Thomas Hugh Sandford Esq. of Sandford, was the last
representative, in the direct male line, of an ancient and distinguished race
and his Manor at Sandford has been held by his family uninterrupted since the
Conquest. In the time of the Conqueror, it is recorded as being held by one of
his great barons, Gerard de Tornai, who appears to have granted it to Thomas de
Saundford. This founder of the family came into England with the Norman King,
and his name occurs in every known copy of the famous Roll of Battle Abbey.
The manor is thus described in the Domesday book: “The same Gerard holds
Sandford. Uluiet held it (in Saxon times) and was free. Here iii hides
geldable. The land is (sufficient) for three ox-teams. In demesne is a team
and half a team; and ii serfs, and iii villeins with i team. There is a wood which
will fatten 30 swine; and a haye. In the time of King Edward (the manor) was
worth 15s (annually): now 10s. He (Gerard) found it waste.”
From Gerard de Tornai the seignury over Sandford passed to Hamo Peverel and his
wife; and afterwards it escheated to the Crown. Like the other Tornai
forfeitures, the manor then became a tenure in capite and the tenant, whether
enfeoffed here by Gerard de Tornai himself or his son in law, Hamo Peveral, or
by Henry I, at all events derived his surname of Sandford from the place.
As we have previously stated, the family of Sandford is very ancient in Shropshire; and
it is named by the Ulster King-at-Arms, Sir Bernard Burke, in his “Landed Gentry”,
as being one of the untitled families whose claim to hereditary nobility could
scarcely be rivalled in France or Germany. The family escutcheon has more than
fifty quarterings; and the learned Eyton thinks that the arms (Quarterly, per
fesse, indented, ermine, and azure) indicate alliance with or descent from the
great house of Fitz Warin.
The name is variously spelt in the old deeds relating to the family; it is given
as Sontforde, Sonforde, Sanfort and finally Sandford. The lineage is traced in a
direct line from Thomas de Saundford, already mentioned, who held the manor
under the powerful Norman baron Gerard de Tournai. His son, Sir Thomas de
Saundford was living in the reign of Henry I, and held both Sandford and Rothal
manors as tenant in chief of the King: he was the father of Randulfus de Sontford
Dominus de Sontford and Rothale (time of King Stephen), whose son Sir Richard de
Sanford is mentioned in the Pipe Roll of 1169. His son, Sir Thomas de Sanfort,
married (8 Richard I) Amabil, daughter and co-heir of Sir Richard de Cardiff,
Seneschal to William, Earl of Gloucester. There is a rescript of Pope Innocent
III, dated at St. Peter’s, Rome, March 3rd 1214, regarding this “Thomas the
Knight”, and his complaint that “Thomas and N. Ecclesiastics have unjustly
despoiled the Chapel of Sanfort in the Diocese of Coventry of certain rents lands
and other things which the Ancestors of the same Knight have granted to the same
Chapel for the performance of good service in the same.”
This interesting document is addressed to the Abbots of the Cistercian Order and
the Prior of Rauton, who are commanded to hear and determine the complaint.
His successor, Sir Ralph de Sandford, held the manor in capite, by the service
of half a knight’s fee. He joined the barons against King John, and his
lands were confiscated and given to David de Malpas; they were, however,
restored by Henry III. He was evidently a personage of considerable importance,
for having complained to Pope Honorius III of the refusal of the Rectors of the
church of Prees to celebrate Divine service in his Chapel of Sandford, that
Pontiff promulgated a bull enjoining the Priors of Buildwas, Haughmond and
Wenlock to adjudicate upon the complaint. This deed “dated at the Lateran, the
14th of the Kalends of October, in the 3rd year of our Pontificate.” Is still extant.
The son of Sir Ralph - Sir Richard de Sandford, married Eleanor, probably
co-heir of Elkin Cadugan. (She re-married in 1251 Richard Burnell, Lord of
Langley.) His son and heir, Sir Ralph de Sandford, was in ward to Odo de Hodnet,
39 Henry III and married Alice, daughter of Wolfric de Whixall, and sister of
Sir Adam Fitz Wolfric. Of his sons were Richard the heir; William and Nicholas.
