Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 edition. Excerpt: ... company, having bought more land than was requisite, sold the Hall back again to Mr. Ousey, who returned to the place and ended his days there. Ralph Ousey died in 1855, and was interred at Cocker Hill Church, where many of the Ouseys are buried. Thomas Ousey, of Ridge-hill, and Ralph Ousey, of Heyrod, were cousins. Chapter 4. local celebrities. Francis Dukinfield Astley, Esq.--James Sidebottom, Esq., J.P., M.P.--William Summers, Esq., M.P.--Dr. Hopwood, V.D., J.P.--Robert Smith, Esq. "We have only been able to dwell upon the more notable of our local worthies." James Croston, F.S.A. francis dukinfield astley, esq. "Tprancis dukinfield astley was the son of J-- John Astley, Esq., and was born at Dukinfield Lodge in 1781. His father died in 1787. His first rudiments of education were received at Hyde, and from thence he went to Chester, Rugby, and finally became a Fellow-Commoner at Christ Church, Oxford. At the age of twenty-five he was appointed High Sheriff of Cheshire, a position which had been held by many of his ancestors. Mr. Astley was an ideal country squire, besides being a scholar and a gentleman, and the interest he took in the aspect of the locality is evinced in the fact that he planted no fewer than 40,000 trees on his estates in this district, for which act he was presented in 1807 with the silver medal of the " Society for the Improvement in Agriculture," and he moreover encouraged his tenants, as a silver cup bearing the inscription "Presented to James Ash ton, for keeping his farm in good repair," tends to show. Mr. Astley was a daring rider and a thorough sportsman, and as a rendezvous for kindred spirits he built the well-known "Hunter's Tower" in 1807. During the period of the war with France, he remitted the