LANCASHIRE RECUSANTS ABOUT 1630

Communicated by J, Brownkill, M.A.

/TA HE following list of the recusant landowners JL of Lancashire who compounded with the

Crown for the two-thirds of their estates which might legally be sequestrated for their refusal to conform to the established religion, is taken from John Lucas's MS. " History of Warton." For an account of the author see the Society's Transactions (New Series), ii. Lucas had it from Thoresby.

It will be seen how large a proportion of the soil was in the hands of persons hostile to Protes­ tantism, the names ranging from great landowners like Richard Towneley of Towneley to humble yeomen such as Leonard Washington of Warton. To those given must be added many others of secret sympathisers, such as. Molyneux of Sefton, and some who for one reason or another did not then compound.

The writer thus traces the origin of the scheme : "The original of the following subscription or

composition was that the Papists, taking the advantage of King Charles the First's necessities (who had been drawn into a war by his Parliament, and then denied money to carry it on), offered to maintain 5000 men to serve his majesty in Ireland, and a proportion of ships to secure him in England, upon condition that they might enjoy the free exercise of their religion. When this was pro­ posed in Parliament Sir John Savile (afterwards

172 Communications

Lord Savile) interposed and offered this project: That if the king was pleased but to call on the recusants to pay their thirds (legally due to the Crown) it would prove a way more effectual, and less offensive, to raise a mass of money ; it being but just that they who were so rich and free to purchase new privileges should first pay their old penalties. This project was soon after put in execution, and the recusants of these northern counties were summoned to appear at the Manor within the walls of the city of York before hid majesty's commissioners, there to compound for their respective lands, goods, and arrearages" (p. 634). The lists printed below then follow.

The following detailed account of one of the compositions will explain the system, the fines ranging apparently from a fourth to a tenth of the annual values of the estates :

" This Thomas Middleton of Leighton in the county of Lancaster esqr- on the 6th of October 1629 compounded with the Commissioners at York for all his lands in the county of Lancaster and for all his lands in Westmorland, and for his tithes also of the rectory of Warton in the said county of Lancaster for the annual rent of ,£100 to be paid at Martinmas and Whitsuntide by equal portions ; and gave bond for the first half-year's rent ac­ cordingly. He likewise compounded for all his arrearage for the sum of £$ to be paid at Whitsun­ tide next. But if his estate should appear before Pentecost next to be ^"460 per annum then he was to pay ^20 more than his former composition of ;£ioo" (p. 544).

Communications 173

COMPOSITIONS

1629' Annual Fine

Payable.Thomas Middleton, Esq., Leighton . . j^Joo ° °Thomas Blackborne, Capernwray . . . .1000Robert Charnley, Yealand Conyers . . . i 10 oRobert Middleton, Middleton . . . . 4100John Cansfield, esq., Robert Hall . . . . 30 o oLawrence Cowpland, Thurnham . . . . 368John Barrow, Weeton . . . . . . 400Gervase Clifton, Westby . . . . . 500Hugh Charnley, Dalton. . . . . . 500Robert Calvert, esq., Cockerham . . . . 63 6 8Thomas Pattison, Great Singleton . . . . 400Richard Moss senior, Skelmersdale . . . 600Edmund Winstanley, Pemberton . . . . 2 10 oRichard Massy, Rixton . . . . . . 40 o oAbraham Langton, Lowe . . . . .1000Roger Charnock, Leyland . . . . . 600William Sale, Hopecarr . . . . . . 400Richard Shuttleworth, Bedford . . . . 600Peter and Roger Houghton, Lowton . . . 300Ralph Houghton, Aspull . . . . . 6134Nicholas Curwen, Caton . . . . .1500Thomasine Tunstall, Fairthwaite . . . . 2100Alice Clopton, Fairthwaite . . . . . 2 10 oRichard Bradshaw, Astley . . . . 200Thomas Westby, esq., Burn . . . . . 100 o oHenry Lance, Abram . . . . i 10 o oHenry Ashton, Preston . . ... . . 368Henry Lathom, Mossborough . . . . 36 o oRichard Watmough, Micklehead . . . . 6 13 4William Partington, Hough . . . . . 400

