The Irish Heritage of The Georgia Steele Brothers

§💚 Celebrating The Irish Heritage of The Georgia Steele Brothers  💚§

 💚  St. Patrick’s Day 2018  💚

The Georgia Steeles Came To America from Ireland after emigrating from England  to Ireland in 1665.  Many families migrated  to Ireland  From England to escape the controls of the British Crown and for religious and personal freedoms.   This is not the case for the Steele Family.  Robert Joseph Steele’s  2 X great grandfather, William Steele, was born in 1610 at Sandbach, Cheshire England, educated at Cambridge, was called to the Bar in 1644, became the Recorder of London and  appointed in 1665 Lord Chancellor of Ireland and Keeper of the Great Seal of Ireland.  

💚The Steele Family moved to Ireland.

Four generations and 103 years later, on January 5, 1768, Robert Joseph Steele, who was born in Northern Ireland in a Noble English-Irish family, immigrated  to America with his family to Charleston, South Carolina aboard the Brigantine ship Chichester.

Review  of Previous Posts at  www.steelesofgeorgia.blogspot.com

 Post No 26 dated January 30, 2017 is the Butler Family History of  Lucy Ellender “Ellen” Butler, the Mother of the Steele Brothers of Georgia.  The Butlers came from England to Boston in 1635.  William Butler, for religious freedom,  famously joined other Puritans to establish the city of Hartford, Connecticut.  The Butlers migrated south through North Carolina and then to Georgia where Lucy Ellender Butler was born in Dooly County, Georgia in 1851.

 Post No 25 dated May 29, 2016 documents that Robert Joseph Steele and his family sailed from Belfast, Northern Ireland to  Charleston, South Carolina on January 5, 1768 on the Brigantine Chichester.  He participated in the Bounty Act and was awarded 350 acres in Fairfield County, South Carolina.  His son James Steele is the father of  William Steele  who became a wealthy  lumber merchant in Charleston, SC and built a 4,000 sq ft mansion at 89 Beaufain Street .  About 1835 Charleston, SC and William Steele  suffered financial distress.   His wife, Martha Steele,  migrated to Henry County,  Georgia in 1835 with her 5 children to begin the Legacy of the Steeles of Georgia.

The Georgia Steele’s Original English Homeland

The first record found of this Steele family in England was in Sandbach Cheshire County, England, a  sandy agricultural valley. It  is an ancient parish market town dating back to 1086, 158 miles northwest of London near Manchester and Liverpool.  The inhabitants converted to  🙏 Christianity in the 7^th century and 2 Saxon Crosses were built to commemorate the advent of Christianity.  Sandbach is a thriving  small city that has preserved its history.

Beeston Castle Sandbach, Cheshire

Captain Thomas  Steele, Governor of Beeston Castle,  was shot to death on January 29, 1643 for surrendering it to the Royalist during the War of three Kingdoms when the Scottish Army attacked the area but were defeated.  It sits on an isolated sandstone rock, 366 feet high, was built as a fortress.  In 1228 it became a garrison between Henry III and his barons with 328 people.  The Steele family lived in "Giddy" Hall a “moated house” in Sandbach.

 Gidea "Giddy" Hall in Romford c 1930 before demolition  in 1930 now Gidea Park Lawn Tennis  Club  The Steele Family Ancestral manor home "Giddy" of the Steeles of Sandbach lived  here when it had a moat. Birth place of William  Steele (1610-1680) The Lord Chancellor of Gidea "Giddy" Hall in Romford c 1930 before demolition  in 1930 now Ireland and whose grandson was Sir Richard Steele (1672–1729) the famous writer.  Park Lawn Tennis Club.   Gidea Hall is  reported to be the ancestral manor home “Giddy” of the Steeles of Sandbach.  Giddy Manor had a moat and  the birthplace of William Steele (1610-1680), son of Richard Steele of Sandbach (1560-1645), 

1768 – January 5     Robert Joseph Steele age 48, arrived in Charleston, South Carolina aboard the Brigantine Ship Chichester that sailed from Belfast, Northern Ireland.   He immigrated  under the Bounty Act of South Carolina for which he was awarded  350 acres in Fairfield County, S C just north of Columbia, SC.   He died there Jan 5, 1794.

His family was also aboard this ship:

 - wife Margaret    - age 38

- daughter  Nelly   – age 13

- son  James  - age 7   *** Georgia Steele’s  **Direct ancestor 

(Father of William Steele in Charleston)

-  son  Henry  - age 4

- daughter  Elizabeth – age 3

Also on board  – John Steel born 1740; William Steele, merchant from Cork who purchased land in West NJ in 1684.

