| 1 |
The Census Rep. of 1901 gives 2,347,
including 6 of inland water; there are
also 11 acres of tidal water. |
| 2 |
For a plan of low lands in Croston
and Rufford see Lancs. and Ches. Rec.
(Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), i, 56. By
an Act passed in 1799 commissioners
were appointed to drain the lowlands out
of a fund to be raised by a rate. 'The
first operations under this Act were illconducted, and attended with much unnecessary expense, but the object was
ultimately effected'; Baines, Lancs. (ed.
1836), iii, 404. |
| 3 |
The pedestal and three steps remain.
The stocks and pump adjoined. See
Lancs. and Ches. Antiq. Soc. xvii, 10–13
for the crosses and the meaning of Hob
and Dob. |
| 4 |
Subs. R. Lancs. bdle. 250, no. 9. |
| 5 |
11 Geo. I, cap. 5. |
| 6 |
Lancs. Inq. and Extents (Rec. Soc.
Lancs. and Ches.), i, 62. The service is
afterwards stated to be that of one
knight's fee. Later it was changed to
socage, a rent of 1 lb. of pepper being paid.
The dependence on Hornby continued
to be recognized down to the 17th century, as will be seen from the inquisitions
quoted later. Thus also Sir Robert de
Nevill was charged with 20s. in 1378 as
due from a knight's fee in Croston and
Mawdesley (Harl. MS. 2085, fol. 421,
&c.), and in 1445–6 Thomas de Harrington held ten plough-lands and 6 oxgangs of land in Croston and Mawdesley
for one knight's fee, the relief being
100s.; Duchy of Lanc. Knights' Fees,
bdle. 2, no. 20. Lord Mounteagle afterwards held Croston as a member of
Hornby; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xi,
no. 1.
It is probable that Crosion and
Mawdesley together were assessed anciently
as six plough-lands, Chorley as two
plough-lands and Bispham as 6 oxgangs.
Tarleton was two plough-lands.
John Malherbe seems to have died at
the end of 1215; Rot. Lit. Claus. (Rec.
Com.), 244, 247. For the pedigree see
Pontefract Chartul. (Yorks. Arch. Soc.),
ii, introd.
A Thomas Malherbe acquired lands in
Croston in 1316; Add. MS. 32104, no.
29, 1414. |
| 7 |
Lancs. Inq. and Extents, 1, 145. The
grant may have been made because Mabel,
one of the sisters and co-heirs of John
Malherbe, married William de la Mare,
kinsman of John.
John de la Mare is described as 'lord of
Croston' in a Tarleton charter, which speaks
nevertheless of fourteen plough-lands
forming a knight's fee, instead of 10¾;
Cockersand Chartul. (Chet. Soc.), ii, 460.
He is styled 'Sir' in Burscough charters;
Dep. Keeper's Rep. xxxvi, App. 197–202.
John de la Mare appears in the records in 1237 and 1256; Orig. R. 21
Hen. III, m. 10; 38 Hen. III, m. 11.
In the latter year he had a dispute with
Warine de Walton and others respecting
a tenement in Croston; Close, 68, m.
4 d. In 1259 Hugh de Meynil claimed
that John de la Mare, Reyner de Croston,
Robert son of the Priest and others
should hold to an agreement respecting
100s. rent in Croston, Chorley, Tarleton
and Much Hoole (?); Curia Regis R.
162, m. 20 d. |
| 8 |
a William de la Mare was probably
the son of John. He granted to John
de la Mare, his 'cousin,' the field in
Croston called le Thennay (Finney) at
the water of Douglas and forest of Mawdesley, at a rent of £3 2s. a year. Jews
were excepted from common of pasture;
Raines MSS. (Chet. Lib.), xxv, p. 293.
As stated in the text, he in 1283 procured a charter for a market and fair. |
| 9 |
In 1302 the 'heirs of John de la
Mare,' holding of the fee of Hornby, had
one knight's fee in Croston and its members; Lancs. Inq. and Extents, i, 315. |
| 10 |
Final Conc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and
Ches.), ii, 26.
Reyner le Fleming, probably father of
Sir John, was in 1292 non-suited on
claiming a tenement in Croston against
John de Walton and others; Assize R.
408, m. 22.
An inquiry made in 1324 shows that
a mesne lordship of Croston had been
given to Sir Robert de Holland, for John
le Fleming in that year held the moiety
of the manor 'of the king in chief by
reason of the lands of Robert de Holland
being in the king's hands,' by the service
of half a knight's fee; Inq. a.q.d. file
74, no. 2 (18 Edw. II).
