Thursday, October 14, 2021

The Romance of the Charley Family - Cover, Contents and Introduction

 N.B. I have replaced the crest on the book with this information below (the crest is the same but rather blurred on the original book since the website listed does mention this book). This is a most interesting website that this town has created. There is a section in this book that makes me look at my Charley family as likely Huguenot and not originally Chorley. But having retyped the entire book I have decided to share it anyway.

 

The Romance of the Charley Family
By Irene H. Charley
1970

http://lisburn.com/books/historical_society/volume9/volume9-2.html
 

The author would like to thank innumerable members of the family, friends and official sources for help given her in compiling this story of the Charley family.

Particularly her thanks are due to Lt. Colonel W. R. H. Charley of Northern Ireland for arranging publication and Mr. Gordon Charley of Eastcote, Pinner, Middlesex for much help in checking and editing the manuscript.



 

The Romance of the Charley Family
Contents


                        Foreword                                       Page   4       
                
Chapter    1    The Charleys in Medieval Days     Page   5    
                
Chapter    2    The Charleys in the 15th Century    Page   7    
                
Chapter    3    The Charleys in the 16th Century    Page   8    
                
Chapter    4    The Charleys in the 17th Century    Page 11    
                
Chapter    5    The Charleys in the 18th Century    Page 16    
                
Chapter    6    Chorley Hall is acquired by Abraham Crompton – an extract from the Tale of Beatrix Potter by Margaret Lane    Page 20    
                
Chapter    7    The Charleys of Northern Ireland    Page 23    
                
Chapter    8    The Charleys of Blakeney, Gloucestershire    Page 31    
                
Chapter    9    The Charleys of Birmingham    Page 36    
                
Chapter    10    The Charleys of North Devon    Page 40   
                
Chapter    11    The Charleys of Australia    Page 44   
                
Chapter    12    The Charleys of Coventry    Page 53   
                
Chapter    13    The Charleys of Jamaica    Page 54   
                
Chapter    14    The Charleys of U.S.A. and Canada    Page 55   



NOTE: The facts recounted in Chapters 1-5 are taken from a book by John Wilson, entitled “The Chorleys of Chorley Hall, an attempt at a family history.” Published by Sherratt and Hughes, Manchester, in 1907.
 

Appendix    I    The Chorley Family – from ‘Fishers Drawing-Room Scrap Book’    Page 57
            
Appendix    II    Richard Charley’s Farewell – from ‘Verses and Notes’ by John Wilson   Page 59
            
Appendix    III    The Death of Mrs. Chorley    Page 63
            
Appendix    IV    Extracts from ‘Memories of Her Childhood’ by Letitia Maria Charley    Page 63
            
Appendix    V-VII    Genealogical Tables    Page 69
            
Appendix    VIII    BLG of 1 extract ‘Charleys of Seymour Hill’    Page 72
            
Appendix    IX-XII    U.S.A. Genealogical Tables    Page 78


The Romance of the Charley Family

Foreword

The story of the Charley family has been unfolded through fragments of family lore which have come to light as the result of interesting research made since the year 1932. Some of it is written in the first person for reasons of convenience, and acknowledgment is made to the wide circle of friends and relations and to sources of official material which have been consulted, show how wide is the interest in the subject.

As a child I remember my grandfather George Charley of Longhope, Gloucestershire relating to me that one of his ancestors, a Charley, landed in a boat at Berkeley, Gloucestershire with a wife and child and a pack on his back. He was not without money but his arrival was shrouded in mystery and certain dangers had attended the journey. He presented his credentials to the castle where the Lord Fitzharding was Lord of the Manor. He was not given hospitality immediately but his record apparently justified his reception and a welcome was given to the family. They lived awhile in the castle. Later the man became a farmer on the estate.

My grandfather said the family had come over from Ireland because of religious persecution and distress through the potato famines. This same story has been confirmed by Mrs. Harvey, daughter of Emma Charley of Blakeney, who was a sister of grandfather George Charley, and by my Auntie Bessie Charley. Mrs. Harvey added that a personal service had been rendered to the family of Fitzharding and was why this Charley was welcomed at the castle.

This romantic story I never forgot but although other enquiries were made among the family nothing further could be discovered.

In 1932 I was the guest speaker at the annual meeting of the Lancashire County Nursing Association at Preston, Lancashire, and Lord Derby the present, was in the chair. He was at this time a very old man, but in conversation referred to my name. Half way through the meeting he had to leave but asked his secretary to discuss my name with her. During tea she told me of a book “The Chorley’s of Chorley Hall” by John Wilson published in 1907, and then out of print. With the help of Canon Porteous of Chorley, a copy was discovered in a book shop in Chorley and much of the early story I shall tell is found in its pages. The Chorleys of Chorley are referred to as “one of the most respected and honoured of the county families in Lancashire.” The reader of these notes is asked to bear in mind that it was Lord Derby of Knowsley Hall, near Liverpool, who led me into this fascinating story and as the facts are told it will be seen that the Derbys have figured many times in subsequent family history.
 

November 1969                                                                                                      Irene H. Charley


No comments:

Post a Comment