1630Thomas Morley, Wennington . . . . 400Thomas Parkinson, Wyresdale . . . . 300Edward Standish. Standish . . . . . 200Edward Pendleton, Great Woolton . . . 400Thomas Linaker, Cuerdley . . . . . 300Thomas Stananought, Fazakerley . . . . 300John Clifton, Stalmine . . . . . . 200Thomas Standish, Standish . . . . . 400Katherine Potter, Rainhill . . . . . 400John Ditchfield, Sankey . . . ' . . 300

174 Communications

Annual Fine 1'ayable.

Thomas Hitchmough, Halebank .... ̂£3 o oWilliam Moscroft, Standish . . . . . 200Francis Wilkinson, Bold . . . . . 300John Bradley, Chipping . . . . . 200Jenet Parker, Aughton . . . . . . 600Edward Ash, Dutton . . . . . . 300Richard Walker, Littledale . . . . . 200Gilbert Thornton, Melling . . . . . 600Thomas Leigh, Walton . . . . . . 200Anne Sherburn, Leagram . . . . . 24 o oEdward Ireland, esq., Lydiate . . . . 40 o oRichard Singleton, Chipping . . . . . 200John Bradley, Thornley . . . . . zooJohn Baines, Sellet . . . . . .1000John North, Whittington . . . . . 600William Girlington, Wennington . . . . 300Alice Preston, Ellel . . . . . . 300Robert Cansfield, Ellel . . . . . . 300Elizabeth Croft, Gressingham . . . . 900Sir Cuthbert Clifton, Westby and Lytham . . 160 o oHenry Howard, Eccleston . . . . . 200Henry Finch, Mawdesley . . . . . 300George Bradshaw, Bedford . . . . . 300Thomas Winkley, Billington . . . . . 400John Gaunt, senior, Singleton . . . . 400Isabel Cansfield, Cansfield . . . . . 400Edward Stubbs, Houghton . . . . . 368Isabel Anderton, Euxton . . . . . 800John Osbaldeston, Ribchester . . . . 2 10 oJohn Gaunt, junior, Singleton . . . . 500Ralph Eccleston, Singleton . . . . 400Margaret Rogerley, Blackrod. . . . . 400Ralph Rishton, Oswaldtwisle . . . . . 500Henry Fielden, Witton . . . . . . 400Katherine Rishton, Rishton . . . . . 368Elizabeth Speak, widow, Billington . . . 2 13 4J ohn Talbot of Carr, Wilpshire . . . . 6 13 4Robert Langton, Walton . . . . . 200Thomas Hesketh, esq., Poulton . . . 15 o oNicholas Grimshaw, esq., Clayton . . . . 20 o oSir William Norris, Speke . . . . . 60 o oRobert Fazakerley, Fazakerley . . . . 30 o oThomas Tarleton, Fazakerley . . . .1500Thomas Birtwisle, Huncote . . . . .1000Dorothy Birtwisle, Huncote . . . . . 400Richard Barker, Kirby ...... 3 6 8

Communications 175

Annual Fine Payable.

