Snippets from history of Duxbury's, Duxbury manor and the Standish family

1357 (25/9/1357 and 29/7/1359)

At Preston, on Monday next before St. Michael, 7 Henry, Duke of Lancaster, and afterwards recorded on Monday after St. James the Apostle, 9 Henry, Duke of Lancaster.

Between Nicholas le Norreys, plaintiff, and Henry, son of Adam de Dokesbury, deforciant of a messuage and 30 acres of land in Dokesbury [Duxbury], which Ellen, late wife of Robert del Burgh, holds for term of life.

Henry, granted the reversion after Ellen's, decease to Nicholas, and his heirs, for which Nicholas, gave them 20 marks.

1506 (17/8/1506)

At Lancaster, on Monday next after the Assumption, 21 Henry 7.

James Molyneux, clerk, Seth Wodcok, clerk, Thomas Radcliff, of Wymmerlegh, esquire, William Leylond, esquire, Humphrey Hurleston, and Henry Faryngton, esquire, demand against Thomas Standisshe, esquire, the manors of Duxbury and Heypay, and 16 messuages, 2 mills, 340 acres of land, 40 acres of meadow, &c., in Duxbury, Heypay, Heth Chernok, Crosseby, Wygan, and Hyndeley. Thomas Standissh vouches to warrant William Sourebutts, &c.
The demandants shall recover their seisin against the said Thomas Standissh.

1522 (13/3/1522)

Monday in the fourth week of Lent, 13 Henry 8th.
Between Richard Molyneux, of Wygan Wodhous, plaintiff, and Edmund Molyneux and Agnes his wife deforciants of 3 messuages, one mill and 60 a. of land in Orell.
Edmund and Agnes acknowledged the said tenements to be the right of Richard, for which Richard granted them to Edmund and Agnes. To have and to hold to the said Edmund and Agnes for their lives, and after their decease to remain to Thomas Duxbury, son of the said Agnes, for his life, after the decease of the said Thomas to remain to the right heirs of the body of the said Thomas, in default to remain to Robert Duxbury, brother of the said Thomas, and to the heirs of his body, in default to remain to John Duxbury and to the heirs of his body, in default to remain to Richard Duxbury and to the heirs of his body, in default to remain to William Duxbury and to the heirs of his body, in default to remain to Hugh Duxbury and to the heirs of his body, in default to remain to Humphrey Duxbury and to the heirs of his body, in default to remain to the right heirs of the said Agnes.

1525 (20/8/1525)

Between Ralph Standissh, esq., Richard Hoghton, kt., Roger Bradshawe, esq., Robert Standissh, clerk, and John Wrightyngton, plaintiffs, and Thomas Duxbury deforciant of 3 messuages, 30 a. of land, 10 a. of meadow, and 20 a. of pasture in Duxbury and Adlyngton.
Thomas acknowledged the said tenements to be the right of the said Ralph, and granted that the said tenements which Edmund Molyneux and Agnes his wife, in right of the said Agnes, held for the term of the said Agnes's life, after the decease of the said Agnes should remain to the plaintiffs and to the heirs of the said Ralph for ever, for which Ralph gave him 100 marks.

1534

James Standish versus Henry, Bishop of St. Asaph, as Arbitrator between Abbot of Whalley and James Standish re Title to Tythes of Standish Parsonage, &c. To the Right Honourable Sir William Fitzwylliam, Knight.