Sir John Fleming and Isabel his wife
with Sir William de Lea and Alice his
wife were plaintiffs in 1347 in a suit regarding 100 acres of turbary in Croston,
John de Burscough of Rycroft and other
Mawdesley people being defendants;
Assize R. 1435, m. 17 d. Isabel widow
of Sir John was defendant in 1356;
Duchy of Lanc. Assize R. 4, m. 7.
In 1346–55 the heirs of Sir William
de Lea and of Sir John Fleming held one
knight's fee in Croston of the Duke of
Lancaster, which John de la Mare formerly held of the manor of Hornby;
Feud. Aids, iii, 90. William Ashton and
William Fleming held the same in 1431;
ibid. 93. |
| 11 |
The pedigree is thus traced in a
pleading of 1472: John le Fleming
and Isabel -s. Thomas -s. Thomas -s.
John -s. William -s. William; Pal. of
Lanc. Plea R. 39, m. 14 d.
There is a pedigree of the family in
Foster's Yorks. Visit. 358.
There are a large number of Croston
and Mawdesley deeds in Towneley's MS.
BB (Add. MS. 32104). The following
are given as illustrating the connexion of
the Fleming family with the township:
Sir John le Fleming in 1316 granted
to Reyner son of Gervase de Croston and
Maud his wife land called the Fairland,
&c.; also to Richard de Kirkham, clerk,
and his lawful issue a messuage in Croston
formerly held by Amery the Clerk, an
oxgang of land formerly held by Thomas
le Fleming, &c., a rent of 12s. being payable; ibid. no. 1432, 13. In 1322 Sir
John released to William de Rufford all
his right in lands, &c., formerly belonging
to Alice daughter of Amery the Clerk in
Croston, viz. a house in the Drinkhouses,
an acre and half-virgate in the Mossacres, a burgage in Caynok-lache Street,
and 4 acres in Hordorne; a rent of 2s.
was to be paid; no. 98. He made a
further release of a messuage near Paddock lache in 1328; no. 1430.
Isabel le Fleming, as widow of Sir
John, in 1352 made a grant to Robert
son of Warine de Bispham, Alice his wife
and others; no. 1428.
Thomas Fleming in 1371 granted a
house, &c., in Croston to Richard the
Smith and Margaret his wife; and in
1377 gave a house with garden, an acre
of meadow in Osmondsleigh, and the
moiety of his water-mill at Croston to
Roger Bond the miller, at a rent of 2½
marks; no. 3, 4.
Sir Thomas Fleming, lord of Croston,
in 1386 granted a messuage and lands in
Croston to Richard Smith and Richard
his son; Towneley MS. RR (Add. MS.
32108), no. 633.
In 1403 Sir Thomas demised to
Lawrence del Hermitstead (Armitstead)
a place called Capelhedheus; ibid. BB, no.
1424. The will of a Thomas Fleming,
dated 1412–13, was among the Hesketh
deeds; he desired to be buried at Croston, and mentions a son Gilbert and
a daughter Joan; Piccope MSS. (Chet.
Lib.), iii, p. 34.
Richard son and heir of William
Fleming released to his father in 1451 all
his right in the manor of Croston, &c.;
Towneley MS. BB, no. 1440. William
son of William Fleming was in possession
in 1468; no. 1433.
In 1464 a jury was summoned to
recognize if William Fleming father of
William and formerly the husband of
Anne then wife of John Nevill had been
seised of forty messuages, a water-mill,
&c., in Croston, Mawdesley and Longton; Pal. of Lanc. Writs of Assize; 13
Aug. 4 Edw. IV. |
| 12 |
In June 1472 John Wombwell, as
trustee of John Fleming, granted to
Elizabeth late wife of William Fleming
and then wife of Roger Coton various
lands, &c., in Worth, Melton and Crampton for her life, with remainder to Elizabeth and Elizabeth, daughters and heirs
of the said William; Add. MS. 32104,
no. 1503. |
| 13 |
The descent of the manor to Hesketh
and Dalton is stated in the plea of 1472
above cited; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 39,
m. 14 d.
In 1482 Robert Dalton claimed a
moiety of the manor of Croston, with
twenty messuages, &c., in Bispham,
Mawdesley and Dalton, against Margaret
Dalton widow, Richard Dalton, esq.,
and Elizabeth his wife; ibid. 55, m. 8.
Richard Dalton was in possession of the
moiety of the manor in 1500; ibid. 90,
m. 5. In the same year Roger son
and heir of Richard Dalton granted to
Bartholomew son of William Hesketh
the reversion of messuages, &c., in
Longton and Croston, including the
fourth part of a water-mill in Croston,
and the third part of lands, &c., called
Selynhurst in Croston and Mawdesley;
ibid. 92, m. 1.
