Thomas Acton (1623 - 1677)

Born 25 Jan 1623 in Aldenham Park, Shropshire, England

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 23 Jan 1677 at age 53 in Shropshire, England

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Biography

Thomas Acton of Gatacre (d. 1677/8, age 56), was the second son of Sir Edward Acton, 1st Bart. of Aldenham Park, Shropshire (d. 1659) and Sarah Mitton,^[1] (b. Halston Shropshire, d. 13 Sep 1677). He was an alumnus of Alban Hall, Oxford University.^[2]

Thomas was married to Mabel Stonor.^[1][3] She was the daughter of:

• Clement Stonor of London, son of Clement Stonor of Stapleford Abbott, Essex;^[3]
• and Mabell, dau. of Roger Harlakenden of Earl's Colne, Essex.^[3]

Wotton (1741) asserts that they had 3 sons & 2 dau., including:[1]

• Edward, d.y.^[1][3]
• Thomas of Gatacre (b. c. 1665, age 22 in 1687).^[1][3]
• Clement (b. c. 1669, age 18 in 1687).^[1][3]
• Sarah m. William or John Whitmore, Esq. of Lutson, co. Salop.^[1][3]
• Rachel (b. c. 1671, age 16 in 1687),^[1] m. Rev. John Eyton of Eyton.^[3]

Descendants

• Thomas Acton of Gatacre (will 09 Jul 1735).^[4]
• (6th in desc.) -- Edward Farrer Acton, Esq. of Gatacre Park, Shropshire (b. 1805), s/o Edward Acton (b. 1767 - d. 1822) m. (1804) Frances Elizabeth, dau. of Rev. John Grove Spurgeon of Clopton; m. (1832) Mary Anne, d/o Rev. Henry or Horace Suckling, rector of Barsham, Suffolk.^[5]

Notes

• Thomas Acton was born on 25 January 1623.1 He was the son of Sir Edward Acton, 1st Bt. and Sarah Mytton. He married Mabell Stoner, daughter of Clement Stoner. He died on 23 January 1677 at age 53.1 He was buried on 23 June 1677 at Tasley, Shropshire, England. He matriculated at Alban Hall, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, in 1640. He lived at Gatacre Park, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England
• Thomas Acton (1623-1677) m. Mabel Stoner (1642 in St. Mary-Le-Bow, London, d. unkn.) on 12 Dec 1661 St Benet Paul's Wharf, London^[6] Mabel Stoner said to be daughter of Clement Stoner (1600, of St. Mary, Bowe, London) and Rachel Bodens (b.1618 of St Bennet Grace Church, London), who were m. 7 Oct 1633 in St Bennet Grace Church.

Lundy Peerage.com -- lists wife Mabell, but only two sons, neither named Benjamin. It looks like the source was an email.^[7] Need to check for a will.

• Gatacre Park in Shropshire is open to the public.

Is his son Benjamin Acton, Quaker? ... lineage needs to be verified. Can it be proved that the Quaker immigrant was the son of this politically connected family? Benjamin Acton was a wealthy man

Some have found it confusing that he's an indentured servant on the ship's manifest, but did not finish the term of his servitude, and is buying land only a few years later. He went on to take a number of public roles of public trust in colonial New Jersey.

In his Descendants of Benjamin Acton, James Acton includes a lineage for Benjamin Acton dating back to 1175. He is said to be the grandson of Edward Acton and Sarah Mytton by their son Thomas Acton (1623-1677).^[8]

"Benjamin Acton was the son of Thomas Acton (1623-1677), of Gate Acre Park, County Salop, England, and Mabel Stonir, his wife. He was grandson of Sir Edward Acton who was made the first Baronet in 1643 for his fidelity to King Charles I, and died 1657."

The citation given for this paragraph is

"Manuscript by Nellie Poulet Dickinson revised by Melissa Black Carver and Lucile Dunn Van Ness; Ammesseley County Worchester; Harliean Manuscript #1043, Folio 206; Harliean Manuscript #1566, Folio 126; Visitation of Worchester P3; in possession of James N. Acton, 1977" [sic]

Acton also writes "Benjamin's uncle Richard came to Maryland with Calnert and founded that branch of the family." That would be Richard Acton.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6} Wotton, T. (1741). The English Baronetage, II, p. 399. London. Google Books.
2. ↑ Foster, J. (1891). Alumni Oxonienses, 1500-1714, I & II. University of Oxford. London: Parker & co. Google Books.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7} Transactions, 1881, p. 4. Shropshire Archaeological and Natural History Society. Google Books.
4. ↑ Will of Thomas Acton of Gatacre Park, Shropshire, (09 Jul 1735). PROB 11/672/90 https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D685777
5. ↑ Walford, E. (1864). The County Families of the United Kingdom. Google Books.

   --

   Debrett's, 1884, p. 18. Google Books.
6. ↑ "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NLQZ-53K : 10 February 2018), Thomas Acton and Mabell Stoner, 12 Dec 1661; citing Saint Benet Pauls Wharf, London, London, England; FHL microfilm 547,508, 574,439, 845,242.
7. ↑ ThePeerage.com.
8. ↑ Acton, James N. Descendants of Benjamin Acton. (Salem, NJ: Salem County Historical Society Publications, 1977), n.p.

• Staffordshire pedigrees based on the visitation of that county made by William Dugdale...v.63 by Dugdale, William, Sir Page 172: Acton

See Also...

• "Thomas Acton (1623-77), second son of Sir Edward Acton, 1st baronet of Aldenham," in Acton of Gatacre Park https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2013/03/18-acton-of-gatacre-park.html
• https://www.aldenhampark.com/Location.aspx?ContentName=location