James Standyshe [Standish] of Dukkesbury [Duxbury] in the county of Lancaster, Esq., complains that whereas divers variances and strifes were heretofore depending between the Abbot and Convent of the Monastery of Whalley of the one part and plaintiff on the other part, for the appeasing whereof Henry now Bishop of St. Asaph and parson of Standyshe [Standish] desired plaintiff to submit all the said variances to his judgment, promising that if he would so do he should occupy all his tithe of Dukkesbury [Duxbury], parcel of his parsonage of Standyshe during all the time that he was parson there, he (plaintiff) paying yearly to the said Bishop for the same 5 marks. Thereupon obligations with conditions were made between plaintiff and the said Abbot to abide by the award and judgment of the said Bishop: which obligations plaintiff has kept although the award made by the said Bishop was to his great loss and hindrance and to his disherison. Plaintiff occupied the said tithe for 2 years and paid his rent for the same, but now the Bishop has taken it away from him although he has spent a great deal on the parish in many ways, and has also brought divers actions for trespass against plaintiff for occupying the same.
Prays that the said Bishop may be compelled to answer the premisses.
S. 1. a. The answer of Henry, Bishop of St. Asaph.
It is true that he was chosen to arbitrate between the plaintiff and the said Abbot by the friends and "lovers" of plaintiff, and that the said parties then bound themselves in the sum of £100 to abide his award. The said Bishop never promised plaintiff the tithe of the hamlet of Dukysbury [Duxbury] and plaintiff never suffered any loss through him. The said Bishop took a great part of the said tithes at the time of the "compromitting" and has ever since converted them to his own use, as in threshing of corn and grain for his household at the parsonage of Standishe, and other good works of charity, such as making of ways and giving of alms to poor people in the said parish, and not for his own covetous mind as plaintiff alleges, for it is bestowed in building and repairing the said parsonage which was in extreme ruin, and in hospitality. Plaintiff has several times unlawfully taken and carried away part of the said tithes after the 10th part thereof has been severed from the 9 parts, and has interrupted deponent's servants while gathering the same, by reason whereof witness has commenced an action for trespass against him at Lancaster. Plaintiff has done nothing in the said parish beyond marling his own demesne lands, to his own singular profit and commodity, and to do this he has borrowed money of deponent.
S. 1. b. The replication of James Standysshe. "Plaintiff is very nere kynnysman to the said Bysshopp."
S. 1. c. "The rejoinder of Harry, Bisshop of Seynt Asse." [Asaph]. Says that plaintiff was right well contented and pleased in every way with his award.
S. 1. d. Commission dated 04 Jul [1534] , 26 Henry 8., directed to Sir Henry Faryngton, Knight, Sir Roger Bradsha, Knight, Rauff Standyshe, Esq., and Roger Asshowe, Esq.
S. 1. e. Commission dated 17 Feb [1535] , 26 Henry 8., directed to Sir Hen. Faryngton, Knight, and Sir Thos. Southworth, Knight.
S. 1. f. Commission dated 28 Nov [1534] , 26 Henry 8., directed to above.
S. 1. g. Interrogatories on behalf of plaintiff.
1. Imprimis, whether the said Bishop knew of any variance between the parties?
2. Whether the Bishop required plaintiff to "compermyt" all the said matters to him and to make him arbitrator.
3. As to what ground, pasture and common, the variance was depending?
4. Whether the Bishop promised plaintiff that if he would make him arbitrator he should have the farm of the parsonage of Dukkesbury [Duxbury]?
5. Whether plaintiff made the Bishop arbitrator between himself and the Abbot?
6. Whether the Bishop ever made any award between the parties?
7. Whether the award was in writing under the seal of the Bishop, and whether he set his hand thereto?
8. Whether the said James Standyshe, after the award, occupied the tithe of Dukkesbury [Duxbury]?
9. Whether Alexander Standyshe and John Wryghtynton at the command of the Bishop received any rent from plaintiff?

S. 1. h. The answer of the Bishop of St. Assaph [Asaph].

1. This the Bishop grants.
2. Does not remember whether he asked plaintiff or plaintiff him.
3. Does not know.
4. This he denies.
5. This he grants.
6, 7. If there were an award it is under the Bishop's hand and seal, and was delivered to the said James Standyshe.
8. He cannot tell.
9. The Bishop himself received nothing; whether others in his name had anything he cannot say.

S. 1. i. The Commissioners certify that on the 23 Mar last, they went to the parsonage of Standyshe, then the dwelling house of the said Bishop, he being there present, and showed him the said Commission. He refused to be sworn on the holy Evangelists, otherwise than he had done before, and said he would make his answer and send it with his own hand: which answer is hereto annexed.

S. 1. j. At Standysshe, 23 Mar.
S. 1. k. Copy of above.
On the 15 Jan [1535] last, We the said Commissioners went to the parsonage of Standyshe and desired the Bishop to be sworn on the holy Evangelists to the truth of his answer, but he said it "wose not mett for no lorde of the parliament ner other greate prelett to be sworne oder wisse then to lay ye hande on ye brest, how be itt, he said, he wold lay his handes on his brest and so saye his said answer was true." As his saying was contrary to our said Commission, we dare not charge him with his said oath. However, the Bishop then caused a new bill to be made which he signed with his own hands, we standing "aferrom" in the chamber from him, and then he laid his hand on his breast and said that all things in the bill were true: which bill he would have delivered to us desiring us to certify the same, but as all he did was on his own pleasure and contrary to our commission we refused to receive it or to meddle any further in the matter until we knew your further pleasure. Howbeit, we moved him to an agreement, but he said if he did agree he should lose his best friends "such as he loveth ye litill fynger better then he did all the body of James Standissh."
At Farrington, 20 Jan [1535]. 26 Henry 8.
S. 1. l. Memorandum, that on the 24 Oct , 26 Henry 8., the said Commissioners met at Standishe, and took the depositions following:

