Catalogue description DELAVAL (HORSLEY) of SEATON DELAVAL

On 28 September 1423 John Delaval of Newsham made a settlement of his lands in Newsham and Blythesnook on his daughter and heiress Elizabeth in marriage with John Horsley.

Elizabeth died pre 1456 and her son "James de la Vale of Seton de la Vale, otherwise called James Horseley" inherited Newsham and Blythesnook; on the death of his kinswoman dame Elizabeth Burcester in 1469, he succeeded to Seaton Delaval. His succession was disputed by Marquis Montague (Sheriff of Northumberland 1466-71), and James was imprisoned in Newcastle and then London. Delaval was forced to release his rights but when Montague fell at Barnet in 1471 he obtained restoration. On 9 July 1484 he received a royal pardon.

By his wife Margery, daughter of Robert Mitford, James Delaval had four sons, John, Robert, Guy and Anthony. When Guiscard Harbottle of Horton was killed in 1513 his son and heir George was only four years old, and it would seem that Horton was occupied during his minority, by the Delavals who in some way had got possession of the charters and muniments of the manor.

Before 20 June 1492 John Delaval married Anne daughter of Sir Thos. Grey of Chillingham and he died on 4 February 1497/8. By an inquisition 30 September 1505 it was found that George Delaval was son and heir of John Delaval and was three years old at his father's death. He died 15 March 1513/14 before he could be married to Elizabeth, daughter of Richard, Lord Lumley, as earlier contracted. His heir was his brother John, born posthumously, 16 April 1498.

John Delaval was a prominent man on the border for which he was knighted. Sir John was five times sheriff of Northumberland, 1527, 1533, 1542, 1548 and 1554. His will is dated 4 December 1562 and he died on 14 December. His eldest son and heir was "John Dellavell" who was his'full and sole executor'. He was already married and had three sons, Robert, Henry and Thomas, and a daughter, Jane. From the first Sir John's younger son Edward were descended the Delavals of Tynemouth.

An inquisition taken 10 November 1563 after the death of Sir John Delaval found that his heir was his son John then aged 40. Like his father, John Delaval became a knight and served as sheriff of Northumberland in 1565 and 1571.

Sir John made his will on 31 December 1571 and died on 3 January 1571/2. He mentions his three sons, Robert, Henry and Thomas, and two daughters, Anne and Katheryn in this document.

The eldest son Robert was aged 30 at his father's death. He served as sheriff in 1575, 1583 and 1592 and was knighted on 13 April 1603. On his death on 1 January 1606/7 his eldest son Sir Ralph Delaval succeeded him. Ralph's younger son Thomas left a 'catalogue of the acts' of his father, in which he tells us "He was a justice of the peace, of the quorum, in commission of oyer and terminer, the custos rotulorum, a deputy lieutenant; he had been three times sheriff of Northumberland; he was a commissioner for the Borders, one of the high commissioners of Durham, and was twice called upon to give the King an account of county affairs .....". When Sir Ralph died on 24 November 1628, his grandson and heir, Ralph, succeeded to a heavily encumbered estate. The young heir was left with £100 per year. He had been educated at Oxford and matriculated at Queen's College 15 June 1638 and was admitted to Lincoln's Inn 28 November 1639. At the age of 24 he married Anne, widow of Hughe Fraser, and daughter of Alexander Leslie, first earl of Leven, at St. Nicholas' Newcastle, 2 April 1646.

On account of his marriage Ralph Delaval naturally had close ties with the Presbyterians and was in favour with the Parliamentarians. In November 1649 he became first sheriff of Northumberland under the Common wealth and was returned MP for Northumberland to Richard Cromwell's Parliament 1659. After the Restoration he was MP for Northumberland in 1660 but lost his seat in 1661. He was elected to the Long Parliament in 1677 and served as MP on three subsequent occasions, March and October 1679 and March 1681. He was successful in his venture into coalmining at Hartley and he created local trade when he built the harbour at Seaton Sluice. He was created baronet 29 June 1660.

The first baronet's two eldest sons had died in his lifetime, childless; therefore on his death, 29 August 1691, he was succeeded by his third son Sir Ralph. He died in 1696, when his personal estate went to pay his debts and Seaton Delaval and Hartley passed to his widow under the marriage settlement. His only daughter Diana married William, son of Edward Blackett of Newby, Yorks, in 1699; and his successor to the baronetcy and entailed estate was his younger brother Sir John Delaval.

Sir John had a distinguished military career, having served in Flanders, and rose to be a Colonel in the Guards. He was unable to pay the marriage portion of Diana which, with interest, at her death, amounted to over £14,000. Seaton Delaval was sold to George Delaval, a distant kinsman of John.

Admiral Delaval was a younger son of George Delaval of North Dissington, who only received a legacy of £100 from his father. However a combined naval and diplomatic career brought him an enormous fortune. He was envoy to Morocco 1700 and 1707 and Portugal 1710, rear admiral 1718 and vice admiral 1722. He also bought the forfeited estate of Bavington as well as Seaton Delaval. Between 1719 and his death in 1723 he built the new hall at Seaton Delaval, designed by Vanburgh, and occupied himself in planting and improving the estate. He died at the age of 55 leaving Bavington to his sister's son George Shafto, and the remainder of his estates to his brother's son Francis Blake Delaval.