THE OLD ASHBURNE FAMILIES. 5 
imprisonment in the Tower—his estates being in the meanwhile 
confiscated—and finally, after this stormy and varied career, he 
died peacefully in his bed, and was buried at Wirksworth, 1671, 
zt. 78. His portrait and armour are still to be seen at Hopton. 
Towards the beginning of the 16th century, the Hurts, who again 
were connected with the Cokaynes, Beresfords, Fitzherberts, and 
Okeovers, were described as of Ashburne, lead merchants, and 
later on as of Casterne. Since the marriage of Nicholas Hurt, 
in 1670, with the heiress of Lowe, Alderwasley has continued to 
be their principal seat. Sir Andrew Kniveton, of a knightly 
family, being impoverished by the civil wars, had to sell Bradley 
and the greater part of the family inheritance. The last baronet 
was a gentleman-pensioner in William of Orange’s reign. Of this 
family was St. Loe Kniveton, the antiquary. From Thomas 
Levinge, who bought Parwich from the Cokaynes, circa 1600, 
great great-grandson of Thomas Levinge, living in Derbyshire, 
1431, descended Sir Richard Levinge, who was born at Leek, 
1656, Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, and Speaker of the Irish 
House of Commons, created a Baronet in 1704; and whose 
daughter Mary married Washington Shirley, second Earl Ferrers, 
father of Selina, Countess of Huntingdon, the friend and patron 
of Whitfield, the enthusiast. Oliver Meverell, living 5th King 
John, was the common ancestor of the Meverells of Throwley and 
Tideswell, which was obtained by marriage with the heiress of 
Daniell. Robert Meverell’s heiress, again, mated with Thomas, 
fourth Lord Cromwell and first Earl of Ardglass, whose son’s 
widow was Charles Cotton’s second wife. Erdeswicke describes 
Throwley as “a fair, antient house, and goodly demesne, being 
the seat of the Meverells, a very antient house of gentlemen, 
equalling the best in the shyre, though God hath not for two or 
three generations blessed their heyres with the best gifts of 
nature.” The descent of Meynell of Bradley is shown by Glover 
to be traceable to Gilbert de Mesnil, younger brother to Hugo de 
Grante Mesnil, Earl of Leicester, and a companion of the Con- 
queror. Lastly, from John Porte, a Chester merchant, circa 1580, 
descended the Ports of Ilam, and Sir John Porte of Etwall, 
