and was appointed Recorder of Newcastle in 1660. He was knighted in 1670 and was appointed Sergeant at law in 1674. He married Catherine Widdrington. Their son Mark Shafto was High Sheriff of County Durham in 1709. Two of their sons represented Durham City in Parliament. Robert from 1712 until his death in 1729 and John 1729–1742.

John's son Robert Shafto (1732-1797) was a politician known famously as 'Bobby Shafto'. He married heiress Anne Duncombe. He was Member of Parliament for County Durham 1760-1768 and later for Downton, Wiltshire 1780–90. He was succeeded by his son Robert Eden Duncombe Shafto (1776-1848) at Whitworth and as Member for County Durham 1804–08. He added the additional surname of Eden following his marriage to Catherine Eden (see Eden baronets).

Their son Robert Duncombe Shafto (1796-1888), was member for North Durham 1847–68. His son Robert Charles died in 1909 without a male heir. His daughter Rosa married her cousin Robert Charles Duncombe Shafto (b1879), second son of Rev Slingsby Duncombe Shafto of Beamish. The Hall at Whitworth was severely damaged by fire in 1872 and apart from the library wing, was demolished and replaced with a new house about 1900. The estate was sold by the family in 1981.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shafto_family