Preface
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The amount of information thus brought together suggested to Mr. Middlemore the idea that a more extended and systematic inquiry amongst the public records, and other sources of information, would result in showing how the various branches of the family were connected one with another. In consequence he asked the present writer to carry out the necessary inquiries and ultimately to give the result a permanent form by editing the material so collected and printing it in the shape of a family history, as a fitting memorial of his ancestors and kindred. That result is now in the reader's hands, and it is for him to say how far and how adequately Mr. Middlemore's intentions have been carried out.
In compiling this history every care has been taken by the writer to insure accuracy, though those accustomed to genealogical inquiry will appreciate the difficulty there is in avoiding error when dealing with the numberless minute facts comprised in books such as the present. Nothing, however, has been taken for granted, and every link in the pedigrees has been carefully tested. Not only the older pedigrees entered by the heralds of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, but even that one lastly recorded has undergone renewed and independent investigation by the present writer.
More extended inquiries would doubtless have resulted in identifying various individuals whose exact position is still uncertain, and in supplying fuller information than that we have about others. But completeness in a family pedigree has never yet been obtained, and the genealogist, however high an ideal of completeness he places in front of him, must rest content with a result falling far short of it. Fortunately, in the present history, the position of the family and the infrequency of the distinctive surname, enable us in a far greater proportion than is usual to identify the various names which occur in our records. It is believed that in the present volume are noted all Middlemores living before the reign of our late queen whose names appear in the various documents which have been consulted. It is only necessary to add that short particulars of those individuals and families to whom no position could be allotted in the narrative, are included in one or other of the appendices.
Whatever shortcomings and errors may be found in the present book, future inquirers, as more information becomes available, will, it is hoped, find it an easy task to correct and supplement what is here written.
No mention of the Middlemores earlier than the fourteenth century has come to light during the investigations which have been made, and the vague tradition of an origin dating back to the far off age of William the Norman seems to be the mere surmise of a comparatively modern period, first noted, it is believed, in the pages of Hutton. Yet there is nothing improbable in the tradition, for the Middlemores, in the remote time of the third Edward, held an honourable position in Warwickshire.
The principal authorities for the various statements made are given in the marginal references, which are printed in red ink, though, in cases where the source of knowledge is obvious, as parish registers, it has been considered needless to encumber the margin. It is believed that the references thus given will enable the reader to test the authority for every link in the chain, and also nearly every fact given.
As regards the notes respecting the various families conconnected with the Middlemores, the ordinary printed sources have, as a rule, been relied upon, though in some instances, as with the family of van Amerongen and some others, special inquiries have been made.
For the sake of simplicity and ease in reference, an Arabic number has been assigned to each Middlemore who is separately described either as the head of a family, or as being in possession of family estates. These are usually given larger type, and it may be well to note here that the use of larger type does not imply that the individuals so described are therefore to be regarded as of greater importance than those whose record appears in small type. Those Middlemores so described will be found with Roman numerals under their parents' names.
The key pedigrees are designed to furnish a bird's-eye view of each branch, and give only particulars sufficient to identify each individual. By means of the Arabic numerals it will be easy to find in the text the full particulars of each individual and his immediate family. At the side of each key pedigree will be found Roman numerals, which indicate the remoteness of each generation from the remote stockfather John Middlemore.
On behalf of Mr. Middlemore and myself it is only right to thankfully acknowledge the assistance which has been rendered by many willing helpers. Without such help neither this nor any other family history could be written.
The services of Mr. W. F. Carter have already been alluded to, and he has moreover perused the proof sheets as they passed through the press, an assistance the more valuable since he is possessed of great local knowledge of the history of Birmingham and its neighbourhood.
In addition to the thanks already accorded to Sir Albert Woods, the writer further desires to note his own personal indebtedness to him for unrestricted use of the Middlemore evidences preserved in Garter's office, and for inspection of the various pedigrees recorded in the books of Heralds' College.
Lord Hawkesbury, who is descended from the Middlemores of Edgbaston, very kindly supplied information relating to the Shuckburghs and Saviles, and their connection with the Middlemores, and, further, has been at the trouble of perusing a large part of the work in proof form.
Lord Aldenham generously placed his collections relating to the Pilkington family at the writer's disposal, some of the results of which are seen in the tabular pedigree of the Pilkingtons.
Acknowledgment is also due to Sir Benjamin Stone, M.P., who lent the various Middlemore deeds which are preserved in his library. They proved to be of considerable interest.
Sir Owen Roberts kindly sent extracts from the books of the Clothworkers Company relating to Samuel Middlemore, his son, John Middlemore, and John Middlemore, of Grantham.
To Mr. A. W. Gibbon, of York, the reader is indebted for pointing out the existence of a monument in Grantham church which showed the descent of the Grantham Middlemores from those of Haselwell.
Miss F. M. Middlemore, of Liverpool, supplied much information relating to her branch of the family, descending from Robert Middlemore, of Walsall.
Others whose names should be mentioned as rendering help in various ways are:
Rev. A. M. Y. Baylay, vicar of Thurgarton.
Mr. W. B. Bickley.
Mr. C. G. O. Bridgeman.
Mr. James Roberts Brown.
Mr. G. E. Cokayne, Clarenceux King of Arms.
Mr. T. C. Colyer-Fergusson.
Rev. H. Cooper, vicar of Bunny.
Rev. W. Fox, vicar of Stanton by Dale.
Mr. Carl Duignan, of Walsall.
Mr. E. H. W. Dunkin.
Rev. F. R. Ellis, vicar of Much Wenlock.
Right Rev. Abbot Gasquet, O.S.B.
Mr. Joseph Hill, of Perry Bar.
Mr. Richard Denison Jones.
Rev. A. R. Maddison, Canon of Lincoln.
Mr. W. Harold Maxwell.
Rev. T. M. Middlemore Whithard.
Mr. W. J. C. Moens.
The late Rev F. de Paravicini, rector of Avening.
Mr. W. F. Plowden, of Plowden.
Mrs. Robinson, of Grimley Vicarage.
Right Hon. Sir Horace Rumbold, Bart., G.C.B.
Mr. John Russell, M.A., of Nottingham.
Mr. Richard Savage, of Shakespeare's Birthplace.
Rev. W. Symonds, vicar of Great Sherston, Wilts.
Mr. Ralph Thickness.
Mr. James Ward, of Nottingham.
Rev. G. Williams, M.R., St. Peter's, Birmingham.
Gen. the Hon. G. Wrottesley.
It is right also to add that valuable professional assistance in searching records has been rendered by Miss Emma Walford, and especially by Miss Jessie Wright, on whom devolved the task of searching Chancery proceedings, Close Rolls, the early de Banco Rolls, P.C.C. Wills and Inquisitions, etc.
In the country Mr. W. Deller helped at Lichfield Probate Registry, Mr. G. Cooper at Worcester, and Mr. H. Y. J. Taylor at Gloucester.
The illustrations of arms were drawn by Miss Cordelia Phillimore and by Mr. G. W. Eve.
124, CHANCERY LANE.
Whitsuntide, I901.