This mail message was sent quite some time ago to the list but it was in MIME format and rejected. I cleaned it up somewhat and thought that you all might be interested. I have not checked to see if Gerald is a list member, but I am cc'ing him. Perhaps he can be coaxed into joining :) Regards, Mike Dunton <><~~~~<><~~~~<><~~~~<><~~~~<><~~~~ The Dunton Family Homesite http://www.web-ster.com/miked list manager for dutton-l@rootsweb.com & dunton-l@rootsweb.com <><~~~~<><~~~~<><~~~~<><~~~~<><~~~~ ==================================== > Reply-To: "Gerald Dutton" <gerry@dutton.force9.co.uk> > From: "Gerald Dutton" <gerry@dutton.force9.co.uk> > Subject: Greetings from another Dutton > I came across your web site the other day and found it most interesting. > My name is Gerald Dutton and I was born in Runcorn , Cheshire, UK, = > which is only a couple of miles from the village of Dutton. I've always = > meant to research my own roots but never really had the time to do it. = > One of these days perhaps ! > However I do have in my possession an old book which contains an = > interesting item about the Dutton family and I thought you might be = > interested. > The Book is called "The Modern Universal British Traveller" and it was = > published in London by L Cooke, No17, at Shakespeare's Head, = > Pater-noster-Row". The book does not a publication date but it would = > appear from the text that it was published about 1760. The book itself = > is a general guide to the Great Britain of the mid eighteenth century. > The particular passage about Dutton reads as below. Forgive the = > confusing spelling, but I have typed the passages verbatim as they = > appear in the book. It was the custom in the period when the book was = > written to use the character " f " instead of an " s " when the s = > appeared at the begining or in the middle of a word. When it appeared at = > the end of a word it was a normal " s " > "About two miles from Weaverham, on the oppofite bank of the river, is = > Dutton, at prefent a very poor mean place, but remarkable for being the = > feat of the Duttons, who were lineally defcended from Hugh Lupus, earl = > of Chefter. One of thefe having raifed a band of pipers, fidlers and = > other muficians, marched at their head againft the Welch, who had = > befieged the earl of Chefter at Rhudlan Caftle, and obilged them to = > retreat. The earl, in confideration of fo fignal a fervice, granted the = > Duttons many privilages, one of which was, that the reprefentative of = > the family fhould have an authority over all pipers, fidlers, harpers = > and muficians, within the County Palatine of Chefhire" > =20 > A further passage concerns Hugh Lupus and explains the nature of a = > "County Palatine". It reads:- > "when William the Conqueror fubduded it (Chester) he gave it to his = > nephew Hugh Lupus, whom he created earl of Chefter; and his heirs for = > ever were to hold it as freely by the fword, as he (William) did the = > Kingdom of England; that is, he was to exercife as abfolute an authority = > over the lives and fortunes of the inhabitants of the county, as the = > king did over the reft of his Kingdom." > In practice the line of the earls of Chester died out and the earldom = > eventually reverted to the Crown. However it was such an important = > earldom that the title was then given to the heir to the throne, the = > Prince of Wales. The present Earl of Chester is in fact Prince Charles. > A further passage concerns Halton, near Dutton. I well remember visiting = > Halton myself as a child when we would walk there for a Sunday afternoon = > treat. At the time I was totally unaware of its history and had no idea = > that there was any connection with my name. The passage reads as = > follows:- > "Halton, or Haulton, is a fmall, but agreeable town, fituated on a lofty = > hill, from whence there is an extenfive and delightful profpect. It was = > once remarkable for its caftle, a great part (of)which ftill remains. = > This caftle was built by Hugh Lupus, earl of Chefter, who gave it, with = > the barony, to one Nigel (Dutton, brother of Odard Dutton), a Norman, on = > condition of him becoming conftable of Chefter. From his pofterity it = > came to the crown, and is a confiderable member of the Duchy of = > Lancafter, which maintains a large jurifdiction in the country round it = > by the name of Halton Fee, or the Honour of Halton, having a court of = > record, prifon and other privileges, within itfelf. The officers of the = > Duchy of Lancafter hold an annual court in the caftle, at Michaelmas, to = > determine all matters within the jurifdiction of the fee. There is alfo = > a prifon, for felons; but if, on their trials, the court finds them = > capitally guilty, they are fent to Chefter to recieve fentance. > The town has a weekly market on Saturday; and is diftant from London 185 = > miles." > I hope you find the above of some interest, > My best Regards, > Gerald Dutton.