John Bootle, Knowsley ...... £2 6 8John Whalley, Ince Blundell . ... . . 2134Henry Smith, Guerdley . . . . . . 600John Butler, Kirkland . . . . . . 368James Walton, Preston . . . . . . 600Thomas Ince, Ince . . . . . . 800Thomas Anderton, Horwich . . . . . 800Lawrence Parkinson, Swineshead . . . . 300Henry Moss, Skelmersdale . . . . . 400Jenet Gerard, Brindle . . . . . . 400John Houghton, Fearnhead . . . . .1000Henry Preston, Dalton . . . . . .1000Thomas Bank, Dalton . . . . . 200John Reskow, Dalton . . . . . . 200Brian Howard, Parr . . . . . . 2 13 4Ralph Knowles, Parr . . . . . . 2 13 4Francis Worsley, Bold ..... .300William Naylor, Halewood . . . . . 2 10 oThomas Hay ward, Cuerdley.. . . . . 2 10 oGawyn Atherton, Windle . . . . . 500William Hoghton, Park Hall . .. . . . 16 13 4Richard Catterall, Clayton . , . . . 300Robert Tetlow, Chamber . . . . .1000Christopher Cams, Halton . . . . .1000John Crook, Brindle . . . . . . 2 10 oEdward Garforth (? Gorsuch), Scarisbrick . . 10 o oThomas Molyneux, Windmeley (?). . . . '500Alexander Rigby, Preston . . . . . 200Grace Duxon, Brindle . . . . . . 200Henry Mossock, Bickerstaffe . . . . 10 o oGeorge Crook, Kirkham . . ' . . . 200Peter Stanley, Aughton . . . . . . 800Robert Boardman, Orford . . . . 200Oliver Mainwaring, Windle . . . . . 400Edward Heyward, Tarbock . . . . . 200Richard Formby, Formby . . . . . 700Thomas Knipe, Dalton . . . . . . 500Richard Bootle, Woolston . . . . . 368Margaret Hitchtnough, Halebank . . . . 300William Thornbrough, Hamfield Hall . . . 30 o oWilliam Anderton, esq., Anderton . . . 20 o oRobert Rawlinson, Marsh Grange . . . . 800James Stanley, Aughton . , . . . 368William Parkinson, Wyresdale . . . . 2134Richard Urmston, Culcheth . . . . . 600William Bradshaw, Haigh . . . . . 368

176 Communications

Annual Fine Payable.

John Clayton, Houghton ..... £2 o oAlice Orrell, Turton . . , . . 20 o oRichard Moss, Lathom . . . . . . 200William Toothill, Chorley . . . . . 600John Part, Halebank . . . . . . 200Elizabeth Fazakerley, Allerton . . . . 600Thomas Sudall, Lostock . . . . . 200Elizabeth Tyldesley, Leigh . . . . ,1500Thomas Gillibrand, Chorley . . . , . . 20 o o

1631Thomas Kirkham, Warton . . . . , 200John Houghton, Fearnhead . . . . .1000Leonard Clarkson, Wood Plumpton . . . 300Francis Preston, Dalton . . . . ,1000John Crook, Brindle . . . . . . 2 10 oThomas Hothersall, Billington . . . . 5 10 oThomas Hesketh, senior, Harwood . . . 200Andrew Norris, West Derby . . . . .1000John Bullinge, Warrington . . . . . 3 13 4Thomas Milner, Allerton . . . . . 300Elizabeth Ltnaker, Allerton . . . . . 2 10 oJohn Lawton, Widnes . . . . . . 2100John Patten, Widnes . . . . . . 200Richard Carter, Widnes. . . . . . 2 10 oJohn Preston, esq., the Manor . . . . 80 o oHenry Wood, Widnes . . . . . . 200Francis Rawson, Ditton. . . . . . 200Robert Crosse, Hale . . . . . . 2100Edward Chawner, Speke . . . . . 200Elizabeth Hunt, Huyton . . . . . 200Edmund Bispham, Billinge . . '. ' . . 300

1632John Farington, Ribbleton . . . 6 13 4Thomas Sherburne, Hey sham . . . . 6 13 4Thomas Singleton, esq., Staining . . . . 20 o oNathaniel Banastre, Altham . . . . .1000Jane Towneley, Hapton . . . . . 63 6 8Thomas Langtree, Langtree . . . . .1000Isabel Langtree, Langtree . . . . . 600Roger Anderton, Birchley . . . . . 21 12 4Bridget Bushel, Ulverston . . . . .1000Thomas Osbaldeston, Walton . . . .-660Robert Sherburne, Catterall . . . . . 20 o o

Communications 177

Annual Fine 1'ayal.le.