On the part of the said James.
Peres Caterall, servant to the said James, aged 24, says that he was present at Assheton in Makerfeld when the said James desired my lord of St. "Asshes" [Asaph] to be good to him, and to let him have the tithe as he had before. The said Bishop answered that he should have it, and a better thing too if he would be ordered by him.
Henry Garstan, tenant to the said James, aged 60, was with his master at the "grey freres," in West Chester, and there saw him walking with the said Bishop. Immediately after they had taken leave of each other, the said James showed deponent 5 marks or thereabouts which the said Bishop had lent him, with the promise of the said tithe or something better, but he was to keep it privy from the rest of the parish of Standish.
Richard Catterall, tenant to Nicholas Boteler, Esq., aged 54, was present at the parsonage of Standishe when the said Bishop promised plaintiff the tithe.
William Wigan, tenant to Elen Brown, aged 40, says that he formerly lived with plaintiff, who told him of the promise made by the Bishop. Lambe, servant of William Standishe, told plaintiff that the Abbot of Whalley would not abide by the award of the Bishop, but would rather forfeit his obligation.
Roger Plesyngton, servant to Rauf Arrosmyth, aged 40, knows that the said James has occupied the said tithe for 2 years. Edmund Lawe, tenant to Roger Asshawe, aged 40, says that during the 2 years the said James occupied the said tithe, he (deponent) carried away half the tithe for his hire, and James took the other half thereof. Robert Hyll, tenant to the said James, aged 46, as above.
The said Henry Garstan does not know the value of the loss of the said James, because before the award of the Bishop there was an award made between the Abbot of Whalley and Sir Richard Hoghton, Knight, for certain enclosures of 200 acres, wherewith the plaintiff was not content, but always claimed the 3rd part thereof and pulled down the ditches and cut down the woods upon the enclosures. Since the award made by the Bishop the said James has never had any advantage thereof.

1623 (11/9/1623)

Inquisition taken at Chorley, 21 James, before Edward Rigby, Esq., Escheator, after the death of Alexander Standish, of Duxbury, Esq., by the oath of Thomas Worthington, of Worthington, Esq., Thomas Worthington, of Cromshawe [?], James Whithalgh, John Smith, Thurstan Standishe, Hugh Tootell, William Tootell, Richard Prescott, Thomas Wasley, James Wilkinson, Ellis Sumpner, George Harwood, John Whittle, John Withnell, Thomas Nightgall, James Sumpner, William Haukeshead, Thomas Woodcocke, Miles Sumpner, Richard S...dley, Thomas Lowe, George Browne, Richard Lassell, and William Worthington.

The above say that Alexander Standish long before his death was seised in his demesne as of fee of the manor of Duxbury; and of 13 messuages, 13 gardens, 1 water-mill, 200 acres of land, 50 acres of meadow, 150 acres of pasture, 12 acres of wood, 20 acres of moor, and 12s. free rent in Duxbury; and of the manor of Heapey,, and 28 messuages, 28 gardens, 1 water-mill, 400 acres of land, 60 acres of meadow, 240 acres of pasture, 4 acres of wood, 200 acres of furze and heath, 100 acres of moor, and 14d. free rent in Heapey; and of the tithes of sheaves and grain yearly growing in Heapey; and of the manor of Whittle in le Woodes; and of 20 messuages, 20 gardens, 1 water-mill, 200 acres of land, 40 acres of meadow, 100 acres of pasture, 1 acre of wood, 12 acres of moor and 30s. free rent in Whittle in le Woodes; and of the manor of Heath Charnocke, and 12 messuages, 12 gardens, 160 acres of land, 40 acres of meadow, 100 acres of pasture, 12 acres of wood, 30 acres of moor, and 27s. free rent in Heath Charnocke. The said Alexander Standish was also seised as of fee of the reversion of the manor of Anlezargh, and of the reversion of 12 messuages, 12 gardens, 1 water-mill, 240 acres of land, 30 acres of meadow, 130 acres of pasture, 8 acres of wood, 500 acres of furze and heath, 200 acres of moor, 100 acres of marsh, and 3s. free rent in Anlezargh, after the death of Alice Countess of Derby, who holds the said manor and other the premises in Anlezargh for life; the said Countess is yet living at Anlezargh. And the said Alexander Standish was also seised in fee of 1 messuage, 1 garden, 6 acres of land, 3 acres of meadow, 7 acres of pasture, and 5 acres of moor in Standishe; 1 messuage, 1 garden, 30 acres of land, 5 acres of meadow, 15 acres of pasture, 2 acres of wood, 12 acres of moor in Worthington; and 1 messuage, 1 garden, 20 acres of land, 3 acres of meadow, 20 acres of pasture, 2 acres of wood, and 15 acres of moor in Langtree; and 3 messuages, 3 gardens, 6 acres of land, 2 acres of meadow, 12 acres of pasture, and 5 acres of moor in the town of Lancaster; and 3 messuages, 3 gardens, 8 acres of land, 2 acres of meadow, 10 acres of pasture, and 6 acres of moor in Scotforth; and 1 messuage, 1 garden, 6 acres of land, 1 acre of meadow, 9 acres of pasture, and 3 acres of moor in Burrowe; and 2 messuages, 2 gardens, 10 acres of land, 2 acres of meadow, and 8 acres of pasture in Longton; and 12 messuages, 12 gardens, 80 acres of land, 10 acres of meadow, and 30 acres of pasture in Gousenargh; and 1 messuage, 1 garden, and 3 acres of land in Chorley.