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Oct 8, 20226 min read

The Acton Family Line

Updated: Aug 15


Acton

The Acton Family line is a rich tapestry of Baronets, spanning generations and boasting a legacy of distinction. Among the notable figures that have emerged from this illustrious lineage, one cannot overlook the towering figure of Lord Acton. Renowned for his intellectual prowess and unwavering principles, Lord Acton stands out as a beacon of excellence within his family's history. His contributions to academia, politics, and society at large have left an indelible mark, earning him a place of reverence and admiration among scholars and historians alike. While opinions may vary on who truly represents the pinnacle of achievement within the Acton Family line, Lord Acton's legacy undoubtedly shines brightly as a testament to the enduring legacy of this esteemed lineage.



Lord Acton 6th Cousin 3x removed


Delving into the ancestral roots of my family, a significant figure emerges in the form of my 3rd Great Grandmother, Sarah Acton. She plays a pivotal role in connecting our lineage to the Bonds through her marriage to William Bond, my 3rd Great Grandfather, who traces his ancestry back to the esteemed Bonds de Earth.

Throughout history, the Bonds have held positions of prominence and influence, adding a layer of prestige to our family tree.

Conversely, the Acton family line is characterized by meticulous documentation, painting a vivid picture of their heritage and contributions.

An in-depth examination of William and Sarah's union reveals a harmonious match that transcends mere genealogical connections. It symbolizes the intertwining of two storied lineages, enriching not only my family but also extending its impact to numerous related families who share in the legacy of the Acton bloodline.

ROBERT De ACTON 1220-1259

23rd great-grandfather


9th Great Grandfather. Sir Edward Acton, 1st Baronet (20 July 1600 - c. June 1659) was the son of Walter Acton, Sheriff of 3.Shropshire. He was created 1st Baronet Acton, of Aldenham, Aldenham Hall, in Morville, Shropshire England on 17 January 1643/44.

Sir Edward was a Royalist during the English Civil War and fought at the Battle of Edgehill and the Siege of Bridgnorth. At the Battle of Worcester, he was wounded in the thigh.

Sir Edward was MP for Bridgnorth during the Long and Short Parliaments and also sat in King Charles I's Parliament at Oxford.

He married Sarah Mytton, and they had the following children:

1. Sir Walter Acton, 2nd Baronet (1621-1665) 2. Edward Acton (1623-1654) 3. Thomas Acton (1623-1677) 4. Frances Acton (1625-1626) 5. William Acton (c. 1627-1659) 6. Robert Acton (1628-1654) 7. Richard Acton (1630-1674)






Sir Edward Acton 9th Great Grandfather




8th great-grandfather. Sir Walter Acton, 2nd Baronet (1621 – 1665) was the son of Sir Edward Acton, 1st Baronet, he succeeded to the baronetage upon the death of his father. Sir Walter was elected MP for Bridgnorth at the Convention Parliament of 1660.

He married Catherine Cresset, and they had the following children:

1. Sir Edward Acton, 3rd Baronet (1649-1716) 2. Walter Acton (1651-11 Mar 1718) 3. Richard Acton (b. c. 1652-Mar 1705) 4. Thomas Acton 5. William Acton 6. Robert Acton (b. 1655) 7th Great Grandfather. > Robert Acton Jnr 6th G.Gf. > Charles Acton 5th G.Gf. > John Acton 4th G.Gf. > Sarah Acton 3rd G.Gm (hus) William Bond 3rd G.Gf. > William Robert Bond 2nd G.Gf. > James Robert Bond 1st G.Gf. > Harry Bond Grand father. > Cyril Leonard Bond. > Noel L Bond. 7. Francis Acton (1657-24 Aug 1733) 8. Catherine Acton 9. Elizabeth Acton 10. Sarah Acton




John Acton 4th Great Grandfather




7th Great Grand Uncle. Sir Edward Acton, 3rd Baronet(c. 1650 - 28 September 1716) was the son of Sir Walter Acton, 2nd Baronet, he succeeded to the baronetage upon the death of his father. He was Tory Member of Parliament for Bridgnorth from 1689 until 1705 and was a barrister and member of the Inner Temple.

