Cressey Named Notables

 

(Any word/ name that 'Highlights' on mouse rollover - click for Profile) 

Cressey Coat-of-Arms

     Roger de Cressey I  William de Cressey I 1201-1232   

Roger de Cressey II 1235-1243

     Sir William de Cressey II 1240-1311   Sir Roger de Cressey III 1278-1314

     William de Cressey III 1291-1335   Sir Hugh de Cressey II 1314-1346   

Rev Fr John Cressey 1400   Sir Hugh Cressy 1575   

Rev Hugh Paulinus Serenus Cressy 1605   Richard Cressey 1632

The name of Cressey (there are some 20+ variations on the spelling during the past 1200 years) can be traced to the early 10th Century.   My first reference to the Cressey origins begins at Adelaide de Crecy born at Gournay-sur-Marne, France.   Then appears Elizabeth deCrecy,  probably born in France about c. 961. There is a record of her having married Bouchard de Montmorency born c.957. (Source Genserve) 

    
However the main journey begins through the identification of a prominent family 'The Lords of Hodsock'.   This historical family journey commences about 1066AD when the Normans of French origin from Normandy, led by William I, landed and won their victory over the Saxons at Hastings. 

     It would appear that from the time of Doomsday, The Hodsock Estate was occupied through Bronze Age and Roman times.   It was farmed by the Saxon, Ulsi.   Ulsi was the pre-Conquest owner of Hodsock under the Norman overlord Roger de Busli of Tickhill Castle.   Roger de Busli was granted massive holdings of land by William the Conqueror.  According to the Doomsday Book onwards there appears to be a comprehensive record of the owners of the  Hodsock Estate.   Much of the archive is deposited in Nottingham University library.  

      Hod_sock/Hod_0001.jpg(c)trevor cresseyHod_sock/Hod_0006.jpg (c)www.trevorcressey.com

     Then came Torald de Lizours, who gained this land from Roger de Busli (Bush).   Not much is known about Torald, save that he was thought worthy to witness the foundation deed of 1088, by which Roger de Bush founded Blyth Priory.  Blyth’s 900 year old Norman church is all that remains of the Benedictine priory founded there in 1088.  The estate of Hodsock had passed to the Cressey Family by the mid 12th century.  Hodsock came to be owned by Roger de Cresci in the time of Henry II.  The Cressy family were to stay at Hodsock for 9 generations and were a powerful family.    Then followed the families of Clifton and Mellish and the present day owner of the land, Andrew Buchanan.  

Hod_sock/Hod_0009.jpg(c)trevor cressey.

     It is probable the families of Cressey and Torald de Lizours were related by marriage.   In the mid 12th century Roger de Cressey I became the successor to the Lizours Family Estate,  and became the then Lord of Hodsock.  The Cressy's built a moated manor house of Hodsock about 1250, for it is known that two kings stayed there. 

     The Cressy family became great landed proprietors by the time of  Henry II (1154-1189), for, in addition to holding Hodsock, they held land across the shires of Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.  The family ruled at Hodsock for nine generations. William de Cressy I rebelled against King John, who was residing at Hodsock December 1215 and January 1216. Edward I was also there in 1280, and again in 1291.  In 1297  William Cressy II was called to arms for military service in Scotland.   The Cressy's also built St. John's hospital for lepers in Blyth. 

Hod_sock/Hod_0011.jpg(c)trevor cressey.

    During the reign of Henry IV the male line of the Cressy family appears to fail, Katherine Cressy, sister of Hugh became heir to her brother.  She married Sir John Clifton (died 1403).    The Cliftons acquired the Hodsock estate.   The Cliftons who now owned Hodsock were always in the thick of national and local affairs.   Most of them were Justices of the Peace and High Sheriffs.   One was a 'Night of the Body' to Richard III.   They also served Henry VII after the Wars of the Roses. Hodsock was their secondary residence so its fortunes waxed and waned.   At a time of prosperity at the end of the 15th century.    Their tenure endured for about 350 years or thirteen generations.

