This family (of very great antiquity in the county of Kent) was anciently seated at Romney Marsh, where there are lands now called Sidley's and Sidley's Marsh; they built afterwards, temp. EDWARD III. a mansion house at Scadbury, in Southfleet, in the same county. Philpot, in his Villare Cantiarum, takes notice that their arms were in the old hall there, and the date 1337.

JOHN SIDLEY, or SEDLEY, (as the name has been frequently written) auditor of the Exchequer to King HENRY VII. lord of the manor of Southfleet, and also of Mortimer, in Kent, m. first, Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of Roger Jenks, of London; secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of John Cotton, esq. of HampstallRidware, in the county of Stafford; and thirdly, Agnes, daughter and heir of John Wyborne, esq. of Hakewell, in Kent, but left issue by the second only, viz.

PHILPOT says that this manor went from the Mortimers to the Englefields of Berks, and continued with them until the end of HENRY VII. when it was alienated to John Sidley.

By Mary, his wife, daughter and co-heir of Robert Waters, of Lenham, in Kent. Of this lady it is recorded, that at his decease she bad no less than 367 lawful descendants then living: 16 of her own body (by her only husband, Honywood), 114 grand-children, 228 in the third generation, and 9 in the fourth. See Ward's lives of the Professors of Gresham College, under the account of Sir John Croke, whose son, William, m. Dorothy, one of her daughters. The following singular story is related of the same remarkable woman: falling at one time in a low

SIR ISAAC SIDLEY, bart. of Great Chart.

Frances, m. to Thomas Hyde, esq.

Elizabeth, m. to John Culpeper, esq. of Wigshill,

in Kent.

He was s. by his eldest son,

JOHN SIDLEY, esq. of Southfleet, who was high she riff of Kent 8 ELIZABETH. He m. Anne, daughter of John Culpeper, esq. of Ailesford, in the same county, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his heir. JOHN, d. s. p.

Richard, lord of the manor of Northall, or Northhaw, in Hertfordshire, temp. JAMES I. which estate he purchased from Lord Russell. He m. Elizabeth, daughter of John Darrell, esq. of Calehill, founder's kin at All Souls College, Oxford, and left a son and heir,

WILLIAM SIDLEY, who married first, Anne, daughter and co-heir of Henry Botler, esq. of London, and that lady dying in 1647, he m. secondly, Mary, daughter of Sir Robert Honeywood, of Pett, in Charing, Kent. By the former he had issue,

ANNE SIDLEY, who m. John Nourse, esq. of Woodeaton, in Oxfordshire, and d. 30th August, 1669, leaving

MARTHA NOURSE, m. to Robert Pitt, M. D. of Blandford, Dorsetshire, and her daughter,

MARTHA PITT, m. Sir George Brydges Skipwith, bart. ELIZABETH NOURSE, M. to Charles Harris, esq. barrister-at-law, and her daughter,

ELIZABETH HARRIS, m. James Bourchier, LL.D. king's professor of law at Oxford, and had issue,

Thomas Bourchier. ELIZABETH BOURCHIER, m. to Joseph Smith, LL.D. of Oxford, and had issue, HARRIS SMITH, admitted to Winchester College, as founder's kin, about the year 1772, in right of his descent from John Sidley, and his wife, Anne Culpeper. Mary Smith, married to George Anson Nutt, esq. SUSANNA NOURSE, m. to Dr. Thomas Craddock, rector of Slembridge, Gloucestershire.

MARY NOURSE, m. to Dutton Seaman, esq. of Rotherby, in Leicestershire. Her only son, Dutton Seaman, was comptroller of the city of London.

desponding state of mind, she was impressed with the idea that she should be damned; and exclaiming, in a paroxysm of the malady, "I shall be damned as sure as that glass is broken." She flung thrice with violence a glass which she happened to have in her hand on a inarble slab, by which she was standing, but the glass rebounded each time, and did not break. The story adds, that the circumstance wrought a complete cure, and had more effect in composing her mind than the reasoning of all the great divines whom she had consulted; she is painted in the act of flinging the glass, according to the story. She died at Markeshall, in Essex, 11th May, 1620, in the ninety-third year of her age, and forty-fourth of her widowhood, and was buried at Royton, the place of her birth.