Robert Joseph Steele   was born in Newton, Northern Ireland in 1719  *** Ancestor

 Newton, Northern Ireland is a  settlement near  present day Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.  1745  He married Margaret Ingrid Hubbard  1729 – 1768) at age 26 in N. Ireland, she died in Camden, Kershaw, SC.

-1760  Son, James Steele,  was born  in Northern  Ireland  in 1760  died  1826 in Fairfield County, SC ) *** Ancestor

James  is the Father of William Steele b. 1797 Fairfield  Co, SC (Ancestor **)  moved to Charleston SC, became a wealthy lumber merchant and built a 4,000 sq ft mansion at 89 Beaufain Street which is Charleston’s most historic Neo-Classical house and is on the National Register of Historic Homes, Category 1 residence in America. The fully restored house is a private residence. 

 About 1835, William Steele’s health, the city of Charleston and his lumber business all became very distressed.  Things must not have been going well.

 William’s wife Martha Smith Steele left Charleston with her 5 children and moved to Henry County Georgia where she had relatives  and is  the origin of the Steele’s of Georgia.  William remarried and had a son but sadly all three died ,leaving his Estate under the control of the Courts.

Robert Joseph Steele’s Parents in Northern Ireland

1693  Father - William Steele  (1693 – 1722) 

Born and died in Ireland  age 29   *** Ancestor

1695  Mother -  Eleanor  (1695- 1722)

William and his wife Eleanor both died in 1722, leaving 3 young orphaned sons.

Children of William and Eleanor Steele:

All 3 sons were  born in Newton,  Northern Ireland

1718 – Richard Thomas Steele  (1718 – 1727  

1719 –  Robert  Joseph Steele born in Ireland (1719 – 1794)   *** Direct Ancestor

1722 – Andrew Steele (1722 – 1794) Married Ann Carr (1729 – 1777)  one child was Brice Steele (1772 – 1856).  His  2^nd marriage - Jane Steele (1731 – 1791) Children:  Jane 1757 -1806, John 1778, Margaret 1780, Elizabeth 1782, Annie 1786, William 1788, Priscilla 1790. Andrew immigrated to Kentucky,  0n March 19, 1785 he received a Land Grant of 400 acres in Fayette Co, Lexington, KY on the south fork of the Elkhorn River.

William Steele’s Parents in Northern Ireland

1670 -  Sir Richard Steele  (1670 -1729)       

Sir Richard Steele
Portrait by Godfrey Kneller c. 1712
 National Portrait Gallery, London 

The Very Famous Writer, Poet and Politician 

He was born March 12, 1670 in St Bridgets, Dublin, Ireland.  Died 9-1-1729 at Carmarthenshire, Wales.   His father was English and his mother was Irish.  When he was 5 years old,1709,  he was devastated at the death of his father.  The following year 1710 his mother, Elina died.  He then lived with his uncle Henry Gascoigne a member of the Protestant gentry and aunt Lady Katherine Mildma.  At a very young age Sir Richard was sent off to Charterhouse School, where he met his writing partner, Addison.  He went on to Christ Church in Oxford, Merton College, Oxford and then joined the Life Guards of the Household Cavalry.  He was commissioned in 1697 and rose to Captain of the 34^th Foot in 2 years.  Disliking British Army life he left the army in 1705.   Sir Richard Steele became a well published author, writer, poet,  dramatist, essayist, and publisher of the first true magazine in Britain.

1705 - 1^st marriage -  Margaret Stretch,  an elderly and propertied widow.  She died in 1706, leaving to him her inherited Estate in Barbados and an  annual income of 850 £ which he soon sold.  They had one child, Elizabeth who married 3^rd Baron John Trevor.   At Margaret’s funeral he met his future wife Mary Scurlock.

1707  2^nd Marriage - Mary Scurlock ( 9- 9-1707)  - (died 12-26-1718) at Westminster, London, England.   Her inherited annual  income was 400£ and Sir Richard’s income was  1025 £.    Mary was from Llangunnor, Carmarthenshire Wales.  Mary was a talented poet and is buried in Poets  Corner at London's Westminster Abbey.

Children of Sir Richard and Mary Scurlock -  

( The children were born at different locations due to his travels.  He was known to having a good time which cause stress within their marriage.  The identity of some of his children is not known, however during his retirement at his Wales estate he mentions the joy his beautiful young daughters whom he is schooling and teaching.)

