St Michael's Church, Penkridge, Staffordshire, North-Central England, British Isles [Map]

Interior of St Michael's Church, Penkridge [Map].

St Michael's Church, Penkridge [Map]. Tomb of two Sir Edwards Littleton, father and grandfather of the first baronet, at St Michael's Church Penkridge. Lower stage: Sir Edward Littleton (d. 1610) and his wife, Margaret Devereux. Upper stage: Sir Edward (d. 1629), and his wife, Mary Fisher.

Exterior of St Michael's Church, Penkridge [Map].

In 918 a battle was fought near Penkridge. Some believe a chapel was built where the dead were buried and that chapel is now the location of St Michael's Church, Penkridge [Map].

In 958 a charter of King Edgar I of England (age 15) describes Penkridge, Staffordshire [Map] as a "famous place". St Michael's Church, Penkridge [Map] was established as a Royal Free Chapel making it a Royal Peculiar. The church was independent of the Bishop of Lichfield and, correspondingly, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

In 1086 St Michael's Church, Penkridge [Map] is described as having as being of "the King" with seven villagers and six slaves, and an annual value of 10 shillings.

On 13th September 1215 Henry de Loundres Archbishop of Dublin was appointed Dean of St Michael's Church, Penkridge [Map] by King John of England (age 48). From that time until the recently the Archbishop of Dublin has always been Dean of St Michael's Church, Penkridge [Map].

In 1280 Archbishop John Peckham (age 50) attempted to carry out a visitation of all the royal chapels that lay within the Coventry and Lichfield diocese. St Michael's Church, Penkridge [Map] refused entry as did the others at Wolverhampton, Tettenhall, Stafford, Gnosall, Tamworth and Quatford.

Patent Rolls. 30th September 1387. Insperimus and confirmation of letters patent of Robert, archbishop of Dublin, dean of the king's free chapel of St. Michael, Pencrich [Map], dated 16 July, 1380, reciting the custom of the chapel obliging the prebendaries of the prebends of St. Mary and the king to reside there in person continuously and to support the burdens of hospitality therein, and that on inquiring at the visitation thereof at this date he found that they each received but 10½d. weekly from the common rents thereof, and that the rest of the prebendaries' rents were insufficient to support the burdens as heretofore, and, as the ox that treadeth out the corn must not be muzzled, augmenting the portion of each prebendary by 3½d. a week, so as in future to be 14d. from the said common goods. By p.s.

Around 1558. St Michael's Church, Penkridge [Map]. Monument to Edward Littleton (age 53) and his two wives Helen Swynnerton and Isabel Wood. His first wife Helen Swynnerton on his right with the simpler English gabled hood, his second wife on his wife with the later, more complex, French Hood. Armorials of Littleton, Wood and Swynnerton families. Sculpted by Richard and Gabriel Royley of Burton upon Trent.

Helen Swynnerton: she was born to Humphrey Swynnerton of Swynnerton. Before 1523 Edward Littleton and she were married.

Isabel Wood: Before April 1533 Edward Littleton and she were married.

Around 1600. St Michael's Church, Penkridge [Map]. Monument to Edward Littleton of Pillaton Hall and Alice Cockayne (age 65). Sculpted by Richard and Gabriel Royley of Burton upon Trent.

Edward Littleton of Pillaton Hall: Around 1523 he was born to Edward Littleton and Helen Swynnerton at Pillaton Hall. In or before 1548 Edward Littleton of Pillaton Hall and Alice Cockayne were married. On 19th July 1574 Edward Littleton of Pillaton Hall died at Pillaton Hall.

Alice Cockayne: In 1535 she was born to Francis Cockayne and Dorothy Marrow. On 3rd November 1602 Alice Cockayne died at Penkridge, Staffordshire [Map].

On 3rd November 1602 Alice Cockayne (age 67) died at Penkridge, Staffordshire [Map]. She was buried at St Michael's Church, Penkridge [Map].