Mr. Sidley purchased a moiety of the estate of Nurstede, and was succeeded at his decease by his eldest son,

1. WILLIAM SIDLEY, esq. of Aylesford, who purchased the other moiety of Nurstede, and was created a BARONET 29th June, 1611. Sir William m. Eliza. beth, daughter and co-heir of Stephen Darrell, esq. of Spelmander in Kent (widow of Henry, Lord Abergavenny). He was founder of the Sidleian lecture of natural philosophy at Oxford, in 1621, and he resided at the Friars at Rilesford, "the fair habitation," saith Doctor Holland, in his additions to Camden, " of Sir William Sidley, painfully and expensively studious of the common good of his country, as both his endowed house for the poor, and the bridge there, with the common voice do testify." He was s. by his son,

II. SIR JOHN SIDLEY, sheriff of Kent, 19 JAMES I. who m. Elizabeth, daughter and heir of the celebrated Sir Henry Savile, founder of the astronomy professorship at Oxford (was warden of Merton College, in that university, and provost of Eton), and had issue,

HENRY, his heir.

WILLIAM, Successor to his brother.

CHARLES, who inherited as fifth baronet.

He died 13th August, 1638, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

III. SIR HENRY SIDLEY, who d. unm. in 1641, and was s. by his brother,

IV. SIR WILLIAM SIDLEY. Of this gentleman, Anthony Wood states, "that when he was a young man, he lived very high in London, with his friend, Robert Dormer, esq. of Rousham, in Oxfordshire (whose wife was Anne, one of the daughters of Sir Charles Cotterell, master of the ceremonies), and they endeavoured who should outvie each other in gallantry and in splendid coaches." He m. Lady Jane Savage, daughter of John, Earl Rivers, and relict of George, Lord Chandos, but by her ladyship (who m. after his decease George Pitt, esq. of Strathfieldsay) had no issue. He died in 1656, and was succeeded by his brother,

V. SIR CHARLES SIDLEY, b. in 1639, distinguished for his wit and gallantry. As a critic, too, he was so much admired, that he became a kind of oracle among the poets, and no performance was approved or condemned until Sir Charles Sedley had given judgment. King Charles used to say, that nature had given him a patent to be Apollo's viceroy. After a long course of profligacy and extravagance, Sir Charles began to apply himself to politics, and sat in several parliaments for the borough of Romney. He took an active part in promoting the Revolution, which at first excited astonishment, as he had received many favours from JAMES 11. but those had been cancelled by an intrigue which the monarch carried on with his daughter, afterwards created COUNTESS OF DORCHESTER. This elevation by no means gratified Sir Charles, and on being asked why he appeared so warm for the revolution, he is stated to have replied, " from a principle of gratitude, for since his majesty has made my daughter a countess, it is fit I should do all I can to make his daughter a queen." He married Catherine, third daughter of John, Earl Rivers, and had by her an only daughter,

CATHERINE, mistress to JAMES II. by whom she was created COUNTESS OF DORCHESTER for life. After the dissolution of her connexion with the king, she married Sir David Colyear, Earl of Portmore.

Sir Charles married secondly, (whilst his first wife was living,) Catherine Ayscough, of Yorkshire, by whom he had a son, SIR CHARLES SIDLEY, knt. who

ELIZABETH, M. in November, 1739, Sir Robert Burdett, bart. of Bramcote, and was grandmother of the present (1838) SIR FRANCIS BURDETT. Amongst other legacies, Sir Charles left £400 to a schoolmaster at Wymondham and Southfleet, and £100 each to Merton and Magdalen Colleges, Oxford. He d. in 1727, and was s. by his son,

II. SIR CHARLES SIDLEY, who m. in 1718, Elizabeth, daughter of William Frith, esq. and acquired thereby the manors of Hayford and Harleigh. This gentleman exchanged his family estate of South and Northfleet, with the Rev. Thomas Sanderson, for the estate of Kirkby Beler, in Leicestershire. He sate in parliament for the town of Nottingham, in 1747, and dying 23rd August, 1778, left an only daughter and heir, Elizabeth-Rebecca-Anue, m. to Henry, third Lord Vernon. At Sir Charles's decease, the BARONETCY became EXTINCT.