- William Steele  1693 – 1722  (Direct Ancestor **)

- Andrew Steele 1706-1764 – was a Captain in the Revolutionary War in Kentucky

- David Adam Steele 6-8-1708 – 1747 –  born in Derry,  (Londonderry) Northern Ireland, died at August, VA USA  married Lydia, arrived in Maine, USA in 1718 age 12, had 12 children:  Isabella, Nathaniel, Elizabeth, Samuel, Martha, Samuel, Robert, John, Lydia, Rebecca, Jannet, Thomas.

- Samuel Steele 1709 – 1790 died in Waynesboro, Augusta, VA, He and his sons James and Samuel served in Revolutionary War with the Rockbridge Co Militia  in 1778 - 1779.  He is buried Old Providence ARP Church cemetery

-  Martha Steele  1711-1730

- Robert Steele 1717- 1800

- Elizabeth Steele 3-26-1709   Born at St Bridges, Dublin, Ireland - daughter by Mary Scurlock

The Very Famous Sir Richard SteeleSIR  RICHARD  STEELE  -   

Burial at St Peter’s Church in Wales         

St Peter's Church
Carmarthen, Wales
Sir Richard' Burial Place
Built in the 13th Century

The Consistory Court (or Bishop's Court) was used for administering ecclesiastical law - it is the only one of its kind in Wales. On one of its walls is a memorial to Sir Richard Steele (born in Dublin, 1671 and died in Carmarthen, 1729), dramatist, essayist, famous contributor to 'The Tatler', 'The Spectator' and 'The Guardian' and first publisher of the modern periodical - the magazine. Educated at Charterhouse and Oxford, he was a friend of Joseph Addison and the poet Alexander Pope.

He  published hundreds of articles, books, poems, plays, commissioner of stamps, Ensign Cold stream Guards, surveyor, royal stables at Hampton Court, supervisor, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and commissioner for Forfeited Estates.  His publications were both political, entertaining and investigative. 

  Sir Richard's remains are buried in a tomb beneath the memorial.  In October 2000, archaeologists, working in the church during restoration work, found  within his tomb his skull perfectly preserved in a lead casket into which it had been placed in 1876 when earlier work was being done to the chancel and Consistory Court. 

 Sir Richard was a man of un-dissembled and extensive benevolence, a friend to the friendless, and, as far as his circumstances would permit, the father of every orphan. He was a stranger to the most distant appearance of envy or malevolence, never jealous of any man's growing reputation.  His great fault was want of economy having difficulty managing his finances. He was very agreeable and the most innocent.  

It has been said Dick Steele stumbled and got up again; and got down and out again; and sinned and repented; and loved and suffered; and lived and died, scores of years ago.  Let us think gently of one who was so gentle and  exuberant with human kindness. The great charm of Steele's writing is its naturalness. 

He wrote so quickly and carelessly, that he was forced to make the reader his confidant, and had not the time to deceive him. He had a vast acquaintance with the world... Women especially are bound to be grateful to Steele, as he was the first of our writers who really seemed to admire and respect them.”

 Sir Richard was a news reporter, poet, writer and publisher.  He traveled constantly  seeking the next story such as late night meetings in local pubs, back to Ireland, around England and to Scotland seeking current political and personal stories of the day. He published the first weekly magazine in England.  They were “The Spectator”, “The Tatler” and “The Guardian” to name a few.  

He wrote humorous and informative accounts about politicians and the government that was gossip and information.  He had a massive and widely published  literary and political career.   Arthur's Note:  Sir Richard reminds me of our Mark Twain, Samuel Clemens, who before writing his famous books, traveled the country writing satire and stories about politicians. 

    

He was Knighted as Sir Richard Steele in February 1715  

when he re-entered Parliament representing Borough Bridge in Yorkshire. 

   His political and literary career kept him  absent from home and he wrote over 400 love letters to “Prue” Mary almost on a daily basis which she kept and cherished, even though their marriage was often stormy.  The letters are preserved in the British Museum and are celebrated as the first full written account of a loving relationship. 

  Mary had a townhouse on Bury Street, St James and a house in Carmarthen Wales.  Sir Richard bought a house for her at Hampton Court.  Mary sometimes drove her own chariot with a pair or four horses.  Household servants consisted of Richard the footman, Watts the gardener, Will the boy, a staff of women and another boy who could speak Welsh when she went to her house in Carmarthen, Wales. 

                Sir Richard was in London when he began to suffer from gout and failing health.   Mary’s health too was failing while staying in Hampton Court.  Mary died the day after Christmas 1718 and is buried at Westminster Abbey in the Poet’s Corner. 

