Smith and Milnes of Dunstan Hall

[Annie65115]

I am trying to place the Reverend Courtney Smith into the Smith/Milnes family who owned Dunstan Hall, near Chesterfield, but I am getting myself thoroughly confused and Smith is not a good name to research when you're getting sken-eyed!

Courtney Smith was baptised in Edensor in 1808, the son of Richard and Charlotte Smith. He was a clergyman at Barlow. He married Emily Barnes in Brampton in 1835; their last child was Ernest Broughton Smith (I'm pretty sure that middle name is relevant). He died in Pleasley but is commemorated in the grounds of Beauchief Abbey.

Beauchief Abbey was owned by the Pegge family (or Pegge-Burnells by the late 1700s). Peter P-B had, in 1782, married Mary Lee, who was the widowed daughter of William Milnes of Aldercar. Peter's mmn was Broughton and his son in law/nephew (they were keen on marrying in!) was Broughton Steade (aka Broughton Pegge-Burnell). So that's why I suspect the Broughton name is significant.

William Milnes, Mary's father, had a brother Richard Milnes, who owned Dunstan Hall. He in turn had a son Richard Milnes  (1747 - 1824) of Barlow Grange.

At some point in the 19th century (I think) the Milnes at Dunstan Hall changed their name to Smith, or maybe added Smith as a second surname, I'm not clear on this. Maybe it was the other way around? Genuki has a comment from 1817; Dunston-hall some time belonging to the family of Milnes, is now the property and residence of Mrs. Smith, grand-daughter and heiress of the late Richard Milnes, Esq.  One of their number, William Broughton Smith (WBS - it's that name again!) married Mary Steade, who was Peter PB's granddaughter, and his son gained a royal licence in 1873 to use the Milnes surname again.

So ultimately I think that Courtney Smith, commemorated in Beauchief Abbey, was probably related to Mary Pegge-Burnell who came from the Milnes family but as I said, I've got myself confused and don't blame anyone for being equally confused now!

Can anyone help me untangle this? Many thanks in advance!

(And if you think this is bad, well some of the descendants of WBS's line in Australia decided to drop a couple of names as otherwise their surname would have been Craven-Smith-Milnes-Pegge-Burnell!!)

[maddys52]

There is a "Pedigree of STRELLEY of Beauchief, and of their representatives, the PEGGES of Beauchief" from the early 1600s to the Rev William SMITH of Dunstan Hall who married Mary Milicent, only daughter of Broughton Benjamin STEADE, Esq of Beauchief Abbey on 22 March 1831. William is the 2nd son of Thomas SMITH Esq of Dunstan Hall. No mention of Courtney SMITH,  but there are various PEGGES and MILNES.

"The history and gazetteer of the County of Derby : drawn up from actual observation and from the best authorities : containing a variety of geological, mineralogical, commercial and statistical information"
Author: Stephen GLOVER, Thomas NOBLE
Publication Date: 1831-1833

Happy to send you a copy if it might help.

[Annie65115]

Thanks for looking, Maddys52.

I have a load of info about the Pegges, and their links to the Smith/Milnes families, but so far nothing to link Courtney Smith to the same families.

However! I've found out this morning that Courtney's father, Richard, was minister at Edensor and chaplain to the Duke of Devonshire. I've even found a portrait of him, here:

https://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/1129249

Richard's memorial at Edensor states that he was a fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, so I've had a look at the alumni lists for Cambridge as they can give info re a person's birthplace -- but no joy so far.