He married Mary Walter, and they had the following children:

1. Sir Whitmore Acton, 4th Bt. (1678 - January 1732) 2. Mary Acton (born 1678) 3. Edward Acton (1681-1741) 4. John Acton (born bef. 1716) 5. Sarah Acton 6. Elizabeth Acton 7. Frances Acton (died 29 October 1718) 9. Catherine Acton He held the office of High Sheriff of Shropshire from 1684 to 1685. He held the office of Recorder of Bridgnorth in 1701.

1st Cousin 8x Removed. Sir Whitmore Acton, 4th Baronet (c. 1677 - 17 January 1731/32) was the son of Sir Edward Acton, 3rd Baronet, he succeeded to the baronetcy upon the death of his father.

He married Lady Elizabeth Gibbon, and they had the following children:

1. Sir Richard Acton, 5th Baronet (1 January 1712-20 November 1791) 2. Elizabeth Acton (b. bef 1730) 3. Jane Acton (b. bef 1732) 4. Mary Acton (b. bef 1732) He held the office of High Sheriff of Shropshire from 1727 to 1728.


2nd Cousin7x removed Sir Richard Acton, 5th Baronet (1 January 1712 - 20 November 1791) was an English baronet. The son of Sir Whitmore Acton, 4th Bt., he succeeded to the baronetcy upon the death of his father.

He married Lady Anne Grey, Daughter of Henry Grey, 3rd Earl of Stamford on 21 September 1744, and they had the following children:

1. Elizabeth Acton (b. 1746) 2. Frances Acton (1749-1762) He held the office of High Sheriff of Shropshire from 1751 to 1752. As he had no surviving male issue, the title went to his distant cousin, Sir John Francis Edward Acton.



Sir John Francis Edward Acton

3rd Cousin 6x removed

Sir John Francis Edward Acton, 6th Baronet (3 June 1736 – 12 August 1811) was commander of the naval forces of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and prime minister of Naples under Ferdinand IV.

He was the son of Edward Acton, a physician at Besançon, and was born there in 1736, succeeding to the title and estates in 1791, on the death of his second cousin once removed, Sir Richard Acton of Aldenham Hall, Shropshire. He served in the navy of Tuscany, and in 1775 commanded a frigate in the joint expedition of Spain and Tuscany against Algiers, in which he displayed such courage and resource that he was promoted to high command.

In 1779 Queen Maria Carolina of Naples persuaded her brother the Grand-Duke Leopold of Tuscany to allow Acton, who had been recommended to her by Prince Caramenico, to undertake the reorganisation of the Neapolitan navy. The ability displayed by him in this led to his rapid advancement. He became commander-in-chief of both the army and the navy of the Kingdom of Naples, minister of finance, and finally prime minister.

His policy was devised in concert with the English ambassador, Sir William Hamilton, and aimed at substituting the influence of Austria and Great Britain for that of Spain at Naples. Such policy consequently involved open opposition to France and the French party in Italy. The financial and administrative measures resulting from a policy that necessitated a great increase of armaments made him intensely unpopular, and in December 1798 he shared the flight of the king and queen.

For the reign of terror which followed the downfall of the Parthenopean Republic, five months later, Acton has been held responsible. In 1804 he was for a short time deprived of the reins of government at the demand of France; but he was speedily restored to his former position, which he held till, in February 1806, on the entry of the French into Naples, he had to flee with the royal family into Sicily. He died at Palermo.

He had married, by papal dispensation (13 January 1799) Mary Anne, the eldest daughter of his brother, General Joseph Edward Acton (1 Oct 1737-12 Jan 1830), who was in the Neapolitan service, and had three children:

Sir Ferdinand Richard Edward Acton (later Dalberg-Acton) (1801-1837) Cardinal Acton (1803-1847) Elizabeth Acton (1806-1850) married Sir Robert Throckmorton, 8th Bt and had issue. The elder son, Sir Ferdinand, was the father of the first Baron Acton.

Sir Ferdinand Richard Edward Dalberg Acton




Further Reading: Genealogy of the Acton Family (PDF) The History of London, in Brief - Civil War and Restoration



Copyright © Noel Bond. Researched and written by Noel Bond, No written part of this Blog may be reproduced in any form, by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author.

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