   

     In 1491 the Will of Sir Gervase Clifton lists possessions from his house at Hodsock, including wall hangings which would indicate a prosperous establishment and Religious Masses were commissioned at Clifton church for the residents of Hodsock in perpetuity.  A 1662 description talks of a 'fine mansion' although at the end of the Civil War the family had been heavily fined and from then on never used Hodsock, which declined to the status of a farmhouse.

  Hod_sock/Hod_0014.jpg(c)trevor cressey.

      In the year 1765, (Time period George III) Sir Gervase Clifton sold the estate of Hodsock to the Mellish family, then seated at Blyth.   The Mellishs were merchants in Stepney, Surrey, Lincoln and Doncaster, and had purchased Blyth Hall estate from the Sanderson family in 1635.   After buying Hodsock their holdings of land amounted to some 20,000 acres. The estate passed to William Mellish, MP for Retford.   

     His son, Charles Mellish, was Recorder of Newark and it was he who built the beautiful  bridge still known as New Bridge, between Blyth and Oldcotes, built 30+ miles of local roads at his own expense and planted some 400 acres of woodland.  He died in 1796. 

    Joseph his eldest son was disinherited for extravagance and gambling whilst at University.   At the same time he benefited by becoming the British Consul in Palermo.   Later he settled in Germany, became a friend of the poet Goethe, married a German Baroness and probably had 6 children for they are named in his Will.   

     Colonel Henry Francis Mellish was Charles' heir, his youngest son,  who was in the Prince Regent's circle lost his inheritance through gambling, eventually losing the Blyth Estate in 1806.   His horses had won the St. Leger in 1804 and 1805.  He was ADC to General Ferguson in the Peninsular War and from there he wrote a valuable series of letters to Hodsock where his sister Anne Chambers (nee Mellish) was living.  Colonel Henry had been unable to gamble away Hodsock for the ownership of Hodsock had been bestowed on his sister.  

     Mrs Chambers began to rebuild the house, employing the 'Gothic Revivalist' Ambrose Poynter on the south wing in 1829-33. The terrace also dates from this time and was considered to be a garden 'in the Italian style'.

      Both the sons of Mrs Chambers'  died young, there is a memorial to this effect in Blyth church, therefore the Hodsock Estate passed to her cousin William Leigh Mellish, who had married Margaret b.c. 1820, daughter of Sir Samuel Cunard of the famous shipping line.   Margaret was widowed early and with her four children, (none of whom married),  rebuilt the rest of the house in 1874, employing the architect George Devy.    

  Mellish William Leigh 37 Head  Marylebone, Middlesex Hodsock Priory, Hodsock, Nottinghamshire
  Mellish Margaret Ann 31 Wife Halifax, N S Hodsock Priory, Hodsock, Nottinghamshire
  Mellish Agnes 12 Daughter  Marylebone, Middlesex Hodsock Priory, Hodsock, Nottinghamshire
  Mellish William Chambus 7M Son Hodsock, Nottinghamshire Hodsock Priory, Hodsock, Nottinghamshire
  Heam Perry 50 -Butler Stralton, Norfolk Hodsock Priory, Hodsock, Nottinghamshire
  Moberby Henry 26 -Footman Gainsbro, Lincolnshire Hodsock Priory, Hodsock, Nottinghamshire
  Pewtrip Frederick 36 -Grr -, Worcestershire Hodsock Priory, Hodsock, Nottinghamshire
  Wilding James 18 -Footman Kingston, Surrey Hodsock Priory, Hodsock, Nottinghamshire
  Polmer Deborah 29 -House Keeper Braywick, Berkshire Hodsock Priory, Hodsock, Nottinghamshire
  Thompson Ann 31 -Nurse Maid Cottingham, Yorkshire Hodsock Priory, Hodsock, Nottinghamshire
  Hazelwood Ann 21 -Nurse Maid Doncaster, Yorkshire Hodsock Priory, Hodsock, Nottinghamshire
  Chevanx Henrietta 23 -Lodge Maid -, Switzerland Hodsock Priory, Hodsock, Nottinghamshire
  Rice Elizabeth 26 -Laundress Maid Egmanton, Nottinghamshire Hodsock Priory, Hodsock, Nottinghamshire
  Cooling Mary A 23 -House Maid Retford, Nottinghamshire Hodsock Priory, Hodsock, Nottinghamshire

