Named After A Scoundrel?

The Link To Political Intrigue

 

 

On Thursday January 29th 1846 Robert Halstead Hargreaves was taken to court for vote rigging and appeared before the Northern Division of the County of Chester.

The incident came about because Robert Hargreaves was a politician and was accused of assigning land to individuals for the purpose of ensuring that they were registered to vote for him.

Ironic then that a few years later the son of Robert Halstead Hargreaves became a Justice of the Peace!

It all came about because of a parcel of land known as Holt's Farm, which was divided into parcels of land. This land was given to his sons Samuel and Robert Hargreaves.

A petitioner called James Newton objected to this and the case was referred to the Court.

Mr Justice Tindal found in favour of Robert Hargreaves and decided that no point of law had been broken and that in fact the transfer of land had been an act of love by a father for his sons.

Strange then that a Public House should be named after the man. It is of scholarly interest whether in fact there was in any way some discrepancy.

It certain roused the suspicions of James Newton. The Court however ruled against him.

Robert Hargreaves was a pillar in his community of Gnosall located in Staffordshire. It was in fact his country seat.

Why then again a Public House in Lancashire where the Hargreaves owned some land and a farm should warrant the naming of a popular pub in the area is again something to consider.

Robert Hargreaves died in 1880 with the Rank of Major.