Edward Ayrton , Rev.

From 'The Chaplin and Skinner Families' page19:

THE AYRTON FAMILY

>> Yorkshire is the early home of the Ayrton family and in the older records the name is written indifferently - Ayrton, Ayreton, and Airton. The name is derived from Airton, a hamlet near Malham Tarn, the source of the river Air. It has been suggested that the name may be due to the fact of its having been in old days the seat of an ancient altar ('ara'). Lower down the river is the hill still known as the Druid's Altar.

At the time of the Conquest the greater part of the lands in Airton appear to have been waste, and shortly after that event were granted with other estates to Roger the Portwin, afterwards created Earl of Lancaster. In the Dom-Boc Eboracensis, or Domesday Record relating to the County of York, is an entry which I translate as meaning 'In Airtone Arnebrand had four carnucates to be taxed.'

The arms of the greater part of the Ayrton family are - Per cross gules and or in the first and fourth quarter an escallop argent. Those borne by the Rt. Hon. Acton Smee Ayrton (see Burke's "General Armory" 1878) were - Per pale gules and azure, a fesse humettee ermine between three leopards' faces argent, quartering Nugent. Crest - a demi lion rampant erm. holding a pennon per pale gules and azurem thereon a leopard's face or. Motto: "Pro aris et focis."

The Rev. Edward Ayrton, who was born in 1628, is the first member of the family mentioned in the accompanying pedigree. It has been a tradition in the family - also preserved in the family of the Scrope Ayrtons (descendants of Dr. Edmund Ayrton) that the Rev. Edward Ayrton married a granddaughter of Lord Goring (and daughter of Mr. Ward, of Kridling Park); up to the present time I (Nugent Chaplin) have not been able to find any satisfactory evidence of such a marriage. Sir George Goring was created Baron Goring on 14 April, 1628, and was known by this title until 8 November, 1646, when he was created Earl of Norwich; he died in 1662 leaving the following children:-
Charles, who succeeded his father, and died without issue in 1670, when both titles became extinct.
Elizabeth, who married Lord Brereton.
Lucy, who married Sir Dru Dene.
Diana, who married (1) Thomas Covert, (2) George Porter.
Catherine, who married William Scott.
It does not appear.that any of the daughters married Mr. Ward, of Kridling Park, and unless there was a second and unrecorded marriage of one of Lord Goring's four daughters, it seems clear that the tradition is not in accordance with the facts.
Before proceeding with the main branch of the family, it will be convenient here to refer to the collateral branch descended from EDWARD AYRTON, who was born in 1698, and died in 1774. He was an Alderman of Ripon, and in 1760 was elected Mayor. The following tombstone in the churchyard at the east end of the Cathedral marks his last resting-place:--
"Near this place lye the Bodies of three Sons and one Daughter of Edward and Catherine Ayrton, of Rippon, who died in their minority, 1751 John their Son, died July ye 11th, 1771, aged 42: Also the above Edward Ayrton, Alderman and once Mayor of this Corporation, who died the 25th July, 1774, aged 76. Catherine, wife of the above Edward Ayrton, who was interred July 6th, 1781, aged 79 years."

Of Edward Ayrton's seven children the most distinguished was Dr. EDMUND AYRTON, who was born at Ripon on 19th November,1734. He was originally destined for the Church, but displaying considerable musical talent was placed under Dr. Nares, organist of York Minster. In 1754 he was appointed organist of Southwell Minster, and in 1764 a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal, and soon after Vicar Choral of St. Paul's Cathedral and Lay Vicar of Westminster Abbey. He was elected a member of the Royal Society of Musicians on 2nd June, 1765 He composed the anthem for the Peace Thanksgiving Service at St. Paul's in July, 1784, and in the same year took his degree of Doctor of Music at Cambridge. Four years later the same degree was conferred on him at Oxford. He then settled in London, at No. 24 James Street, Westminster (now Buckingham Gate), a large house with a garden of over three acres, which he obtained for a very moderate sum as it had the reputation of being haunted. He had fourteen children, of whom several died in infancy. He found his last resting-place in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey, where he was buried on 28th May, 1808.
His grandson, the late Mr. William Scrope Ayrton, who was a Commissioner in Bankruptcy, died in 1885; and this branch of the family is now represented by Mr. W. Scrope Ayrton, of Kensington, and his brother, Mr. Edward Ayrton, of Bentham, Yorkshire. <<

END From an email from Raymond Airton, 29 July 2006.

Nidderdale Ayrtons:

NIDD is off the B6165 and 1 mile East of Ripley. STAVELEY is about 5miles West of NIDD off the A6055. Along with Pateley Bridge, Hampsthwaite and Knaresborough.
All five Parishes have records showing AIRTON / AYRTON B.M.D.s They are all located on, or close to the river Nidd. All the Estates on these Parishes were leased from Fountains Abbey, at least until the Dissolution in 1539.
At the time of the Dissolution, Fountains Abbey owned 7 Water Mills which they leased, one of which was at AIRTON. The title of Lord of the Manor of AIRTON had originally been granted with land, by THOMAS de STAVELEY to his younger brother GOSPATRICK AIRTON in the 1190s.
I only have the transcriptions of the above Parishes, but I will eventually have to get round to reading the actual records, both to confirm the B.M.D.s are correct, and also finding out what additional information is available to that shown on the transcriptions. I cannot see it happening this year though, as I have been over 2 years researching the LITTONDALE AIRTONs / AYRTONs and that is not complete.
I do however plan to visit my native county, [yes I was born in Yorkshire], probably in the Autumn. I have visited most of the churches in the Dales, and I have visited Fountains Abbey, which is huge, and was by far the richest Cistercian Abbey in England. However I have never visited any of the Nidderdale Parish Churches referred to above, which I plan to do, and of course I shall look for the doorway of the Old Vicarage in Nidd.
However, I have lost my way,- why was it referred to as NIDD cum STAVELEY ?. I do not know, most probably because both Parishes were under a single Vicar, with a Curate at the other.

Raymond Airton
(Member No. 4076, The Guild of One-Name Studies, London)