272 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



chancel, and a modern brick tower at the west end of the nave, in 

 which are four bells and a small one. In the chancel are several 

 monumental inscriptions to the Skrymshers, one of whom was 

 Adjutant General to Prince Rupert, and standard bearer to the 

 Gentlemen Pensioners of Charles II. The armour belonging to one 

 of the Skrymshers was formerly preserved in the church, but no- 

 thing now remains except the helmet and part of a gauntlet. 



The present incumbent is the Rev. Sambroke Higgins, and the 

 patronage belongs to Viscount Anson. 



Weston- Jones is a hamlet in this parish, upon the Loynton estate, 

 which is the property of the resident rector, Mr. Higgins. 



Leewoods is a manor in this parish, belonging to Lord Anson. 



FORTON is an adjoining parish, and situate to the south-west of 

 that of Norbury, in the western division of the hundred of Cuttle- 

 stone, and on the borders of the county. In 1811, it contained 121 

 inhabited houses, 130 families, 297 males, and 310 females ; the 

 population of the parish amounting to 607 persons. The turnpike- 

 road from Eccleshall to Newport, in Salop, passes through the vil- 

 lage of Forton, which is about two miles distant from the latter 

 town. The parish contains the hamlets of Warton, Sutton, Mere- 

 ton, and Aqualate. 



Sutton is on the same road that passes through Forton, to the 

 north-east thereof, and contains several farm-houses and small tene- 

 ments. The upland soil is a light loam. " In this place, Sutton 

 or Southtown, (Mr. Loxdale says,) there is a freehold estate, which 

 Robert de Broughton granted to William de Scavington in frank 

 marriage with Ellen his daughter. Hugh de Scavington gave it 

 with Ellen his daughter to Ralph de Layton, 1314. John Symonds 

 and Ann his wife were possessed of it in 1406, and in 1442 passed 

 it to their son John Symonds. In the beginning of Queen Eliza- 

 beth it Was purchased by John Bettenson, whose daughter and heir, 

 Margaret, carried it in marriage to Roger Benbow, rector of Bolas, 



in which family it continued to Benbow, of Sutton, with the 



deeds from whence the above information was taken about 1740. 

 The Bettensons were a numerous and ancient family in this parish ; 

 for, besides the above freehold, there were four more, each of them 

 possessed of a copyhold estate, 1611. Richard B. a younger son 

 of one, then removed into Essex, and from him descended Sir 

 Edw. B. of Chislehurst, in Kent, Bart, who dying without issue, 1723, 

 was succeeded by a near relation of his name, Edw. Bettenson, Esq. 

 Near to Sutton is a small estate, called the Gild or Guild of 