William was distinguished in the reign of Edward I and Edward II. He joined the
Earl of Lancaster in the conspiracy against Piers Gaveston, and was pardoned for
this 7 Edward II. In the 15th year of that monarch we find “William de Sondford,
Knight” witnessing an agreement between his brother “Richard Lord de Sondford
and Hugh de Say, Lord de Morton”; he is also recorded as granting to his said
brother a Fish Pond. He was knight of the shire in 1320, and in 1321 was
Commissioner of Array in Shropshire for the King. His name and Arms occur on the
roll of knights who fought at Boroughbridge, March 1322.
Nicholas is returned as “man at arms” to attend the Great Council at
Westminster, 1324.
The eldest son, Sir Richard de Sandford, married Agnes,
daughter of Hugh, and sister of Robert de Say, Lords of Moreton and Say; and in
the fifth year of Edward II we find that “Richard de Mitley came and did fealty
and acknowledged that he held of Richard Lord de Sondford Son of Ralph and Agnes
his Wife and of his heirs one Ox land with the appurtenances.” He is styled
“Lord of Sontford” Parl. Writ 9 Edward II, and died in 1327. The heir,
Richard de Sandford, fought at Cressy, 1346, and his good service is
acknowledged in letters patent under the great seal of Edward III still
preserved at Sandford. The document runs thus:-
Edward by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland. To
all his Bailiffs and faithful people to whom the present Letters shall come
Greeting. Know ye that of our special grace and for the good service which
Richard de Sandford in our war with France did to us. We have pardoned to him
the suit of our Peace which belongs to us for all homicides felonies
robberies and transgressions whatsoever by him in our Kingdom of England against
our peace perpetrated whereof indictment accusation or appeal exists and also
outlawries if any etc. - So that he may stand right in our Court if any person
would speak against him concerning the homicides felonies robberies and
transgressions aforesaid - And that the same Richard may not without our special
license withdraw from our service while we may happen to be detained this time
in parts beyond seas - In Testimony whereof etc Witness Ourself at Calais the 4th
day of September in the 20th year of our Reign of England but the 7th of our
reign of France. Under the Great Seal of England.
Richard died at Calais, 1347. His second son, Sir Richard, was one of the
bodyguard of Henry IV at the Battle of Shrewsbury, where he was slain. Nicholas
de Sandford, son and heir of Richard was Sheriff of Shropshire 9 Richard II, but
became a Lancastrian, and his whole estate was laid waste during the civil war
in the reign of Henry IV. He married Alice, daughter of William Lord Botiler of
Wemme, and in a deed “written at Wemme on Thursday in the Feast of St. George in
the 15th year of the reign of King Edward the son of King Edward”, we find
that William le Botiler granted to him “14 acres of freehold land in the Vill
de Stile.” His children were Richard de Sandford, his heir; Griffin, father of
William and Nicolas of the Lee, who was the ancestor of the Sandfords of the
Isle of Rossall, which branch of the family is represented at the present time
by Humphrey Sandford Esq. Richard de Sandford was the last who was styled “Lord
of Sandford;” he married Maude, daughter and heir of William Le Banaster,
Lord of Hadnal. He was the King’s escheator for Shropshire, 6 Henry V, and his
name appears in the list of the gentry of Shropshire, 12 Henry VI. He died 1452
and his son, John Sandford Esq. of Sandford, married, firstly, Eleanor, daughter
and heiress of William Styche. At the death of Eleanor (who died without
children), he married, secondly, Julia, sister of Sir Roger and daughter of
Robert Corbet of Moreton Corbet, Sheriff of Shropshire 1419. She remarried to
Sir Hugh Peshall, Knight Banneret, of Horsley, Co. Stafford, Sheriff 1488. Mr. Sandford
was succeeded 30 Henry VI by his only son, Richard Sandford Esq. who
swore fealty to Edward IV, in 1469, on coming of age, and had his estates
confirmed to him. He married Jane, daughter and co-heir of Humphrey Peshall of
Knightly, Co. Stafford, and had five sons and eight daughters. He died 1520, and
was succeeded by Hugh Sandford Esq. who married Jane, daughter of John Dod Esq.