In 1477 Richard Dalton and Elizabeth
his wife conceded to John son of William
Fleming an annuity of 46s. 8d. charged
on lands, &c., in Croston and Mawdesley; Towneley MS. BB, no. 1638.
Richard and his wife in 1478 released
to Thomas Hesketh and Elizabeth his
wife all their interest in the lands of
William Fleming; no. 1547. They
made a feoffment of their estate in
1482, with remainder to Roger son of
Richard; no. 1551. Disputes between
Thomas Hesketh and Richard and James
Dalton were in 1489 referred to arbitration; Add. MS. 32107, no. 1162.
Again in 1500 Roger son of Richard
Dalton granted various lands, &c., in
Croston and Mawdesley, reserving only,
it would seem, the manor and demesne
lands; Towneley MS. BB, no. 1538.
See also Dep. Keeper's Rep. xl, App. 554.
Roger Dalton and William his son and
heir-apparent gave an acquittance for
money owing by Thomas Hesketh in
1520; Towneley MS. BB, no. 1542.
William Dalton in 1533 demised to
Thomas Hough an acre on the hill and
half an acre in the town meadow in
Croston; no. 1475.
Robert Dalton of Bispham and Joan
widow of William Dalton in 1558 sold
to Sir Thomas Hesketh the fourth part
of the manor of Croston with all other
their hereditaments there; no. 1555;
Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 19, m. 29. |
| 14 |
See the preceding note and the
account of Rufford. Thomas Hesketh
and Elizabeth his wife were tenants of
half the manor of Croston, &c., in 1486;
Final Conc. iii, 142. Hugh Hesketh was
the feoffee. In 1487 Thurstan Hall and
Elizabeth his wife, daughter and co-heir of
William Fleming, agreed to abide the
award of Thomas Earl of Derby and others
as to their disputes with Thomas son and
heir-apparent of Robert Hesketh, concerning manors, messuages, lands, &c., in
Wath, Clifton, Rathmell and Dalton in
Yorkshire, also in Croston, Mawdesley
and Longton in Lancashire; Towneley
MS. RR, no. 622. The wife, as Elizabeth
Fleming, had shortly before this ratified
the estate of Hugh Hesketh son of Robert
and brother of Thomas in the moiety of
the manor of Croston, and lands, &c., in
Croston, Mawdesley and Longton; no. 636.
Hugh Hesketh in 1490 and 1498 released his right in the same to Thomas
Hesketh; no. 621, 637. See Final Conc.
iii, 152; also Dep. Keeper's Rep. xl, App.
540, 543. The Halls retained the Yorkshire manors.
The Heskeths had long been landowners in Croston and Mawdesley, having
purchased several small holdings, as appears
from their charters. In 1503 Thomas
Hesketh purchased lands in Croston, Ulnes
Walton and Bretherton from Thomas
Banastre of Wigan; Final Conc. iii, 154.
George Hesketh of Kirkham (1572)
held lands in Croston and Mawdesley of
Sir Thomas Hesketh and Roger Croston;
Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xiii, no. 15. |
| 15 |
In 1623 the Hesketh moieties ofCroston and Mawdesley were stated to be
held of the lords of Leylandshire; Lancs.
Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), iii,
356. |
| 16 |
Baines, Lancs. (ed. 1836), iii, 397.
The manor of Croston had been regularly
named in Hesketh settlements; e.g. Pal.
of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 237, m. 52
(1696). |
| 17 |
Information of Mr. S. C. de Trafford,
present lord. The manorial rights of this
moiety were considered to be attached to
a farm known as Manor House Farm in
Croston. |
| 18 |
In a pleading of 1346 the plaintiff
Sir William de Lea is called son and heir
of Maud de la Mare, seised of a tenement in Croston in the time of Edward I.
She had married one John de Walton,
who demised the tenement to Benet de
Mawdesley, by whom the defendants
entered; De Banco R. 346, m. 88 d.;
349, m. 118. William son of William
de la Lea in 1325 granted lands in Croston
to William son of Warine de Golborne
and Nichola his wife for a pound of wax
yearly; Raines MSS. (Chet. Lib.), xxv,
p. 256. The seal shows a shield bearing
three bars. In the same year he granted
a burgage in Croston to Walter son of
Henry de Croston; Towneley MS. BB,
no. 1619. William de Lea of Croston
was defendant in 1325, and in the following year is called William son of William
de Lea; De Banco R. 258, m. 436 d.;
