Description:Reverend George Plaxton was closely associated with the Leveson-Gower family throughout his life. After resigning his curacy at Sheriffhales in Shropshire, he was granted the curacy of Barwick in Elmet in Yorkshire in 1703 by the family. Reverend Plaxton advised the Leveson-Gowers on the management of their estates in Staffordshire and Shropshire until his death in 1720.
Many of Plaxton’s letters survive in the Sutherland Papers, telling us about the history of the Leveson-Gower family and their estates, including Barlaston.
In a letter to Sir John Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Gower (1694-1754) Plaxton tells Sir John about the history of the curacy of Barlaston. He writes that the curacy was ‘in possession’ of ‘Gleab Land’ in Barlaston, adding that it was granted to the curate there by Sir John Leveson-Gower’s Grandfather.