of Cloverley, Salop, and at his death in 1530 left, with others, Richard, his
heir; Robert, heir to his nephew George; Jane, married to James Moreton Esq. of
Wilbrighton, from whom springs the Earl of Ducie; and Alice, married to Robert
Boughey Esq. of Whitmore, Co. Stafford. Richard Sandford married Maud, daughter
of Sir John Mainwaring of Ightfield, and died 1532, leaving George Sandford
Esq. who died without issue, having married Jane, daughter of Richard Grosvenor
of Eaton, who re-married to Sir William Hollis. Leland says “Sandford dwellith
at Sandforde, where is only his place and a parke.” His estates were in
Sandford, Acheley, Stele, Whichesall, Lynford, Weston, Longford, and Mytley;
and he was succeeded by his aforesaid uncle, Robert Sandford Esq. who married
Isabel Egerton, half-sister of Sir Thomas Bromley, lord high chancellor, and
daughter of W. Egerton of Betley. By her he left 1597, Arthur, his heir; and
Thomas, the celebrated captain of the firelocks, a royalist. He besieged and took
Hawarden Castle, 1643; and stormed Beeston Castle; being killed at the taking of
Nantwich 1643. This event is specially mentioned in Sir Thomas Fairfax’s letter
to Cromwell.
Arthur Sandford Esq. like his younger brother, was a zealous royalist, and with one
of his sons (Robert, captain in the royalist army) was made prisoner at Shrewsbury
when that town was taken 22nd February 1644. He was a benefactor (1624)
to the Library of the Shrewsbury School, where he had been a scholar. He married
Anne, daughter of Francis Kynaston of Oteley, and by her left in 1645, with
others, his heir, Francis Sandford Esq. also a celebrated royalist said by
Fuller to be “very well skilled in making warlike fortifications.” He resided
much in Ireland, and was (as shown by various letters), a most intimate friend
of the lord deputy, the first Viscount Falkland. An interesting letter is
preserved at Sandford from Arthur Sandford to this son Francis, then in Ireland,
in which he speaks of another son “Robin” who was then “a man at armes, his
grandmother hath bouth him a sword, and he hath a great desire to fit a combat
with a rebell or a thefe, all wayes provided that I stand by to see him pouder
his carcass.” Another son “Samuel”, is also mentioned in the same letter.
In 1643 Francis was constituted by Prince Rupert one of the commission to act in
Shropshire in his absence; and in 1645 he paid £40 for his ransom out of prison,
also compounded for his estates by fine of £459. He married Elizabeth,
daughter of Calcott Chambre Esq. of Williamscote, Co. Oxford, and Carnowe
Castle, Co. Wicklow, and by her left Robert, his heir; Arthur who died
unmarried, 1659; and Francis, born 1630, who became a celebrated genealogist,
and was created 16 June 1661, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms. He was author of
the Genealogical History of the Kings of England, published in 1677, and other
great works. He surrendered his patent of office in 1689, rather than proclaim
William of Orange King. He died 1693.
Robert Sandford Esq. married Anne, daughter of Peter Daniell Esq. of Tabley, Co.
Chester, MP, and left, 1672, four daughters among whom was Anne, wife of the
Hon. Henry Paget, of Beaudesert, (ancestor of the Marquessess of Anglesey); and
Thomas Sandford Esq. eventual heir, who took the oath of allegiance to the House
of Hanover, 1723. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Admiral Sir Richard Munden,
and dying 1726 was succeeded by his son Thomas Sandford Esq. who was High
Sheriff of Shropshire 1752. He married 15 October 1725, Alice, daughter of
Charles Ward, of Bradwell Hall, Co. Chester, who was brother of Michael, Bishop
of Derry, and grand uncle of the first Viscount Bangor. Mr. Sandford died 1769, and
left a son and heir the Rev. Daniel Sandford, D.C.L. of Oriel College, Oxford.
He resided much at Delville near Dublin, the residence of Dean Delany, and
married Sarah, daughter of the Rev. John Chapone (sister-in-law of Mrs. Chapone
of literary fame), by whom he had two sons - Thomas, his heir; and Daniel, who
was born at Delville, July 1766, and in 1784 entered at Christ Church, Oxford.
