Thomas Hesketh

Personal and Family Information

Thomas was born about 1453, the son of Robert Hesketh and Grace Phyton “Fitton”. The place is not known.

He died on 14 AUG 1523. The place is not known.

He had three marriages/partners. His first wife was Elyza Fleminge, who he married in ABT 1471. The place has not been found. They had no known children.

His second wife was Grace Townley, who he married in ABT 1501. The place has not been found. Their only known child was William (c1502-?).

His third wife was Alice Haworthe / Haward, who he married in AFT 1510. The place has not been found. Their four known children were Robert (c1478-1539), Charles (c1480->1556), Helene (c1482-?) and Edward (c1484-?).

Pedigree Chart (3 generations)

Events

Notes

Note 1

!Source: Visitation of Lancashire by Richard St. George, 1613, page 127. https://johnhoughton.me.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/1613_visitation.pdf

Hesketh.

Latin [mix]:

—

[Harl. MS. 1437, fo.123.]

Jolm Kingsmill on of the Kings Justices of the Common place and Humfry Coningsby on of the

Kings serjaunts at law sendith greting. Whereas for the appeasing of mattres of Controversy

depending betwene Thomas Hesketh Esquire of the on partie & M' William Wall, clerk, and

Richard Dalton & Roger Dalton sonn of the said Richard & of Elizabeth his wife on of the

da: & heires of William Fleming in Croston 24 yeare of H. 7.

—

[Harl. MS. 1437, fo. 122.]

Inq: post Mortem Thome Hesketh 16 die Septemb. A 15 H. 8 ,qui ob. seisitus de manerio de

Rufford ac de divers is aliis terris in Comit. Lancast. et dictus Thomas Hesketh voluit per

ultimam voluntatem suam quod feoffati sui feoffabunt Robertum filium suum bastardum sibi et

heredibus masculis de Corpore suo legitime procreatum in manerio de Rufford et diversis aliis

terris in Comito predicto, citra terrce similiter datre Carolo Hesketh filio bastardo altero suo, et

Juratores dicunt quod Thomas Hesketh obiit apud Rufford 14 die Augusti Ao I5 regis nunc

et ulteriis Juratores dicunt quod Henricus Kighley, ar', Ricardus Aghton ar' Rowlandus

Kighley clericus et Rogerus Nowell filius Johannis Nowell de Rede sunt consanguinei et

proxima heredes predicti Thome Hesketh, videlicet predictus Henricus Kighley, filius Ricardi

filii Margerice unius sororum dicti Thome Hesketh, et predictus Ricardus Aghton filius Matildre

alice sororis dictce Thome Hesketh, et predictus Roulandus Kighley filius Margaretre alire

sororis predicti Thome Hesketh, et predictus Rogerus Nowell filius Dulcire alice sororis ejus-

dem Thome Hesketh, &c.

—

[Harl. MS. 1437, fo. 123.] Jolm Kingsmill on of the Kings Justices of the Common place and Humfry Coningsby on of the

Kings serjaunts at law sentith greting. Whereas for the appeasing of matters of controversy

depending betwene Thomas Hesketh Esquire of the on partie & M' William Wall, clerk, and

Richard Dalton & Roger Dalton sonn of the said Richard & of Elizabeth his wife on of the

da: & heirs of William Fleming in Croston 24 yeare of H. 7. [1508/9]

—

Translation:

[Harl. MS. 1437, fo. 122.] Inq: after the Death of Thomas Hesketh 16 September A 15 H. 8 ,who was seized of the manor of <<<< 1523/4

Rufford and of various other lands in the County of Lancaster. and the said Thomas Hesketh desired by his

last will that his feoffees should feoff Robert his bastard son to himself and

to the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten in the manor of Rufford and various other

lands in the aforesaid Earldom, and likewise give this land to Charles Hesketh his other bastard son, and

the Jurors say that Thomas Hesketh died at Rufford on the 14th day of August, A.D. 15 [16 sep 1523] of the present King,

and further the Jurors say that Henry Kighley, ar', Richard Aghton ar' Rowland

Kighley clerk and Roger Nowell son of John Nowell of Rede are the blood relatives and

next heirs of the aforesaid Thomas Hesketh, namely the aforesaid Henry Kighley, son of Richard

son of Margaret, one of the sisters of the aforesaid Thomas Hesketh, and the aforesaid Richard Aghton son of Matilda

Alice sister of the aforesaid Thomas Hesketh, and the aforesaid Rowland Kighley son of Margaret, the other

sister of the aforesaid Thomas Hesketh, and the aforesaid Roger Nowell, son of Dulcire Alice, his sister that

Thomas Hesketh, &c.

