History of Clayton-le-Moors

by Richard Trappes-Lomax, 1926

Coat of Arms and Crest from the Cover of "History of Clayton-le-Moors"

 

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Richard Trappes-Lomax authored a small book, published by the Chetham Society in 1926, that is one of the most important sources of information available for the earliest recorded Grimshaws. "A History of the Township and Manor of Clayton-le-Moors, Co. Lancaster"1 provides abundant information on the Grimshaw family that originated in Eccleshill and occupied the Clayton-le-Moors estate for over 400 years, until the Grimshaw line ran out and the estate was carried into the Lomax family. The book also contains valuable information on a contemporary Grimshaw line, located at nearby Oakenshaw, that stemmed from the Clayton-le-Moors line.

Webpage Credits

Title Page and Table of Contents

Photo of Richard Trappes-Lomax

Text Description of the Grimshaw Family of Clayton-le-Moors

Tabular Pedigree of the Clayton-le-Moors Grimshaw Line

Text Description of the Grimshaws of Oakenshaw

Chapter I. General Observations

The Former and Current Clayton Hall at Clayton-le-Moors

Maps of Clayton-le-Moors Included in Trappes-Lomax's Book

Where is Clayton-le-Moors Located?

Additional Information on Richard Trappes-Lomax

Sale of Clayton Hall

References

 

Webpage Credits

Posthumous thanks go to Richard Trappes-Lomax, a Grimshaw descendant, for researching and publishing the history of Clayton-le-Moors and the Grimshaw line that lived there.

 

Title Page and Table of Contents

The title page and contents from Lomax's book are shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1. Title Page from Trappes-Lomax's book on Clayton-le-Moors

Figure 2. Contents of Trappes-Lomax's book

 

Photo of Richard Trappes-Lomax

The following photo of Richard was found on the "Hyndburn Life" website; more information from this website is provided further down on this webpage.

 

Text Description of the Grimshaw Family of Clayton-le-Moors

The Grimshaw family line that occupied Clayton Hall at Clayton-le-Moors is described in Chapter II (Section B, "The Grimshaws") of Trappes-Lomax's book (p. 8-34). The list of abbreviations for citations is provided below followed by a partial transcript of Chapter II, with primary emphasis on the history of the Grimshaws.

List of Abbreviations

(From the Preface:)

The following notes on the History of the Township of Clayton-le-Moors have been compiled from the Collection of Clayton Deeds, transcribed by Christopher Towneley circa 1660; the Dunkenhalgh Deeds, printed in vol. 80, Chetham Soc., N.S. 1921; the Clayton Hall MSS., preserved there; the Victoria County History of Lancashire; Whitaker's History of Whalley (4th edition, I872); and Abram's History of Blackburn...

In referring to the various collections of deeds cited in the following pages, I have used "G" to indicate Towneley's Transcript of the Clayton and Grimshaw deeds, "O" for the Grimshaw of Oakenshaw deeds, "D" for the Dunkenhalgh deeds" and "C" for the Clayton Hall muniments.

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

Abram's Blackburn

= A History of Blackburn , Town and Parish, by Wm. Alexander Abram . . . 1877.

Clitheroe Court Rolls

= The Court Rolls of the Honor of Clitheroe in the County of Lancaster . . . by William Farrer. 1897. 3 vols.

C.R.S.

= Catholic Record Society.

D.N.B.

= Dictionary of National Biography

Dunkenhalgh Deeds

= "Dunkenhalgh Deeds" in Chetham Miscellanies, N.S., vol. iv. (vol 80, N.S., 1921)

Ekwall, Place-Names

= The Place-names of Lancashire by}- Eilert Ekwall, Ph.D. (Chet. Soc., vol. 81, New Series, 1922, and as a separate publication, at the University Press, Manchester , 1922).

Foley

= Records of the English Province of the Society of Jesus . . . by Henry Foley, S.J, Burns and Oates, 1877, 8 vols.

Gillow, Dict. Eng Cath.

= A Literary and Biographical History or Bibliographical Dictionary of the English Catholics from the breach with Rome in 1534 to the present time : by Joseph Gillow : Burns and Oates, London , 1885. 5 vols.

Hargreaves' History

= History of Broadoak Printworks, by Ben. Hargreaves, 1881.

Jolly's Note Book

= The Note book of the Rev. Thomas Jolly, A.D. 1671-1693, Extracts from the Church Book of Altham and Wymondhouses, A.D. 1649-1725, and an account of the Jolly Family of Standish, Girton, and Altham. Ed. by Henry Fishwick, F.S.A (Chet. Soc., N.S., vol. 33, 1894).

V.C.H. Lancs.

= The Victoria County History of Lancashire .

Whitaker's Whalley

= An History of the Original Parish of Whalley and Honor of Clitheroe . . . by Thomas Dunham Whitaker . . . 4th ed., 1872.

 

Partial Transcript of Chapter II.

CHAPTER II.

THE MANOR.

(A) The Claytons.

I. Clayton is a mesne manor under Altham, and both were included in the Honour of Clitheroe, which was granted soon after th conquest to Robert son of Ilbert de Lacy, who is said to have come to England with William the Conquerer. Altham, Clayton, Accrington, and a moiety of Billington were granted by Henry De Lacy, son of Robert, to Hugh, son of Leofwine.

[The remainder of (A) not fully transcribed.]

II. Hugh son of Leofwine was grantee...

III. Henry de Altham, or de Clayton, younger son of Hugh...

IV. Henry de Clayton (or de Altham) who succeeded about 1220...

V. Henry de Clayton, eldest son of Henry (IV) succeded his father...

VI. John De Clayton, son of Henry (V), succeeded his father...

VII. Henry de Clayton, who succeeded his father before 1332...

VIII. Cecily de Clayton, apparently the elder daughter and coheir, maried Adam de Grimshaw of Grimshaw in Eccleshill, in the Parish of Blackburn, and so conveyed her moiety into that family. She was living in 1385. Vide post under Adam de Grimshaw (IV).

Arms of Clayton of Clayton: Arg. a cross engrailed sa. between 4 plates (Visitation of Lancs 1613, Chet Soc.). The "plates" have always been coloured gules: "torteaux" is the more precise description.

(B) The Grimshaws.

This family takes its name from the hamlet of Grimshaw in the township of Eccleshill, in the parish of Blackburn. Eccleshill lies to the south-east of Lower Darwen, and Grimshaw is at the northern end of the township, abutting on the Grimshaw or Davyfield brook, which here separates Eccleshill from Yate Bank. The name is very variously spelt: Grimishae, Grimeshawe, Grymshawe, Grimeshagh, Grimeschagh, Grimeshay, Grimescahe, etc.

The following account is based on (1) the Visitations, viz., Flower's, 1567; St. George's, 1613; and Dugdale's 1664; (2) Towneley's transcripts of Grimshaw and Clayton deeds, transcribed apparently between 1659 and 1663; (3) a pedigree compiled by Robert Squire of Gt. Harwood circa 1659 (his wife was a Grimshaw of Clayton); this is contained in G. 1920; (4) a Pedigree in the Parker MSS at Browsholme (iv. 120); the MS. dated 1681, but the pedigree was appar­ently compiled earlier, probably about 1667; (5) the pedigree in Whitaker's Whalley, which is based on the Visitations, but is incomplete and contains some serious errors; (6) The Coucher Book of Whalley Abbey (Chet. Soc. O.S. 10, 11, 16, 20); (7) the muniments at Clayton Hall; (8) V.C.H. Lancs.

According to E. Ekwall's Place Names the name Grimshaw is derived from Grima = a spectre, and shaw = a wood, and means "haunted grove.” He mentions another Grimshaw in Cliviger.

The following literary curiosity is printed in Whitaker s Whalley, ii. 403, from A Natural History of Serpents, by Charles Owen, D.D., 1742, quarto, p. 44: "I am informed by some persons, who had it by tradition from ancient people, that formerly there was in this country a monstrous serpent of four or five yards long, and thicker than a common axle-tree of a cart. and very mischievous, preying upon lambs etc. Its chief residence was in a wood near Pickup Bank, a few miles from Blackburn in Lancashire, called Ouse Castle, where there is yet a little spot of ground called Griom's Ark, which is a deep cavern yet situated among rocks in a wood, from whence it was seen to come out and bask itself on a sunny bank. The picture of this serpent is drawn with wings , two legs and talons like an eagle, which is seen in some ancient houses (and particularly at Clayton Hall near Dunkinhall) by which it appears to be very large and furious. It is said one Grimshaw, Esq., proprietor of that hall, shot the monster with arrows, and had an estate offered him for that good service done his country, which he refused, and only desired that he might have a passage through that wood to a township he had on t'other side of it, which was granted, the title to which is found in ancient writings. . . . It is observable that in the front of Clayton Hall are two figures drawn in plaister in the form of a coat of arms: on the right side of the escutchion is a figure with wings, four feet and a tail twisted in the form of a serpent. The like figure is drawn in plaister in several ancient houses in that neighbourhood, which go under the name of the Griffin's Picture, and the sign is used at Public Houses. There is a place in that wood called the Griffin's Ark."

[Author’s Note: Owen’s A Natural History of Serpents is described in a companion webpage.]

I. Walter de Grimshaw is the first of the family upon record. It is possible that he was descended from or related to the family of Eccleshill, who were the principal landowners in that township. He was living about 1250, and was father of

1. Henry, of whom presently (II).

2. Richard, who in 1276 or 1277 gave in “frank almoigne” to the monks of Stanlaw, for their prayers, half an acre of land in the vill of Eccleshill, contained in a croft called the Bymme­croft, near to “Le Hutlone," with liberty and easement to take timber there for enclosing and building a barn (Abram's Blackburn, p. 597). In 1293 he appointed his brother William his attorney to deliver seisin to “Adam de Grimshaw my nephew " of all the lands which Adam had assarted [i.e. cleared from the waste], viz. Bithyscroft, Bunnecroft, and Le Hochened (G. 1565). He also granted to Adam his nephew, son of his brother Henry de Grimshaw, a piece of land in Eccleshill for a rent of 2s 6d and an iron arrow (G. 1583). He appears to have acquired other lands in Eccleshill, for Robert, son of Richard de Eccleshill granted to Richard de Grimshaw a piece of land there for a rent of 10d (G. 1574), and other lands for a rent of 1d. Robert de Eccleshill (probably the same) granted to Richard de Grimshaw a piece of land "within these boundaries, beginning at the road near the croft of William, and following straight to the ditch on the top of Ketliscroft, following the ditch to the ancient land in the east, and so following the bounds of Hungilhul to the road near the croft of William, the first boundary,” for a rent of 12 silver pence (G. 1576); and the same released to him “the land which Richard my son had released” to him (G. 1573). There were other grants from Richard, son of Robert de Eccleshill as follow:- “an oxgang which Richard formerly held of me, for a rent of 12d and an arrow tipped with iron " (G. 1590); "an oxgang which Adam son of Roger and Joan his wife held of me, for a rent of 12d to thc Lord of the fee "(G. 1583); and land called Ketliscroft, " which I have of the gift of my father, beginning at the ditch called Hiche. . . . for the rent of a silver penny." This Richard appears to have died s.p.

3. Adam, to whom his brother Richard granted all his lands in Eccleshill, viz. that which Henry son of Roger once held, and one piece of cultivated (unam culturam) called Ketliscroft (G. 1556). He is one of the witnesses to the grant from Richard son of Walter de Grimshaw to his (Richard's) nephew, Adam son of Henry de Grimshaw, lands in Eccleshill called Bisseriding (G. 1555).

4. William, who was living in 1303, and was appointed by his brother Richard to deliver his nephew Adam (G. 1565), and was a witness to G. 1555.

II. Henry de Grimshaw, eldest son and heir of Walter (I) occurs in 1284 and 1294. Robert de Eccleshill granted to Henry son of Walter de Grimshaw a piece of land in Eccleshill for a rent of 7d (G. 1575); and "one part of my land in Eccleshill within these bounds, beginning on the west as the Levebrock descends to Holdendene, and ascending Holdendene to the said Henry’s ditch on the east, and ascending the ditch to Henry's house, and so descending the ditch to the Levebrock, and descending Levebrock to the aforesaid Holdendene; and the half of Ruhlivinydit [?] for a rent of 9d” (G. 1581). Richard de Assheton granted him land in over Darwen for a rent of 3d (G. 1578), and Henry de Whalley granted him land there called Le Brockholes for a rent of 3d (G. I577). Henry de Grimshaw had issue:-

1. Adam, of whom presently (III)

2. Richard.

III. Adam de Grimshaw succeeded. He was granted by his uncle Richard all the lands which he (Adam) had assarted, viz. Bithyscroft, Bunnecroft, and Le Hockenhed (G. 1565, dated at Grimhsaw on Wednesday after 6 Dec. 1292) and other land in Eccleshill for a rent of 2s 6d, and an iron arrow (G. 1583). Alexander de Keuirdale granted him half the assart called Brockholes in Upper Darwen, for a rent of 6d in silver (G. 1558), and later released it for 40s (G. 1589). Richard, son of Walter de Grimshaw granted to Adam son of Henry de Grimshaw land in Eccleshill called Bisseriding (G. 1555). In 1327 Adam released all his chattels to his son Henry (G. 544). He had issue:-

1. Henry, of whom presently (IV).

2. Adam, who released to his brother Henry all his right to the lands in Eccleshill which their father Adam had of the grant of Richard his brother (G. 1554, dated Sunday after 23 Nov. 1316).

IV. Henry de Grimshaw succeeded. On 11 June 1312 Roger son of Matthew de Querndern granted him lands in Eccleshill called Le Quitcroft, and Le Egge (G. 1586). On 2 June 1317 Adam de Holden granted him land in Eccleshill (G. 1570 bis); and released all his right in land called Outlone (G. 1576 bis). On the previous 2nd of February Robert son of Robert de Eccleshill had granted him all his right in all the land; in Eccleshill (which Henry and his ancestors held of Robert at a rent of 13 denarii and 1 obol) for a rent of 4s in silver and 4 iron arrows (G. 1582). On Sunday after 24 Aug. 1318 the same Robert granted him other lands in Eccleshill (G. 1578). On Thursday after 20 Sept. 1323 Adam de Turton granted him land in Eccleshill called Brimmecroft (G. 1586 bis), and on Palm Sunday 1327 he granted him all his lands there (G. 1585). On Thursday 15 Aug. 1343 Thomas de Culcheth granted him land in Eccleshill called Le Halgh, and on 29 Sept. 1343 Henry granted it to Adam de Turton (G. 1557). By his wife Agnes, who was living a widow in 1345, when she is mentioned as holding land in dower in Eccleshill (G. 1559) Henry de Grimshaw had issue :-

1. Adam, of whom presently (V).

2. Matilda, who married John de Mawdeseley. She was living in 1345. They had a son William, to whom by deed dated Saturday after 7 July 1345, Adam de Grimshaw (V) granted all his right in a rent of 34s paid by Alice widow of John de Hesketh, and William de Hesketh.

