Genealogy & Family History
Verelst of Aston Hall
The family first settled in England in the 17th century, when Simon (John) Verelst a celebrated painter of flowers in the court of Charles II, settled here. He was born in Antwerp, in 1664. His brother Harman, who painted history, fruit, and flowers; lived abroad at Vienna until the Turks beseiged it in 1683. He died in London and was buried at St. Andrew's, Holborn. He had a daughter Maria (1680-1744), historical and portrait painter. Harman was the great-grand-father of Harry Verelst.
Robert VERELST m. 1722 London to Elizabeth BACH. Children:
- b.1726 Bernard Coussmaker St. Martin In The Field, London
- b.1733 Harry Fladbury, Worcs. m. Anne Wordsworth
- b.1736 John
- b.1738 William Fraser
Harry Verelst(d.1785) was born 1731 Fladbury, Worcs. son of Robert and Elizabeth. He was governor of Fort William in Bengal from 1767-1769. At a time when plundering was the trend among the East India Company civilian Harry Verelst proved to be an exception. Read more
Shortly after his return from India, Harry, purchased a fourth part of the Aston Hall Estate in Yorkshire from the Earl of Halifax.
He
married in 1771 to Anne (1751-1835), youngest daughter and co-heir of
Josias Wordsworth, esq. of Wadworth Hall, Doncaster. Children born at Aston:
- b.1772 Mary m. James Lee
- (1773-1837) Harry
- (1775-1830) Anne
- (1777-1819) Josiah m. Margaret Mouncey
- (1780-1843) Rev.Arthur Charles m. 1818 Wellington, Shropshire Charlotte Anna CHARLTON
- b. 1783 Elizabeth
- (1784-1851) Rev.William v m. Sophia Lee
Arthur Charles went away to Clare Hall, Cambridge where he graduated with an MA. He became Curate at Withycombe, Somerset in 1819, then Rector from 1819 onwards. At some stage, Arthur became the father of Charles REED with an unkown. He married 1818 in Wellington, Shropshire to Charlotte Anna CHARLTON of Apley Castle, daughter of William.
A codicil to the last will and testament of Harry Verelst stated that Charles Reed, of Green Hayes, in the township of Claughton, in the county of Chester, could take and henceforth use the surname of Verelst only, instead of that of Reed, and also bear the arms of Verelst.
Charles Reed m. 1845 Anna Jane Willasy, b.1821 Liverpool. Children born at Aston Hall:
- b.1846 Harry William
- b.1848 Charles Verelst
- b.1851 Marie Blanche m. James Thomas Hodgson
- b.1855 Courtenay Lee
- b.1867 Horace Devereux
Living at Aston Hall in 1881:
Harry William VERELST b.1847 Liverpool, Justice Of Peace (County Office), his mother Annie Jane VERELST, a widow b.1822 Liverpool and Francis Denman HODGSON, Nephew b.1875 Godalming, Surrey. John HOOD, age 36 born St Margarets, Kent was Butler.
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