264, m. 276 d. He is called Sir William
de Lea in 1331; ibid. 286, m. 16. In
1344 Sir William purchased a messuage
and land from John de Birkin and Alice
his wife; Final Conc. ii, 119. Sir William
de Lea and Alice his wife were plaintiffs
in 1347 in a plea already cited; Assize
R. 1435, m. 17 d.
A grant of land in Croston by Maud de
la Mare before her marriage is mentioned
in Towneley MS. BB, no. 1498. |
| 19 |
Final Conc. ii, 183. The estate comprised the moiety of the manor of Croston
and Mawdesley and the fourth part of the
manors of Longton and Litherland. The
remainders were to the issue of William
and Isolda, to the issue of William, to Sir
Adam de Hoghton for life and his son
Richard. See also Raines MSS. xxv,
p. 258.
William son of William de Lea and
Isolda his wife were defendants in 1374;
De Banco R. 453, m. 77 d.
Sir Robert de Nevill of Hornby, the
younger, in 1375 charged Sir Adam de
Hoghton with abducting Alice daughter
and heir of William de Lea, under age, at
Lea by Preston; and soon afterwards he
made a similar charge against Robert son
of John de Standish and Isolda his wife;
ibid. 460, m. 300 d.; 462, m. 330 d.
Isolda was no doubt the widow of
William de Lea.
Alice was in 1390 the wife of Fulco
de Standish; Cal. Pat. 1388–92, p. 184.
As widow of Thomas de Ashton she
appears in 1409; Raines MSS. xxv,
pp. 264–5. |
| 20 |
The pedigree was stated by Thomas
Ashton in 1468, when claiming a moiety
of the manor of Croston and Mawdesley,
and a fourth part of the manors of
Longton and Litherland. William de
Lea and Isolda his wife had a daughter
Alice, whose son William was father of
Thomas Ashton the plaintiff; Pal. of
Lanc. Plea R. 33, m. 7 d., 12 d.; 34,
m. 18. At the same time it was stated
that Thomas Ashton was lord of one
moiety of Croston and William Fleming
of the other; ibid. m. 28.
The Ashtons were related to the
Winwick family, who held the rectories
of Wigan and Walton-on-the-Hill and
founded the chantry at Huyton. It was
no doubt through this connexion that
Thomas de Ashton, 'esquire of King
Henry and formerly lord of Croston,'
came to be buried in Lincoln Cathedral;
Peck, Desiderata Curiosa, bk. viii, no. 63.
He died 17 Oct. 1407. |
| 21 |
Raines MSS. xxv, p. 274. The
ground alleged for annulling the marriage
was a pre-contract of Sir William and one
Alice Brackley.
William de Ashton was in 1413
found to have held one moiety of the
manor of Croston and Mawdesley of Sir
Robert de Nevill of Hornby, the other
half being held by feoffees. The annual
rent was 1 lb. of pepper. Sir Robert held
of the king by one knight's fee; Lancs.
Inq. p.m. (Chet. Soc.), i, 100.
In 1420 it was agreed that Thomas
son and heir-apparent of William de
Ashton of Croston should marry Ellen
daughter of Thomas de Urswick; D. in
possession of Mr. J. S. Earle. This
Thomas may have been the lord of the
manor in 1468, but can scarcely be identical
with the Thomas who died in 1496.
In 1455 Sir John Boteler and other
feoffees granted lands in Croston,
Mawdesley, Longton and Litherland to
Sir William Ashton and his wife Anne,
daughter of Richard Millington, with
remainders to Thomas, son and heirapparent of Sir William, and to Ralph
and William, sons of William and Anne;
and other children are named; Raincs
MSS. xxv, p. 272. |
| 22 |
Raines MSS. xxv, p. 277; grants from
N. Millington to Sir William Ashton, and
from Sir William to his son Richard.
Alice Ashton, alias Alice widow of Sir
Robert Tempest, made a grant of her
lands in Longton to Thomas Ashton in
1465; ibid. p. 276. She was probably
the repudiated wife of Sir William. |
| 23 |
His claim in 1468 has been named
above. |
| 24 |
Thomas in 1492 set apart certain
messuages, &c., for the benefit of his
bastard son Richard; ibid. p. 286. |
| 25 |
Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. iii, no. 93,
105; iv, 79. His son was only six
months old at Thomas's death; the
widow was named Margaret. In the
second of the inquisitions his will is
recited. He desired to be buried in
Croston Church, and his executors were
to find an able priest—George Dandy
being named—to sing for him for twentyone years at a stipend of 6 marks.
