The Founder Members.

COL. RICHARD GODOLPHIN WALMESLEY

CHALONER D.L., J.P.

 

Richard Godolphin Walmesley Long, the second son of Richard Penruddocke Long, M.P of Rood Ashton, Wiltshire, was born at Dolforgan Hall, Newtown, Montgomeryshire, the Welsh seat of the family, on the 12th. October 1856. His mother, Charlotte Anna Hume, was a descendant, through her grandmother, Frances Laura Dundas, of Robert de Brus, Lord of Skelton, who founded Gisborough Abbey in 1119.

 

He assumed the surname of Chaloner by Royal License under the will of his Grand Uncle, Admiral Thomas Chaloner, C.B. in 1888 and inherited the Gisborough Estate. He had a distinguished military career. He joined the army in January 1878 as a subaltern in the 6th. Dragoon Guards, and then transferred to the 3rd. King's Own Hussars in 1881.

He also served with the North Somerset Yeomanry and the North Riding Volunteers Regiment, rising to the rank of Colonel.

 

He served under Lord Roberts in the Afghan War 1879-80 and commanded the 1st. Battalion of the Imperial Yeomanry in the South African War 1900. From 1895 to 1900 he was the Member of Parliament for West Wiltshire and resided at Melksham House.

 

He became Member of Parliament for the Abercromby Division of Liverpool 1910-17. He was created the first Baron Gisborough in 1917. He left Melksham in 1903 and went to live at Gisborough Hall, Cleveland. He died there in 1938 at the age of 82

 

The Chaloner family can be traced back to Mayloc Kryme (Maelawg Crwm), 1135-1180. According to J.Y.W. Lloyd's History of Powys Fadog, his son Maydoc was in France in 1199 with Richard I, who was returning from the Holy Land, and while he was there

 

 "- he took the Lord of Chaloner prisoner, seized his lands and assumed his armorial bearings, viz. sable, a chevron between three cherubim or. "

 Trahayrne, circa 1214, son of Gwillm, son of Maydoc Kryme assumed the name of Chaloner to commemorate the exploits of his grandfather. Thus was the start of the Chaloner dynasty . The family still have the same arms and they are now depicted on the banner of the Chaloner Lodge.

Richard Chaloner had a remarkable Masonic career, as follows:­

 

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John Parker was born in Salisbury 1843. At the age of 28 he was a Bank Accountant in Devizes. In 1874 he was transferred to Melksham as the manager of the Wilts and Dorset Bank Ltd. The 1891 Census informs us that he was living in Melksham with his wife, Constance and their four children. In 1900 he was transferred to Bath and went to live at 25 Kewbridge Road. He died on the 18th January 1924, aged 81.

 

His Masonic career:­