Venables family

It was from the line of the Earls of Blois that Gilbert was descended. As the youngest son he was given the fiefdom of Venables on the eastern frontiers, at sometime before 1050, and took the name Gilbert de Venables - or, in Latin, Gislebertus Venator, Gilbert the Hunter. But, with a modest fiefdom it was possible that his future prospects lay across the Channel. Gilbert came over to England with the Conqueror whose daughter Adela was his sister-in-law. King Stephen, who reigned 1135-1154, was Gilbert's nephew.

Shortly after the conquest the dignity of Baron of Kinderton was conferred on Gilbert de Venables by Hugh Lupus,his kinsman. Annexed to the dignity were the territorial possessions of Eccleston, Alpraham, Tarporley, Wettenhall, Hartford, Lymme, High Leigh, Wincham, More, Over Peover, Rostherne, Hope, Newbold, Astbury, Brereton, Kinderton, Davenport, Witton, and Blakenhall. The Venables family produced a race of warriors; Sir Roger Venables fought on the side of King Henry III during the barons wars, his son Sir William distinguished himself in the wars of King Edward I. Sir Hugh, grandson of Sir William, was a commander under the Black Prince, Sir Hugh’s grandson and namesake was constable of Cheshire, and acquired great renown in the wars against the Scots; his son Richard was slain at Shrewsbury on the side of Mortimer. Sir Hugh great grandson of Sir Richard, was slain at Blore-Heath, in 1459 dying without issue male, the manor and barony of Kinderton passed to his co-heiress, who married into the families of Bostock, and Cotton.

Venables arms

• A1. Gilbert de Venables of Kinderton, lvd:1066/1086;  ==>  Counts of Blois
  • B1. William de Venables of Kinderton,
    • C1. Gilbert de Venables of Kinderton, m. Marjery de Hatton;  ==>  Hatton family
      • D1. Sir William de Venables of Kinderton;
        • E1. Hugh de Venables of Kinderton, d:1249, m. Alice de Oxton;
          • F1. Roger de Venables of Kinderton, d:1249, m. Alice Peninton;
            • G1. Amy Venables, m. Sir Hugh de Hatton;  <==  Hatton family
            • G2. Sir William de Venables, d:1292, m. Margaret Dutton;  ==>  Dutton family
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  • H1. Sir Hugh de Venables, Sheriff of Cheshire, d:1310, m. Agatha de Vernon;  ==>  Vernon family
    • I1. Sir Hugh de Venables, d:1368, m. Katherine Houghton;
      • J1. Joan Venables, m. Sir Thomas de Lathom;
        • K1. Isabel Lathom, m. Sir John de Stanley;  <==  Stanley family
        • K2. Margaret Lathom, m. Nicolas Harington;  <==  Harington family
      • J2. Hugh Venables, m. Margery Cotton;
        • K1. Eva Venables, m. Sir Thomas Fulleshurst;  <==  Fulleshurst family
        • K2. Margery Venables, lvd:1393, m. Randle Mainwaring;  <==  Mainwaring family
        • K3. William Venables, Constable of Chester, m. Blanche;
          • L1. Thomas Venables of Golborne, m. Margaret Stanley;
            • M1. William Venables, m. Petronell Coversonell;
              • N1. Thomas Venables, d:1513 Flodden, m. Cecily Stanley;  ==>  Stanley
                • O1. William Venables, d:1544, m. Elenor Cotton;
                  • P1. Thomas Venables, d:1580, m. Maud Needham;
                    • Q1. Elinor Venables, m. Henry Mainwaring;  <==  Mainwaring family