Such feoffments as he had made for the
benefit of Margaret his wife, Richard
Ashton his son, and William Banastre
were to hold good for their lives, and
his wife was to have all the lands, &c.,
that had come to him by the death of
Dame Anne Millington. |
| 26 |
The feoffees of Thomas Ashton the
father complained that William Smith
had put them out of the manors and
lands, on the strength of his patent;
Duchy of Lanc. Plead. Hen. VIII, xvii,
A 3. For a complaint by Thomas Ashton
the son about the feoffees' delay in putting him into possession see ibid. xx,
A 3.
There is a notice of Hugh Ashton in
Dict. Nat. Biog.; he held a number of
ecclesiastical preferments, including the
archdeaconry of York and the rectory of
Grasmere, and died in 1522. He was
one of the benefactors of St. John's
College, Cambridge, in its early difficulties, bequeathing money and plate and
desiring to be buried there. His tomb is
in the college chapel. He had a brother
Master William Ashton, and nephews
James Ashton and Thomas Mawdesley;
Will, P.C.C. 4 Bodfelde. For a dispute
as to his land in Mawdesley called
Cooke's House see Duchy Plead. (Rec.
Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), ii, 172. |
| 27 |
Raines MSS. xxv, p. 288. |
| 28 |
Ibid. p. 290. |
| 29 |
Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. vi, no. 8.
Richard was seven years old.
Livery of his lands was made to the
heir in 1542. The value was returned
as follows: Moiety of the manor of
Longton, £8 12s.; moiety of the manor
of Croston and Mawdesley, £43 17s. 6d.;
tenements in Litherland, £4 18s.; in
Huyton, 9s.; rent of the manor of
Chorley, 10s.; rent of land in Tarleton (?),
8s.; Raines MSS. xxv, p. 295. Agnes
widow of Thomas Ashton had an annuity
of £25.
Richard son of Thomas son of Thomas
Ashton claimed messuages, &c., in
Croston and Mawdesley against Seth
Worsley and Anne his wife in 1555;
Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 199, m. 5. In
the following year he purchased a messuage, &c., in Croston and Mawdesley
from Joan Dalton, widow, Robert Dalton
and Anne his wife; Pal. of Lanc. Feet
of F. bdle. 17, m. 125. |
| 30 |
Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xiv,
no. 17. |
| 31 |
Visit. of 1613 (Chet. Soc.), 95.
In 1602 a settlement of the manors
was made by Thomas Ashton; Pal. of
Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 64, no. 24. |
| 32 |
Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc. Lancs.
and Ches.), iii, 330–3. Croston was
held of Lord Mounteagle. |
| 33 |
Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xxix,
no. 6. The manor was held of the heirs
of Lord Mounteagle by the service of
half a pound of pepper yearly.
Thomas Ashton paid £10 on refusing
knighthood in 1631; Misc. (Rec. Soc.
Lancs. and Ches.), i, 214. |
| 34 |
See Gillow, Bibl. Dict. of Engl.
Catholics, i, 74. |
| 35 |
Royalist Comp. Papers (Rec. Soc.
Lancs. and Ches.), i, 96–112. The
estate of Richard Ashton, 'Papist and
delinquent,' was in 1652 let as follows:
Demesne lands, mill and kiln at Croston,
£84 11s. 4d.; messuage called Durning House, £2 5s.; tenements in Croston,
Mawdesley, &c., £58 10s. 11d. Hilary
Ashton, a merchant beyond seas, petitioned for the annuity given him by his
grandfather Thomas Ashton (d. 1622).
It was alleged for the sequestrators that
Richard Ashton had lived in 'the enemy's
quarters' during part of the war, and
many witnesses deposed to his having
seized cattle and also the persons of the
agents of the Parliament when in 1644
the king's cause for a short time prevailed
in the district, in order to recover his
losses by the sequestration.
The marriage contract of Richard
Ashton and Dorothy daughter of John
Whitmore of Thurstaston, dated 1638–9,
is in Raines MSS. xxv, p. 308. |
| 36 |
Royalist Comp. Papers, i, 91, 100,
101. John Ashton, like Richard and
Hilary, was a grandson of Thomas
Ashton. His 'delinquency' is not
stated. |
| 37 |
Dugdale, Visit. (Chet. Soc.), p. 11. |
| 38 |
See the account of Culcheth in
Winwick.
A marriage settlement, dated 2 March
1692–3, is in Raines, op. cit. p. 311.
Anne the mother of the younger John
Trafford was living. John was nephew
of Edmund Trafford of Trafford, deceased.
See also Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle.
230, m. 38. |
| 39 |
Estcourt and Payne, Engl. Cath.