V. Adam de Grimshaw succeeded. In 1341 Alice, widow of Sir John de Hesketh, and William her son, granted to Adam a rent of 34s out of all their lands in Lancashire (G. 1613 and 1625). He married probably about 1346-47 Cecily daughter and coheir of Henry de Clayton (VII), by his wife Matilda, and thus eventually acquired a moiety of the manor of Clayton, and lands there. In 1346 he granted to Henry son of Simon de Bradeshagh all his lands in Eccleshill, with the rever­sion of those which Agnes his mother held in dower (G. 1559), and later all his goods and chattels there (G. 1564); and again in the same year Henry son of Simon de Bradeshagh granted to Cecily, daughter of Henry de Clayton, all the lands in Eccleshill which had been Henry de Grimshaw's, for her dower (G. 1578 bis). In 1345 he granted to his nephew William dc Mawdesley all his right in a rent of 34s payable by Alice and William de Hesketh (G. 1049). In the same year Henry son of Simon de Bradeshagh granted him all the messuages, etc.. which Henry held of Simon's feoffees, in Eccleshill, with the reversion of the premises there which Agnes late wife of Henry de Grimshaw held in dower, excepting certain lands etc. held by Cecily and Henry de Clayton of the gift of the said Henry de Bradeshagh; subject to the proviso that if Adam died without heirs by Cecily they should revert to Adam's right heir (G. 1051). In the same year Henry de Bradeshagh granted him all the goods etc. in Eccleshill which he had of Adam's gift (G. 1580). In 1356 he granted to Henry de Clayton and others all his goods and chattels (G. 554). In 1361, with Henry de Clayton, his father-in-law and others, he was one of the defendants when William de Hesketh claimed damages for injuries done to his weir and mill at Gt. Harwood (Duchy of Lanc. Assize R. 8, m. 4, d). He died about 1361. In 1370 Cecily his widow granted all her lands in Clayton to John de Boghurst, chaplain, and others (G. 1610), and in 1370 she granted him all her goods and chattels there (G. 558). In 1385 she and her son Henry, with Henry de Rishton and Margaret his wife, granted to John de Knolle and his wife a burgage in Preston lying be­tween that of Ralph de Ethelston, and that of Richard Blundell, with 2 gardens, 2-½ acres of land, a croft, etc., lying in the Moorfield of Preston, near the “Freres," to hold for 30 years at a rent of 10s 6d (G. 1054). Adam and Cecily had issue:­

1. Henry, of whom presently (VI).

2. Richard.

3. John, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Roger de Aspden. On 7 Sep. 1383 Elias de Entwistle granted to Henry de Grim­shaw, brother of John, the custody and marriage of Elizabeth daughter of Roger de Aspden (G. 1585 bis). This is almost certainly the John, son of Adam dc Grimshaw, to whom in 1402 Thomas de Hesketh granted all his right etc. in lands of the gift of William de Oakenshaw and Margery his wife (O. 3). On the Eve of the Ascension 1407 Richard de Walton and Richard de Catlow, chaplains, granted to Elizabeth formerly wife of John Grimshaw all the lands etc. in Oswaldtwistle, which they had of the gift of the said Elizabeth, with remainders to Roger, son of John and Elizabeth, to Richard, another son, and to Alice and Joan their daughters. (Towneley MSS., Holden D. 1501). John Grimshaw and Elizabeth his wife had issue:-

1. Roger, ancestor of the Grimshaws of Oakenshaw, through Perseval illegitimate son of Geoffrey de Grimshaw who was apparently a son of Roger. Vide infra, in the account of Oakenshaw

2. Richard.

3. Margaret, wife of Hugh Baron. .

4. Alice, wife of Peter de Marsden.

5. Joan, wife of John Sharrock. By a deed dated 4 Sept. 1512 partition was made of the lands in Oswaldtwistle between the representatives of Margaret and Joan. (Lanc. and Cheshire Antiquarian Notes, ed. by W. D. Pink, vol. 1, p. 188.)

4. Agnes, wife of Thomas Bank or del Bonk: living 1391.

VI. Henry de Grimshaw of Grimshaw and Clayton succeeded his father about 1361, and his mother sometime after 1385. In 7373 William de Wetherby, vicar of Blackburn, and others, granted to Henry de Grimshaw their moiety of the manor of Clayton, which they had of the gift of Cecily, widow of Adam de Grimshaw (G. 561). In 1377 the manor and lands of Clayton were divided between Henry de Grimshaw, son and heir of Adam de Grimshaw by Cecily daughter and coheir of Henry de Clayton, on the one part, and Henry de Rishton and Margaret his wife, the other coheir, on the other part (G. 1636 bis). The boundaries of the Grimshaw share are thus described: “Ascending the Walleclough from Hindeburn water into the Stonesteghull on the east side of Walleclough, assending by the ancient hey between the Cowhey and the arable lands of the demesne into Claycroft yate; thence beyond Hanclough to the Shepcote clough, thence to the Ringeyorde of Hindefeld nigh to the Someryate of Clayton, on the western side of that gate, and so along the Ringeyorde eastward, and along John del Grene's land unto Mergelache clough, down the water­course there to the ditch on the eastern side of the Nether hey until it falls into the Syke between that ditch and Calder, and so by that Syke into Calder, and so ascending Calder and Hyndburn waters to the foot of the Walle clough." [Footnote: The Walle clough is apparently the watercourse that runs from Bell Lane past Clayton Hall, through "Clayton Hall Clough” to the Hyndburn.] 1 On 7 Sept. 1383 Elias de Entwistle granted to Henry de Grimshaw the custody and marriage of Elizabeth daughter of Roger de Aspeden, which wardship Elias held of the gift of James de Radcliffe: Elizabeth was married to Henry's brother John, as stated above. On 1 Apr. 1385 he was party, along with his mother Cecily, and Henry de Rishton and Margaret his wife, to a deed granting a burgage etc. and lands in Preston to John de Knolle and Matilda his wife (G. 1054). According to the Pedigree drawn up by Robert Squire (G. 1920) “Henry de Grimshaw” bought his marriage from [Thomas de] Molyneux, for 40 marks, who was then the owner of Mr. Osbaldeston's lands in Balderston and Cuerdale, 13, 15, 18, Rich. II, 1390, 1392, 1395." This transaction is apparently referred to in G. 613, which however is dated 6 Edw. III, 1332; but this date is impossibly early, and must be a copyist's error for (perhaps) 16 Rich. II. Henry de Grimshaw married (settlement dated 21 Apr. 1390) Joan, daughter of Henry de Shuttleworth (G. 574); not of John de Shuttleworth as generally stated. In 1398 John son of William de Walton and Catherine his wife, and Henry de Grimshaw agreed that Joan daughter of Catherine by her former husband John de Hacking, (in Aighton near Stonyhurst) should marry the son, not yet born, of Henry de Grimshaw; and that Hacking's property in Aighton should be settled on the intended married couple, after Catherine's death (G. 1055). In 1409 John de Birtwistle, chaplain, gave to Henry de Grimshaw all the lands etc. in Aighton which he had of the gift of John de Walton and Catherine his wife (G. 1056). In 1429 Joan widow of Henry de Grimshaw released to Robert her son and Catherine, her daughter all her goods and chattels (G. 1594), and at the same time released to Robert the moiety of the manor of Clayton (G. 1617, 1618). Henry and Joan had issue:

1. Robert, of whom presently (VII).

2. Catherine, living 1420.

VII. Robert de Grimshaw of Grimshaw, Clayton, and Hacking succeeded about 1429. He was born about 1399, having been con­tracted before his birth to marry Joan de Hacking (G. 1055). On 14 May 1439 Robert and Geoffrey dc Grimshaw and others granted to George son of Robert de Waddington and Alice his wife, daughter Of Christopher de Holden, a rent of 26s 8d (Holden D. 832, Towneley MSS.). In Robert 1411 Richard Wedacre and Robert Woodroffe appointed Robert de l.ivesey to be their attorney to give to Robert de Grimshaw seisin of the moiety of the manor of Clayton, and messuages and lands in Eccleshill, Preston, and Worsthorne (G. 1058, G. 1059 ). In Jan. 1442 Hugh de Grimshaw and Robert de Waddington gave to Robert de Grimshaw the moiety of the manor of Clayton, and lands etc. there, and in Worsthorne and Preston, and the ancient site of the messuage of Grimshaw with lands there, which they held of the gift of Robert; to hold for his life, with remainder to his son Henry (G. 1061). In the same month and war Robert granted to his son Henry all the lands etc. in ( Grimshaw and Melver [= Mellor: Eccleshill being then con­nected with Mellor], except the site of the capital messuage (G. 1563); and on the 26th of the same he granted to his said son the site of the said capital messuage at a rent of 40s 1560, 1589). Two days previously Hugh de Grimshaw and Robert de Waddington granted to Robert de Grimshaw their moiety of the manor of Clayton, with messuages and lands appurtenant, the capital messuage of Grimshaw, and lands there and at Worsthorne and Preston (G. 569). Between 1 Sept. 1441 and 31 Aug. 1442 Robert granted to Hugh his son a rent of 28s 6d out of his lands and tenements in Clayton and Eccleshill (G. 546). In Jan. 1442 Robert appointed Giles de Waddington to deliver siesin " to my son Henry of all my lands in Eccleshill and Mellor, except the site of my capital messuage in Grimshaw” (G. 1566). In June 1442 Robert granted to his son Hugh and Robert de Wadding­ton his moiety of the manor of Clayton, and all his lands etc. in Clayton, Worsthorne, and Preston, with the site of the ancient capital messuage of Grimshaw, along with lands called Le Brerefold, Le Calfehey, Milfeld, Bymescroft, and Cokeshead (G. 1060). In Nov. 1446 Margaret widow of Henry de Rishton and Robert de Grimshaw granted to Henry son of Richard Rishton certain messuages in Preston (G. 1062, 1083).

Robert appears to have died soon after, leaving by Joan his wife issue as follows:-

1. Henry of whom presently (VIII).

2, Hugh, who on 1 May 1482 granted to his nephew Henry, son of Henry de Grimshaw, half the manor of Clayton, with lands there and in Worsthorn and in Preston, with the site of the capital messuage of Grimshaw, which he had of the feoffment of Robert his father (G. 556).

VIII. Henry de Grimshaw of Clayton, Grimshaw, and Hacking succeeded after 1446. He married apparently in 1442 Isabel daughter of Richard de Rishton by dispensation "granted by Pope Eugenius, by John Castilione his nuntio then residing in London" (G. 1920), Henry and Isabel being nearly related. In Jan. 1442 he granted to Richard de Rishton and Isabella his daughter" all my lands which were Robert my father's in Grimshaw and Mellor, except the ancient site of the capital messuage of Grimshaw, Le Brerecroft, Le Calshey, Milfield etc.," to be held for the said Henry and the heirs of himself and lsabella (G. 1568). On 25 Mar. 1448 Ralph son of Christopher de Holden and Harry son and heir of Robert de Grimshaw agreed to abide by arbitration as to the fixing of boundaries between their respective lands in Eccleshill (G. 1573). On 5 April 1451 Henry Rishton and Henry Grimshaw ]eased to James, son of Robert Walton of Preston all their burgage lands etc. in Preston "for evermore" (G. 1064). On 20 April 1451 Richard Rishton and Henry Grimshaw and Isabella his wife granted to William Bolton, chaplain, all their lands which were Robert (Grimshaw's in Grimshaw and Mellor, except the site of the capital messuage at Grimshaw, and certain parcels of land called the Brerecroft Calshey, Nikfield, Bimmecrofts and Cokeshade (G. 1571 bis); and on the B22nd Bolton granted them to Isabel, wife of Henry Grimshaw for life (G. 1561). On 3 Aug. 1451 William, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, acknowledged that William Starkie and Henry Grimshaw of the Parish of Whalley had paid arrears of Peter's Pence (G. 1638). On 19 July 1453 Ralph son of Christopher Holden acknowledged to have received from Alexander Halliwall and Henry Grimshaw 4 silver shillings from the lands of the said Henry (G. 1572 bis). On 7 Oct. 1463 an Inquisition was held at Blackburn before Thomas Pilkington and Robert Arnbrose, in regard to certain articles in a bill brought against Henry Grimshaw by Robert Hesketh. The jurors decided that Henry was in no way culpable, and that the bill was brought maliciously (G. 1631). On 3 June 1465 Henry Rishton of Clayton was bound to Henry son of Robert de Grimshaw in 10 marks to per­form covenants concerning certain burgages which they had of the gift of Robert de Grimshaw and Margaret wife of Henry de Rishton (G. 1065). On 20 Feb. 1466 Henry Grimshaw of Clayton, senior, granted to John Pilkington and others all his goods (G. 16o8). The date of Henry Grimshaw's death is not certain, but it was before 1483, and apparently about 1470. His wife Isabel, who survived him, is said by Canon Raine (MSS., xii. 229, Chetham Library) to have married 2ndly Robert Bynnes alias Bonke. The Parker MSS. say the same: but there is grave doubt about this: for Henry Grimshaw was alive in Nov. 1468 (G. 1152) and Isabella wife of Robert Bynnes or Bonke was already married to the latter in 1466 (G. 1066). Henry Grimshaw had issue:­

1. Henry, of whom presently (IX).

2. Nicholas, who was at strife with his brother Henry concerning lands, in 1481 and 1482 (G. 1920). On 30 Jan. 1483 he (de­scribed as Nicholas Grimshaw, senior, of Marsden), John Parker of Monke Hall and Robert Quyteaker of Holme were bound to Henry Grimshaw of Hacking (brother of Nicholas) in £40 abide by the award of Sir C. Southworth and others (G. 1067) and in the following June he, with the others, was similarly bound, being described as “nuper de Clayton” (G, 1068 1068). This Nicholas is stated in V.C.H. Lancs. to have been progenitor of the Grimshaws of Pendle Forest.

