Shafto family
Encyclopedia
The Ffolliot family were established by the 14th century at Shafto Crag, Northumberland
and adopted the alternative surname of Shafto.
was built.
William Shafto was High Sheriff of Northumberland
in 1646 as was his son John in 1675. In 1716 both were attainted for their part in the Jacobite uprising of 1715 and the Bavington estate was forfeited to the Crown. William's nephew George Shafto (later George Shafto Devalal) married a daughter of George Delaval of North Dissington
and sister of Admiral George Delaval
. The latter bought the sequestered estate and restored it to the Shaftos.
George Shafto Delaval was High Sheriff
in 1740 and Member of Parliament
for Northumberland
1757/74. He was succeeded by his nephew Sir Cuthbert Shafto, High Sheriff in 1795 and later by his son Robert.
Robert Ingram Shafto held Bavington in 1835 but the male line became extinct and the estate passed to cousins in a junior branch of the family of Beamish Hall
, Co Durham.
When Slingsby Duncombe Shafto sold Beamish in 1949 that branch of the family moved to Bavington. The estate was later sold by the family in 1994.
). His second son, Mark was Sheriff of Newcastle in 1575 and Mayor in 1578. A third son Ninian, married a daughter of Henry Brandling (see Brandling of Newcastle
).
Ninian's son, Robert Shafto was Sheriff of Newcastle in 1607. He bequeathed Benwell Towers to his eldest son also Robert (see later). Roberts younger brother Mark Shafto (1601-1659), was a Grays Inn barrister, and was appointed Recorder of Newcastle in 1648. In 1652 he purchased the Whitworth Hall
estate in Co Durham.
His son Robert Shafto (1634-1705), was also a barrister and was appointed Recorder of Newcastle in 1660. He was knighted in 1670 and was appointed Sergeant at law in 1674. He married Catherine Widdrington.Their son Mark Shafto was High Sheriff of County Durham in 1709. Two of their sons represented Durham City in Parliament. Robert
from 1712 until his death in 1729 and John 1729-1742.
John's son Robert Shafto
(1732-1797) was a politician known famously as 'Bobby Shafto'. He married heiress Anne Duncombe. He was Member of Parliament for County Durham
1760-1768 and later for Downton, Wiltshire
1780-90. He was succeeded by his son Robert Eden Duncombe Shafto
(1776-1848) at Whitworth and as Member for County Durham 1804-08. He added the additional surname of Eden following his marriage to Catherine Eden (see Eden Baronets
).
Their son Robert Duncombe Shafto
(1796-1888), was member for North Durham
1847-68. His son Robert Charles died in 1909 without a male heir. His daughter Rosa married her cousin Robert Charles Duncombe Shafto (b1879), second son of Rev Slingsby Duncombe Shafto of Beamish. The Hall at Whitworth was severely damaged by fire in 1872 and apart from the library wing, was demolished and replaced with a new house about 1900. The estate was sold by the family in 1981.
in 1653 and 1668. He was followed by three further Roberts all of whom served as High Sheriff in 1695, 1717 and 1756 respectively. The last of these was the subject of an oil by Sir Joshua Reynolds. He outlived his only son. His daughter Camilla married William Adair of Newton Hall but the estate was sold to William Ord of Fenham
in 1756/63.
to the family. On his death in 1848 the estate passed to his third son Thomas Duncombe Shafto and then on the latters death in 1885 to his nephew Slingsby Arthur Duncombe Shafto (1844-1904)(son of Rev Slingsby Duncombe Shafto).
The estate later passed to Slingsby Duncombe Shafto, High Sheriff of Durham in 1908,who sold it in 1949 and moved to Bavington Hall
and adopted the alternative surname of Shafto.
Shafto of Little Bavington, Northumberland
In the 15th century William Shafto married the heiress of Bavington and Bavington became the family seat. The medieval house was replaced in the 17th century when Bavington HallBavington Hall
Bavington Hall is a 17th-century privately owned country house at Little Bavington in Northumberland. It is a Grade II* listed building.A tower house was recorded on the site in 1415, but this was replaced in the late 17th century by the Shafto family.The Shaftos acquired the estate when William...
was built.
