<strong>The</strong> <strong>Breretons</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Cheshire</strong> St. Mary’s Church, Astbury Copyright © B. F. Brereton-Goodwin 2001 (brereton.faye@gmail.com) January 2013 (website edition) Page 8 <strong>of</strong> 58 Source: St. Mary's Church booklet In the cemetery, on the grounds <strong>of</strong> St. Mary's Church, Astbury you can see a fine canopied tomb <strong>of</strong> Sir Randulphus Brereton and Lady Ada Brereton - with the following inscription: HIC JACENT RADULPHUS BRERETON MILES; ET DOMINA ADA, UXOR SUE, UNA DAVID COMMITIS NUNTING DONIC (Here lie Radulph Brereton, Knight, and the Lady Ada his wife, one <strong>of</strong> the daughters <strong>of</strong> David Huntingdon)
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Breretons</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Cheshire</strong> <strong>The</strong> canopy which is open at two sides covers two stone effigies; a knight cap-a-pie 15 with his feet resting on a lion, and holding a shield on his left arm. His lay has her hands folded over her breasts and her feet resting on a dog. As this monument was built at the direction <strong>of</strong> Sir William Brereton, Baron <strong>of</strong> Malpas, circa 1618, the tombs were probably moved from inside the church to the cemetery at that time. Ralph de Brereton (Randulph) was the son <strong>of</strong> William Brereton and Margery de Touraut/Thornton. He built the first chapel at St. Oswald, Brereton - granting the land <strong>of</strong> Smethwick for the chapel. Later, Ralph married Lady Ada. Copyright © B. F. Brereton-Goodwin 2001 (brereton.faye@gmail.com) January 2013 (website edition) Page 9 <strong>of</strong> 58 <strong>The</strong>re is some controversy concerning Ada, the wife <strong>of</strong> Randulphus Brereton and her link <strong>of</strong> the Brereton family with the Kings <strong>of</strong> Scotland. Some researchers believe that she was the daughter <strong>of</strong> David, Earl <strong>of</strong> Huntingdon (also noted in the tomb inscription) and that her father's ancestry can be traced to David I, King <strong>of</strong> Scotland and her mother's family to the first Celtic King <strong>of</strong> Scotland. Other writers suggest that Ada was actually the daughter <strong>of</strong> a King <strong>of</strong> Scotland. In the booklet Scotland's Kings and Queens, 16 the writers indicate that Lady Ada was the daughter <strong>of</strong> William de Warenne, Earl <strong>of</strong> Surrey and married Henry, Earl <strong>of</strong> Huntingdon. Henry was the son <strong>of</strong> David Huntington I, <strong>The</strong> Saint (1124-1153) and Matilda, daughter <strong>of</strong> Walthe<strong>of</strong>, Earl <strong>of</strong> Huntingdon. Further they indicate that Ada and Henry had at least three sons: Malcolm IV (1153-1165); William I the Lion (1165-1214) and David Earl <strong>of</strong> Huntingdon; all future Kings <strong>of</strong> Scotland. Henry died in 1152. David, Earl <strong>of</strong> Huntingdon (? - 1216) married Matilda (? - 1233), daughter <strong>of</strong> Hugh Keveliock, Earl <strong>of</strong> Chester. From information contained in the grant issued when the First Lord Leighlin <strong>of</strong> Brereton Hall was knighted in 1588 in Flushing, Netherlands, it would appear that David and Matilda also had a son John and daughter Ada. Following is a portion <strong>of</strong> the grant, which references Sir William Brereton link with Ada: Sir William 17 towards us and our Crown and that he is sprung from an ancient noble and most renowned family in as much he is descended through many illustrious ancestors from Ada, Sister <strong>of</strong> John (surnamed Scot) seventh Earl <strong>of</strong> Chester and Daughter <strong>of</strong> David Earl <strong>of</strong> Angus and Huntingdon Lord <strong>of</strong> Galloway within our Kingdom <strong>of</strong> Scotland younger brother <strong>of</strong> William then King <strong>of</strong> Scotland. If Ada, daughter <strong>of</strong> David and Matilda married Randulphus Brereton, it would be highly unlikely that they had issue as Ada would have been born prior to the death <strong>of</strong> her father David, in 1216, making her at least 52 years <strong>of</strong> age when her first husband died in 1268. Apparently, Ormerod was doubtful about their marriage and in the 1603 Erdeswick's Survey <strong>of</strong> Staffordshire recorded Ada as marrying secondly Sir William Handsacre not Sir Brereton. Notwithstanding Ormerod's recording, the tombs and inscription at St. Mary’s Church, Astbury, in <strong>Cheshire</strong> provide a different tale. Further, in St. Oswald’s Church, Brereton, Sandbach we can find the indisputable linking <strong>of</strong> the Brereton arms with those <strong>of</strong> the Earls <strong>of</strong> Chester and Huntingdon. In an attempt to resolve the controversy around Ada, Patrick Montague-Smith (who was editor <strong>of</strong> Debrett's Peerage and a Brereton descendant) suggested that the marriage did occur, but there were no children. To further complicate matters, I have found reference to, Isolda Brereton, the daughter <strong>of</strong> Ada and Randulphus. Isolda was given land, in Brindly, upon her marriage to Gilbert de Stoke. In writing this 'history' I have chosen to agree with Patrick; Ada and Randulphus married by there were no issue. Consequently, William Brereton would have been the son Randulphus Brereton and his first wife de Cecilie de Sandbach. 15 Refers to being armed head to foot ready for battle 16 Scotland’s Kings and Queens, published by Pitkin Unichrome Ltd. 1992 Pictorials 17 William refers to William I <strong>The</strong> Lionhearted, born 1143; he reigned from 1165 to 1214. He succeeded his unmarried brother Malcolm IV.
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