IX. Henry de Grimshaw of Clayton and Grimshaw, son of Henry and Isabella, seems to have succeeded about 1470. In or about 1465 he was implicated in the manslaughter of Robert Bynnes. alias Bonke, of Altham, for by inquisition taken there 4 Oct. of that year, before William Chorley, the Coroner of the King, upon a view of the body of Robert Bynnes, alias del Bonke, by the oath of Thomas Brownlow and others, it was found that "Thomas Pilkington, sheriff of the county, sent a warrant to the constables of Altham to arrest Robert Bynnes; that Robert assaulted Henry Grimshaw, and shot at him with his bow; Henry held his lance between himself and the said Robert; Robert ran to kill the said Henry, and he attacked him with the said lance, and he died." (Pal. Lanc. Writs, file 6 Edw. IV, B. 1465). On 25 Jan. 1466 it was agreed between Henry son of Henry Grimshaw and Isabel lately wife of Robert Byns als Bonke, that whereas they had been at variance, they should both be bound in L40 to abide by the award of Edmund Talbot arid Nicholas Shuttleworth; who decided that they should be full friends, and that Isabel should never sue again the said Henry, nor any other that were with him the day that Robert Bynnes took his death's wound; and they awarded that they should pay Isabel 10 marks (G. 1629). On 2 Feb. following Isabel acknowledged to have received from Henry 40s in part payment of a greater sum owing to her on a concord between them (G. 1620). On 10 Jan. 1468 she released to Henry son of Henry Grimshaw of Clayton, Nicholas Grimshaw of Clayton, and Ottiwell Grimshaw of Clayton and others all and claims which she had against them (G. 1066), On Friday before the feast of St. Lawrence (10 Aug.) 1471 Richard Rishton delivered to Henry Grimshaw the goods of St. Mary of Altham, belonging to the towne of Clayton, that is to say 24s 11d in good money 13s 10d of money being of ye said goods in ye approving of Robin Dokesbury . . . Also a cow with her provemt . . . ye said good being in ye approving of Xpofer Dulworth, to keep continually in his hands for a stocke, and to approve with the grace of God all the remnant thereof to the use of our said Lady” (G. 573). On 1 May 1482 Hugo de Grimshaw granted to his nephew, Henry son and heir of Henry de Grimshaw lately dead, half the manor of Clayton, and messuages etc. there, and in Worsthorne and Preston, with the site of the capital messuage of Grimshaw, and lands called Le Breer field Calshey, Nikfield, Bymecrofts, and Cokeshead, which he had of the feoffment of Robert Grimshaw (G. 556). On 8 June following Nicholas Grimshaw, senior, late of Clayton, and others acknowledged themselves to be bound to Henry Grimshaw of Hacking (brother of Nicholas) in £40 to abide by the award of Sir Christopher Southworth and others (G. 1067). On 18 Feb. following Southworth awarded that Henry and Nicholas should be full friends, and that Henry was to suffer Nicholas to enjoy for life the lands given by Henry their father to Nicholas for lift, (G. 1592). In 1488-9 Henry Grimshaw had a dispute as to the ownership of the “warth” on the west side of the Hyndburn above Martholme Mill, the title to which warth had been long in question: in the result the warth was adjudged to Henry by arbitration, in as much as it was proved by the evidence of ancient men that the old course of the Hyndburn had been on the west side of the warth (Add. MSS., 32105, 1956, quoted in V.C.H. Lancs.). On 18 Aug. 1488 Robert Hesketh was bound to Henry Grimshaw in £ 40 to obey the award of Laurence Towneley and others, as to the title to certain lands in Clayton and Harwood (G. 1633). Henry Grimshaw died in 1506. At the Halmote Court held at Accrington on Monday after Trinity 1506 inquest was held as to a messuage and 2o acres of land in Hoddles­den, called the New Hey, which had come into the king's hands by the death of Henry de Grimshaw; and it was found that Thomas was his son and heir (G. 1590 bis: Flower's Visitation, Chet. Soc. lxxxi. 31). Henry de Grimshaw married Alice daughter of Sir John Tempest of Bracewell (V.C.H. Lancs., on the authority of Mrs. Tempest of Broughton). They had issue:-

1. Thomas, of whom presently (X).

2. Walter, mentioned in Flower's Visitation 1567, and in the will of Sir Thomas Tempest of Bracewell who left him a horse.

3. Richard, also mentioned in Flower. He may be identical with the Richard Grimshaw who married Agnes daughter of Chris­topher Catlowe, late of Oswaldtwistle, and who was living 5 Apr. 1517. (Towneley's MSS., Holden Deeds, HH, 1502.)

4. Jane, to whom Sir Thomas Tempest in his will dated 4 Oct. 1506 left £3 6s. 8d. Sir Thomas was brother of Alice, wife of Henry Grimshaw (IX).

X. Thomas Grimshaw of Clayton and Grimshaw succeeded in 1506. Sir Thomas Tempest left him "vj oxen and iiij kye with thayre calfes." He made an entail of the lands in Hacking and Bradhurst [in Aighton: Bradhurst is between Lower Hodder Bridge and Stonyhurst] in 1508. He married, probably in 1509, Margaret daughter and coheir of John Stanley of Melling [in West Derby Hundred] by Elizabeth his wife, daughter and coheir of Sir John Harrington of Hornby Castle, co. Lancaster. John Stanley is said by Whitaker (Whalley, ii. 274, 509) and others to have been an illegitimate son of James Stanley. Bishop of Ely (1465-1515), 3rd son of the 1st Earl of Derby: but this is very doubtful, and a careful study of the dates makes it practically impos­sible: there is however good reason to believe that he was a son of Sir John Stanley of Weaver in Cheshire, a younger brother of the 1st Earl. (V.C.H. Lancs., iii. 201.) Elizabeth Harrington's sister Anne was married to Edward Stanley 1st Lord Mounteagle, and had Hornby for her share of the Harrington lands. She died s.p. but the Hornby estate was diverted from her sister Elizabeth, the rightful heir, in favour of Lord Mounteagle's son by his 2nd wife. On 16 Aug. 1513, being about to take part in the Scotch war, Thomas Grimshaw made a settlement of his estates in Clayton, Aighton, Eccleshill, Worsthorne, and Preston, and passed them to feoffees, to hold them in accordance with the provisions of his will, attached to the settlement. By the will he directs the feoffees to hold the properties to his use during life, and after his death to accumulate 120 marks for the marriage of his daughters Elizabeth, Isabel, and Jane; the sum to be lodged with the Abbot of Whalley. After making provision for his wife's dower he directs that the child "with which she is now great" shall have 4 marks if it be a daughter; but if it be a son, his wife is to have his bringing up, and the trustees are to pay 26S 8d for his “exhibition, until the time that those lands that Nicholas my uncle holds in Eccleshill for life, shall have run out," when they shall devolve on the said son (G. 1080). By deed dated 18 Feb. 1523, and made between Thomas Grimshaw Esquire and Rauf Holden of Chaigeley, it was agreed that John son and heir of Rauf, should marry Alice daughter of Thomas. Rauf agreed to settle lands in Bayley worth 33s 4d per an., and Thomas undertook to pay 40 marks for the marriage (G. 1603). On 8 Mar. following Holden granted to trustees lands in Aighton called Greengore [a large farm with an ancient house, about a mile west of Stonyhurst] in pursuance of the settlement (G. 563). Thomas Grimshaw was assessed to the subsidy of 1529 upon lands of the yearly value of £4. He died in 1539. In 1540 it was found by Inq. p.m. that he held 2 messuages and 24 acres of land in Hacking of . . . Shireburn and . . . Stainlegh in soccage, and by a rent of 12d, of which the yearly value was £6. I3. 4; the manor of Clayton, held of Richard Banastre by fealty, and a rent of 12d, of the yearly value of L4.10.1; lands in Burnley held of Hugh Shuttleworth, by fealty and a rent of [illegible], of the yearly value of L6; lands in Eccleshill, held of Gilbert Holden by fealty, and a rent of 4d; Richard was found to be his son and heir, and to be aged 31 years (Raines MSS., xiv. 5). According to Dugdale's Pedigree (Visitation) Thomas Grimshaw had by "one Amatia or Margareta” 2 illegitimate children, Richard and Henry. His wife Margaret survived him. On 20 Aug. 1544 she granted to her son Richard all her lands in Melling, Aintree, and Liverpool, on condition of his regranting them to her within 4 years (G. 608, 1079). She died in 1549, and by Inq. p.m. was found to have held one-third part of 34 messuages, 1000 acres of land, 8 oppels of a horse-mill, and a water­mill, in Melling Aintree, and. Liverpool; all held of the king by the third part of a knight's fee, and 4s 5½d rent: the heir was her son Richard, 46 years of age. [This age is wrong, for it would place his birth in 1503 whereas we have seen he was not yet born in Aug. 1513] (Duchy of Lane. Inq. p.m. ix., n. 25, quoted in V.C.H. Lancs., iii. 211.) Thomas Grimshaw and Margaret his wife had issue:--

1. Richard, of whom presently (XI).

2. John, to whom; 18 June 1539, Hugo Skott of Pemberton co. Lanc. granted 2 messuages in the tenure of Gilbert Mason and James Tomlinson, and 2 closes of land in Wigan called Wheatfield and Riecroft, lately in the holding of the said Hugh, of the annual value of 4 marks and 4d, to hold for life, with remainder to Gilbert son of Hugh (G. 1076).

3. Henry, between whom and his brother Richard it was agreed, 13 Sept. 1544, that whereas their mother was seised of a messuage and lands in Eccleshill for life, with remainder to Richard, Richard should grant the reversion to Henry for his life (G. 1569).

4. Nicholas, who disputed in the Duchy Court with Thomas Walmesley, touching the title to lands etc. in Osbaldeston, Dutton, and Blackburn. He was apparently of Milnrow, co. Lanc. (G. 1085). He is probably identical with the Nicholas Grimshaw of Holt in Butterworth, son of . . . Grimshaw of Clayton, who lived temp. Eliz. (See Pedigree of Buckley of Whitefield Hall, Piccope MSS., xii. 229.)

5. Raufe.

6. Elizabeth, who appears to have been contracted in marriage to, and in fact to have married, Gilbert Walsh of Aughton, co. Lanc., for on 22 Dec. 1528 Gilbert Walsh gent., Thomas Botyll of Melling, and Thomas Longley of Lathom were bound to Thomas Grimshaw in £40 to perform covenants (G. 615); and on the 27th Botyll and Longley . . . feoffees of Walsh . . . in fulfilment of agreements made between Walsh and Thomas Grimshaw, dated the previous 20 Dec., as to a marriage . . . granted to Richard Grimshaw son of Thomas . . . a messuage in Aughton, of the value of 13s 4d, and 2 closes of land etc., worth 27s per an. . . . to hold to the use of Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Grimshaw (G. 612); and on 15 Dec. 1529 Gilbert Walsh acknowledged to have received from Thomas Grimshaw £14 in part payment of a greater sum (G. 1604); and on 10 Dec. 1531 he acknowledged the receipt of £4 in full payment of what was due to him by force of marriage covenants sealed that day (G 1069).

7. Isabel, married in or about 1527 to Robert Morley of Billington and Dinkley, co. Lanc.; for by deed dated 28 Dec. 1527 it appears that Edmund Parker of Browsholme and John Walker of Bolton-by-Bolland granted to Richard Grimshaw gent., and Richard Wood, chaplain, one messuage in Billington and Dinkley of the yearly value of 20s in the tenure of Edmund Dugdale, one close of land in Dinkley called Le Bowkerfield, of the yearly value of 6s 8d, then in the tenure of Ughtred Morley, and a yearly rent of 13s 4d issuing out of a close of land in Billington called Le Larkhill . . . to hold to the use of Isabella, daughter of Thomas Grimshaw, with remainders as specified in indentures made between Ughtred Morley and Thomas Grimshaw and dated 12 Dec. previous (G. 1072). Robert Morley was son of Ughtred Morley of Braddyll (in Billington) and was aged 16 in 1528. Isabella died in 1548 and was buried at Whalley on 9 July. Robert Morley was buried there 29 Aug. 1592. (Abram's Blackburn, 748-9).

8. Jane.

9. Alice, married in 1523 to John, son and heir of Ralph Holden of Chaigeley. By indenture dated 18 Feb. 1523, and made between Thomas Grimshaw and Ralph Holden, it was agreed that John, Ralph's son and heir, should marry Alice daughter of Thomas. Ralph agreed to settle lands in Bayley worth 33s 4d per an. and Thomas paid 40 marks for the marriage (G. 1603). Lands in Aighton [sic; Greengore is in Bayley] called Greengore were accordingly granted by Ralph to trustees on 8 Mar. 1523.

10. Dorothy, wife of Lawrence Ainsworth of Pleasington, who died in 1573, and was buried at Blackburn. In his will dated 26 Mar. 1573 he mentions his capital messuage called Pleasington Hall, his wife Dorothy, his sons Henry and Richard, and daughters Anne and Dorothy. He appoints Richard and Nicholas Grimshaw to be supervisors of his will (Abram's Blackburn). The celebrated Puritan Divine Henry Ainsworth is said to have been a son of Lawrence and Dorothy (D.N.B., i. 191).

11. Anne, wife of Hugh, son and heir of Nicholas Shuttleworth of Gawthorpe. By indenture dated 12 Sept. 1540, and made between Margaret widow of Thomas Grimshaw of Clayton, and Nicholas Shuttleworth, it was agreed that Hugh, son of Nicholas, should marry Anne daughter of Margaret, and that Nicholas should settle his estate on Hugh and Anne, Margaret giving £40 for the marriage (G. 1604). They were married 20 Oct. 1540. There is a panel at Gawthorpe inscribed “H. and A. S. 1577." She was buried at Padiham 23 Jan. 1598: her hus­band, who was born in 1504, was buried there 26 Dec. 1596. They had issue, i. Sir Richard Shuttleworth, Knt., Chief Justice of Chester; ii. Lawrence, Rector of Wichford, co. Warwick, iii. Thomas, ancestor of the Shuttleworths of Gaw­thorpe etc.; iv. Eleanor, wife of Christopher, son of Roger Nowell of Little Meareley.

