When the Normans came in William the Conquerors' time (1066-1087) the area known as Baggiley in Cheshire was held by Hamon Massy, Baron of Durham Massy, was given it as reward for his Knights service and which was to be handed down to his heirs and successors.

Around the time of King John, (1129-1216), the heir of Hamon Massy, another Hamon Massy, gave Mathew Massy of Bromhale Bromhale, Duckenfield, and two parts of Baggiley. At this time the "Hamon Massy" heirs adopted the name Baggiley, as well. Later to be known as Baguley, derivatives of which include Baggaley, Baggaly and Baggarley, so our original name was Massy.

It is certain that this town of Baguley, some twelve miles south west of Manchester, gave the name to the family Baggiley (Baguley). There were certain Baggileys known to be resident as early as the reign of Henry III, (1216-1272).

As to whether Hamon Massy, Baron of Durham was a direct ancestor of Sir William de Baggiley (aka de Baguley) still has to be established.

Sir William de Baggiley (aka de Baguley) born c1260 was knighted by King Edward I, and later married one of the King's daughters, Lucy Corona who was born out of wedlock. It was quite common in those days for the King to have children by someone other than the Queen. Lucy's mother (a Lady in Waiting) worked in the King's court. Sir William and Lucy had five children who all married into well-to-do families. During this time the Baguley family were quite well up in the aristocracy of England. They owned the Salt Mines in Cheshire, the largest in Europe and a mill for processing from which they made their fortune.

In the reign of Edward II, (1284-1327), Sir William de Baggiley was Lord of Baguley and built Baguley Hall c1320 and was Lord of the Manor until his death. At which time he also owned a manor at Hyde, another at Levenshulme in Lancashire and an inn called The Ryle Thorn in Baguley. He was succeeded by his son John Baggiley (aka John Baguley) born c1290; who died around 1356 and his daughter Isabel as joint heirs of his property. Isabel married Sir John Leigh of Booths, a widower. It was their eldest son William who inherited Baguley Hall which remained in the Leigh family until the late seventeenth century, when the line terminated in Edward Leigh. He had married Elinour Tatton of Wythenshawe Hall and although they had three daughters, there was no son to succeed him.

An effigy of Sir William is housed in St. Mary's Church, Bowden Parish, Cheshire not far from the old Baguley Hall. Unfortunately the coat of arms was demolished when Baguley Hall was made over to Sir John Leigh of Booths near Knutsford around 1353.

Baguley Hall is a unique, Grade 1 listed, timber framed hall, built in the 1350's and in the guardianship of English Heritage. It has stood empty since the 1950's when it ceased to be occupied as a farmhouse, but not open to the public.

Research shows the Baggarley branch of the family gradually moved south over the following centuries, with temporary residence in various locations including, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire before finally moving to London. Here the earliest record shows them located in Sudbury Green in the county of Middlesex and Putney in the County of Surrey until 1881 when there where only twelve such families recorded in the Census of that year, all resident in just three of the London boroughs; Islington, Lambeth and Southwark.

Emigration to America must have occurred at an early stage as there is known to be a very large number of Baggarley's spanning the whole of the United States. However despite many attempts our researcher has failed to make contact with anyone there who has any history of the family in the States and prepared to share it.

Emigration to New Zealand however is known to have taken place in September 1841, aboard the barque Mary Ann arriving in Nelson, New Zealand in February 1842 with the first birth, of the family registered there, following just two days latter, from here the family has laid down roots in both New Zealand and Australia.

Three Baggarley's are known to have laid down there lives for King and Country during the first world war and are buried in Commonwealth War Grave Crematories in Shrapnel Valley, Turkey, 1915, The Somme, France, 1916 and Baghdad, Iraq, 1917.

Several Baggarley's have been connected in some manner or the other to the Nobility; the following being an excerpt from a piece on James Stanley Seventh Earl of Derby;

I had procured Baggarley, who was prisoner in this town, to come over to you to satisfy my letter. I have told him my reasons, and he will tell them you, which done may save the spilling of blood in that island and, maybe, of some here, which is dear to you; but of that," he adds finely, "take no case, neither treat at all for it, for I perceive it will do you more hurt than good."

Recent research, from papers published 1649 - 1650, shows this to be one Humphrey Baggarley.

The whole article can be found at http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/fulltext/lw1874/ch07a.htm

Others were beneficiaries, in 1812, of the will of one Lady Elizabeth Clarke the wife of Sir Robert Clarke the 4th Baronet who had died in 1770.

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