William Houghton, Grimsgarth .... ̂10 o oRoger Hesketh, Goosnargh . . . . . 6 13 4Thomas Ashton, Croston . . . . .1800Thomas Werden, Croston . . . . . 404Richard Towneley, esq., Burnley . . . . 213 6 8Anne Stopforth, Melling . . . . . 2 10 oHugh Crook, Broughton . . . . . 200Grace Wilkinson, Preston . . . . . 300George Wilkinson, Broughton . . . . 200William Worthington, Worthington . . . 6134Robert White, Great Eccleston . . . . 8134William Jump, Becconsall . . . . . 368Robert Harrington, Huyton . : . . . 500Robert Molyneux, Garston . . . . . 200Robert Whitfield, Garston . . . ... 200Thomas East, Garston . . . . . . 200Thomas Hitchmough, Garston . . . . 200William Chawner, Garston . . . . . 200William Harrison, Speke . . . . . 200William Hughson, Speke . . . . . 2 10 oThomas Crook, Speke . . . . . . 200Robert Hay, Speke . . . . . . 200William Chawner, Speke . . . . . 200John Plumbe, Garston . . . . . . 2 10 oRichard Egerton, Parr . . . . . . 200Robert Edwardson, Speke . . . . . 200Ralph Hesleden, Ashton . . . . . 400Christopher Bow, Croft . . . . . . 2 10 oJohn Urmston, Bedford. . . . . . 2100John Moss, Windle . . . . . . 200Jenet Ball, Windle . . . ' . . . 200Alice Lyon, Windle . . . . . . 200Thomas Smarley, Speke . . . . . 200Thomas Dalton, Pilling. . . . . . 368Elizabeth Calvert, Cockerham . . . . 1134Thomas Dalton, esq., Thurnham . . . .1500Thomas Prestwich, Hulme . . . . . 6 13 4Thomas Richardson, Myerscough . . . . 14 10 oChristopher Taylor, Houghton . . . . 2 10 oWilliam Baines, Nether Wyresdale. . . . 200Robert Layfield, Barnacre . . . . . 300Thomas Moore, Euxton . . . . . 200John Townley, Hurstwood . . . . . 6134Gabriel Hesketh, Goosnargh . . . . . 400Robert Hodgson, Euxton . . . . . 2 10 oRichard Ashton, Abram . . . . .1500

M

178 Communications

Annual Fine Payable.

Sir William Gerard, Brynn . . . . £1 06 13 4James Anderton, esq., Clayton . . . . 40 o oJohn Watson, Cliviger . . . . . . 300Richard Urmston, Culcheth . . . . . 600William Blundell, esq., Crosby . . , . 40 o oThomas Gerard, esq., Ince . . . . . 40 o oThomas Gerard, Aughton . . . . . 500William Bradshaw, Haigh . . . . . 368William Horskar, Clifton cum College . . . 200Thomas Whittingham, Goosnargh . . . . 368Edward Worthington, Weton . . . . . 400Thomas Threlfall, Clifton . . . . . 200George Grayson, Clifton . . . . . 200Richard Sherburne, Stonyhurst . . . . 48 13 4William Chorley, Whittingham . . . . 200Ellen Nelson, Whittingham . . . . . 300Robert Worthington, Euxton. . . . . 200Thomas Lowde, Aughton . . . . . 200John Bee, Barnacre . . . . . . 200Ralph Critchlowe, Clayton . . . . . 2 13 4Grace Fairclough, Chipping . . . . . 200Ralph Holden, Haslingden . . . . . 800William Roscowe, Euxton . . . . . 200John Charnock, Euxton . . . . . 200Christopher Townley, Hapton . . . . 20 o oAnne Banister, Cuerden . . . . . 200Sir Thomas Walmesley, Dunkenhalgh . ., 13 16 8John Cutler, Ashton . . . . . . 200Henry Waring, Chorley . . . . . 200William Norris, Blackrod . . . . . 200George Beesley, Goosnargh .- . . . . 300Thomas Winkley, Billington . . . . . 200William Singleton, Broughton . . . . 200Dorothy Walton, Horwich . . . . . 200Robert Squire, Great Harwood . . . . 200Michael Nelson, Mawdesley . . . . . 2134Edward Smith, Scarisbrick . . . . . 2134Leonard Washington, Warton . . . . i 10 oThomas Kirkby, Rawcliffe . . . . . 500Susan Hesketh, Rufford . . . . . 300Robert Sagar, junior, Burnley , . . . 200

1633Richard Blackburn, Skerton . . . . . 368Anne Nicholson, Poulton . . . , . 200John Bradshaw (for his wife), Pilling . . . 500

Communications 179

The following names have no rents or fines attached :

Cuthbert Halsall, Burscough. Nicholas Hesketh, Becconsall. Jane Gerard, Ashton. John Cross, Liverpool. William White, Eccleshall. Thomas Wolfall, Huyton. John Bradshaw, Pilling.

