Astley Baronets
There have been four baronetcies created for members of the Astley family, three in the Baronetage of England and one in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. Only one creation is extant as of 2008. The Astley family were descended from Sir Thomas de Astley of Astley, Warwickshire, who was killed in the Battle of Evesham in 1265. He married twice. From his first marriage to Joane de Blois descended the Astley baronets of Patshull, whose family seat was at Patshull Hall, Staffordshire, and the Astley baronets of Everley, Wiltshire. From his second marriage to Editha Constable of Melton Constable, Norfolk, descended the Astley baronets of Melton Constable, the Astley baronets of Hill Morton (who succeeded as Barons Hastings – of the 1295 creation), and the Barons Astley of Reading.
The Astley Baronetcy, of Melton Constable in the County of Norfolk, was created in the Baronetage of England on 21 January 1642 for Isaac Astley. The title became extinct on his death in 1659.
The Astley Baronetcy, of Hill Morton in the County of Warwick, was created in the Baronetage of England on 25 June 1660 for Jacob Astley, nephew of the first Baronet of Melton Constable. For more information on this creation, see Baron Hastings.
The Astley Baronetcy, of Patshull in the County of Stafford, was created in the Baronetage of England on 13 August 1662 for Richard Astley. The second Baronet represented Shrewsbury and Shropshire in the House of Commons. The title became extinct on his death in 1772.
The Astley, later Astley-Corbett, later Astley Baronetcy, of Everley in the County of Wiltshire, was created in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom on 15 August 1821 for John Astley, Member of Parliament for Wiltshire and Wiltshire North. He was a descendant of Thomas Astley, younger brother of the first Baronet of Patshull. The third Baronet represented Lincolnshire North in Parliament as a Conservative. He married Eleanor Blanche Mary, daughter of Thomas George Corbett. Their eldest son, Francis, the fourth Baronet, assumed by Royal license the additional surname of Corbett in 1890. His grandson, Francis, the fifth Baronet, was killed in action in the Second World War. The title became extinct on the death of the sixth Baronet, who bore the surname of Astley only, in 1994.
Read more about Astley Baronets: Astley Baronets, of Melton Constable (1642), Astley Baronets of Hill Morton (1660), Astley Baronets, of Patshull (1662), Astley, Later Astley-Corbett, Later Astley Baronets, of Everley (1821)