314 deeds of the Norris family of Speke Hall, Lancashire, found amongst the Fleming records at Rydal Hall, having come into the possession of the Flemings through the financial difficulties of Sir William Norris (d. 1630). The original envelopes, on which Mr. W.G. Collingwood wrote more detailed abstracts than those given on his final list, have been kept with the deeds.

[ Note: Place names have been anglicized only in the title of each record for ease of searching, and following the groupings of deeds made by Lumby. The spellings used in the deeds have been preserved subsequently. Forenames have been anglicized, but surnames have been spelt as in the originals. It is not possible to trace a strict chronology for changes in spellings as many are used interchangeably. The following list gives examples of family and place names that occur in varying forms throughout the deeds: Norris: Nores, Norres, Norens, Norrens, Noreys, Norreys, Norrays Molyneux: Molyneus, Molineus, Molyneux, Molineux, Mollyneux, Mollineux Speke: Spek', Spec' Woolton: Wolueton, Wolwinton, Wolweton, Woluinton, Wolleton, Wolton, Woleton, Woletun (with Much Woolton appearing as Magna, Mekil, Mekyll etc, and Little Woolton appearing as Parva, Lytyll, Litill etc.) Liverpool: Lythirp'l, Liverpull]

Associated Material

The Aston collection at the University of Liverpool form only a small part of the papers of the Aston family. A full list of the other holdings of the papers of the Aston family of Aston Hall can be found on the National Register of Archives. Links are provided below to the catalogue entries for the Aston papers held by

• The British Library
• John Rylands University Library Special Collections
• Cheshire Record Office
• Liverpool Record Office

Bibliography

George Ormerod: The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Volume I, 2nd edition, revised and enlarged by Thomas Helsby (George Routledge, London, 1882). Pages 531-537 are Ormerod's account of the Aston family from the reign of Henry II up to the time of Sir Willoughby Aston, 2nd Baronet, with an added family tree which follows the family up to Sir Arthur Ingram Aston.

George Edward Cockayne: Complete Baronetage, Volume II, 1625-1649, (William Pollard & co., Exeter, 1902). Pages 48-49 list the grantee and successors to the title of Baronet Aston in the reign of Charles I.

The Cheshire Sheaf, 3rd series, vol 24, (Chester, 1927). Contains a description of the biographical diaries of Sir Willoughby Aston with some biographical notes.