Non-jurors, p. 113. |
| 40 |
For the later descents see Stretford
Chapelry (Chet. Soc.), iii, 100, 147, where
it is shown that John Trafford died in
1727 and was succeeded by a son John,
who died in 1760; his son and heir of
the same name dying in the following
year, Humphrey Trafford came into the
estate, as stated in the text. |
| 41 |
Information of Mr. De Trafford. |
| 42 |
The charter is known from an 'inspeximus' of 1390; Cal. Pat. 1388–92,
p. 184. The heirs of William de la
Mare at that time were Sir Thomas
Fleming and Alice daughter of Sir
William de Lea and wife of Fulk de
Standish. See also Fine R. 213 (9
Hen. IV), m. 3. A confirmation was in
1467 granted to Thomas Ashton and
William Fleming; Cal. Pat. 1467–77,
p. 17. |
| 43 |
The burgages or burgage plots have
been mentioned in deeds referred to in
foregoing notes.
In 1325 Alice daughter of Amery the
Clerk (see note 4, p. 92) gave her brother
William de Croston, clerk, all her title in
a burgage with an acre of land thereto
appurtenant in the vill of Croston, lying
in the Drinkhouses, &c.; Towneley MS.
BB, no. 1587. In the same year William
son of William de Lea gave to Walter son
of Henry de Croston a burgage in the vill
of Croston, lying in Caynoc-lache, with
3 roods of land; no. 1619. William son of
John de Brotherton, dwelling in Rufford,
in 1330 granted to Roger son of Richard
de Fulwood two burgages in Croston,
which he had received from Sir John
Fleming and Thomas son of John de
Croston, also a messuage and land; GG,
no. 1401. Maud daughter of Sir John
de Hesketh, as a widow, gave her brother
Sir William a burgage with the house
built thereupon, in 1340; it stood on
the north side of John Cook's burgage;
Towneley MS, BB, no. 1415. The burgages are named down to the 16th century. |
| 44 |
Joan widow of William Dalton in
1545–6 claimed a close called Castle Place
against Henry Croston; also lands called
the Paradise, Oldfield, Westhead, Withens
and Hillfield; Pal. of Lanc. Assize R. 25.
In 1559 the lands of William Nelson of
Mawdesley included a close of land called
Castle Hill, lying in Croston; Towneley
MS. BB, no. 54. Thomas Nelson of
Chaddleworth in Berkshire in 1590 had
a capital messuage and tenement called
Castleyard, which was soon afterwards
sold to Robert Hesketh of Rufford; no.
1632, 1607, 117. See also Ducatus Lanc.
(Rec. Com.), iii, 224, 340.
It is noteworthy that there was a street
called St. Marygate in Croston in 1371,
when Richard the Miller gave his wife
Alice for life a burgage in that street,
lying between burgages of John de Croston
and Cecily Primrose; Towneley MS. BB,
no. 89. Adam de Redeley and Cecily
his wife, daughter of William Primrose,
are named in 1364; no. 1634.
The Town Meadow was in 1539 the
free tenement of Sir Robert Hesketh;
Pal. of Lanc. Writs of Assize, bdle. 18,
Lent, 31 Hen. VIII. |
| 45 |
Subs. R. Lancs. bdle. 131, no.
210. |
| 46 |
The lands in Croston are grouped
with other parts of the inheritance, the
tenure not being recorded; see Duchy
of Lanc. Inq. p.m. iii, no. 12; iv, no.
82; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc. Lancs.
and Ches.), i, 211. |
| 47 |
Sir Peter Legh died in 1528 holding
an annual rent in Croston of the king in
socage; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. vi,
no. 63. In 1634 the estate is called
2 acres of land, but the tenure is not
given; ibid. xxviii, no. 32.
Among the pleadings occurs the claim
of Joan daughter of William Waringson,
who claimed a messuage and lands in
Croston against Gilbert de Ince and
Alice his wife, John de Goldburn and
Adam de Orrell, and recovered against
Goldburn; Duchy of Lanc. Assize R. 2,
m. 2 d. It was shown that Gilbert and
Alice claimed nothing but the service of
16 lb. of wax yearly by which the lands
were held. See also ibid. 8, m. 6.
In Croston was part of the Balderston estate (Lancs. Inq. p.m. Chet. Soc.
ii, 63), afterwards held by Edmund
Dudley (1509), Radcliffe of Winmarleigh (1521, &c.) and Gerard (1593);
Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. iv, no. 13;
v, no. 3, &c.; xvi, no. 2. It was held
of Osbaldeston; ibid. viii, no. 1.
William Dicconson of Eccleston
(1604) held his lands in Croston of the
king as of the late priory of St. John of
Jerusalem (12d. rent), of Robert Hesketh
(2s. 4d.) and Thomas Ashton (4d.) as of
their manors of Croston; Lancs. Inq. p.m.
(Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), i, 18.
Henry Rowe held a cottage of Hesketh
and Ashton, lords of Croston, in 1608;
ibid. 93. William Stopford of Ulnes
Walton (1617) held a messuage, &c., of
Thomas Ashton by 6d. rent, and another
of Robert Hesketh; ibid. ii, 73.
Matthew Clifton in 1472 held a
messuage and lands in Croston claimed
by Thomas Hesketh, Elizabeth his wife,
Richard Dalton and Elizabeth his wife
in right of the wives; Pal. of Lanc.
Writs of Assize, 4 Aug. 12 Edw. IV.
In 1545 Matthew son and heir of
Christopher, brother and heir of Matthew
Clifton, deceased, conveyed to Joan
Dalton widow and Robert her son,
heir of William Dalton, deceased, a messuage called Keyhouse with land in
Croston; also a close of pasture called
Castlepool Hey in Mawdesley; Pal. of
Lanc. Plea R. 181, m. 9.
Thomas Mercer and Thomas his son
and heir held messuages and lands in
Croston and Mawdesley in 1548; Pal.
of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 13, m. 205. |
| 48 |
Some members of them have been
mentioned in preceding notes.
Nicholas the Carpenter in 1297 confirmed to John son of Olot of Croston an
acre on the Hill; Towneley MS. BB, no. 36.
Godith and Margery daughters of Roger
son of Henry de Bretherton in 1298
gave the same John all their land with
houses, &c., lately their father's; no.
37, 1578. Henry de Croston about the
same time gave to John son of Alice de
Croston (perhaps the same person) an
acre on Wildmarflat; no. 1596. Reyner
le Fleming attested this grant.
John son of Robert son of John son of
Dowe de Croston confirmed to his sister
Cecily an acre in the Drinkhouses in
1324; no. 6.
William son of John Olotson occurs
in 1330; no. 61. The same William
and Alice de Bispham his mother made
a feoffment of their lands in Croston in
1349; Kuerden MSS. vi, fol. 68. There
were other Williams at the same time;
thus in 1347 William son of Robert son
of John de Croston made a grant on the
marriage of his son Robert to Maud;
ibid. ii, fol. 134b. In 1379 William de
Croston secured right of turbary in the
mosses of Croston and Mawdesley from
Sir Thomas Fleming; Towneley MS.
BB, no. 75.
In 1407 Katherine widow of Thomas
de Croston made a grant of lands in
Rainford and Bickerstaffe; Kuerden MSS.
vi, fol. 71. A year later the feoffees of
William de Croston returned to him and
Joan his wife tenements in Croston,
Eccleston and Howick, with remainders
to Thomas son of Thomas de Croston,
William brother of 'the said Thomas'
(? the younger), Henry, Elizabeth and
Joan, brother and sisters; ibid. fol. 69b.
William son of Thomas de Croston in
1409 had licence to attach sufficient
water of the Yarrow within Eccleston
to supply a fuller's mill; ibid. fol. 70b.
William Croston the elder occurs in
1418, and William Croston (perhaps the
grandson) in 1429; ibid. fol. 71b,
72b.
Edmund (? Edward) son of William
Croston and Sibyl his wife in 1447
received messuages and lands in Bickerstaffe and Rainford; ibid. fol. 73.
Edward Croston and Cecily his mother,
widow of William Croston, occur in a
settlement of her dower in 1469; Towneley MS. BB, no. 66.
Edward Croston in 1461 granted to
Thomas Wright a parcel of land in
Cowhey in Drinkhouses for the erection
of a dwelling-house, also two pieces of
arable land and common pasture in
Finney; no. 1574.
Next occurs Hugh Croston, in 1502;
and then Henry, his brother and heir, in
1511; Kuerden MSS. vi, fol. 72; ii, fol.
134b.
Richard Croston son and heir of Henry
in 1519 and 1520 sold various lands in
Croston to Thomas Hesketh; Towneley
MS. BB, no. 21, 18. Henry's widow Elizabeth married again by 1524; ibid. DD,
no. 102, 103. In 1529 Richard Croston
and Joan his wife made a feoffment of
lands in Rainford and Bickerstaffe; Kuerden MSS. ii, fol. 134b. In 1547 Henry
Croston was summoned to render to his
mother Joan £10 due to her; he had a
son Hugh; Pal. of Lanc. Writs Proton.
1 Edw. VI. Three years later (in 1550)
Joan widow of William Dalton claimed
a tenement in Croston against Henry
son and heir of Richard Croston; Pal.
of Lanc. Plea R. 189, m. 3. Henry
Croston in 1567 sold a piece of land in
Croston to Sir Thomas Hesketh; Towneley MS. BB, no. 1592.