XI. Richard Grimshaw of Clayton etc. succeeded in 1539. He was probably born in 1514, but was not yet born when his father made his will in Aug. 1513. His father's Inq. p.m. says he was born in 1503: Squire's Pedigree says he was 66 in 1575, which would place his birth in 1509. On 7 Apr. 1533 he confirmed a grant made by his father to Nicholas Blacklache of Leyland, of a burgage and land in Preston (G. 1622). In 1537 he married Elizabeth daughter of John Cudworth of Werneth, co. Lane., gent.: for by deed dated 29 Aug. 1537 Thomas Grimshaw and John Cudworth agreed that Richard, son of Thomas, should marry Elizabeth daughter of John: Thomas undertook to make a settlement of £6.24.4 per an. out of lands in Aighton and Hacking, and to enfeoff trustees of the rest of his estate, while Cudworth agreed to pay 100 marks (G. 1602). On 27 Apr. 1548 he sold for 4 marks a “spring” of wood in Hacking to Edward Radcliffe of Todmorden, and granted that it should be cut down and carried away during 4 years (G. 560). On 26 Aug. 1544 he regranted to his mother all the manors, lands, etc., in Melling, Aintree, and Liverpool which she had granted to him on the previous 20 Aug.; and also granted to her all his land etc. in Hoddlesden and Eccleshill, for her life (G 1074). On 5 Mar. 1550 Henry Halsall, Esq., and Henry Grimshaw (brother of Richard) released to Richard Grimshaw of Clayton esq. lands in Melling, Aintree and Liverpool (G. 606). On 21 May 1554 Richard Grimshaw sold these estates to William Molyneux of Sefton, son and heir of Sir Richard Molyneaux, Knt., for £20 (G. 607, 602). The final concord was made 20 Aug. 1554, between William Molyneux Plaintiff, and Richard Grimshaw and Elizabeth his wife, Deforciants, of 12 messuages, 6 cottages, 4 tofts, a water mill, 15 gardens, 10 orchards, 200 acres of land, 40 acres of meadow, 4o acres of pasture, and 100 acres of moor, in Melling, Aintree and Liverpool: Richard and Eliza­beth remitted all right to William and his heirs, for which William gave £140 (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and. Cheshire, v. 60, p. 109: final concords, 1 & 2 Philip and Mary, m. 113). On the same day John Moore of Kirkdale sold to Richard Grimshaw all his lands etc. in Eccleshill (G. 1582 bis). On Monday after the Assumption B.V.M. (r5 Aug.) 1554, at Lancaster, a final concord was made between Richard Grim­shaw, Plaintiff, and John Moore and Anne his wife, Deforciants, of 14 messuages, 4 cottages, 6 tofts, 16 gardens, 12 orchards, 150 acres of land, 40 acres of meadow, 40 acres of pasture, and 200 acres of moor in Eccleshill, Richard paying £140 (G. 1185; and Rec. Soc. as above, p. 120, m. 70). On 24 May 1568 agreement was made between John Osbaldeston of Osbaldeston, and Edward his son, on the one part, and Richard Grimshaw of Clayton and John his son on the other part, as to the boundaries of their respective manors of Over Darwen and Eccles­hill (G. 1091). On 16 April 1574 Richard Grimshaw and John his son and heir granted to John Holden of Chaigeley, Hugh Shuttleworth of Gawthorpe and Nicholas Grimshaw of Milnrow all their lands in Eccleshill, in order to pay Richard's debts, which were as follows:- to Adam Holden of Haslingden £90, to Nicholas Banister of Easington 40 marks, to Andrew son and heir of Adam Holden 20 nobles, to Richard son and heir of Hugh Shuttleworth £8 4s, to Nicholas Grimshaw £8 to the executors of the will of Dorothy late wife of Lawrence Ainsworth of Pleasington 40s (G. 1085). Squire's Pedigree says that Richard Grimshaw “made partition with the coheirs of Harrington (i.e. the representatives of his mother's sisters, Jane wife of Thomas Halsall of Halsall, and 2ndly wife of John son of Alexander Osbaldeston of Osbaldeston, and Anne wife of John Swifte) at Lancaster Assizes 1551; that he sold the lands of Liverpool to Mr. Moore of Bank Hall or Moore House, and bought lands in Eccleshill of the said Moore 1553-4; he also sold lands in Worsthorne unto one Hitchin, and purchased a rent of 22s payable out of the Smithfields, part of the demesne lands of Clayton in 1558-9." The date 1551 is incorrect and should be 1553, for we find (Croxteth Deeds B. v. 1 that in 1553 partition was made of lands in Aintree between Richard Grimshaw, John Osbaldeston and Joan his wife, and Richard Molyneux: by which Molyneux who had one third by purchase from John Swifte (husband of Anne Stanley), secured the manor of Aintree, with lands, messuages and rents, there and in Liverpool. (See also Pal. of Lanc., Feet of Fines, bdle. 15, m. 113.) At the levy of arms 1574, Richard Grimshaw was called upon to supply 1 coat of plate, 1 long bow, a sheaf of arrows, 1 caliver, 1 scull, and 1 bill. He died in 1575. The Inq, p.m. was held at Whalley r4 Jan. 1576, and it was found that Thomas Grimshaw, father of Richard, was seised of 2 messuages. 14 acres of arable land, 44 acres of pasture, 12 acres of meadow, 18 acres of wood, 300 acres of moor etc. in Hacking; that he settled them on Richard (his son) and Elizabeth (Richard's wife); that Richard and Elizabeth entered upon the said premises, and that on Richard's death Elizabeth entered, and is seised of them for life; that Richard was seised of (illegible) messuages, 8o acres of land, 80 acres of pasture, 20 acres of (?) meadow, (illegible) acres of wood, 300 acres of moor etc. in Clayton; also of 7 messuages, 60 acres of land, 30 acres of pasture, 44 acres of meadow, 12 acres of wood, 300 acres of moor etc. in Eccleshill, and of an annual rent of “4 denarii and 1 obolus” from certain land in Clayton: that the premises in Hacking were held of Richard Shireburn of Stonyhurst in soccage, by a rent of 12d and that their yearly value was 16 13s 4d; that the premises in Clayton were held of Nicholas Banastre by a rent of 12d and that their yearly value was £6 13s 4d; that the premises in Eccleshill were held of Robert Holden in soccage, by a rent of 4s, and were worth £10 per an.; that Richard Grimshaw died 20 Aug. last past; that John is his son and heir, and aged 24 years and more (G. 1086). Richard Grimshaw's will is dated 2 Aug. 1575, and is at Chester. It is almost entirely illegible. He and his wife Elizabeth had issue:-­

1. John, of whom presently (XII).

2. John.

3. Henry.

4. Nicholas; who is said in Abram's Blackburn to have settled at Oakenhurst in Lower Darwen. He occurs as a Juror temp. Eliz. 1578-85: and Nicholas Grimshaw of Oakenhurst, gent., is named as a freeholder in 1600. Abram suggests that the suburb of Blackburn contiguous to Lower Darwen derives its name of Grimshaw Park from these Grimshaws, and traces them, conjecturally, down to 1749,

5. Raufe.

6. Margaret.

7. Anne.

8. Elizabeth. Dugdale's Visitation gives these children's names in this order: John, Ralph, Nicholas, Henry, John, Margery, Elizabeth, Anne.

XII. John Grimshaw of Clayton etc., son of Richard, succeeded in 1575, said then to be aged 24. He married before 1578 Mary 5th daughter and coheir of John Catterall of Little Mytton, by Margaret his wife, daughter of Nicholas Tempest of Gradale and Bashall; which Nicholas was 3rd son of Nicholas 3rd son of Sir John Tempest of Brace­well. About 1578 he sold lands in Wrightington (which he had acquired by his marriage) to William Stopford of Bispham (Pedigree by Squire, and G. 1082: V.C.H. Lancs. vii. 170). On 3o April 1579, in conjunc­tion with his mother, he sold to Sir Richard Shireburn of Stonyhurst, for £80, 2 closes of land in Aighton called the Lower Carr, or Grimshay Carr, and the Over Carr, late in the occupation of Robert Parker, of the yearly value of 25s 4d, and all woods etc. (G. 1186, and Add. MSS. 32105, no. 877). On 3 Aug. 1581 Elizabeth, mother of John, gave him all her right etc. in the lands in Aighton (excepting the rents of Richard Braddyll and Roger Radcliffe) in consideration of John paying her £8 per an. (G. 1088). On 12 Feb. 1587 he granted to Nicholas his son and heir, certain goods at Clayton, viz. “all bedstocks, tables, gold signet-ring, one great meal ark in the granary, two arks in the brew­house, and one in the barn, one long chest in the parlour, . . . one great pot (my father's gift) and all armour, one brazen mortar and pestel, one feather bed, one mattress, two bolsters, three coverlets, two pairs of blankets, and two pairs of sheets." He died the next day. His Inq. p.m. was held at Bolton-le-moors 3 Oct. 1587, and it was found that he was seised of 2 messuages, 24 acres of land, 20 acres of pasture, 12 acres of meadow, 10 acres of wood in Hacking, within the vill of Aighton; of half the manor of Clayton, and of one capital messuage, 40 acres of land, 20 acres of meadow, 40 acres of pasture, 18 acres of wood, 200 acres of moor and marsh, and a rent of 4d in Clayton; and of 19 messuages, 100 acres of land, 100 acres of meadow, zoo acres of pasture, 12 acres of wood, and 200 acres of moor and heath, and a rent of 10d in Eccleshill; of one burgage in Preston; and being so seised, gave them by deed dated 11 Feb. 1587 to Henry Towneley of Barnside, and others, as trustees to provide for the children of his daughter Anne, wife of Simon Haydock of Hesandforth (in accordance with their marriage settlements dated 12 Nov. 1585), to provide for his own children, Nicholas, Andrew, Richard, Henry, and Margaret, (100 marks for each son, and 200 marks for the daughter). “The jurors found that the lands in Hacking were held of Richard Shireburn Knt. in soccage, i.e. by fealty, and a rent of 12d, a rose, and a pair of spurs, and were worth per an. 40s; that the half of the manor of Clayton and the premises there (except 5 acres) were held of the Queen as of her Duchy of Lancaster, by the 8th part of a knight's fee; that the 5 acres were held of Nicholas Banastre of Altham by fealty and 12d rent; a11 which premises in Clayton were worth £4 per an.; that the premises in Eccleshill were held of Robert Holden in soccage, by a rent of 4s per an.; and were worth £6 per an.; that the premises in Preston were held of the Queen in free burgage, and were worth 2s per an.; that the said John Grimshaw died 13 Feb. and that Nicholas is his son and heir, and aged 13 years and 9 months (G. 1636). Mary wife of John Grimshaw is said to have been aged 32 in 1579. She was a sturdy Recusant: in the Roll for 32 Eliz. 1589-90 £260 is charged on Mary Grimshawe of Clayton, co. Lane., widow; and £20 from 7 April to 5 May 1590 for one month, because she did not make submission. She had been convicted 3 Apr. 1590 for not going to Church for 13 months following upon 30 July 1587,” and now 9 Feb. this term (1590-1) comes Mary by her attorney, and says that she at last assizes at Lancaster made submission before Thomas Walmesley, one of the justices of Assize, whose certificate is here set out at length. She is discharged by the Barons, saving the £280 of arrears due to the Queen." (Exchequer T.R. Memoranda Hil. 33 Eliz. R. 192). John Grimshaw and Mary his wife had issue:-­

1. Nicholas, of whom presently (XIII).

2. Andrew, who married Jane daughter of Thomas Halsted of High Halsted, and widow of Richard Stursacre of Burnley, and appears to have died s.p. The following appears to relate to this Andrew: “The Sheriff having ordered the arrest of Abraham Hey of Tonge, collier, outlawed in London 22 April 1605 for debt . . . Hey was arrested at Whalley 20 July, but was rescued by Andrew Grymshawe and Richard Grymshawe of Clayton gentlemen and others." (Chet. Soc., vol. 77, N.S., p. 287; Lancashire Quarter Sessions Records, Sessions at Bury, Wed., 9 Oct., 3 James I, 1605.) Andrew Grirnshaw was buried at Burnley 26 Feb., 1631-2; and his widow 16 Feb., 1634-5.

3. Henry, said by Squire to have died unmarried, aged about 48.

4. Richard, who married Mary daughter of James Nutter of the Thorne, in Burnley, and d.s.p.

5. Anne, wife of Simon Haydock of Hesandforth (or Fesantford) near Burnley, and had issue. W. Paley Baildon, of 5 Stone Buildings, Lincoln's Inn, states that Anne after the death of Simon Haydock in 1606 or 1607 married as his 2nd wife William Baildon of Baildon, co. York, licence being granted in 1609 or 1610. She died, it is believed, in 1613. William Baildon married 3rdly Jane, daughter of Robert Rishworth of Riddles­den, co. York, and sister to Ellen or Helen wife of Nicholas Grimshaw (XIII): several of the latter's children were baptised at Bingley, in which parish Riddlesden lies. Jane died in 1638 or 1639 and probate of her will was granted to Jane, nee Grim­shaw, wife of Richard Eyves of Fishwick, and to Nicholas Grimshaw of Clayton.

6. Margaret, wife of Robert, son of Thomas Hesketh of Meols. He died in 1658, and was buried at Rufford. Dugdale's Pedi­gree and the Parker MSS, give Robert's wife the name of Jane: Squire's Pedigree, and Whitaker's Whalley give her name as Margaret.

7. Jane. Dugdale gives these daughters in this order: Jane - Anne - Margaret.

XIII. Nicholas Grimshaw of Clayton, etc., son of John by Mary Catterall, succeeded in 1587, and is said to have been then aged 13. He was in ward to Simon Haydock of Hesandforth, his brother-in-law, who married him to Ellen, daughter of Robert Rishworth of Riddlesden. He came of age 4 Dec. 1596 and had licence to enter upon his property 28 Jan. 1596-7 (G. 1092). In 1594-5 he was at variance with Nicholas Banastre of Altham touching the setting out of the boundaries of the waste of Hinfield (G. 1188). There is a considerable mass of papers, depositions, decrees, etc., about this in the Clayton Hall MSS. The parties were the Attorney General of the Court of Wards and Liveries on behalf of Nicholas Grimshaw, he being a minor, Thomas Walmesley of Dunkenhalgh, the judge, on the one part, and Nicholas Banastre of Altham on the other; Walmesley claiming to be joint Lord of Clayton with Grimshaw, and Banastre claiming to be Lord of both Clayton and Altham. It was decided that neither the Lords of Clayton, nor the Lord of Altham were sole owners of the wastes in dispute, which lay both in Clayton and Altham; but that the waste should be divided, and part allotted to the Lords of Clayton, and part to the Lord of Altham. This however was not done, and the waste remained as it was till 1787, when, as will be shown later, it was apportioned between the two townships. On 2 Oct. 1605 Henry Towneley of Barnside, Thomas Procter of Winterbourne, and Simon son and heir apparent of Evan Haydock of Fizanford, released to Nicholas Grimshaw all their right etc. in the manors and lands of John Grimshaw late father of Nicholas (G. 1632). On 23 Mar. 1610 Robert Holden and Nicholas Grimshaw made an agreement as to enclosing, dividing and allotting Eccleshill Moor (G. 1180). On 20 May 1612 Edward Osbaldeston of Osbaldeston granted to Nicholas Grimshaw 2 parcels of common land in Over Darwen for 1000 years at a rent of 1 peppercorn (G. 1591); and by G. 1593 (the date of which is missing, but which appears to belong to this period) he granted to Roger Downes and others part of the common of Over Darwen adjoining to Eccleshill Moor, for the use of Nicholas Grimshaw and his heirs forever. On 10 July 1633 -Nicholas Grimshaw and John, his son and heir, sold to Thomas Lassie of Horton, co. York, son and heir of John Lassie, and to Ralph Eyves of Fishwick, co. Lanc., the messuage and lands of Bradhurst in Aighton [Footnote: Bradhurst is between Lower Hodder Bridge and Stonyhurst], late in the tenure of John Feilden of Aighton at a rent of 13s 4d; and also the messuage and lands there called Over Hacking, [Footnote: Over Hacking is between Stonyhurst and Kemple end. Both appear to have been later united to the estate of the Shireburns of Stonyhurst], in the tenure of the assigns of Edward Braddyll, at a rent of 31s 8d; and 2 closes of land called Stubbing and Hotherhill, and all woods etc. Nicholas Grimshaw is said to have died in 1642 aged about 69. Inq. p.m. was held at Blackburn 30 Aug. 1643, and it was found that he was seised in his demesne as of fee of half the manor of Clayton, one capital messuage called the hall of Clayton, 40 acres of land, 20 acres of meadow, 40 acres of pasture, 18 acres of wood, 200 acres of moor and marsh, and an annual rent of 4d and 1 obol in Clayton; and of 35 messuages, 180 acres of land, 20 acres of meadow, 200 acres of pasture, 12 acres of wood. 200 acres of moor and heath, and an annual rent of 10d in Eccleshill and elsewhere, etc., for the use of Ellen lately wife of the said Nicholas for her jointure, with remainder to John son and heir of-Nicholas, then aged 48 (G. 1093). By his wife Ellen, who was buried at Altham 29 July 1661, Nicholas Grimshaw had issue:-

1. Thomas, who died young, accidentally killed by falling on a knife.

2. John, of whom presently (XIV).

3.”Thomas, who married Jane, widow of Thomas Duddell of Longridge. They had no issue. Jane was recently dead in 1650-1;. and Thomas was probably then also dead. The Lancs. and Chesh. Rec. Society's 61st vol. (1st series, Royalist Composition Papers, fo. 19 etc.) records the petition of Roger Sudell to the Trustees for forfeited estates, showing that Thomas Duddell, then late of Alston, in consideration then had with Jane his wife, did by deed dated 23 Feb. 1625, assign to Gabriel Hesketh and Thomas Hothersall, on trust, one capital messuage etc. in Alston, together with tenements and lands in Thornley-cum­Wheatley,; to hold to the use of Thomas Duddell for life; then, as to one moiety, to Jane for life, then to his heirs by Jane, then to the heirs of William Duddell of Alston. . . Thomas Duddell died s.p. and Jane married Thomas Grimshaw, through whose recusancy the moiety was sequestrated: inas­much as Jane was then lately dead, and the premises ought to fall to the Petitioner, in right of his wife Grace, daughter of William Duddell (by whom he had several children) . . . he prays that the sequestration be discharged 12 Feb. 1650-1). This Thomas Grimshaw was, with his brother Richard, some time at the English College at Douay. In the Douay Diaries. (C. R. S., x., xi.) I find as follows: “A.D. 1614 Die 21 Augusti recepti sunt in Collegium . . . adolescentes quorum nomina sunt . . . Richardus et Thomas Grimshe, hic dicti Cletani, fratres”: “A.D. 1621, 22° Julii, Thomas Grimshe (hic Claitonus) e Collegio est dimissus” : “A.D. 1622, 2° Octobris, Ex Anglia reversus est Thomas Grimshe (hic dictus Claitonus) quem meliora spondentem iterum juvat experiri" : “A.D. 1623, 12° Martii juramentum Collegii praestiterunt . . . Thomas Grimshe [and others] logici": and “16° Martii [1623] e Collegio secunda jam vice dimissus est Thomas Grimshe (hic Claitonus) ut huic vocationi plane ineptus."