Arms-As SIDLEY OF AILESFORD.

SIDLEY, OF GREAT CHART. CREATED 14th Sept. 1621.-Extinct

Lineage.

WILLIAM SIDLEY, esq. of Southfleet, sheriff of Kent in 1597, m. Anne, daughter of Roger Grove, of London, and had three sons, viz.

JOHN (Sir), from whom the Baronets of Ailesford. Robert, m. Elizabeth, daughter of George Darrell, esq. of Calehill.

Nicholas.

The yougest son,

NICHOLAS SIDLEY, esq. m. Jane, daughter of William Isaac, esq. and left a son and heir,

1. SIR ISAAC SIDLEY, of Great Chart, in Kent, who received the honour of knighthood, and was created a BARONET 14th September, 1621. He m. Miss Holditch, daughter and heir of - Holditch, esq. of Ranworth and Foulden, in Norfolk, and left at his decease, about 1627 (with two daughters, one the wife of Robert Houghton, esq. of Shelton, in Norfolk, the other, Elizabeth, the wife of Sir Thomas Wiseman, knt. of Riven Hall, in Essex), a son and heir,

II. SIR JOHN SIDLEY. This gentleman having sold the estates of Ranworth and Foulden, purchased St. Cleres from Robert Moulton, esq." who (says Philpot) hath upon the old foundation erected that magnificent pile, which for grandeur, elegance, and ma

Sir John d. in November, 1673, and was s. by his elder son,

III. SIR ISAAC SIDLEY, who married twice; by his first wife he had a daughter, who m. first, Sir Charles Houghton, knt. of Kent; and secondly, Sir George Prettyman, bart. of Lodington, in Leicestershire. Sir Isaac Sidley m. secondly, Cecily, daughter of Marsh, esq. and by her (who m. secondly, Leonard Peckham, esq. of Yaldham) left, with two daughters, Mary, m. to George Tomlyn, of St. Cleres, and Frances, an only son, his successor,

IV. SIR CHARLES SIDLEY, who d. unm. in October, 1702, and was s. by his uncle,

V. SIR JOHN SIDLEY, who m. Mary, daughter of Nichols, of Keirising, in Kent, and by her, who d. in 1701, had issue,

SIR JOHN SILVESTER, M.D. physician to the army in the Low Countries, 1744, knighted 1774. Hem. 1739, Catherine-Aletta-Everardina, daughter of Colonel Daulnis, of the Dutch service, and d. 2nd November, 1789, leaving issue by her (who d. 26th March, 1772) one son and one daughter, viz.

JOHN, his heir.

Mary Rachael, b. 1741, m. April, 1772, Philip Car-
teret, esq. rear-admiral R. N. and d. May, 1815,
having had issue by him (who d. July, 1796)
one son and two daughters, viz.
PHILIP CARTERET.

Elizabeth-Mary, m. 10th March, 1818, to Wil-
liam Symonds, esq.

Caroline Carteret, m. to Cole St. George, esq. Sir John Silvester's son and heir,

1. JOHN SILVESTER, esq. was born September, 1745, bred to the bar, and elected in 1803, recorder of the city of London, which office he continued to fill till his death. He m. December, 1793, Harriet, daughter of the Rev. Owen Davies, of Southampton, and widow of the Rev. John-Miles Speed, of Eling, Hants. He was created a BARONET 20th May, 1815, and 11th February, 1822, had a second patent with remainder, in default of issue male of his body, to his nephew, PhiSir John d. without issue, 30th lip Carteret, esq. March, 1822, when the first creation EXPIRED, but in the second he was succeeded, pursuant to the limitation of the patent, by his nephew,

II. SIR PHILIP CARTERET, C. B. captain R. N. who assumed in consequence the additional surname and arms of SILVESTER. He died s. p. in 1828, when the second patent also became EXTINCT.

Arms Arg. a sea-lion ducally crowned az.

Lineage.

JOHN SIMEON, esq. of Baldwin's Brightwell, in the county of Oxford, which seat had been the abode of his ancestors for some generations before, m. Anne, daughter and coheir of Anthony Mollins, esq. and had (with three daughters*) two surviving sons, viz. GEORGE,who both received the honour of knighthood.