William Shafto was High Sheriff of Northumberland
High Sheriff of Northumberland
This is a list of the High Sheriffs of the English county of Northumberland.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post...
in 1646 as was his son John in 1675. In 1716 both were attainted for their part in the Jacobite uprising of 1715 and the Bavington estate was forfeited to the Crown. William's nephew George Shafto (later George Shafto Devalal) married a daughter of George Delaval of North Dissington
Dissington Hall
Dissington Hall is a privately owned country mansion, now a wedding and conference centre, situated on the banks of the River Pont at North Dissington, Ponteland, Northumberland. It is a Grade II* listed building....
and sister of Admiral George Delaval
George Delaval
-Family:He was of a junior branch of the Delaval family, the son of George Delaval of North Dissington, Northumberland. His father left him a legacy of only £100 but he went on to make a large fortune from his naval and diplomatic career.-Naval career:...
. The latter bought the sequestered estate and restored it to the Shaftos.
George Shafto Delaval was High Sheriff
High Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
in 1740 and Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Northumberland
Northumberland (UK Parliament constituency)
Northumberland, was a County constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832. It was represented by two Members of Parliament.The constituency was split into two...
1757/74. He was succeeded by his nephew Sir Cuthbert Shafto, High Sheriff in 1795 and later by his son Robert.
Robert Ingram Shafto held Bavington in 1835 but the male line became extinct and the estate passed to cousins in a junior branch of the family of Beamish Hall
Beamish Hall
Beamish Hall is a mid 18th century country house, now converted to a hotel, which stands in of grounds near the town of Stanley, County Durham. It is a Grade II* listed building.-History:The history of Beamish Hall can be traced back to the Norman Conquest...
, Co Durham.
When Slingsby Duncombe Shafto sold Beamish in 1949 that branch of the family moved to Bavington. The estate was later sold by the family in 1994.
Shafto of Newcastle and Whitworth
Mark Shafto, third son of Edward Shafto of Bavington, married Margaret Riddell of Newcastle. He became a merchant in that city and served as its Mayor in 1548. His first son, Edward a merchant adventurer, married Isabel Ogle (see Ogle familyOgle family
The Ogle family was prominent landed gentry in Northumberland from before the time of the Norman Conquest.-Origins:The earliest appearances of the family name was written Hoggel, Oggehill, Ogille and Oghill....
). His second son, Mark was Sheriff of Newcastle in 1575 and Mayor in 1578. A third son Ninian, married a daughter of Henry Brandling (see Brandling of Newcastle
Brandling of Newcastle
The Brandlings of Newcastle were a wealthy family of merchants and land and coal owners in Newcastle upon Tyne and Northumberland.-Early Brandlings:...
).
Ninian's son, Robert Shafto was Sheriff of Newcastle in 1607. He bequeathed Benwell Towers to his eldest son also Robert (see later). Roberts younger brother Mark Shafto (1601-1659), was a Grays Inn barrister, and was appointed Recorder of Newcastle in 1648. In 1652 he purchased the Whitworth Hall
Whitworth Hall, County Durham
Whitworth Hall which stands in Whitworth Hall Country Park, near Spennymoor, County Durham England, is a country house, formerly the home of the Shafto family and now a hotel. It is a listed building....
estate in Co Durham.
His son Robert Shafto (1634-1705), was also a barrister and was appointed Recorder of Newcastle in 1660. He was knighted in 1670 and was appointed Sergeant at law in 1674. He married Catherine Widdrington.Their son Mark Shafto was High Sheriff of County Durham in 1709. Two of their sons represented Durham City in Parliament. Robert
Robert Shafto (1690-1729)
Robert Shafto , of Whitworth Hall, Spennymoor, County Durham, was a British politician. He was Member of Parliament for the City of Durham from 1712 to 1713 and from 1727 to 1729.-Sources:...
from 1712 until his death in 1729 and John 1729-1742.