Around 1610. St Michael's Church, Penkridge [Map]. Two-tier monument to Edward Littleton of Pillaton Hall (age 62) and Margaret Devereux (age 68) and their son Edward Littleton of Pillaton Hall (age 33).

Edward Littleton of Pillaton Hall: In 1548 he was born to Edward Littleton of Pillaton Hall and Alice Cockayne. Before 8th July 1574 Edward Littleton of Pillaton Hall and Margaret Devereux were married. On 18th December 1610 Edward Littleton of Pillaton Hall died.

Margaret Devereux: In 1542 she was born to William Devereux of Merevale and Jane Scudamore. On 23rd January 1625 Margaret Devereux died at Lichfield, Staffordshire [Map].

Edward Littleton of Pillaton Hall: Around 1577 he was born to Edward Littleton of Pillaton Hall and Margaret Devereux at Pillaton Hall. On 25th July 1629 Edward Littleton of Pillaton Hall died at Pillaton Hall.

Around 1650. Monument at St Michael's Church, Penkridge [Map] to the family of Richard Drakeford whose eldest son is named Littleton. Apparently there is more of the monument at St Mary's Church Stafford [Map]

Around 1742. St Michael's Church, Penkridge [Map]. Monument to Edward Littleton 3rd Baronet.

Edward Littleton 3rd Baronet: he was born to Edward Littleton and Susannah Bidduph. In 1709 Edward Littleton 2nd Baronet died. His grandson Edward succeeded 3rd Baronet Littleton of Pillaton Hall. On 2nd January 1741 Edward Littleton 3rd Baronet died. His half first cousin Edward succeeded 4th Baronet Littleton of Pillaton Hall.

On 14th November 1816 Hyacinthe Gabrielle Roland Marchioness Wellesley (deceased) was buried at St Michael's Church, Penkridge [Map].

Around 1849. Monument at St Michael's Church, Penkridge [Map] to Hyacinthe Mary Wellesley Baroness Hatherton (age 59).

Around 1863. St Michael's Church, Penkridge [Map]. Monument to Edward John Walhouse aka Littleton 1st Baron Hatherton (age 71).

Around 1888. St Michael's Church, Penkridge [Map]. Memorial to Edward Richard Littleton 2nd Baron Hatherton (age 72) and Margaret Percy Baroness Hatherton (age 75).

Edward Richard Littleton 2nd Baron Hatherton: On 31st December 1815 he was born to Edward John Walhouse aka Littleton 1st Baron Hatherton and Hyacinthe Mary Wellesley Baroness Hatherton. In 1841 Edward Richard Littleton 2nd Baron Hatherton and Margaret Percy Baroness Hatherton were married. She the daughter of George Percy 5th Duke Northumberland and Louisa Harcourt Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie. On 4th May 1863 Edward John Walhouse aka Littleton 1st Baron Hatherton died at Teddesley Hall, Penkridge. His son Edward succeeded 2nd Baron Hatherton. On 3rd April 1888 Edward Richard Littleton 2nd Baron Hatherton died. His son Edward succeeded 3rd Baron Hatherton. Charlotte Louisa Rowley Baroness Hatherton by marriage Baroness Hatherton.

Margaret Percy Baroness Hatherton: In 1813 she was born to George Percy 5th Duke Northumberland and Louisa Harcourt Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie. On 15th October 1897 Margaret Percy Baroness Hatherton died.

Around 1923 . St Michael's Church, Penkridge [Map]. Memorial to Edward George Littleton 3rd Baron Hatherton (age 80) and Charlotte Louisa Rowley Baroness Hatherton (age 78).

Charlotte Louisa Rowley Baroness Hatherton: On 17th October 1844 she was born to Charles Robert Rowley 4th Baronet and Maria Louisa Vanneck. Before 1868 Edward George Littleton 3rd Baron Hatherton and she were married. On 19th February 1923 Charlotte Louisa Rowley Baroness Hatherton died.