Three baronetcies were created for different families bearing the name of Halford, but related to one another. The first baronetcy was created in 1641 for Richard Halford in the Baronetage of England. It became extinct in 1780 with the death of the seventh and last baronet. The second baronetcy was created in 1706, also in the Baronetage of England, but became extinct in 1720 in the second generation. The third and last baronetcy was created in 1809 in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom for a prominent physician descended maternally from the fifth Baronet of the previous creation. It too became extinct with the death of the fourth Baronet in 1897.
Halford baronets, of Wistow, co Leicester (18 December 1641; extinct 1780)
Sir Richard Halford, 1st Baronet, Son of Edward Halford, Esquire, of Rutland, Inherited the Wistow estate in 1608 upon the death of his uncle, Andrew Halford, Esquire. Richard was Sheriff of Leicestershire in the 19th year of James I's reign, Sheriff of Rutland in 1619 and 1631, created a baronet on 18 December 1641. He and his eldest son Andrew were notable for their allegiance to Charles I. He married twice, Firstly to Isabel Bowman, daughter of George Bowman, Gent, of Medbourne, Leicestershire by whom he had 2 sons Andrew and George. Secondly, to Joane Adams nee Archer. Sir Richard and his 2 sons are memorialised on a grand effigy in St Wistans Church, Wistow, Leicestershire. Sir Richard was succeeded by his grandson Thomas
Sir Thomas Halford, 2nd Baronet, Son of Andrew Halford, Esquire, of Kilby, Leicestershire and Mary Hackett, Daughter of Humphrey Hackett, Gent, of Creeton, Lincolnshire. Commissioner of the Leicestershire Militia in 1659. Sheriff of Leicestershire in 1662. Arrested in 1668 for killing Edmund Temple, Esquire, in a tavern quarrel and received a royal pardon the same year. He married Selina Welby, daughter of William Welby, Esquire, of Denton, Lincolnshire and was succeeded by his son
Sir Thomas Halford, 3rd Baronet MP for Leicestershire 1689–1690. He died unmarried, and was succeeded by his next brother
Sir William Halford, 4th Baronet who was succeeded by his next brother
Sir Richard Halford, 5th Baronet, great-grandfather maternally of Sir Henry Halford the physician and first baronet of the 1809 creation. He married Mary Cotton, dau of Rev. William Cotton of Broughton Asley, and had five sons and three daughters, including
*Sir William Halford, 6th Baronet and
*Thomas Halford, father of four sons, and
*Elizabeth Halford who married John Smalley, an alderman of Leicester, and had with other issue, a second daughter:
Sir William Halford, 6th Baronet who died unmarried, and was succeeded by his nephew
Sir Charles Halford, 7th Baronet the last baronet of the 1641 creation, son of Thomas Halford, second son of the 5th Baronet. His widow Sarah, Lady Denbigh continued to enjoy the property until her death 2 October 1814. Lady Halford remarried 1783 Basil Feilding, 6th Earl of Denbigh, but had no issue by either marriage. In 1814, the property finally passed to his first cousin once removedSir Henry Fielding.
Halford baronets, of Welham, co Leicester (27 June 1706; extinct 1720)
This baronetcy was created on 27 June 1706 for William Halford, possibly descended from the Halfords of Wistow.. He married c. 1692 Lady Frances Cecil, second surviving daughter of James Cecil, 3rd Earl of Salisbury and Lady Margaret Manners.
Sir James Halford, 2nd Baronet
Sir William Halford, 3rd Baronet
Halford baronets, of Wistow, co Leicester (27 September 1809; extinct 1897)
This baronetcy was created on 27 September 1809 for Henry Halford, a prominent society physician who was physician extraordinary to the King since 1793. Halford was born Henry Vaughan in 1766, son of Dr. James Vaughan, and changed his name to Halford by Act of Parliament in expectation of inheriting Wistow Hall and the Halford wealth from the last of the Halfords. The baronetcy became extinct with his grandson, the fourth baronet, in 1897.
Sir Henry Halford, 1st Baronet, born Henry Vaughan who inherited Wistow Hall in 1814 with the death of Lady Denbigh, the long-lived widow of the last of the previous Halford baronets. He was President of the Royal College of Physicians 1820–1844. He was succeeded by his only son:
Sir Henry St. John Halford, 3rd Baronet, who was the first Chairman of Leicestershire County Council and a very prominent Volunteer and marksman. He married Elizabeth Ursula Bagshawe, daughter of W.J. Bagshawe, of The Oaks near Sheffield. The last Sir Henry had no direct descendants. On his death, Wistow Hall was inherited by his friend the 3rd Lord Cottesloe, who as T F Fremantle had joined with him and W E Metford in their experimental work on the rifle. The 4th Baron Cottesloe, whose daughter and son-in-law inherited Wistow Hall in 1958, was named partly for this friend of his father.
Halford's original arms were: Argent, a greyhound passant sable, on a chief azure three fleurs-de-lis or. For his unremitting professional attentions to the duke of York during his last illness he received, by royal warrant, a grant of armorial augmentations and supporters. For the centre fleur-de-lis was substituted a rose argent; and, in further augmentation, was added, on a canton ermine a staff entwined with a serpent proper, and ensigned with a coronet composed of crosses patée and fleurs-de-lis. As a crest of augmentation, a staff entwined with a serpent or, as on the canton. As supporters, two emews proper, each gorged with a coronet, composed of crosses patée and fleurs-de-lis. According to the source, this is the only time that a practising physician was granted supporters. The 2 emews came from a present of the birds from George IV to his physician; these birds did much damage to the garden at Wistow, and one was eventually stuffed and kept in a case.