John's son Robert Shafto
Bobby Shafto
Robert Shafto was an 18th-century British Member of Parliament , who was the likeliest subject of a famous North East English folk song and nursery rhyme "Bobby Shafto's Gone to Sea".-Biography:...
(1732-1797) was a politician known famously as 'Bobby Shafto'. He married heiress Anne Duncombe. He was Member of Parliament for County Durham
County Durham (UK Parliament constituency)
Durham or County Durham was a county constituency in northern England, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1675 until 1832.- History :...
1760-1768 and later for Downton, Wiltshire
Downton (UK Parliament constituency)
Downton was a parliamentary borough in Wiltshire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1295 until 1832, when it was abolished by the Great Reform Act.-History:...
1780-90. He was succeeded by his son Robert Eden Duncombe Shafto
Robert Eden Duncombe Shafto
Robert Eden Duncombe Shafto of Whitworth Hall, Spennymoor, County Durham, was a British politician. He was Member of Parliament for the City of Durham from 1804 to 1806. He served as High Sheriff of County Durham in 1842.-Sources:...
(1776-1848) at Whitworth and as Member for County Durham 1804-08. He added the additional surname of Eden following his marriage to Catherine Eden (see Eden Baronets
Eden Baronets
The Eden Baronetcy, of West Auckland in the County of Durham, and the Eden Baronetcy, of Maryland in North America, are two titles in the Baronetage of England and Baronetage of Great Britain respectively that have been united under a single holder since 1844.The Eden Baronetcy of West Auckland was...
).
Their son Robert Duncombe Shafto
Robert Duncombe Shafto
Robert Duncombe Shafto was a British Liberal Party politician. He was Member of Parliament for North Durham from 1847 to 1868.- External links :...
(1796-1888), was member for North Durham
North Durham (UK Parliament constituency)
North Durham is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
1847-68. His son Robert Charles died in 1909 without a male heir. His daughter Rosa married her cousin Robert Charles Duncombe Shafto (b1879), second son of Rev Slingsby Duncombe Shafto of Beamish. The Hall at Whitworth was severely damaged by fire in 1872 and apart from the library wing, was demolished and replaced with a new house about 1900. The estate was sold by the family in 1981.
Shafto of Benwell
Robert Shafto, Sheriff of Newcastle in 1607 bequeathed his estate at Benwell Towers to his son Robert Shafto (d1670). He was High Sheriff of NorthumberlandHigh Sheriff of Northumberland
This is a list of the High Sheriffs of the English county of Northumberland.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post...
in 1653 and 1668. He was followed by three further Roberts all of whom served as High Sheriff in 1695, 1717 and 1756 respectively. The last of these was the subject of an oil by Sir Joshua Reynolds. He outlived his only son. His daughter Camilla married William Adair of Newton Hall but the estate was sold to William Ord of Fenham
William Ord of Fenham
William Ord was an English land and mine owner.He was the second son of Thomas Ord of Fenham and Anne Bacon and inherited the family estates at Fenham and Newminster Abbey on the death of his elder brother John, in 1745....
in 1756/63.
Shafto of Beamish
The marriage of Robert Eden Duncombe Shafto of Whitworth to Catherine Eden brought the estate at Beamish HallBeamish Hall
Beamish Hall is a mid 18th century country house, now converted to a hotel, which stands in of grounds near the town of Stanley, County Durham. It is a Grade II* listed building.-History:The history of Beamish Hall can be traced back to the Norman Conquest...
to the family. On his death in 1848 the estate passed to his third son Thomas Duncombe Shafto and then on the latters death in 1885 to his nephew Slingsby Arthur Duncombe Shafto (1844-1904)(son of Rev Slingsby Duncombe Shafto).
The estate later passed to Slingsby Duncombe Shafto, High Sheriff of Durham in 1908,who sold it in 1949 and moved to Bavington Hall