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C16905533

DL - Records of the Duchy of Lancaster

Division within DL - Records of the Court of Duchy Chamber

DL 1 - Duchy of Lancaster: Court of Duchy Chamber: Pleadings

DL 1/14 - Duchy of Lancaster Pleadings, temp Henry VIII: F1-N3. .

Catalogue description Folio: 2. Short title: Farrington v Banaster. Plaintiff: Sir Henry Farryngton kt....

Reference: DL 1/14/F4

Description:

Folio: 2.

Short title: Farrington v Banaster.

Plaintiff: Sir Henry Farryngton kt.

Defendant: Richard Bannestur and others, the King's tenants.

Subject: refusal to serve in the King's wars.

Place name: Penwortham lordship, Ulnes Walton lordship, Eccleston lordship, Heskin lordship, Farington lordship, Howick lordship, Leyland lordship [Ducatus Lancastriae spelling: Penwoortham lordship, Osewalton lordship, Eccliston lordship, Heskin lordship, Farrington lordship, Hogwike lordship, Leylounde lordship].

County: Lancashire.

Document type: bill.

Number of documents: 1.

Regnal year: [Hen VIII].

Subject category: war.

Date: [1509 Apr 22-1547 Jan 28]

Held by: The National Archives, Kew

Legal status: Not Public Record

Closure status: Open Document, Open Description

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/969fb9c8-d0c2-4bb4-bf74-90e43263ef88

55 - Lancashire Archives

DDB - PARKER FAMILY of BROWSHOLME

DDB 13 - Properties in divers townships

Catalogue description Grant: Thomas Hesketh, esq. to Bartholomew Hesketh, Richard Todd, chaplain, Richard...

Reference: DDB 13/27

Description:

Grant: Thomas Hesketh, esq. to Bartholomew Hesketh, Richard Todd, chaplain, Richard Woddes, chaplain, John Watkynson and William Tarleton -- properties in RUFFORD, HARREWODD MAGNA, CROSTON, MAWDISLEY, LONGTON, HOTON, PENWORTHAM, HOGHWIKE, BRETHERTON, TARLETON, ULNESWALTON, LEYLOND, KEUERDEN, FARYNGTON, PERBALDE, HOGHTON, SHEVYNGTON, WRIGHTYNGTON, EWKISTON, CHERNOK RICHARD, COPULL, WITHNYLL, DOKISBURY, BRYNHILL, ADLYNGTON, HEELEY, BELYNGE, ASSHETON-IN-MAKERFELDE, RAYNFORD, MOSSEBARO, SKELMERSDALE, LATHUM, NEWBURGH, PEMBERTON, WYGAN, ASPULL, HOLAND, WYGAN WODEHOWSIS, DALTON, RAYNHILL, PARR, SUTTON, NEWTON, BARTON NEXT HALSALL, ABURGHAM, WHISTON, HYNDLEY, BEDFORD, BOLTON, WALMERSLEY, OSWALDWISULL, WISWALL, DYNKLEY, AGHTON, ALSTON, HODERSALL, WALTON-IN-LE-DALE, WITTON, MEELER, BILLISBURGH, PRESTON, LEE, SIDGREVIS, WARTON, KELLERMAR, MAGNA BISPHAM, HAMULTON, WESSOM, SCOTFORD AND ELLALL, with advowsons of chantries of Rufford, Harrewodde, Croston and Longton, also properties in KERKEBY KENDALL, STAVELEY and STIRKELAND KETILL, co. Westmorland; and in NEWTON-IN-BOWLAND, co. York --

Date: 10 Sep. 1519

Held by: Lancashire Archives, not available at The National Archives

Language: English

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/33529ea3-e62c-407c-a116-087d3d6aa183

55 - Lancashire Archives

DDTO - Towneley of Towneley

Catalogue description Bargain & Sale: Hen. Kyghley, esq., & Roland Kyghley, clerk, to Robt. Hesketh, esq., £50...