4. Nicholas, killed at the seige of “Tredough” (i.e. Drogheda) in Ireland.

5. Robert, who married Anne daughter of Francis Hall of Shireburn, co. York. His property was sequestrated in 1652. They had issue:-

1. Richard, d.y.

2. Margaret.

3. Frances.

4. Mary; all living in 1659.

6. Richard, sometime at Douay College: see above under his brother Thomas.

7. Jane, wife of Richard Eyves of Fishwick: living with issue in 1659.

8. Mary, d.y.

9. Anne, wife of William Hey of Ripon.

10. Elizabeth, wife of Richard Tempest of Stock (near Gisburn), 4th son of Sir Stephen Tempest of Broughton, by his 2nd wife Katherine daughter of Henry Lawson of “Nesome," co. Durham [Footnote: i.e. Nesham (=Neasham) near Darlington]. They rented a farm from Stephen Tempest from May 1648. Richard Tempest died early in 1670: his wife survived him many years. They had issue 4 daughters and 4 sons, of whom Stephen, the eldest, was in the Royal Service during the Civil War, and was killed in battle. (Information of Airs Tempest.)

11. Eleanor, wife of John son and heir of John Towneley of Hurstwood, by Eleanor daughter of Simon Haydock of Hesandforth. She died in Nov. 1658, her husband in 1664.

12. Katherine, wife of Robert Squire of Gt Harwood: thev were both living in 1659, and compiled the Grimshaw Pedigree in Towneley's MSS. Squire's Farm in Great Harwood, below Allsprings, probably takes its name from this family.

13. Margaret, living unmarried in 1659.

XIV. John Grimshaw of Clayton, etc., son of Nicholas by his wife Helen Rishworth, succeeded in 1642. He was 48 at his father's death, which would place his birth in 1594, and nearly agrees with the Visitation of 1613, when he was said to be 20. He married by licence dated 3 July 1626, at Whalley (apparently), Anne daughter and coheir of Abraham Colthurst of Burnley; by his 2nd wife Anne Barker of Hepton stall, co. York. He was at Preston Guild in 1642. (Preston Guild Rolls, Lanc. and Chesh. Rec. Soc., ix). In 1650-1 his property was sequestrated for recusancy and delinquency. The following particulars relating to this are taken from Royalist Composition Papers, No. 2475, fo. 406 etc.; Lancs. and Chesh. Rec. Soc., lxxix, 1st series:-Fo. 406. Petition of Ellen Grimshaw showing that two thirds of her estate had been sequestrated for her recusancy, and praying to be allowed to contract for the same, 17 Jan. I653-4: referred to Mr Reading. – Fo. 408. A similar petition from John Grimshaw: referred as above. – Fo. 410. Petition of John Grimshaw of Clayton Hall, Esquire, showing that he was possessed of a coal mine in Eccleshill, and that 2 parts of the profits had been sequestrated for his delinquency; that it was being damaged through its not being properly drained; that his land at Burnley was also damaged by water: 12 July 1653, referred to Mr Reading. – Fo. 411, 416. Report of Mr Reading, 20 Aug. 1654. – Ibid., 1st series, vol. lxxvi, No. 2345: – Fo. 369. Petition of William Woodward, showing that the Commissioners had by deed of 1 Jan. 1651-2 demised to him for 7 years the estates of John Grimshaw of Clayton, his mother, and 3 brothers, 29 Sept. 1653. – Ibid., vol. lxxix, No. 2475:- Fo. 404. Petition of John Grimshaw touching his coal pit at Eccleshill, and water course at Burnley, 31 Jan. 1653-4. – Ibid., vol. iv, No. 72: – Fo. 325. Petition of Nicholas Assheton, 21 June 1650, shewing that John Grimshaw's estate in Clayton, Eccleshill, Burnley, Yate Bank, and Preston, had been sequestrated for his recusancy, and that of his mother Eleanor [sic]; that the collieries were in want of repair, and that £500 is required for this purpose; he requests a lease for 7 years. (See also Shaw's Darwen and its People, where some of the Petitions and Reports are printed.) John Grimshaw died on Sunday 8 Mar. 1662, and was buried at Altham on the 16th (G. 1634). Anne his wife died at Clayton 24 July 1661, and was buried at Altham on the 29th, and " ye same day her mother-in-law Ellen ye daughter of Robert Rishforth of Riddlesden, and wife to Nicholas Grimshaw Esq. was buried at Altham in the same grave" (G. 1634). John Grimshaw and Anne his wife had issue:-­

1. Richard, of whom presently (XV).

2. Nicholas, a Priest. In Dugdale's Visitation of 1664-5 he was said to be “a student at Doway in Flanders"; in the Parker MSS. he is described as “student at law at Douay." His name does not occur in the Diaries of the English secular clergy College there; but he may have been at the Franciscan College, or the Scots College, or perhaps the Benedictine Monastery. He was at the Preston Guild in 1642 (P.G. Rolls). In 1674 he appears to have been chaplain to the Prestons, at the Manor, Furness, about which time he engaged in a controversy with the Rev. S. Felgate, Vicar of Mytton, who wrote “The novelty of the Modern Romish Religion set forth in an answer to Three Queries propounded by N. G. Priest." This was printed at London in 1682. While in Furness pursuivants were sent to arrest him, but he made his escape. It is thought he may have served the mission in the Clayton neighbourhood. Nothing more is known about him or his career, and he most likely died about 1682. (See Gillow, Dict. Eng. Cath., iv. 324, 325.)

3. John, probably born about 1630. He was at the Preston Guild in 1642 (P.G. Rolls). He married about 1656 Jennet, daughter of Robert Cunliffe of Further Sparth (now called Sparth House) in Clayton, and eventually coheir of her brother Christopher. In Jolly's Note Book, which is a record of the , Presbyterian Congregation meeting under Thomas jolly, at Sparth, Wymondhouses, etc., it is related that in 1655 "Jennet Cunliffe, for keeping company with a Papist, and promising him marriage, against the advice of the Church founded on the Word of God, and insisting on it after admonitions, was cast out of Communion in the following form: ‘I do, in the name and with the power of the Lord Jesus, and in the name of the people of God, cast out Jennet Cunliffe, out of the Church, and deliver her up to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.' “Further on it is noted: "1656 [Footnote: This 1656 would seem to be a mistake for 1658 (vel circa)] Mr. Cunliffe's male issue extinct, and his estate likely to fall to a Papist." Mr. R. Ainsworth in a series of articles in the Accrington Observer, descriptive of the ancient homesteads of Accrington and district, says (2 and 3 Feb. 1918) that John Grimshaw helped to expel Jolly from Altham Church in 1662, and that he died of intemperance in 1663. He quotes jolly as recording that “Mr John Grim­shaw being one who shutt me out of the publique place [i.e. the Church of Altham] died in the prosecution of his most debauched practices, and with unspeakable horror; the date of his death was Dec. 14, 1663." I do not find this passage in Jolly's Note Book, but the Chetham Society's edition does not profess to be a complete transcript, and perhaps Mr. Ainsworth found it in the original text. The preface states that “on 25 July 1662 Captain Banister and his Ensign John Grimshaw came rudely to his (Jolly's) closet door to cite him once again to Chester, though they must gett some canns of ale into them before they came, to putt a little courage into them," and “on the 17th of August, Captain Bannister, Captain Alexander Nowell, and Ensign Grimshaw brought the order for his suspension, and forced him out of the chapel." Among the wills at Chester is an Inventory of the goods of “John Grimshaw nuper de Sparth defunct' exhib' 3 Feb. 1663 (O.S.).” A large part of it is illegible, but the following items can be made out. – “In primis, in the barne, five kine, two heifers, and two calves . . . £22.00.00: item two horses . . . £2.00.00: item, hay . . . £1.00.00" – and so on. Among the rooms mentioned in the house are the Little Chamber, the parlour, the buttery, the hall, the wayne [?] house. The total amounts to £52.02.04.” According to the Piccope MSS. (Chetham Library) John Grimshaw was buried at Altham 16 Dec. 1663, aged 48, but this 48 cannot be right, and 33 would be more likely. Jennet, his widow, who had inherited an interest in the Sparth estate, on the death of her brother Christopher Cunliffe circa 1658, was buried at Altham 19 Dec. 1693. Fuller details of Jennet and her interest in Sparth will be given later, when we come to the account of that property. John Grimshaw and Jennet his wife had issue:

1. Nicholas, buried 15 Feb. 1660.

2. John, of whom presently as heir-male of his uncle Richard Grimshaw (XVI).

3. Nicholas, of whom presently as heir of his brother John (XVIa).

4. Anne, unmarried. She is mentioned in the will of her brother Nicholas, dated 25 Feb. 1718-19. She is spoken of as “very old and infirm " in 1720. A letter of John Coward, farmer of the Clayton hall demesne, to Mr. Brookbank, dated 2 Oct. 1744, says “Mrs. Anne Grimshaw which was the last of that troublesome crew, is dead, being the last of that generation " (C. 238).

5. Mary Anne, wife of John Heywood of Urmston; of whom presently as representative of the family after her brother Nicholas (XVIb).

4. Mary.

5. Ellen, wife of John Clarkson of Cowhill, near Goosenargh, and living in 1659.

XV. Richard Grimshaw of Clayton, etc., son of John Grimshaw by Anne Colthurst, succeeded in 1662. He was born about 1628, and married about 1650 Anne 7th daughter of Stephen Tempest of Broughton, co. York, by Susan his wife, daughter of 'William Oglethorpe of Roundhay, near Leeds. He made a settlement of his estates in Clayton, Grimshaw, and Eccleshill 28 Oct. 1667. His wife had an annuity of £30 per an. settled on her, which her brother Sir Stephen Tempest continued to pay till Oct. 1659 when a lump sum was paid down in lieu of it. (Information of Mrs. Tempest.) She was buried at Altham 13 Apr. 1681. Richard Grimshaw and his wife were convicted and fined for recusancy in 1679. He married secondly Elizabeth daughter of Nicholas Shuttleworth of Clitheroe, and sister of Richard Shuttleworth of Cattall, co. York. Her mother was Anne daughter of Thomas Standish of Duxbury, and her father was 2nd son of Richard Shuttleworth of Gawthorpe, by his wife Fleetwood Barton. A settlement to secure Elizabeth's jointure was made 5 Dec. 1682: lands in Clayton, Eccleshill, and Grimshaw are mentioned: her portion was £500. The following rooms in Clayton Hall are mentioned as reserved for her occupation;= ‘the little kitchen, the entry adjoining thereunto, the 2 rooms under the same kitchen, called the butteries, a chamber and closet over the same, the still parlour, and closet adjoining to the cham­ber over the same, and the closet last mentioned in the entry leading thereunto out of the said chamber over the said little kitchen, and the 2 new chambers "; also various bays in the barn, farm buildings, threshing bays, garners, stables, etc.: the great garden next to the hall, and closes of land called the Cornfield, the Beanbutts, the Ryecroft, the Rushycroft, the Barley Croft, the Higher Whitaker, the Old Whitaker, the little Broadhey, the Palefield, the great Broadhey, the Highmost Eyes, the Higher Spring, the great Horse heys, the Wellcroft, etc. . . . containing about 60 acres. Richard Grimshaw was buried at Altham 26 Feb. 1696-7, and was succeeded by his nephew John (son of his brother John by his Wife Jennet Cunliffe) as heir male. His will is dated 19 Feb. 1696-7. He recites his power under the settlement of his first marriage, to charge his property with L1300; gives L100 and the residue ro his wife; recites the settlements on his second marriage, and gives the land etc. mentioned therein to his Wife for life, and makes her executrix. She survived and married John Berry of Barnoldswick. Berry was living in 1720, and I think she was too. Richard Grimshaw and Anne Tempest, his first wife, had issue:-

1. Susanna, only child. According to Piccope's MSS. she was aged 6 in 1664, and so would be born in 1658. She married first Arthur Davis, and by him had sons Richard and Robert (C. 50). She married 2ndly Ralph son of the Nicholas Shuttleworth mentioned above, and brother to Elizabeth, her father's 2nd Wife. Susanna died 13 June 1727, and was buried at Altham: Ralph Shuttleworth died 30 Jan. 1733, and was also buried at Altham. Their epitaphs are (or were) on tombstones at the east end of the chancel of Altham Church. Ralph Shuttleworth is said to have been an ardent Jacobite, and to have been a considerable sufferer in that honourable cause. These Shuttleworths occupied Clayton Hall for some years. They had several children, and their descendants survived till 1845, and some may yet exist.

XVI. John Grimshaw of Clayton, etc., eldest son of John Grimshaw of Sparth by Jennet Cunliffe, succeeded his uncle Richard in 1697. He was born probably about 1658. The estates of Clayton and Eccles­hill were now heavily encumbered. In 1697 he mortgaged both to Thomas Whalley of Sparth and Thomas his son, who soon after assigned the mortgage to Richard Clayton of Adlington, who about 1700 made an absolute purchase of the Eccleshill property. It remained with the Claytons till 1814. It was sold again in 1848, and then consisted of the tenements of Grimshaw, Brocklehead, Bent, Eccleshill Fold, Shaw Fold, Holden Fold, and Lower Eccleshill, with a total area of 436 acres. John Grimshaw married Mary (surname unknown) who was buried at Altham 30 Dec. 1709. He died in 1715. He had issue a daughter Mary, buried at Altham 30 Dec. 1709.

XVIa. Nicholas Grimshaw of Clayton, 2nd surviving son of John Grimshaw of Sparth by Jennet Cunliffe, succeeded his brother John in 1715, before which date he seems to have lived at Sparth, on a por­tion of his mother's inheritance. His finances were hopelessly involved. He made his will 26 Feb. 1719, and recites that he had contracted to sell the Clayton estate to Henry Wright of Mobberley, co. Chester, and in order to effect this, he left it to Thomas Clayton of Manchester, Charles Beswicke of the same, and Nicholas Haughton, curate of Altham: any surplus after paying his debts to go to his sister Mary Anne, wife of John Heywood of Urmston. It had already been mortgaged to Heywood 7 Dec. 1718. Nicholas Grimshaw was buried at Altham 2 Mar. 1719.