JOHN,

He d. 15th JAMES 1. possessed (beside 'several other estates) of the manor of Baldwin's Brightwell, Minigrove, Brittwell prior, Chilworth, and Stoke Talmage, as appears by the Inquisition, post mortem, taken at Watlington, 28th May, 16 JAMES I. He was s. by his elder son,

SIR GEORGE SIMEON, knt. who m. Mary, daughter of the Hon. George Vaux, eldest son (by his second wife) of William, third Lord Vaux of Harrowden, and sister and co-heir of William, 5th lord, and by that lady had two daughters, namely,

ANNE, who is presumed to have died unm.

ELIZABETH, married to Edmund Butler, Viscount
Mountgarrett.t

He m. secondly, Margaret, daughter of Sir Richard Molyneux, bart. of Sefton, in the county of Lancaster, and was s. at his decease by the youngest, and only surviving son, of five,

1. JAMES SIMEON, esq. of Chilworth, in the county of Oxford, who was created a BARONET by King CHARLES II. 18th October, 1677. Sir James married Bridget, daughter, and at length sole heir of Walter Heveningham, esq. of Aston, in the county of Staf ford, and had issue,

EDWARD, his successor.

James, d. abroad, in May, 1714.

MARGARET, m. to Humphrey Weld, esq. of Lulworth Castle, in the county of Dorset, and had, with two elder sons, who died before their father, and two daughters (see BURKE's Commoners, vol. i. page 198),

EDWARD, who inherited Lulworth Castle, and continued the family.

THOMAS, who assumed the surname of SI

MEON.

Sir James d. about 1709, and was s. by his son,

II. SIR EDWARD SIMEON, who d. unm. 22nd December, aged eighty-seven, when the BARONETCY EXPIRED, and the estates devolved upon his nephew,

THOMAS WELD, who in consequence assumed the surname of SIMEON. He m. Mary, daughter of Thomas Fitzherbert, esq. of Swinnerton, and had an only child,

MARY SIMEON, who took the veil at Bruges. Arms-Party per pale sable and or, a pale counterchanged, upon every one of the first a trefoil of the second. Le Neve blazons the arms borne by Sir James Simeon thus: Per fesse, or and sable, a pale counterchanged, and three trefoils slipped ppr.; and states, that Edmund Symons, of Pyrton, in the county of Oxford, bore, Per fesse, or and sable, a pale and three trefoils counterchanged: referring to Visit. Oxon. c. 29, fo. 78.

+ The descendant of this lady, GEORGE MOSTYN, esq. has recently petitioned parliament, claiming through her the BARONY of VAUX OF HARROW DEN. (See BURKE'S Peerage, Appendix," Peerages before Parliament.")

This JOHN MINSHULL, esq. sheriff of Chester in 1702, and mayor in 1711, (who was son of Randal Minshull, and grandson of another Randal Minshull, by Elizabeth, his wife, daughter of William Leycester, esq. mayor of Chester in 1609,) descended from the Minshulls, of Cheshire, an ancient and ennobled family allied to the chief houses of the palatinate, the Vernons, the Breretons, the Cholmondeleys, the Fittons, the Egertons, &c. By Mary Weever, his wife, he left at his decease, in 1729, a son, ALEXANDER MINSHULL, esq. of the Inner Temple, who . Sarah Alvarez, and died in 1740, leaving a son,

of Leicester, where it was seated at a very early period.

SIR WILLIAM SKEFFINGTON, knt. was appointed by King HENRY VIII. in 1529, his majesty's commissioner to Ireland, where he arrived in the August of that year, with instructions to find out means to restrain the exactions of the soldiers, to call a parliament, and to provide that the possessions of the clergy might be subject to bear their part of the public expense. Sir William was, subsequently, a very distinguished political personage in Ireland, and d. in the government of that kingdom, as lord deputy, in December, 1535. His great-grandson,

JOHN SKEFFINGTON, esq. of Fisherwick, in the county of Stafford, m. Alice, seventh daughter of Sir Thomas Cave, bart. of Stamford, in Northamptonshire, and had a son and successor,

1. SIR WILLIAM SKEFFINGTON, knt. of Fisherwick, sheriff of Staffordshire, 43 ELIZABETH and 21 JAMES I. who was created a BARONET in 1627. He m. Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Dering, esq. and had issue, JOHN, his heir.