The plea rolls furnish but few references. Walter son of Henry de Croston
claimed a messuage, &c., in 1278 against
Alice daughter of Robert son of the
chaplain; De Banco R. 27, m. 38.
John de Croston was a defendant in
1281; ibid. 41, m. 30 d. Peter son
of Peter de Croston claimed land against
William de la Mare in 1283; ibid.
50, m. 5. Robert son of Peter de
Croston was plaintiff in 1292; Assize
R. 408; m. 71 d. Roger son of Robert
the Potter claimed the third part of a
messuage, &c., against William son of
John Olotson in 1337; De Banco R.
309, m. 313. William son of Peter
occurs in 1355; Duchy of Lanc. Assize
R. 4, m. 24 d.
There are a number of Croston deeds
in Towneley's MS. BB, above cited.
Some other notes on the family may be
seen in Baines' Lancs. (ed. Croston), iv,
121–3. |
| 49 |
Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xvi,
no. 31. |
| 50 |
Roger de Montbegon (before 1212)
gave them an oxgang of land here in alms;
Inq. and Extents, i, 63. Croston appears
in the list of the Hospitallers' lands in
1292; Plac. de Quo Warr. (Rec. Com.),
p. 375. In 1329 the prior claimed a
messuage and land against Robert son of
William son of John de Croston; De
Banco R. 279, m. 180 d. About 1540
the tenant was John Banastre, who paid
a rent of 20d.; Kuerden MSS. v,
fol. 83b.
Margery Banastre in 1546 claimed a
messuage, &c., on Windle Hill against
George Nelson; Ducatus Lanc. (Rec.
Com.), i, 179. For a later Banastre
dispute see Duchy Plead. iii, 19–25. |
| 51 |
John de la Mare, lord of Croston,
gave the prior and canons land here;
Burscough Reg. fol. 53b. Adam the
Serjeant's oxgang of land is named in
this charter. In 1536 Thomas Ferrer
seems to have been tenant at a rent of
6d.; Duchy of Lanc. Rentals, bdle. 4,
no. 6a and b. |
| 52 |
Cockersand Chartul. (Chet. Soc.), iii,
1260–1; the tenants' names are given
as William Croston in 1450 and 1461,
Edward Croston in 1501 and 1537. |
| 53 |
Misc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.),
i, 244. |
| 54 |
Ibid. 165. |
| 55 |
The troubles of the Ashtons have
been recited above.
Jane Dandy, widow, had had twothirds of her tenement sequestered for
recusancy, and in 1653 desired to compound; Royalist Comp. Papers (Rec. Soc.
Lancs. and Ches.), ii, 117.
Elizabeth widow of William Finch had
her life tenement sequestered for recusancy and 'adhering to the king's party.'
She petitioned in 1649, but died in 1654,
apparently before restitution. Her
daughters, heirs to the property, were
living—Margaret wife of Thomas
Worsley, and Ellen wife of William
Hoghton. Ellen was a Protestant; ibid.
315–19.
William Naylor, a 'Papist,' who held
a lease of Haresnapes tenement and Oldfield Heys, had it sequestered for recusancy; it was afterwards confiscated and
sold; ibid. iv, 206–9; Index of Royalists
(Index Soc.), 43.
Michael Rutter, of Quinton, Gloucestershire, for at first adhering to the
king, had houses, &c., in Croston sequestrated and sold; Cal. Com. for Comp. iii,
1843; Index of Royalists, 44.
Ellis Wright's tenement was sequestered
for his recusancy and sold; Cal. Com.
for Comp. iv, 2778; Index of Royalists,
41. |
| 56 |
Besides John Trafford there were the
following: Joseph Bolton, Thomas
Dalton, William Dandy, Richard Langtree and Jenet Worsley; Estcourt and
Payne, Engl. Cath. Non-jurors, 109, &c. |
| 57 |
Land tax returns at Preston. |
| 58 |
Ducatus Lanc. (Rec. Com.), iii, 303,
505; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 283, m. 24.
In the Piccope MSS. (Chet. Lib.), iii, 3,
is an abstract of title to the estate called
Finney House. |
| 59 |
Baines, Lancs. (ed. 1836), iii, 401. |
| 60 |
There were not many recusants in
1628; Misc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.),
i, 173. |
| 61 |
Foley, Records S. I. v, 320. Edmund
Smith, the priest, had a stipend of £5;
he died in 1727. |
| 62 |
Ibid. v, 321. Richard Leckonby
seems to have been in charge from about
1730 till his death in 1771. |