XVIb. Mary Anne Grimshaw, 2nd daughter and (in her issue) sole heiress of John Grimshaw of Sparth, succeeded her brother Nicholas in 1719. She was married as Mary Anne Grimshaw of Ancoats to John Heywood of Flixton 13 June 1690 (Piccope MSS.). Heywood died in Jan. 1727. In his will dated 3 Oct. 1706, proved at Chester 30 Sept. 1728, he mentions “Mary my wife, Mary and Rebecca my daughters, my messuage purchased from Mr Hyde of Urmston, my tenement held of Mr Trafford, lands etc. purchased from Mr Minshull, my mother Rebecca, Peter Coupe my stepfather, my brother-in-law Henry Knight, my daughter Rebecca, then under 18 years of age; my daughter Mary then wife of James Barnes.”Mary Anne, widow of John Heywood, died in April 1730 (C. 226). In a will dated 27 Mar. 1729 she mentions her daughters, Mary, wife of James Barnes of Manchester, and Rebecca, wife of Richard Lomax; and her “grand son John Law of Urmston,” who is made one of the executors. The Heywoods do not seem ever to have lived at Clayton Hall, which was divided into 2 or 3 parts, and let to various persons, as were the demesne lands. Part of the house and lands were occupied for a time by Ralph Shuttleworth and Susanna Grimshaw his wife, during the later years of the 17th century, and perhaps later. Anne, sister of Mrs Heywood, appears to have lived there for a time; and about 1730, and later, John Coward was one of the tenants of the demesne, and I believe of part of the hall. The estate from about 1718 was mortgaged to Sir Oswald Mosley of Ancoats, and others, but later the mortgages were consolidated and taken up by Moseley. John and Mary Heywood had issue:-

1. Mary, wife of James Barnes of Manchester, and I believe died s.p.

2. Rebecca, of whom presently (XVII).

XVII. Rebecca Heywood, eventually sole heiress of the Clayton estate, and representative of the Grimshaw family, was born probably about 1693. She was married about 1.-15 to Richard Lomax of Pilsworth, in the Parish of Middleton, and of Burnshaw Tower, near Todmorden, and carried the Clayton estate into that family.

(C) A NOTE ON THE HEYWOODS

There is little to be said about the Heywoods of Urmston, which is a township in the Parish of Flixton, co. Lanc. There are several of their wills at Chester. The following are mentioned in the catalogue, but some catalogued are missing.

The earliest is that of John Heywood of Urmston, husbandman, dated 21 Feb. 1587-8 It runs as follows: “My soul to God, my body to be buried in the Parish Church yard of Flixton; I will that after my debts be discharged, my goods moveable and immoveable shall be equally divided into three parts, that is one for myself, another for my wife Alice, and the third for my three children, that is to say William John and Anne; and after my funeral expenses made and discharged, and my legacies in such manner taken out of them, all that remaineth of my part . . . to be equally divided betwixt my wife and my three children.” A list of his debts follows, in which his sisters Anne and Margerie, and his brother George are mentioned. The total of the inventory is L10 17s.

Others are the wills of Thomas Heywood of Urmston 1613, John Heywood of the same 1617, Thomas Heywood of the same 1630, George Heywood of the same 1632 (missing), John Heywood of the same 1670 (missing).

It is likely that the John Heywood who married Mary Anne Grimshaw was descended from the John who made his will in 1587-8.

(D) THE FAMILY OF LOMAX.

Discontinue here...

 

Tabular Pedigree of the Clayton-le-Moors Grimshaw Line

Trappes-Lomax included a descendant chart of the Clayton-le-Moors Grimshaws which is shown in Figure 3 below.

Figure 3. Tabular pedigree of the Grimshaw line of Clayton-le-Moors (facing p. 34 of the text)

 

Text Description of the Grimshaws of Oakenshaw

Chapter V of Trappes-Lomax's book (Section C, "Oakenshaw") provides a great deal of information on a Grimshaw line that was derived from the Clayton-le-Moors line and lived at Oakenshaw.

CHAPTER V.

ANCIENT FREEHOLDS.

(A) RINGSTONEHALGH.

Ringstonehalgh lies nearly due north of Dunkenhalgh, and south of Oakenshaw: in 1376 there was a Nether and an Over Rinstonehalgh. It is now a farmhouse and a cottage, and is part of the Dunkenhalgh estate, though it is not clear when or how this came about. On 16 Jan. 1352 Richard de Waddesworth and Margeria his wife quitclaimed to Henry de Clayton and Matilda his wife all their right in the land once belonging to Adam de Ringstonehalgh (D. 166): and at the same date William le Mercer and Elena his wife did the same (D. 167): on 5 Feb. following Alice, lately wife of Adam le Walker of Blackburn, quitclaimed to Henry de Clayton the land she held from Adam de Ringstonehalgh (D. 168): and on the 17th Agnes daughter of Adam le Walker of Blackburn, lately wife of Henry de Lyvesay, ,and Maria another daughter of Adam, quitclaimed to Henry de Clayton and Matilda his wife all the land that had belonged to Adam de Ringstonehalgh.

Nether and Over Ringstonehalgh are mentioned as lying between Dunkenhalgh and Oakenshaw Clough in the deed of partition of the manor of Clayton dated 31 Mar. 1376 (D. 173, G. 1636 bis, which is, however, dated "ultimo die Maii," but this (or "Mar’") may be an error in transcription: C. 10 has the date 31 May). From the works in this deed, "ac etiam cum omnibus terris et tenementis cum pertin' inter terras et tenementa Rici de Rishton que vocatur Duncaneshalgh, et terras quae sunt Willimi de Okenshagh in le Okenshaghclogh, que vocatur le Over ringstonehalgh, et lc Nethir Ringstonehalgh," it might be assumed that the Over and Nether Ringstonehalgh or had sometime been, the property of William de Okenshagh.

Thomas Duckworth held Ringstonehalgh of Judge Walmesley in 1597.

The will of Richard Duckworth of Ringstonehalgh, carpenter, is dated 2 June 1631: he mentions John, son of George Duckworth,

deceased, John Hesleton and his wife; Thomas "my brother” whom he leaves 2 coverlets, 2 blankets, a pair of sheets and a chaff bed); Ellen Ryley, my servant (20s); Richard Duckworth my uncle: Edward, his brother (3s 4d); Ellen Duckworth my sister (on, chaff bed, one pair of sheets, one pair of blankets, 2 coverlets, and a bolster): he leaves 40s to make a bridge at Feenesforth: to Alice Cunlifie 20s; to the poor of Altham and Clayton 10s; to the poor of Accrington 6s 8d; to Robert Cunliffe of Sparth 20s; to Nicholas Pollard of Altham 20s; to William Oldham of Oswaldtwistle 20s; to George Sweetlove of Harwood 2s; residue to Thomas my brother, Ellen my sister, and John Hasleden in equal shares (G. 596).

Ringstonehalgh is mentioned as a freehold in Clayton in a list dated Jan. 1662-3, Richard Duckworth paying a quit-rent of 1d per an. (Clitheroe Court Rolls, ii. 428, 430).

About 1710 Ringstonehalgh was occupied by John Livesey, who married Rebecca, daughter of Thomas Grimshaw of Oakenshaw, by lsabel Hargreaves his wife. After Livesey's death Rebecca married John Jolly, Presbyterian minister of Wymondhouses (in Pendleton) and of Further Sparth in Clayton, in Jan. 1713-14. Jolly had previ­ously gone to lodge at her house at Ringstonehalgh. They went to live at Oakenshaw in 1719 This John Jolly was nephew of the noted Thomas Jolly, mentioned in connection (supra) with Jennet Cunliffe, who married John Grimshaw (XVa) of the Clayton Hall family (Jolly's Note Book).

(B) Heyslacks.

Heyslacks is situated south-east of Ringstonehalgh and north-east of Dunkenhalgh. It is mentioned in an undated deed (G. 567), by which John son of Benedict de Derwine granted to Henry de Altham, son of Henry the Clerk, certain lands on Hindill in Clayton. This deed appears among the Dunkenhalgh deeds asNo. 154, and the editors date it as between 1210 and 1230. It is also mentioned in an undated deed (G. 1621). by which Ughtred, son of Hugh, son of David, released a bovate of land in Clayton to Henry de Altham. From the names of the witnesses it is probable that this deed is nearly coeval with G. 567. By another deed (C. 15) Henry son of Henry de Clayton granted to Henry de Rishton for his homage and service 4 acres of land and a quarter of a rood on the south-east side of Heyslacks, in Clayton, to he held at a rent of 4d of silver, to be paid on the feast of St. Giles (1 Sept.). D. 156 is almost exactly the same as the abow" and the editors of the Dunkenhalgh Deeds assign 1275-88 as the probable date.

By deed dated 24 June 1397 Henry de Rishton granted the Nether and Over Heyslacks to Matthew- de Leigh (C. 16) (who had married Alice daughter and coheir of Henry de Clayton, and was father of Margaret, wife of Henry de Rishton, the grantor). On 25 Dec. 1397 Matthew de Legh and others granted the same to John de Boghurst, chaplain, and Richard, son of Richard de Rishton. On 25 Apr. 1399 John de Boghurst and Richard de Rishton granted the same to Nicholas de Rishton and Richard son of Henry de Rishton.

It does not transpire how or when Heyslacks ceased to belong to the Rishtons of Dunkenhalgh: perhaps it was sold off when John Rishton sold his estate to his kinsman Ralph Rishton. The latter may have sold it about the time he sold the two Sparths (circa 1556). About 1785 it belonged to Richard Thomas Wroe-Walton of Altham, and was still his property in 1797. In 1816 it belonged to Nathaniel Dugdale, who was, I believe, connected with the Print­works at Oakenshaw. Later it passed to the Fort family, and later to Joseph Barnes, who bought the Oakenshaw estate from the Forts in 1851. It was the property of Barnes' heirs in 1857, and is now, I believe, the property of the Oakenshaw Estate Company.

The site of the old tenement of Heyslacks is now occupied by a row of small houses called Hygiene.

(C) Oakenshaw.

This ancient tenement stands (or rather stood) to the north-east of Ringstonehalgh, and on the northern edge of the ancient common, from which its lands extended in a westerly and north-westerly direction towards the Hyndburn. The southern boundary is a small clough, perhaps the ancient “Okenshagh Clogh," which separates it from the lands of Ringstonehalgh. The north-eastern boundary is another clough, formerly (but I think not anciently) called Sooper or Swooper Clough, which divides it from the lands of Nearer Sparth. The name is variously spelt, Hackinshawe (1256), Akynshae (in the undated grant from Henry de Clayton to his son Thomas [O. 1]: which Henry was living in 1249, but was dead before 1262), and Okenshagh. The derivation is obviously from Oak + shaw (= wood). The Towneley transcripts of the Oakenshaw deeds supply a good deal of the history of this property, and enable the general line of descent of its owners to be traced; but there are certain lacunae, and it is not possible to account fully for every generation.

Henry de Clayton, who succeeded his father circa 1220 (third in descent from Hugh son of Leofwine, the 1st grantee of Clayton) by an undated decd (O. r), granted to his younger son Thomas a part of his land in Clayton called "Akynshae" for a rent of 12d in silver. The boundaries are, thus described: "Incipiendo ad Akyneshae clogh ubi cadit in Hyndeburne, et ascendendo per eundem clogh versus Austrum usq' ad fossatum quod est inter moram et terram arrabilem, et sequendo illud fossatum versus occidentem usque ad angulum fossati Hugonis Fabri, et sequendo fossatum Hugonis versus austrum, usque ad terram quao fnit Johannis filii mei, et sic procedendo inter terram Johannis et dictum Akyneshae versus occidentem usque in veterem aquam, et descendendo per illam veterem aquam usque in Hyndeburne, et sequendo filum aquae de Hyndeburne, desccndendo usque in predictum Akynoshae clogh."Thomas de Clayton the grantee is probably the Thomas de Clayton to whom by undated deed Richard de Tatheswith granted land called Hestanis in Clayton, between the Hyndburn and the Calder (G. 1628). He was father of Richard de Clayton of Oakenshaw who occurs in 1365, when by deed dated Wednesday after 20 Nov. he granted to Alice his daughter the half of his land etc. in Clayton, that is that half lying near to "Hokenshae" clough, to hold for her life by the rent of a red rose (O. 2).

William de Oakenshaw is mentioned as owning Oakenshaw in 1376 (D. 173; G. 1036 bis): William de Oakenshaw and Margaret his wife occur next (O. 3), and enfeoffed Thomas de Hesketh (lord of Gt Harwood) in the Oakenshaw lands: by deed dated 23 Nov. 1401 Hesketh released the same to John, 3rd son of Adam de Grimshaw of Clayton by Cecily de Clayton his wife (O. 3), and the estate continued for many generations in this branch of the Grimshaws.

I. John de Grimshaw the grantee, married Elizabeth, daughter of Roger de Aspden. On 7 Sept. 1383 Elias de Entwistle granted to Henry de Grimshaw, brother of John, the custody and marriage of the said Elizabeth (G. 1585 bis). John died before 1407, for on Wednesday the Eve of the Ascension of that year Richard de Walton and Richard de Catlow, chaplains, granted to Elizabeth, formerly wife of John Grim­shaw, all the lands etc. in Oswaldtwistle, which they had of the gift of the said Elizabeth, with remainders to Roger, son of John and Eliza­beth, to Richard another son, and to Alice and Joan their daughters. Towneley MSS., Holden Deeds, HH. 1501.) John and Elizabeth had issue;-

1. Roger, of whom presently (II).

2. Richard.

3. Margaret, wife of Hugh Baron. They had issue:­Thomas Baron, who was father of --

Hugh Baron, who in 1512 was party to the deed of par­tition of the lands in Oswaldtwistle, formerly Eliza­beth Aspden's (vide infra).

4. Alice, wife of Peter de Marsden.

5. Joan, wife of John Sharrock. Their son John Sharrock was father of Wlilliam Sharrock, who had three daughters, viz.:--

1. Alice. wife of John Boyce, and had issue a son Henry living 1512.

2. Isabella, wife of Jacob Whitehalgh, and had a soil Richard.

3. Agnes, wife of Richard Cottam, and had a son William. By deed dated 7 Sept. 1512 partition of land in Oswaldtwistle (formerly Elizabeth Aspden's) ws made between Hugh Baron, Henry Boyce, and Richard Whitehalgh. (Lancs. and Chesh. Antiq. Notes, ed. by Pink, vol. I. p. 188.)