               

After Mary’s death Sir Richard traveled to Scotland where he was entertained by the local people and he studied the Presbyterian religion.  He came back to London where he wrote a comedy play “Conscious Lovers” and built the Drury Lane Theatre for the performance.

Sir Richard's House at Langunnor Near Camarthen, Wales
that he receive from 2nd wife Mary, where he retried
and where he died in 1729.  It became the Ivy Bush Hotel,
the principal Inn of the town at that time.

   Sir Richard retired to Carmarthen Wales to the home he received from Mary.  This  gave him great solitude amidst his failing health.  He delighted in schooling and entertaining his 2 young daughters.  After 3 years of retirement he died on Sept 1, 1729 at age 58 and is buried in the chancel of St Peter’s Church in Caermarthen, Wales.  

A more appropriate burial would have been at Westminster Abby next to his beloved Mary, but Dr. Hoadley, a very close friend of Sir Richard and Bishop of  Bangor, Wales became the Executor of Sir Richard’s estate and Guardian of Sir Richard’s children.  

He decided  that Sir Richard would be buried at  the 13^th Century St Peter’s Church in the Scurlock family vault.

Note:  Sir Richard Steele’s biography and publications are widely 

publicized in internet encyclopedias and many publications.

Sir Richard Steele’s Parents:

Richard Steele 1638 – 8-25-1709   (Direct Ancestor**) and Elina  Symes 1653 – 1710

Richard Steele was born in Yorkshire, England, was Baptized 5-2-1639 in Yorkshire Carlton juxta Saith  and died at Hatten Garden, London, England.  At age 32 in 1670 he married Elina Symes  (1650 – 1710) in Dublin, Ireland.  He died Aug 25, 1709 at age 71 at Hatten Garden, London and is buried at St Andrew, Holborn, London, England

Richard Steele and Elina Symes 2 children: 

- Katherine Steele

- Sir Richard Steele (1671 – 1729  (Direct Ancestor **)

Yorkshire, England is a very historic Roman and Viking county in northwest England.  It is known for its mining of minerals, industry,  farming and home to the famous “Yorkshire Pudding” which is a pastry with beef or lamb gravy and the cute small dogs called “Yorkies” bred to dig for rodents. 

  

Richard Steele (1638) ‘s Parents:

William Steele (1610 – 1680)   *** Direct Ancestor    was born in the moated house  Giddy Hall at Sandbach, Cheshire, England   and  Elizabeth Godfrey (1613 – 1729) whom he married 3-15-1638 at Elmsted, Kent, England

1610 -  William Steele (Aug 19, 1610 -1680)  England– Ireland - Wales

William was born  and Baptized August 19, 1610 at Sandbach, Cheshire, England.  William was removed by his father to Finchley in Middlesex, where he resided in 1631, the year he was admitted  to Gray’s Inn a professional association for barristers and judges in London.  He was educated at Caius College at the University of Cambridge.

💚Lord Chancellor of Ireland William Steele’s Professional Accomplishments 💚

June 23, 1637 he was called to the Bar

1639  -was returned as Member of Parliament and was 

appointed a member of the Committee for Martial Law

Aug 17, 1644  -1649 appointed by Parliament for the 

execution of martial law and presided over many famous cases

Aug 25, 1649, Recorder of London, England and  took part in many trials 

and made Sergeant-at-Law

Feb 9, 1653 Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer

June 1644   - William, being a lawyer of distinction,  leased for 7 years  or purchased  the Bidston Estate in Cheshire from the Earl of Derby,  a  freeholder and owner of Newton’s Tenement. 

Aug 26, 1654 M.P. for the City of London

1655 – Made Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer and then  on  . . .

May 28, 1655  appointed -

Lord Chancellor of Ireland and Keeper of the Great Seal of Ireland

After the fall of Richard Cromwell, he was one of 5 Commissioners appointed in 1659 to govern Ireland.  At the end of the year he returned to England but refused a committee of safety position due to poor health.  It is said he retired to Holland  Ireland for short time, but returned to England.

He died Sept or Oct  1680 – at Hatten Garden, Middlesex, England. His Will dated  Sept 17 and proved Oct 19, 1680 in London -  was proved on 10-19-1680,  left Mary his 2nd wife 4000£, jewels, furniture, and house in Hatton Garden.  His sons William and Benjamin Steele were included.  His estate in Sandbach  described on March 28, 1663 as having 5 cottages, 4 gardens, 4 orchards, 140 acres of land, 50 acres meadow, 160 acres pasture and 40 acres of moor and are now part of the Crewe Estate.  William Steele, Esq was donor to Sandbach Grammar School  and articles to the church donated by Laurence Steele, his brother.