Census 1851 source HO107/2122/308

At he census of 1861 the family were shown as:

    

  Mellish William Leigh 47 Head Farmer 600 Acres Employing 5 Boys & Landed Proprietor Magistrate & ? Marylebone, Middlesex The Priory, Blyth, Nottinghamshire
  Mellish Margaret A 41 Wife Halifax, N S The Priory, Blyth, Nottinghamshire
  Mellish Agnes 12 Daughter Scholar Marylebone, Middlesex The Priory, Blyth, Nottinghamshire
  Mellish Henry 4 Son Scholar Richmond, Surrey The Priory, Blyth, Nottinghamshire
  Mellish Evelyn Frances 2 Daughter London, Middlesex The Priory, Blyth, Nottinghamshire
  Mellish George Samuel 2M Son London, Middlesex The Priory, Blyth, Nottinghamshire
  Mellish George 46 Brother Barister At Law & Queens Council Tudenham, Norfolk The Priory, Blyth, Nottinghamshire
  Buchanan Edward 16 Nephew Scholar Petersham, Surrey The Priory, Blyth, Nottinghamshire
  Jacob Frederica L 24 Boarder Governess Bridge End Wales, - The Priory, Blyth, Nottinghamshire
  Moverley Henry 36 Servant Butler Gainsboro, Lincolnshire The Priory, Blyth, Nottinghamshire
  Taylor William 21 Servant Footman Great Marlow, Buckinghamshire The Priory, Blyth, Nottinghamshire

Census 1861 source rg9/2420/46

At he census of 1891 the family were shown as:

  Mellish Margaret A 71 Head Living On Own Means Novia Scotia  Hodsock Priory, Carlton
  Mellish Agnes 42 Daughter Living On Own Means -, London Hodsock Priory, Carlton
  Mellish Henry 34 Son Living On Own Means Richmond, Surrey Hodsock Priory, Carlton
  Mellish Evelyn F 32 Daughter Living On Own Means -, London Hodsock Priory, Carlton
  Allen Ralph E 45 Nephew Living On Own Means Novia Scotia, - Hodsock Priory, Carlton
  Snow Walter B 37 Servant Butler Domestic Servant York, Yorkshire Hodsock Priory, Carlton
  Ward Ernest F 20 Servant Foot Man Domestic Servant Oxford, Oxfordshire Hodsock Priory, Carlton
  Tissington George 24 Servant Groom Domestic Servant Carlton In Linderick, Nottinghamshire Hodsock Priory, Carlton
  Simpson Elizabeth 43 Servant Ladies Maid Domestic Servant Stockton, Durham Hodsock Priory, Carlton
  Wanderlock Agnes L 30 Servant Ladies Maid Domestic Servant -, Germany Hodsock Priory, Carlton
  Smith Sarah Elizabeth 31 Servant Cook Domestic Servant Breadsall, Derbyshire Hodsock Priory, Carlton

Census 1891 source rg12/2645

At the census of 1901 the family were shown as:

 