II. Roger Grimshaw of Oakenshaw, son of John, succeeded, before 1407 . On 3 Sept. 1426 he granted all his lands etc. in Clayton and Oswaldtwistle to Sir John Stanley, Knt., Thomas Stanley his son, Richard Stanley, Archdeacon of Chester, Thomas Stanley of co. Stafford, and Richard son of Henry de Rishton (O. 30): and on the same day appointed Galfrid de Grimshaw to be his attorney to deliver seisin to the feoffees (O. 8), the latter appointing John de Livesey their attorney to receive it (O. 9). The feoffees were to hold the property on trust to perform Roger's will (C), 31): it appears from this deed, which is a declaration made by Richard son of Henry de Rishton, that Roger had gone into France (? on war service) and died there, but before he started lie brought his will to the feoffees "how they should do with the said lands,"in a pair of indentures, and when he had read and declared the indentures, the feoffees sealed one, and Roger sealed the other, and delivered them to the ward of the said Richard Rishton. The will is contained in a deed of 2 Feb. 1427 (O. 29). It is rather imperfect, but it appears that Oakenshaw was to be assured to Galfred de Grimshaw, apparently son of Roger, but perhaps illegiti­mate, subject to the payment of L20 to Robert of Wadyngton and . . . of Rishton, for the discharge of Roger's debts; any balance over to "Richard his brother and Joan his mother." A schedule of Roger's debts "in receasu suo Versus Franciam " shows that he owed John Britwissill of Preston 40s, Alice Coke of Preston 6s 80, John de Balston-den 4 marks, Robert Knight of Bradsale [illegible], William Leeke of Northampton 40d , . . . Fazackcrley 6s 8d Margaret sister of Roger ___, Alice another sister 5 marks William Shorrocke and John his son ___ marks, Galfrid de Grimshagh 7 marks (O. 10). From a writ to the Escheator of co. Lancaster, dated 23 Mar. 1435 (O. 27), it appears that Roger de Grimesagh was seised before his death of one messuage, ___ acres of land, 12 ac. of meadow, 16 ac. of wood, and 100 ac. of pasture in Clayton called Okinshagh, worth 20s per an.; and of one messuage To acres of land, 40 acres of meadow, 20 acres of wood, 200 acres of pasture in Oswaldtwistle called Aspden, worth L4 (shillings illegible) per an.: that Roger died on Monday before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (14 Sept.) 1429; and that Alice lately wife, de Mersden is his sister and heir, and is aged 30 years and more: the escheator is directed to deliver the premises to Alice.

III. Geoffrey (or Galfridus) de Grimshaw is next found in possession, apparently an illegitimate son of Roger. On Sunday before 29 Sept. 1432 Sir John Stanley and the other feoffees to whom Roger had conveyed his property, released it to Geoffrey (O. 11), and appointed Lawrence Banastre to deliver siesin (O. 18). On Thursday after 29 Sept. Richard son of Henry Rishton acknowledged to have received L20 frorn Geoffrey in accordance with the latter's will (O. 16); and on the following Sunday this was confirmed by a declaration by Laurence Banastre of Altham and others (one of whom was "Thomas of Felden of the Sperch ") (O. 15). On 8 May 1459 William Winkley, vicar of the "Kirke of Whalley" and others certify that they were present at Oakenshaw, and heard and saw that "Geoffrey Grimeshagh lying sick in parill of his death, shroven to his confessor, and being in full and whole mind before his confessour and all those present, took upon the charge of his soul, as he should answer before God at the dreadful day of doome, that he never had seene, nor knew any deed of entail of that place and land that is called the Okenshagh . . . made before the death of Roger Grimeshagh, not never such deed put away, and after that done, the same day the said Geoffrey Grimeshagh, without any other confession made there, received his housel, and took the holy Sacrament of Anointing" (O. 22). On 20 April 1462 Geoffrey granted Oakenshaw to his bastard son Persavall (O. 24). The Oswaldtwistle estate devolved on the representatives of the sisters of Roger Grimshaw.

IV. Persavall Grimshaw, illegitimate son of Geoffrey, succeeded soon after 1462, and passed the estate to feoffees 15 Apr. 1463 (O. 23). The next step is not clear, but

V. Nicholas Grimshaw, probably son or grandson of Persaval, was Owner of Oakenshaw on 14 Feb. 1536 (O. 26), when Thomas Walmesley and others, arbitrators, decided "how the water and warth of Hynd­burn shall be occupied between Robert Hesketh, Knight, and Nicholas Grimeshagh." Nicholas is to make and uphold the hedge between "Totylworth Dene and the Overholme of Hokenshaw" . . . "to the weyer at the north side of the said hoame and the weyer;" . . . "Sir Robert shall take at the north end of the weyer upon Totylworth side to make and uphold the hedge to the foot of the Hokenshagh clogh: Robert shall be free in the occupation of the said water and warth . . , except a watering poole for the ease of the said Nicholas, and free to fetch wood etc. growing out of the said Okenshagh: Nicholas shall be free in occupation of the water and warth from the weyer to the foot of the Hokenshagh clogh . . . except a watering poole for the ease of Sir Robert there as his lands lies to the water, and free to fetch wood etc. out of the Totylworth."

VI. Persavel Grimshaw, yeoman, probably son of Nicholas, was owner of Oakenshaw in 1567-8. He made a settlement of the estate in that year, on himself for life, with remainder to his son and heir Nicholas (O. 28). From O. 33 (1575-6) it appears that he had another son Richard.

VII. Nicholas Grimshaw of Oakenshaw, gent., son of Persaval, made a settlement 28 Jan. 1601 (O. 34) after the marriage of his son Thomas with Janet, daughter of William Edge of Blackburn, Mercer. A messuage and lands in Huncoat were settled as well as Oakenshaw. Elizabeth, wife of Nicholas, is mentioned, and so are his younger sons Richard, William, and Henry.

VIII. Thomas Grimshaw, son of Nicholas, succeeded. He was living in 1627. By his wife Janet Edge he was father of

IX. Nicholas Grimshaw of Oakenshaw, gent., who married (settle­ment dated 1 Mar. 1627) Rebecca, daughter of Thomas Hohne of Rochdale (O. 35). Rebecca's fortune was L270. Besides Oakenshaw copyhold lands in Accrington were settled. Nicholas appears to have died before 1664. He was apparently father of

X. Thomas Grimshaw of Oakenshaw, who seems to have been in possession in 1664. [From this point the Pedigree in Whitaker's Whalley is the source of information.; He married 1st, 26 Oct. 16.58 Mary, daughter of John Sager of Habergham Eaves, and 2ndly, 14 May] 1662 or 1663 Isabel, daughter of John Hargreaves of Higham in Pendle Forest, ancestor of the Hargreaves family later of Broadoak, etc. His will is dated 17 Nov. 1697, and was proved at Chester 23 Apr. 1700. He left Oakenshaw to his sons John and Thomas in trust for certain purposes, and then to Thomas his grandson, son of his son Nicholas. He gives legacies to his daughters Isabel and Anne, and to his grand­daughters Sarah and Isabel, and mentions his daughters Janet Towne and Rebecca Livesey. 13y his first wife he had issue­

1. Jenet, wife of . . . Towne of Hunterholme in Pendle Forest. She made her will 10 Oct. 1723 [it is in the possession of R. Broughton Esq. of Accrington], and left 1s apiece to her children John, Rebecca, Mary, Alice, Isabel, and the residue to her son Richard.

By his second wife he had issue:­

1. Nicholas, of whom presently (XI).

2. Rebecca, born 15 Feb. 1666: married 1st to John Livesey of Ringstonehalgh, who died 19 May 1708; and 2ndly (on 25 Jan. 1742 to John Jolly, Presbyterian minister of Wymondhouses and Sparth, nephew of the celebrated Thomas Jolly, Presby­terian minister of the same, and sometime (ejected) minister of Altham. She died 17 Nov. 1720. She is said to have had issue by her first husband.

3. John, born 15 Sept. 1669. A note on p. 276 of Whitaker's Whalley says that he died s.p. at Padiham in 1703, and that his Administration is at Chester (by Mary his Administratrix).

4. Richard, born 25 Mar. 1672.

5. Thomas, born 5 Mar. 1673: died at Higham 5 Oct. 1744; will proved at York 1745. He was exor. and trustee with his brother John to their father's will.

6. Isabel, born 5 May 1679.

7. Anne, born 9 May 1681, wife of Nicholas Grimshaw of Padiham and Northwood.

XI. Nicholas Grimshaw of Oakenshaw, son of Thomas, was born 4 Jan. 1664. He married (settlements dated 1 Oct. 1712) Deborah Shawe. He died before 1742, for by Inquisition for the Forest of Pendle held 29 April of that year, it was found that Nicholas Grimshaw late of Oakenshaw, deceased, died seised of premises comprised in an indenture of 15 Oct. 1712. Nicholas Grimshaw, with other parties interested, viz. Thomas and John Grimshaw, Richard Heys of Bashall, Nicholas Grimshaw of Padiham, Henry Bulcock of Padiham, Sarah Grimshaw of Clayton-le-Moors, Jennet Towne of Pendle, widow, John Jolley of Clayton-le-Moors, sold the Oakenshaw estate (about 40 cus­tomary acres) to John Ellison, yeoman, 22 Mar. 1717-8 Nicholas Grimshaw had issue--­

1. Thomas, apparently dead before 1742.

2. Sarah, daughter and coheir, and found to be such by Inquisition 1742, being then of Clayton-le-moors.

3. Isabel, coheir, and wife of Henry Bulcock in 1742.

The Ellisons Of Oakenshaw, etc.

Discontinue here....

 

Chapter I. General Observations

Background information and an overview description of Clayton-le-Moors are provided in the Preface and Chapter 1 of Trappes-Lomax's book.

PREFACE.

The following notes on the History of the Township of Clayton-le-Moors have been compiled from the Collection of Clayton Deeds, transcribed by Christopher Towneley circa 1660; the Dunkenhalgh Deeds, printed in vol. 80, Chetham Soc., N.S. 1921; the Clayton Hall MSS., preserved there; the Victoria County History of Lancashire; Whitaker's History of Whalley (4th edition, I872); and Abram's History of Blackburn.

The question may be asked, why one should trouble about the history of so obscure a place? To this I can only reply that curiosity impelled me to investigate what might be known about it, and that, having accumulated a good deal of information, I thought it might be worth while to arrange it, and make it accessible to any one interested. What little has appeared in print about Clayton is mainly limited to Whitaker's History of Whalley, where the account is meagre, and in some particulars even erroneous. The Victoria County History gives an excellent account of the manor and its lords, but says very little about the ancient and minor freeholds. My searches in the Clayton Hall and other muniments have got together a fairly full history of them, and have provided a certain amount of detailed information, which I hope may render more complete (and perhaps more correct) the accounts of the locality already existing.

In referring to the various collections of deeds cited in the following pages, I have used "G" to indicate Towneley's Transcript of the Clayton and Grimshaw deeds, "O" for the Grimshaw of Oakenshaw deeds, "D" for the Dunkenhalgh deeds" and "C" for the Clayton Hall muniments.

It is a pleasure to acknowledge the help I have received, in preparing this volume, from Mr. Higson, of the Oakenshaw Estate Company; from Mr. R. Ainsworth; from Mr. Haworth, of the Dunkenhalgh Estate Office; from Mr. R. Broughton, of Accrington; from Captain C. B. Petre. Colonel Parker of Browsholme, the President of the Society, to whom I am indebted for the Pedigree of Duxbury of Dean, has helped me in many ways, both in preparing the volume for the press and in reading the proofs. Special thanks are due to Mrs. Tempest for assistance in deciphering many of the older deeds; and to Mr. H. M. McKechnie for much general help and valuable advice.

RICHARD TRAPPES-LOMAX

 

CHAPTER I.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.

The township and manor of Clayton is in the chapelry of Altham, in the ancient Parish of Whalley, and lies about 3 miles south of that village, and about 2 miles north of Accrington. It is surrounded by the township of Read on the north (though a narrow strip of Altham intervenes to prevent their actually touching), by Altham on the north, north-east, east, and south-east, by Church on the south, Rishton on the west, and by Great Harwood on the north-west. The river Hyndburn separates Clayton from Rishton and Great Harwood. The north end of Clayton very nearly reaches the river Calder, being only separated from it by a narrow field (in Altham) not much more than 100 yards across. The boundary line here may represent the old course of the Calder, for, as will be seen later, mention is made in early records of land in Clayton ”lying between the Calder and the Hyndburn,” of lands in Clayton "lying near the Calder," and of a mill in Clayton, on the Calder. But no part of Clayton now touches that river; yet it must have done so once, if the foregoing descriptions are correct.

The land rises in a gradual slope from the northern boundary towards the south: at the former it is about 200 feet above sea-level; at the latter, near Whinny Hill, a height of about 550 feet is reached. The surface is broken by five streams flowing northwards, viz.: "Wind Engine Clough," which flows into the Calder, and is the boundary between Clayton and Altham; a stream which rises near Whitaker Nook, passes Red House Farm, and joins the Hyndburn where the latter flows into the Calder; a stream which rises near Bell Lane, passes in front of Clayton Hall, and flows into Hyndburn down “Clayton Hall Clough," being the boundary between the original Clayton Hall estate and that of Further Sparth; the stream which flows nearly parallel to, and contiguous to the road from Accrington to Whalley, and which joins the Hyndburn at, and nearly under Hynd­burn Bridge, and is practically the boundary between the lands of Further and Nearer Sparth; and the Clough which divides Nearer Sparth from Oakenshaw, and falls into Hyndburn a little below Oakenshaw Print Works. It is noteworthy that these estates are thus bounded by these natural features, and it would seem that these cloughs or streams had determined the areas of the estates in question. Smaller streams flow westwards into the Hyndburn, one of which, rising near Whinny Hill, flows west and south-west into the Hyndburn at Bottom Syke near Dunkenhalgh: this stream is for most of its course the southern boundary between C layton and Church.

The soil is a stiff clay, overlying shale and sandstone rock; below are the coal measures some of which have been worked from a very early date, the mine of “sea cole” being mentioned in 1376-7.

The streams mentioned probably rise from springs, or did so; but generally speaking, springs are as few and feeble in Clayton as they are numerous and strong in the township of Great Harwood. The working of the coal measures may have caused their failure and non-existence at the present time.

The area of the township is 1058 acres, 3 roods, 24 perches, according to the 6 inch ordnance map of 1848: the greatest length (from the Hyndburn just below Dunkenhalgh in the south to the Altham boun­dary in the north) is 2 miles and about 580 Yards; the greatest width (from just below Holt Mill on the west to the Altham boundary near Whinny Hill on the east) is 1 mile and about 280 yards.

There do not appear to be anv prehistoric or Roman remains; nor are there any traces of the old common, or open-field system of cultivation, characteristic of the early village community. There are no vestiges of the long, narrow, strip-like fields, which represent a survival of the old common-field in, such as are shown in the map of Great Harwood dated 1763 (often therein called "Doles"), and which can even yet be traced in Pendleton, Chatburn, Rimington, Newton-in-Bolland, and many other townships in the neighbourhood. I suppose that the reason for this is that there never was an ancient village of Clayton: as a town in the modern sense Clayton has literally grown out of nothing, a growth almost entirely caused by the uprising of a sordid industrialism since the last decade of the eighteenth cen­tury. "There was no village-nucleus, - just two halls with their demesnes, a dozen or so small farms, and a few cottages, strung out along the northern and western edge of the common.

 

The Former and Current Clayton Hall at Clayton-le-Moors

A photo of the former (second) Clayton Hall, taken from Ainsworth2, is shown in Figure 4. This hall was demolished in 19771, but a "new" Clayton Hall, which appears to be a substantial replica, (Figure 5) has been constructed at the site. Additional information on Clayton Hall is provided on a companion webpage.

Figure 4. Photograph of Old Clayton Hall (northward view of south side).