RICHARD, successor to his nephew.

Elizabeth, m. to Michael Biddulph, esq. of Elm-
hurst, in Staffordshire, and was mother of Sir
Theophilus Biddulph, bart.

Cicely, m. to Edward Mytton, esq. of Weston, in
Staffordshire.

Mary, m. to Richard Pyott, esq. of Strethay, in
Staffordshire.

Hesther, m. to Sir William Bowyer, knt.
Lettice, m. to John Bayly, esq. of Hoddesdon,
Herts.

Alice, m. to Alexander Walthall, esq. of Wistas-
ton, in Cheshire, and had a son, Richard, his
heir, ancestor of the present JAMES WALTHALL
HAMMOND, esq. of Wistaston, and several daugh-
ters, of whom the second, Mary, m. Robert
Weever, esq. of Poole, in Cheshire, and was
mother of Mary Weever, the wife of John Min-
shull, esq. sheriff of Chester in 1702.

Sir William was s. at his decease by his son,

II. SIR JOHN SKEFFINGTON, of Fisherwick, sheriff of Staffordshire in 1638, who m. Cicely, sister and coheir of Sir John Skeffington, of Skeffington, and had a son,

III. SIR WILLIAM SKEFFINGTON, of Fisherwick, who died unm. soon after his father, and was s. by his uncle,

IV. SIR RICHARD SKEFFINGTON, of Fisherwick, who m. Anne, youngest daughter of Sir John Newdigate, knt. of Arbury, in the county of Warwick, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir. Richard,

William,

who d. unm.

JOHN MINSHULL, esq. clerk of the Nisi Prins and marshal of the court of King's Bench, who died in 1785, and was s. by his son,

JOHN MINSHULL, esq. who died at Highgate in 1822, leaving by Mary, his wife, daughter of Captain Thomas Staunton, two daughters, viz.

ANN, m. to Lynde Walter, esq. of Boston, North
America, and has, with three daughters, one son,
Lynde Minshull Walter.

MARY, m. to Dominick Mazzinghi, esq. and has one
son, Thomas-John, of the Inner Temple, and
two daughters, Juliet-Mary, wife of the Rev. J. W.
Worthington, and Cassandra-Ann.

Sir Richard d. in 1647, and was s. by his son,

V. SIR JOHN SKEFFINGTON, of Fisherwick, who m. Mary, only daughter and heiress of SIR JOHN CLOT WORTHY, a very active personage in promoting the restoration of King CHARLES II. who was elevated to the peerage of Ireland, 21st November, 1660, as Baron of Loughneagh, and VISCOUNT MASSAREENE, with remainder, in default of male issue, to his son-in-law, the said Sir John Skeffington, and his issue male, by his said wife, in default of which, to the heirs general of his lordship. Sir John Skeffington inherited accordingly in 1665, and became second Viscount Massareene. By the heiress of Clotworthy he had issue, CLOTWORTHY, his heir.

Mary, m. to Sir Charles Houghton, bart.
Margaret, m. to Sir George St. George.
Frances.

His lordship died in 1695, and was succeeded by his only son,

VI. SIR CLOTWORTHY SKEFFINGTON, third Viscount Massareene, who m. Rachael, daughter of Sir Edward Hungerford, K. B. of Farley Castle, in Somersetshire, and by her, who died 2nd February, 1731, had issue,

CLOTWORTHY, his heir.

Hale, d. unm.

John, of Darvock, in Antrim, d. unm. in 1741.
Jane, m. to Sir Hans Hamilton, bart.

Rachael, m. first, to Randal, fourth Earl of An-
trim; and secondly, to Robert Hawkins Mac-
gill, esq. of Gill Hall, in Downshire.
Frances Diana, d. unm.

Mary, m. to Edward Smyth, Bishop of Downe
and Connor.

This nobleman d. in 1713, and was s. by his son,

VII. SIR CLOTWORTHY SKEFFINGTON, fourth Viscount Massareene, who m. in 1713, Catharine, eldest daughter of Arthur, fourth Earl of Donegal, and had issue,

CLOTWORTHY, his heir.

