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Links to various transactions to cross reference genealogical dates, names
Cheshire (/ˈtʃɛʃər/ or /ˈtʃɛʃɪər/; archaically the County Palatine of Chester;[1] abbreviated Ches.) is a ceremonial county in North West England, in the United Kingdom. The western edge of the county forms part of England's border with Wales. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester,[2] although the largest town is Warrington, which historically was in Lancashire. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow.[3] Historically the county contained the Wirral, Stockport, Sale, Altrincham and other towns. The county is bordered by Merseyside and Greater Manchester to the north, Derbyshire to the east, Staffordshire and Shropshire to the south, and Flintshire and Wrexham in Wales to the west. Cheshire is also a part of the Welsh Marches. Cheshire's name was originally derived from an early name for Chester, and was first recorded as Legeceasterscir in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles,[5] meaning the shire of the city of legions.[6] Although the name first appears in 980, it is thought that the county was created by Edward the Elder around 920.[6] In the Domesday Book, Chester was recorded as having the name Cestrescir (Chestershire), derived from the name for Chester at the time.[5] A series of changes that occurred as English itself changed, together with some simplifications and elision, resulted in the name Cheshire, as it occurs today.
Because of the historically close links with the land bordering Cheshire to the west, which became Wales, there is a history of interaction between Cheshire and Wales. The Domesday Book records Cheshire as having two complete Hundreds (Atiscross and Exestan) that later became entirely part of Wales. Additionally, another large portion of the Duddestan Hundred later became known as Maelor Saesneg when it was transferred to Wales.[7] For this and other reasons, the Welsh name for Cheshire (Swydd Gaerlleon)[8] is sometimes used within Wales and by Welsh speakers.
After the Norman conquest of 1066 by William I, dissent and resistance continued for many years after the invasion. In 1069 local resistance in Cheshire was finally put down using draconian measures as part of the Harrying of the North. The ferocity of the campaign against the Saxon populace was enough to end all future resistance. Examples were made of major landowners such as Saxon Earl Edwin of Mercia, their properties confiscated and redistributed amongst Norman barons. William I made Cheshire a county palatine and gave Gerbod the Fleming the new title of Earl of Chester. When Gerbod returned to Normandy in about 1070, the king used his absence to declare the earldom forfeit and gave the title to Hugh d'Avranches (nicknamed Hugh Lupus, or "wolf"). Due to Cheshire's strategic location on Welsh Marches, the Earl had complete autonomous powers to rule on behalf of the king in the county palatine.
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Winnington, Mainwaring, Alcock, Pigott, Grosvenor, Rixton, Danyel, Le Brette, Wirral, Modburlegh, Bulkeley, Tabbelewe, Netherton, fitzAlmeri, Bigar, Citharede families:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=133-rych_1&...
John Le Scrope, 8th Baron Le Scrope of Bolton (a collection of deeds) http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=133-rych_1&...
Plague Years in Chesire: http://books.google.com/books?id=FZVHAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA58&lpg=PA58&dq=1...
Chantrell or Chauntrell family and Dunham Massey Estate:
http://catterall.net/_JC_a/Dunham_Massey.html
Tattons: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=133-tw#0