Figure 5. Front view of the "new" (third) Clayton Hall is shown below. The photo was taken northward from south side. Photo taken May 1999

 

Maps of Clayton-le-Moors Included in Trappes-Lomax's Book

Two maps of Clayton-le-Moors, both folded and bound into the book, are provided in the "History of Clayton-le-Moors". In the front of the book is a map of the location in the late 1790's (Figure 6)  and in the back is a contemporary map of the same vintage as the book - about 1926.

Figure 6. Book Frontispiece: Map of the Clayton-le-Moors area as it existed in about 1790. The map is shown in two parts, with points A and B indicating the match points. Note Clayton Hall near the center of the top half of the map. Also note Dunkenhalgh on the lower part of the bottom half of the map.

 

 

Where is Clayton-le-Moors Located?

Clayton-le-Moors is northeast of Blackburn, as shown in the following maps from the British Ordnance Survey website ("Get-a-Map").

 

The following detailed maps show the north and south portions of Clayton-le-Moors that are depicted on Trappes-Lomax's map (above on this webpage), which extends from Hyndburn Bridge to Dunkenhalgh.

 

 

Additional Information on Richard Trappes-Lomax

An excellent account of Richard and his family is provided on the "Hyndburn Life" website and is provided below.

http://www.hyndburnlife.co.uk/roundabout/opencms/Residents/Heritage_and-culture/Local_history/Trappes-Lomax.html

Culture and heritage

From the time of its foundation in 1211, Clayton Hall estate remained in the possession of the same family until it was auctioned off in 1925. Throughout its history, the estate formed an important part of the heritage of Accrington and Clayton Le Moors.

The last generation to live at the hall included Major Richard Trappes-Lomax, who later went on to live at All Springs House in Great Harwood.

Richard, and his contribution to the life of the town, is still remembered by some of our older people.

He was a pillar of the community during his lifetime and was a prominent Catholic figure who regularly attended mass and the sacraments at the church of Our Lady and Saint Hubert. He was a member of the Catholic Records Society and was well known for his for his short biographies of catholic families. He was also a keen student of local history, was a member of the Chetham Society and was always ready to discuss genealogical matters relating to local families.

Richard participated as fully in the life of the town as time would allow and was a County Magistrate, Chairman of the Great Harwood Conservative Association, President of the Agricultural Society and a member of the Pendle Hunt.

In an obituary to him written by a close friend it was said that,

“Some will remember him as an English country gentleman tending his estates in close and friendly acquaintance with his tenants and delighting in their shrewd and direct talk, yet equally at ease amongst the learned. His patriotism (it was typical of him that on the day before he died he wore a red rose to honour the King’s birthday) was based upon a love of the pursuits and interests of the English countryside and took him, as a volunteer, to South Africa with the Royal Lancashire Militia, and would have taken him, had his health permitted to the Great War with the Lancashire Hussars. All of is friends will think with gratitude of his cheery companionship, of the deep roll of his voice and the Lancashire stories which he loved to tell in all of their native vigour”.

Richard died less than a fortnight after his younger brother Robert. He had been in good health for most of his life but had suffered an attack of appendicitis which necessitated an operation. Although the effects of the operation had at first seemed to be a cause for concern, he manifested all the signs of improvement which led his doctors to believe that he was on the way to a full recovery. The news of his brother’s sudden death was hard for Richard to bear and on Wednesday, June the 24th, 1936 he had an unexpected relapse which led to his death.

It is fitting that Richard, or “Dick” as he was known to his closest friends, should be remembered as a soldier and a defender of his country and that he should still be referred to in the cultural memory of the community as “Major Richard”.

Richard was a captain with the 3rd Militia and proudly wore the uniform of the King’s Own Royal Lancashire Regiment. He was embodied for service in South Africa on the 23rd January 1900 and spent the majority of his time during the Boer War guarding lines of communication and prisoners of war.

The Regiment sailed from Southampton in February 1900 and within one month of Richard arriving in South Africa saw service in Cape Colony, later going on to serve in the Orange Free State.

During the Boer War many troops were tied down guarding lines of communication in the “blockhouse” line and in guarding important bridges and junctions. This means that while he may have seen many minor skirmishes, there is no evidence to suggest that he participated in any of the major battles of the war. On his arrival back in Lancashire he was welcomed by a large crowd of well-wishers from the townships of Great Harwood and Clayton Le Moors.

When the Great War broke out in 1914, Richard volunteered for service immediately and joined the Lancashire Hussars with the rank of Major. By this time however, he was too old to take part in any active service and served in an administrative capacity.

Although Richard’s military career can not really be described as distinguished, those of his sons figure prominently in the military history of their respective regiments.

Richard’s marriage to Alice Mary Fitzherbert, sister to the 12th and 13th Lords Stafford, resulted in the establishment of the Trappes-Lomax lineage as their eight sons were the first generation to bear the name from birth.

The eldest of Richard’s sons, Thomas Byrnand, who was named after his grandfather, T.B. Trappes, spent the majority of his life as a soldier and his military career was both distinguished and valiant.

Thomas was born on the 7th of September 1895. He was an accomplished sportsman and while at school was the captain of both the Cricket and Football teams. He was good at most games and in 1930 won the Household Brigade golf championship.

Throughout his school days, he manifested an interest in military life and when the Great War broke out he enlisted in his father’s old regiment, the “King’s Own”, on the 14th of August 1914 and was commissioned to the rank of Lieutenant.

He embarked for France on the 13th January 1915.

The Great War was of course a traumatic event in the lives of all who endured the hardships and rigours of active service. The horrors of the battlefields have been described by many social historians, poets and novelists. Suffice it to say that the dead often lay rotting and unburied, the sea of mud which was once the green countryside of France and Belgium was a living nightmare and that sudden death was only a moment away. As the poet Isaac Rosenberg, who also served in the “King’s Own” so eloquently put it,

“Death could pass among us, choosing who to take, and who to leave for another day.”

Like Rosenberg, Thomas also came close to death on many occasions and on the night of the 4th of April 1915, Easter Sunday, at 6.30 a German rifle grenade was fired into the trench which Thomas shared with his command.

The effects of grenades and shells could be truly devastating and they were feared by all who encountered them for if one landed in a trench there was little chance of escaping the lethal fragments which exploded from them.

Nine men were struck by the flying fragments of the grenade and three men were killed instantly and six wounded. Thomas was struck in the head and arm but, fortunately, escaped a mortal wound. After being hospitalised at Bolougne, he convalesced to make a full and rapid recovery.

Despite having narrowly escaped death at the young age of nineteen, Thomas was determined to see active service again and was commissioned in the Scots Guards, a Regiment which he loved and served loyally throughout his military career.

After recovering from his wounds he returned to France on the 23rd of July 1917 and was promoted to the rank of acting Captain. Returning to the terrors and dangers of the Western Front he was again wounded on the 23rd of August 1918, only a matter of three months before the armistice.

After the war, on the 23rd of March 1920, he was promoted to the full rank of Captain and eventual to the full rank of Major on the 21st of October 1931. After holding the temporary rank of Lieutenant on any occasions he was eventually made up to full Lieutenant Colonel on 21st of September 1942.

During the 1939-45 war Thomas again exhibited his customary bravery under fire and upheld the valiant honour of the regiment he loved. In 1940, he led a distinguished fighting retreat along the coast of Norway with B Company, of the second battalion of the Scots Guards and kept the advancing Germans at bay while under heavy fire and greatly outnumbered.

He was promoted to the rank of Colonel on the 31st of December 1944 and to the rank of Brigadier on the 4th of June 1944.

During his distinguished military career, Thomas was Chief Instructor RMC at Sandhurst, B.G.S of the Southern Army in India and Brigadier-in-charge of Administration (London District).

Even after his retirement from the army on the 9th of December 1948 he maintained a keen interest in military life and was a keen member of the Norfolk Civil Defence.

He died on the 1st of February 1962 leaving a widow, his devoted wife Dorothy Evelyn who Thomas referred to as “Dodo”, but no children.

Basil, the second son of Major Richard Trappes-Lomax, also had a distinguished military career which spanned both of the global conflicts.

Born on the 14th of August 1896 at Stone, Staffordshire, Basil Charles Trappes-Lomax originally intended to pursue a career in then navy but was considered to have a sight deficiency which prevented him from doing so. It is therefore ironic that he was eventually appointed chief instructor of gunnery at the School of Artillery, Woolwich.

After attending Wimbledon College where he was a member of the “Army Class” Basil passed into the Royal Military Academy and subsequently was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery on the 12th of February 1915 and was posted to the reserve Brigade on the 26th of March.

In May 1915 Basil embarked for Egypt; his destination was the Gallipoli peninsula.

The very name of Gallipoli still evokes images of horror and death within the cultural memory of those Lancashire regiments which fought so heroically, and so futilely, alongside the Anzacs and Colonial troops. The beach landing under heavy artillery and rifle fire by the Lancashire Fusiliers on W Beach will live forever in the minds of all who knew what happened at Gallipoli. Suffice it to say that when the “Manchesters” relieved the New Zealand troops, who were being replaced because of their incredible losses, many of them wept to see the condition of their Anzac comrades.

In the horror of the Gallipoli campaign the nineteen year old Basil Trappes-Lomax saw his first active service.

Like his brother Thomas, Basil was determined to do his duty for his King and country and while on Gallipoli he saw action with “Y” battery of the Royal Horse Artillery and the 92nd battery of the Royal Field Artillery.

Although he was eventually invalided back to England on the 24th of September 1915 because of a serious attack of dysentery he served with great gallantry and in recognition of his heroism he was mentioned in despatches and awarded a Military Cross on the 2nd of February 1916. Basil almost died from the dysentery which caused his return to England and was always fond of recounting how the doctor on board the ship which transported him home gave him a large glass of whiskey and told him that it would either kill or cure him.

The efficacy of the whiskey proved adequate, for Basil went on to see action in some of the bloodiest and horrific battles of the Great War. He was present at the battles of the Somme, Beaumont Hamel – where he was wounded -, the Hindenburg line, the Ypres Salient, Amiens and the San Quentin canal.

In June of 1929, Basil married his beloved wife Diana.

During the Second World War, Basil again saw active service and was appointed to serve with the Canadian Artillery at Okehampton and was appointed to serve as C.C.R.A. with the Persia and Iraq force where he won the award of the order of Polonia Restituta, class three, for his work with the free Polish troops.

Like his brother Thomas, Basil also saw service in India and was stationed at Bangalore and Jubulpoor.

In 1946, he was appointed the Colonel in charge of Administration at Larkhill School of Artillery and volunteered fro retirement in February of 1948. It was typical of Basil’s quiet unassuming character that despite his many military achievements, his gallantry in action and his award of the Polonia Restituta that he considered his greatest battle to have been won on the playing fields of Stoneyhurst College.

In 1922, the present pupil’s rugby tram had been soundly defeated by the “present” team by 41 to 3 --- a disaster in the eyes of the old boys. When Basil captained the team the following year the “past” held the “present” to a creditable draw.

Despite his poor eyesight, Basil was renowned for his marksmanship and enjoyed shooting throughout his life. After his retirement he lived at Wortham, close to Great Hockham and spent his final years engrossed in his hobbies. He collected bookplates and was a keen genealogist.

After a long period of poor health, Basil received the last rights of the Catholic Church and died at his home, in the company of his wife and beloved children.

The military tradition of the Trappes-Lomax family continued throughout the sums of Major Richard and, apart form Joscelyn who was a schoolteacher and Ralph who was a journalist, all of Trappes-Lomax boys saw active service.

The profession of school teaching was of course considered a restricted occupation and Joscelyn was never allowed to enlist. He fulfilled a excellent career and was an educationalist and is still fondly thought of by all who remember him.

Ralph also had an active life and at one time was attached to the BBC.

Richards’s third eldest son, Michael, was also a Major in the Scots Guards. Throughout his life, Michael was a poet, soldier, novelist, historian and herald.

Like his brothers’ Michael saw action in the Second World War: he served in Egypt and was at one time Aide De Camp to General Sir James Marshal Cornwall.

Michael always pursued active interest in heraldic matters and was eventually appointed Somerset Herald to the College of Arms. In his official capacity as herald, he took part in the coronation of Queen Elizabeth the 2nd.

Perhaps Michael’s greatest talent lay inn his literary endeavours and during his lifetime he published works of both a factual and fictional nurture.

Michael died unmarried on the 24th of November 1972 after a long and active life. It was said of him that he undertook everything he did with enthusiasm and enjoyment.

Stephen Trappes-Lomax was born in March 1913 and was commissioned into the London Rifle Brigade, Lord Lucan was of course Honorary Colonel.

AT the outbreak of war, Stephen was a Lieutenant in D Company and was rapidly promoted to second-in-command. In 1940 after John Baker White, the C.O. , moved to the war office Stephen took over command. He held the [post with great distinction and honour fro three years.

Like his elder brothers, Stephen was a gallant soldier and superb commander. Thos of his men who are still alive today remember him as being a quiet man who took personal interest I all of his troops, and in their families, and that he could recall te4h Christian names of every member of the company, even down to the humblest private.

During the battle of EL Alamein in 1942,, Stephen was given the immediate award of the Military Cross.

On the night of the 2nd / 3rd November the admirable attack of D Company tested eht enemy’s strength to the limit. Although the attack was abortive, the enemy was clearly shaken by the tenacity of D Company and Stephen and his men were given permission to withdraw after a job well done. It is significant that following the withdrawal of D Company the enemy also withdrew. The action was of course instrumental in the famous victory at EL Alamein.

Stephen left the battalion in 1943 to take up a staff post in Cairo and was demobilised in 1945.

Upon his retirement from army life Stephen lived with his brother Thomas for a number of years at Great Hockham where they farmed together.

After the death of his younger brother, Joscelyn, Stephen also became a teacher and headmaster, retiring to Norfolk with his family where he continued to lead an active life.

After a period of illness which began in 1980, Stephen eventually died in 1982.

Throughout his life, Stephen was a naturally shy man, who despite heroism and achievements was always reluctant to be photographed. It is a fitting tribute to him that that he is remembered by all who knew him for his good humour, charm and Christian faith.

The remaining two sons of Major Richard Trappes-Lomax also saw military service.

After a period of civil service, specialising in forestry in Africa, Anthony Francis married inn 1960, at he age of forty-five. He died without leaving children.

Nicholas Hugh was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Fusiliers and transferred to the Lancashire Fusiliers, eventually serving in Hong Kong with the Pay Corps.

 

The eight sons of Major Richard all had interesting and fulfilled lives and were proud of their Lancashire heritage.

Kind thanks to Patrick Collister for the submission of this article.

 

Sale of Clayton Hall

Clayton Hall was sold in 1925; the bill advertising the sale is shown below. Thanks again to Jack Frane for providing a copy of the bill with its attachments.

 

References

1Trappes-Lomax, Richard, 1926, A History of the Township and Manor of Clayton-le-Moors, Co. Lancaster: Chetham Society, New (Second) Series, Volume 85, 175 p.

2Ainsworth, Richard, 1928, The Old Homesteads of Accrington & District, Embracing Accrington, Baxenden, Stonefold, Oswaldtwistle, Church, Clayton-le-Moors, Great Harwood, Rishton, Hapton, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Altham, Whalley: Accrington, Wardleworth Limited, unk p.

 

Home Page

Webpage initiated April 2004; completed June 2004. Updated April 2006 with biographical information and photos for Richard Trappes-Lomax. Updated April 2007 with duplication of Richard's picture further up on the webpage.