Arthur, captain in the army, d. s. p. in 1747.
John, rector of Clonmarney.
Hungerford, M.P. for Antrim.

Hugh, a dragoon officer.

Catharine, m. to Arthur Mohun, Viscount Doneraile.

Rachael.

His lordship dying in 1738, was s. by his eldest son, VIII. SIR CLOTWORTHY SKEFFINGTON, fifth Viscount Massareene, who was created 16th July, 1756, EARL OF MASSAREENE. His lordship m. first, in 1738, Anne, eldest daughter of the Rev. Richard Daniel, Dean of Down, by whom he had no issue; and secondly, in 1754, Elizabeth, only daughter of Henry Eyre, esq. of Rowter, in the county of Derby, by whom he had several children, viz.

1. CLOTWORTHY.

11. HENRY.

III. William, d. s. p. 1814.

Iv. John, d. s. p.

V. CHICHESTER, fourth earl.

VI. Alexander, d. s. p.

1. Elizabeth, m. to Robert, first Earl of Leitrim. 11. Catharine, m. to Francis, first Earl of Llandaff.

He d. in 1757, and was s. by his eldest son,

IX. SIR CLOTWORTHY SKEFFINGTON, Second Earl of Massareene. This nobleman m. twice, but dying without issue in 1805, the family honours devolved upon his brother,

A. SIR HENRY SKEFFINGTON, third Earl of Massareene, who d. unm. 12th June, 1811, when the peerage descended to his brother,

XI. SIR CHICHESTER SKEFFINGTON, fourth Earl of Massareene. This nobleman married Harriet, eldest daughter of Robert, first Earl of Roden, by whom he had issue an only daughter, HARRIET, to whom descended, at his lordship's decease, in 1816, the Fis county of Massureene and the Barony of Loughneagh, while the earldom and BARONETCY EXPIRED. Her ladyship m. in 1810, Thomas Henry, VISCOUNT FERRARD, and died in 1831, leaving, with other issue, a son, John Skeffington, present VISCOUNT MASSAREENE.

Arms-Ar. three bulls' heads erased sa. armed or, for SKEFFINGTON.

This family, originally written ScHYPWYC, and denominated from a town and lordship so called in the East Riding of York, descends from

ROBERT DE ESTOTEVILLE, Baron of Cottingham, in the time of the CONQUEROR, of whom and his descendants, the feudal lords of Cottingham, Dugdale treats at great length in the Baronage. His son,

ROBERT DE ESTOTEVILLE, acquired a great inberitance with his wife, Eneburga, daughter and heir of Hugh, son of Baldrick, a great Saxon thane, and among other lands, had the lordship of Schypwye, or Skipwic. He left three sons,

ROBERT, his heir, from whom the territorial lords of Cottingham, whose male line terminated in the 17th of HENRY III.

OSMUND, who d. at Joppa, in Palestine, was ancestor of the Estotevilles, of Gressing Hall. PATRICK, of Skipwith.

The youngest son,

PATRICK DE ESTOTEVILLE, having by gift of his father, the lordship of Skipwith, his descendants took their name therefrom, in accordance with the custom of the age. He m. Beatrix, daughter and heir of Sir Pagan de Langtun, and was s. by his son,

JEFFREY DE SCHYPWITH, who m. Mariana, daughter and heir of William de Manithorp, and had two sons, REGINALD and Gerard. The elder, REGINALD, was hostage for the Lord Scales, in the barons' wars, 9th of JOHN. His son and heir,

SIR WILLIAM DE SKIPWITH, Lord of Skipwith, was living temp. HENRY III. and marrying Alice, daugh ter of Sir John Thorp, and heir of Sir William Thorp, knts. became possessed of a great estate in Lincolnshire, and was the last of the family who resided at Skipwith. His son and heir,

SIR JOHN DE SKIPWITH, living at Thorp, was sometimes styled de Thorp; he likewise possessed the manor of Beakby, in right of his mother, and having married Isabel, daughter and heir of Sir Robert de Arches, knt. of Wranby, in the same county, had also possession of that estate. He was s. by his son,

JOHN DE SKIPWITH, who resided at Beak by, and augmented his patrimony by marriage with Margaret,