1^st Marriage – to Elizabeth Godfrey March 15, 1638  Elmstead Co, Kent, 

daughter of Richard Godfrey of Wye Co, Kent

2^nd Marriage – to Mary Mellish, widow of Michael Harvey Mellish -  

she had 3 sons:  Richard, William and Benjamin.

The Honorable Society of Gray's Inn, known  as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court of professional associations for barristers and judges in London. To be Called to the Bar and practice as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns.  The Inn is both a professional body and a provider of office and chambers for many barristers. It is ruled by a governing council called "Pension", made up of the Masters of the Bench and led by the Treasurer, who is elected to serve a one-year term. The Inn is known for its gardens, or Walks, which have existed since at least 1597.

Child of William Steele and Elizabeth Godfrey

- Richard Steele – 1638 – 1709  born in Yorkshire, England (***Direct Ancestor) 

and father of Sir Richard Steele

Children of William and Mary Steele

- William Steele 1680

- Benjamin Steele  died Sept 23, 1705 at Hatton Garden, London intestate - married Mary who died Sept 27, 1705,  buried at St Andrews, Holborn,  10- 1, 170.  One child Mary Steel, m. married John Johnson and she died 7-19- 1757.

- Elizabeth Steele, buried at St Michan’s in Dublin, Ireland on March 15, 1657

-The following children were born in Ireland but dates of birth were not found: 

- Ephraim Steele - James Steele -  John Steele -  Joseph Steele - Ninian Steele (settled in NC, USA) - Thomas  Steele - William Steele - Samuel Steele

William Steele’s (1610) parents: 

Richard Steele (1580 – 1645)  and Cecily Shaw (1589 – 1618)

Richard Steele of Sandbach, Cheshire England was  born at Beeston Castle.  He was Baptized on July 23, 1581 at Redmarley D’Abitot, Worcestershire, England, an area near the Cotswall Hills with red clay and a prominent Parish.   

1^st Marriage -On Feb 10, 1601 Richard Steele  married 

Cicely Shaw (1581 – Sep 2, 1618).

2^nd Marriage – Ann, widow of Smith – Will dated Feb 15, 1649.

 The family vacated the Castle when it was taken over in a battle with the Scottish Army on  Dec  13, 1643 when his brother Thomas was shot.  He then lived in a house with a moat called Giddy Hall in  Sandbach and in 1631 he was living at Finchley, Co Middlesex.     Richard died June 2, 1645 in Sandbach, Cheshire, England,  at age  85.

Children of Richard Steele and Cicely Shaw and/or Ann Smith

*** -Lord Chancellor of Ireland William Steele 

b. Aug 19, 1610 -1680, *** Direct Ancestor  

-Anna Steele 1603 – 1603

-Isabella Steele Baptized Oct 14, 1604  - d. Sept 11, 1608

-Alice Steele Baptized Oct 11, 1607

-Cicely Steele Baptized Jan 20, 1612 d. April 12, 1613

-Lawrence Steele Baptized July 12, 1616.  

Clerk of the 💚 Irish House of Commons 1662 – 1697  

His daughter Mary Steele d 1673, married George Boddington

 (1646 – 1719), a director of the Bank of England

-Dorothy Steele Baptized Aug 30, 1618

Parents of Richard Steele (1580)

1540   Thomas Steele (1540 – died  5-28-1607)  England

 He was born in Sandbach, Cheshire, England. 

He married Alice Latham  (1536-1561) in 1557

He died  May 28, 1607 in England.  

He was a Yeoman and lived in Weston, Chester County.

1565 –  His Mother was  Alice Steele  (1536 – 1607) She died in Sandbach, Cheshire, England

Children  of Thomas and Alice Steele

  - Richard Steele 1580 – 1645) of Sandbach,  Cheshire, England  *** Direct Ancestor

 -  George Steele (1561 – 1567)

  - Captain Thomas  Steele  was the Governor of Beeston Castle and was shot to death on January 29, 1643 for surrendering it to the Royalist during the War of three Kingdoms when the Scottish Army swept into the area but were defeated. 

The parents of Thomas Steele (1540)

John Steele 1520 – 1595 and Mary Brorcith  1520 –

John Steele and Mary Brorcith  had one son:   Thomas 1540 – 1607   (**Direct Ancestor)

John Steele was born in England in 1520 and died at age 75 January 10, 1595 in Fairsted, Essex, England  a civil parish in the Braintree district of Essex northeast of London and a community of farming hamlets, maybe the true origin of so many future Steele generations becoming excellent  farmers.

💚We Steeles are proud of our English and Irish Heritage 💚