Genealogy
Rotheram of Dronfield
The descent of the Manor of Dronfield can be traced through the families of Barley, Seliock, Blyth, Burton, Rossington, Rotheram and Cecil.
John Rotheram the younger of Dronfield, was described as a lead merchant, in 1693.
John Rotheram the younger, mentioned above, besides being a lead merchant, improved this estate by getting millstones, a business carried on by his son Samuel, who was the father of John Rotheram the purchaser of the Manor. The latter was Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1750 and in 1749 had married Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of John Fenton of Little Sheffield, by which marriage he acquired the Fenton property in Little Sheffield and Gleadless.
Both John Rotheram, esquire's, sons died without issue and the estate came to their unmarried sister Elizabeth in May 1795. Before her death in April 1797 she had conveyed the Little Sheffield estates to one Joseph Cecil, whose connection with her or her family has not been established, and made a will in his favour, by which he inherited Dronfield manor and estates and was named her sole executor.
Cecil had several children by his first wife Elizabeth Heald of Sheffield, who died in 1796 aged 45 years (buried in St. Paul's churchyard, Sheffield). In 1809 he married secondly Jane Catherine Hollings by whom he had a son Samuel Hollings Cecil, to whom he left the property inherited from Miss Rotheram. The estates were heavily mortgaged.
Will of John Rotheram of Dronfield date: 17 Nov 1766
Funeral to be conducted as his signed paper writing shall direct. To his wife Elizabeth £20 within a month of his decease, his chaise and pair, 30 books of her choice out of his library, silver tea kettle, lamp and coffee pot, half his household linen and the use of all his household goods, for her life if unmarried.
£20 to Mr. Eleazer Heywood, clerk. £10 to cousin Samuel Holland (and other small legacies).
To daughter Elizabeth Rotheram £2,500 at 21 years of age to be paid out of estate not settled in jointure.
He leaves all his estates in Derbyshire not settled in jointure to trustees John Fenton apothecary and John Burton gentleman, to raise money for paying debts and then to his eldest son Samuel Rotheram and his heirs male, with remainder to other sons in order, with remainder to daughters. All his real estates not disposed of to his wife for life and then to his cousin Mr. Eleazer Heywood for life and (after some other life interests) to Heywood's heirs male and in default to the heirs male of Samuel Holland, with reversion to Isaac Wyld. The Sheffield estate to his wife's use, subject to payment of £600 to Elizabeth.
Executors: wife Elizabeth, son Samuel and cousin Heywood.
Charles Carver, son of Rev. Marmaduke Carver, Rector of Harthill, Derbyshire, was Rector of Eyam, he graduated Christ College, Cambridge, married a Miss Rotheram, an heiress of Eckington.