He was greatly distinguished for his accurate and accomplished scholarship, and
especially for the elegance of his Latinity. In 1787 he won the Christ Church
prize for Latin composition, and on February 9, 1806, became Bishop of
Edinburgh. He married 11 October 1790, Frances-Catherine, eldest daughter and
co-heir of Erskine Douglas Esq. and died 14 January 1830, leaving three sons, the
second of whom was Sir Daniel Keyte Sandford, D.C.L. Oxon, sometime M.P. for
Paisley, and Professor of Greek in the University of Glasgow. The eldest son of Sir Daniel is Sir
Francis Richard John Sandford, who was secretary to the Royal Commissioners for the International
Exhibition of 1862. The Rev. Daniel Sandford died 1770, and was succeeded by his elder son, the Rev.
Thomas Sandford, who married Armina Rebecca, eldest daughter of Dr. Kennedy, physician to George
III, and sister of Commissary-General Sir Robert Kennedy, and had Thomas Hugh his heir; John Robert,
major in the East Indian Army, and Mary, who married John Edenson Heathcote Esq. of Apedale Hall,
Co. Stafford. Mr. Sandford died 15 December 1812 and was succeeded by his son Thomas Hugh Sandford
Esq., born 1795, who married 9 December 1817, Eliza Ann, daughter of Thomas Kirkpatrick Esq.,
grandson of Sir Roger Kirkpatrick Bart., of Closeburn. This lady died 8 August 1825, leaving two
sons - the late Lord of Sandford, and his brother John George, who died 11 May 1834 - and one
daughter, Armine Eliza.
Mr. Sandford died 7 November 1822, and was succeeded by his elder son the late Thomas Hugh Sandford
Esq. of Sandford, who was born April 1820, and married firstly 29 April 1849, Alexina Nisbet,
daughter of the Hon. Charles Lindsay, brother of the Earl of Crawford, which lady died 30 August
1851. On the end October 1856, the deceased married Sarah Halsted, the second daughter of Captain
Poole of Terrick Hall, Whitchurch, amid rejoicings on a scale rarely witnessed in this part of the
country. Mr. Sandford for some years was Captain of the Whitchurch or Prees troop of the Shropshire
Yeomanry, now disbanded, and was almost venerated by the men. The deceased was in politics a
Liberal, as is well-known, and was, we believe, chairman of the Whitchurch Association, but his
state of health was such that he was precluded from taking part in the last two elections. The
interment takes place at Prees on Wednesday. For over 27 years - from the time of the death of his
father-in-law Captain Poole of Terrick Hall in 1859 - the deceased gentleman was Chairman of the
Whitchurch bench of magistrates, a position he was well fitted to occupy, having been educated for
the Bar. However simple the case, he always gave it his best attention, and rarely gave a decision
that anyone could quibble at. In points of law, he was “well up”, and rarely had to ask for advice,
and, we believe, we are correct in saying that none of his decisions have ever been appealed
against. Except when from home, he rarely missed a Petty Sessions meeting, and often attended at no
small inconvenience. Indeed. when not engaged, he would constantly ride, drive, or walk - he was a
great walker - to Whitchurch on a morning to see if he was wanted. During his long and active life
he occupied the position of High Sheriff and many other important offices, and in all county matters
was justly considered no mean authority, and his advice was ever eagerly sought. He was the owner of
considerable property, and his tenantry had a most considerate landlord, and the remissions of rent
during the past few years have been far from few. To the poor in his neighbourhood he was, in
conjunction with his estimable partner, a great friend, and they will greatly miss him. The good
that Mr. Sandford has done will never be known. He was a strong, but not bigoted churchman, and a most
liberal supporter of all the Church Institutions, also of many charitable institutions, particularly
of the Shrewsbury Eye and Ear Hospital, of which, we believe, he was a trustee. A higher principled
Christian English gentleman did not exist, and in Thomas Hugh Sandford, Shropshire has lost one of
its noblest men, a worthy bearer of that proud family motto which has been borne so many centuries
alike by gallant knights on the field of battle, and by peaceful country gentlemen in the sanctity
of home. Nec temere, nee timide - neither rashly, nor with fear.