In addition to the compositions for the future there were a number of settlements of arrears, small sums, from £i upwards to ^10, being paid to clear the estates. In many cases these compounders had conformed to the religion established by law, and are here denoted by the letter C, when that is stated.

1630

C. Thomas Southworth of Westby, for his father WilliamSouthworth.

C. Henry Grayson of Fulwood, for his father George Grayson. C. Henry Sudell of Preston. C. John Ashton of Whiston. C. Nicholas Townley, esq., of Burnley and Royle.

Robert Blundell, esq., and Reginald Langtree, for EdwardSingleton.

Roger Lee of Clitheroe, for Thomas Hesketh of Clitheroe. Alice Sayer of Burnley, for Elizabeth Whitakers of Burnley. Christopher Maiden of Samlesbury, for Gilbert Sharpies. Matthew Latus of Goosnargh, for William Latus, deed. Margaret Burning of Bispham, for Ellen Burning, deed. Alexander Woodward of Shevington,for Alexander Woodward,

his grandfather, deed. William Critchlow of Euxton, for William Critchlow, his

grandfather, deed. C. James Banister of Park Hall.

Henry Ward of Treales, for his mother Ellen Ward, deed. Mrs. Townend and (C.) Robert Parkinson, for Margaret

Hawkes, dead 15 years ago.Richard Bunderdale of Barnacre, for John Bunderdale, dead

long since.

1632

William Blackburn of Eccleston, for Mary Blackburn, deadlong since.

Thomas Bee of Barnacre, for Robert Bee. John Whatton of Scarisbrick, for his daughter.

i8o Commun ications

James Hartley of Brerecliffe, for John Wynnel, dead long since. '

Thomas Kirkham of Hardhorn, for Agnes Kirkham his mother.

Edward Midgell of Goosnargh, for George Midgell his father.Thomas Nightingale of Wrightingon, for John Halliwell of

Wrightington. C. Miles Green of Shevington.

Henry Stones of Euxton, for Agnes Gradell. C. Thomas Hoghton, esq., of Pendleton.

Thomas Wilson of Combhills, for William Wilson his father. C. John Bank of Wrightington. C. John Radcliffe of Charnock. C. Jenet Shaw of Standish.

Robert Prescot of Hest, for William Prescot his grandfather.Thomas Spencer of Croston, for William Rawson.John Martin of Clayton, for James Martin his father.James Pilkington of Whitley, for John Blackburn of Whitley.Henry Waring of Charnock, for Thomas Waring his father.

C. Peter Rigby of Wrightington.Christopher and Richard Walmesley, for Richard Walmesley

of Samlesbury.Hugh Aspinall of Aughton, for Thomas Aspinall his father.Richard Merror of Great Harwood, for Edward Merror his

father.John Adamson of Goosnargh, for John Lawrenson.John Byard of Brindle, for Henry Walmsley of Brindle.

C. Ewan Berry of Rishton.Nicholas Norris of Kidsnape, for Grace Morton.Robert Boyes of Whittingham, for Robert Boyes his grand­

father.George Abbot of Brindle, for Edward Abbot his father.John Charnock of Brindle, for John Charnock his father.

C. Edward Croft of Claughton. C. Mary Ingham of Wiswall, for John Ingham her late husband.

John Gaunt of Singleton.Mary Rogerley.John Butler.Edward Hankinson of Clifton, for his grandmother.

The total amount received for arrears was nearly ^150. The annual rent due from the main body of Lancashire compounders was .£2550.