1621/2-1690
Royalist, Courtier, M.P.,survivior

In 1646 after the Civil War the Parliamentarian Commissioners declared of Robert Werden that he

"had been a most violent enemy in arms and actual rebellion against the parliament and had impoverished, ruined and almost utterly undone many known friends to it, both in their persons, dwellings and estates, by sword plunder and manifold menaces, both by words and warrants and administering general terror and astonishment to the whole country.
He kept under his command men, barbarous and of bloody spirits like himself, ready to act all his illegal and cursed enterprises."

The Tudor mansion of Burton Hall, Tarvin home of Robert Werden

Ancient Utkinton Hall, ancestral home of the Dones, chief foresters of Delamere. Head of the family at this time was Sir John Crewe who had married into it.

The Werden family were not gentry by birth, but brewers in Chester and bought Burton Hall as their family home.
At the eve of the Civil War, in 1640, John Werden, the head of the family, was created a commissioner of array or recruiting officer for the Royalist army of Charles 1st. Robert, his son, was made a Colonel of horse under Sir John Byron, commander in Chester. When Chester was besieged robert and his friend, col Morrow often slipped through the defences into Cheshire. They plotted together one night at Burton Hall to loot Utkinton Hall, about 3 miles away cross country. John Crewe, a parliament man, records the raid in his diary and says that these troops led by Werden and Morrow

“Stripped the hall of plate, jewels and writing. “

Shortly afterwards Robert was captured when the troops from Chester attacked Christleton. Meanwhile Morrow was leading 800 troops near Tarvin and was attacked by Sir William Brereton and his forces. In the subsequent fight Morrow was hit by a musket ball and was killed.
After the War Robert became quite a slippery customer

The Twists and Turns of Robert Werden

1646

Chester eventually surrendered and Robert was asked for the jewels from Utkinton. He replied “I entrusted them to a man in the Nantwich fight and he was slain. I do not know where they are now. “

1648

When his father died they his estates were confiscated by Parliament.

1651

At the Battle of Worcester Robert was suspected of stalking King Charles 11 and seeking to "secure his person." The family estate was returned by Parliament soon after.

1659

When Cromwell died he joined the Royalist uprising led by Sir John Booth. At the Battle of Winnington Bridge at Northwich he was captured and arrested by Parliament as a traitor He was later released, perhaps after making a deal.

1660

King Charles 2nd returned and Werden was arrested as he was suspected of betraying his friends at Battle of Winnington Bridge.

1662

Robert was now a Groom of the Bedchamber to the King's brother the Duke of York. One of his duties was to look after the tenancy of Duke of York's mistress's house. (She was Arabella Churchill’s) He was also recruited by Thomas Scott who “had the trust of mannageing ye intelligence both forraine and domestrick" as one his agents or spys, although it is possible that Robert played a double game with Scot by trying to mislead him or probably to insure his future

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1672

Robert was elected as M.P. for Chester

1679

Robert lost his seat.

1685

Charles 2nd died and the Duke of York became James 2nd. Robert became an M.P. again in the first Parliament of James.

1688 James was forced offf the throne after the invasion of William of Orange and Robert became Treasurer to the new Queen Mary, James 2nd's daughter.

1690

He died aged about 69

Robert's wheeling and dealing bore some fruit for his immediate descendants joined the aristocracy. His son John was made a Baron and his two granddaughters, Lucy and Charlotte, married the Duke of St. Albans and his younger brother William on 13th December 1722.