Is Your Name Troutbeck?

A brief but brilliant name in Cheshire history was that of the Troutbecks. The family seems to have originated from Westmoreland, their ancient coat of arms being three interlaced trouts. Later a wreath of trouts encircled their crest.

Our story begins in 1412 when Prince Henry commissioned William Troutbeck, Chamberlain of Chester. By purchase, William became Lord of Dunham-on-the-Hill, near Helsby.

Stoney Dunham, as it was called, had been held up to this time by the Earls of Arundel. In 1415 the Earl died at Agincourt and William Troutbeck came to own a third of Dunham. He too fought at Agincourt.

By 1444, the whole manor of Dunham was vested in the Troutbecks.

William was succeeded by his son Sir John Troutbeck, Chamberlain of Chester and Sheriff of Cheshire in 1447.

He married the great heiress, Margery, the daughter of Thomas Hulse, of Brunstath (Brimstage), the original settlement of the Domvilles. a younger line of the Barons of Montalt, and one of the most aristocratic families in the country.

To John Troutbeck also passed, through Margery Hulse, the Sergeantry of the Bridge Gate at Chester, hereditary office of the Rabys.

Sir John Troubeck lived at Brimstage Hall and it was from here that he rode out, aged forty-seven, to his last battle, “beneath the banners of Henry V, he fell with the flower of Cheshire on the fatal field of Blore”.

There Dutton Dutton kills: a Done doth kill a Done:
A Booth a Booth: and Legh by Legh is overthrown:
A Venables against a Venables doth stand:
A Troutbeck doth fighteth with a Troutbeck hand to hand...

John’s son, Sir William claimed innumerable hereditary rights throughout the county, amongst them sole Forester of part of Mara and Mondrem and unlimited fishing rights in the Dee for the extent of his manors of Little Neston and Hargrave.

His son, another Sir William, died childless. His heiress was his niece, Margaret Troutbeck, who became the wife of John Talbot, from whom the Earls of Shrewsbury descended.

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