From Northwich to the United States
In search of the Leftwich family roots

J.Fran Orian <anapuni808@hawaii.rr.com> emails from Hawaii to enquire about the Leftwich family which he believes descends from Richard De Leftwich, born 1309 in “Shipbrooke, Cheshire”.

He writes: “ I'm interested in knowing how far back the ancestry can be traced as there are several rumours in my family about our history that I would like to verify. Also, any information on the current state of repair and occupancy of 'Leftwich Hall' including its location? "

The Leftwich family was a prominent in Cheshire antiquity and through one of their number the name is now equally established in many parts of the United States.

The Leftwich’s known origins lie in the reign of Edward the Confessor when they were Lords of Leftwich and holders of lands at Shipbroke, near what is now the town of Northwich.

With the Norman Conquest, the Barony of Shipbroke passed to Richard De Vernon who accompanied William of Normandy to England in 1066.

Later through marriage into the Winnington family, another family of Norman origin, part of Shipbroke, and the Barony, returned to the Leftwich’s whose ancestral home was Leftwich Hall. Richard De Leftwich (1256-1307) was the son of Robert De Winnington and his second wife Matilda, a daughter of the Vernons. It was Richard who inherited the manor and was he who was the first to formally bear the name of Leftwich.

In 1403, Robert De Leftwich fought at the Battle of Shrewsbury in the Percy Rebellion on the side of the defeated ‘Hotspur’. He was afterwards proclaimed to be a Rebel.

In 1658, or thereabouts, it seems that Ralph Leftwich, the son of Thomas Leftwich of England, emigrated to the New World and in New Kent County (Virginia) was granted 300 acres of land on the Peanketank River.
His son Thomas was born in Caroline County and his grandson, Joel Leftwich, fought with distinction in many campaigns, including the American War of Independence, attaining the rank of Brigadier General. He served in the General Assembly of Virginia and was also Sheriff of Bedford County.

The Leftwich family eventually spread across America, notably into the Southern states, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, as well as Texas.

One of the most illustrious Leftwich sons of modern times was Lt Col William G.Leftwich who was born in 1931 in Memphis. He enjoyed an exemplary military record with the Marine Corps but was sadly killed in a helicopter crash whilst serving in Vietnam. In 1979, a United States’ war ship, the USS Leftwich, was named in his memory.

Little is known about the earliest Leftwich Hall, except that it was demolished and replaced in 1493. In 1616 it passed out of the family when Elizabeth Leftwich married William Oldfield; she being the last in direct line of succession.

The Hall remained in the Oldfield family for about 150 years and afterwards it was allowed to fall into decay, eventually being pulled down about 1820.

A farm stood here until after the Second World War and the Leftwich council housing estate now occupies the site. The only evidence of the former ancestral home is in the name, Old Hall Road.

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