  Mellish Margaret 81 Head Living On Own Means Nova Scotia, Hodsock Priory, Carlton
  Mellish Agnes 52 Daughter Paddington, London Hodsock Priory, Carlton
  Mellish Henry 44 Son J R Local Major Volunteers Richmond, Surrey Hodsock Priory, Carlton
  Mellish Evelyn F 42 Daughter Living On Own Means St George Stan Square, London Hodsock Priory, Carlton
  White William Thomas W 73 Visitor ?? Carlton In Lindrick, Nottinghamshire Hodsock Priory, Carlton
  Louis Philip G 35 Servant Butcher Domestic Paddington, London Hodsock Priory, Carlton
  Walter Lawrence 21 Servant Groom Domestic Thryburg, Yorkshire Hodsock Priory, Carlton
  Wilson Alfred F 19 Servant Footman Domestic Newton, Montgomeryshire Hodsock Priory, Carlton
  Booth Annie 30 Servant Cook Domestic South Wingfield, Derbyshire Hodsock Priory, Carlton
  Balfour Isabella 37 Servant Ladys Maid Domestic -, Scotland Hodsock Priory, Carlton
  Bray Anna 34 Servant Ladys Maid Domestic Tristin, Suffolk Hodsock Priory, Carlton

Census 1901 source rg13/3127/29

In 1937 the estate passed to Mrs Mayhew, ( nee Buchanan), grand-daughter of William Leigh Mellish's sister, Frances, who had married Sir Andrew Buchanan, 1st Baronet, of Craigend, Stirlingshire.  Sir Andrew was a British Ambassador to many European cities, which included Vienna, Sophia, The Hague, Copenhagen, Berlin and St. Petersburg. (His youngest son, Sir  George, was also Ambassador at St. Petersburg at the time of the Revolution in 1917, he was the last Ambassador to the Czars).  Mrs Mayhew and her brother, Sir Charles Buchanan, 4th Baronet, had spent much of their childhood at Hodsock.

    The Mayhews rented the whole property to the Dixon family and did not move to Hodsock themselves until 1942, then sharing the house with the Women's Land Army for the duration of the War with the gardens given over to vegetable growing. 

     In 1945 it was obvious that maintenance and repairs to the estate had fallen well behind and debts were mounting, land was sold along with many of the house contents to pay off debts.

     The present owner, Sir Andrew Buchanan, born in Scotland in 1937 the 5th Baronet, is a nephew of Mrs. Mayhew, who bought out her remaining life interest in Hodsock Estate on his marriage in 1966.   The land is not sufficient to sustain the house and garden since the endowments and contents went elsewhere, so that outside interests have had to be developed. 

    
Sir Andrew Buchanan was appointed: Her Majesty the Queen's personal representative in Nottinghamshire as Lord Lieutenant.   He is Chairman of the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee for the appointment of Magistrates, has close connections with the Churches, the two Universities, and colleges and schools as well as commerce, industry, the law, music and the arts. 

      He and his wife Belinda have 4 children, a grand-daughter and 3 grandsons.  Lady Buchanan was a JP in Worksop for 12 years and a Chairperson of Blyth Parish Council.   A member of the Lotteries Charities Board and of the Council of the University of Nottingham.

     
Hodsock Estate is situated at OSGR SK611854 approx four miles NE of Worksop.

 

Cressey Family Historical Data

Roll of Honour

    

 

<Click Back on your Browser to return to last viewed page>

        

Cave-kids with Clan 2000 - A Family History Site maintained by Shona Klien Material Copyright © 2002

                 Last update was : December 28, 2009

All photos on this site belong to somebody who is not you so please don't use them without consent.   Some photos Copyright Shona Klien.  Some photographs courtesy of Hull Local Studies Library and aeservices.co.uk

 (Sources and acknowledgements to : University of London Institute of Historical Research, The University of Nottingham and The Thoroton Society)

Shona Klien acknowledges any registered trademarks that may have been used in the construction of this site The following are also acknowledged for their contributions.   Hull Council Cemeteries Department.   London Institute of Historical Records.  Hull University, Hull Central Library.  Norfolk Records Office, PRO and associated sites.  Ministry of Defence, Army and Naval Museums, London.   Records at Netley Hospital.  Church of Latter Day Saints.

Cave-kids with Clan 2000 The Universal Network of Family Genealogy