The rise to prominence of
Cllr. Edward Ayrton and his son Dr. Edmund Ayrton marks the beginning of a middle-class dynasty that endures to this day. Without entering the echelons of the British
Establishment, winning knighthoods or peerages, they maintained a durable professional standing over several centuries, achieving prominence in various fields, particularly those with a creative dimension, such as music and art. The family is particularly associated with the cities of
Ripon and, later,
Chester, with leading members also gravitating to
London. The Ayrton family can be traced to the Ripon area since at least the time of the English Civil War. The father, grandfather and great-grandfather of the Mayor were all
clerics in the district, as vicars of
Nidd or
South Stainley: • Rev.
Edward Ayrton (b. 1628) • Rev.
Edward Ayrton (1664-1734) • Rev.
Francis Ayrton The Rev. Edward Ayrton (b. 1664) is presumably the same as the one designated a vicar choral at
Ripon Minster, though that appointment was - perhaps confusingly - normally for laymen; he was an MA graduate. The Rev. Francis Ayrton taught at the city's
Grammar School.
Edward Ayrton (1698-1774), the mayor of Ripon, had seven children. One of Edward's daughters married
Nicholas Thomas Dall, the Danish painter.
William Ayrton (1726-1799) was Edward's eldest child and a brother of Edmund; he was baptised on 18 November 1726. He was
organist of
Ripon Minster from 7 June 1748 until his death on 2 February 1799. By his wife Catherine, who died at Chester on 19 September 1819, he had two sons, both of whom were organists at Ripon.
William Francis Morrell Ayrton (1778-1850) was the elder son and succeeded as
organist on 25 June 1799, but moved to
Chester soon after. He had previously served in the Chapel Royal, in London, where his uncle Dr. Edmund Ayrton was the Master. This William had an estate at Abbot's Grange, on the outskirts of the city and founded a branch of the family that also maintained its prominence. The city has since swallowed up the estate but a street-name commemorates its existence. William died in Chester on 8 November 1850, and his estate was inherited by his eldest son, William Francis Ayrton, co-founder of the firm of Ayrton & Groome. Among this William's ten children, by two marriages, were
Randle Ayrton (1869-1940) and
Maxwell Ayrton (1874-1960).
Nicholas T. D. Ayrton (1782-1822), known as
Thomas Ayrton, was the younger son and followed his brother to become the third Ayrton in succession to be
organist of Ripon Minster. He held the post for nearly twenty years before his death, on 24 October 1822, ended an unbroken family tenure of nearly seventy-five years. ==See also==