Reference: DDTO O 12/141

Description:

Bargain & Sale: Hen. Kyghley, esq., & Roland Kyghley, clerk, to Robt. Hesketh, esq., £50 in full payment of all the manors, messuages, lands, etc., which late were of Thos. Hesketh of Hoghwik, within counties of Lanc. & York.

Places named:

LANC

YORKS

Date: 1528

Held by: Lancashire Archives, not available at The National Archives

Language: English

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/9c6e59a6-070d-44af-9261-d48220818f2b

55 - Lancashire Archives

DDHE - HESKETH of RUFFORD

DDHE 22 - HOWICK

Catalogue description Lease for 2 lives at £9 yearly : Thomas Hesketh, esq. to Jenkyn Wylding and Thomas his...

Reference: DDHE 22/46

Description:

Lease for 2 lives at £9 yearly : Thomas Hesketh, esq. to Jenkyn Wylding and Thomas his son -- a mease with fishing in the Rybill, in Hoghwike, late in tenure of Charles Sherdeley called Nutshaw Hall, the new chamber of which is glassed; also a wyndy milne; also lands late in tenure of Thomas Coke. Rawlyn Coke called Leyland Land [except that occupied by George Autie]

Date: 20 Oct. 1522

Held by: Lancashire Archives, not available at The National Archives

Language: English

!Source: Full text of "The Victoria history of the county of Lancaster;"

The Victoria history of the Counties of England, EDITED BY WILLIAM PAGE, F.S.A., A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE, VOLUME VI, THE VICTORIA HISTORY

https://archive.org/stream/cu31924088434620/cu31924088434620_djvu.txt#:~:text=k%20[Standish]%2C%20211%20Emmott%20[Whalley]%2C%20525%20Euxton,[p]%20115%2C%20[m]%20115%20Thorp%20[Croston]%2C%20104.

1In 1477 Lewis Longton granted

4 acres in Rawcliff field in Hutton to

Hugh Woodcock; Towneley MS. DD,

no. 299. In 1498 he and his son John

granted land in Hutton to Thomas

Hesketh ; ibid. no. 329, 331. He also

held lands in Longton ; ibid. no. 1766.

—

Towneley MS, C 8, 13 [Chet.

Lib.], 8. A settlement is recited in the

Inquisition, '. Thomas Hesketh of Rufford died in

1523 holding a little land in Leyland,

neux,’ Stopford,” Sumner,? and Werden.' The in-

quisitions supply some further names.“ In addition

to Farington and Charnock there were some minor

sequestrations in Leyland by the Parliament during

the Civil War, but for religion only.’ | Mawdesley

of Leyland recorded a pedigree in 1664.° Three

small estates of ‘Papists’ were

registered in 1717.’ The

principal contributors to the

land tax in 1783 were the

executors of Sir William Far-

ington, paying over a filth s

among the smaller ones were

James Barton, the Rev. Mr.

Baldwin, and John Park; in

1798 Alexander N. Kershaw

[of Heskin] had about the

same as these.®

!Source: Full text of "The Victoria history of the county of Lancaster;" The Victoria history of the Counties of England, EDITED BY WILLIAM PAGE, F.S.A., A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE, VOLUME VI, THE VICTORIA HISTORY

https://archive.org/stream/cu31924088434620/cu31924088434620_djvu.txt#:~:text=k%20[Standish]%2C%20211%20Emmott%20[Whalley]%2C%20525%20Euxton,[p]%20115%2C%20[m]%20115%20Thorp%20[Croston]%2C%20104.

!Source: Full text of "The Victoria history of the county of Lancaster;"

The Victoria history of the Counties of England, EDITED BY WILLIAM PAGE, F.S.A., A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE, VOLUME VI, THE VICTORIA HISTORY

https://archive.org/stream/cu31924088434620/cu31924088434620_djvu.txt#:~:text=k%20[Standish]%2C%20211%20Emmott%20[Whalley]%2C%20525%20Euxton,[p]%20115%2C%20[m]%20115%20Thorp%20[Croston]%2C%20104.

William son of William Fleming was in possession

in 1468; no. 1433.

the manor of Croston in 1318, the remainder, how-

ever, being to ‘the right heirs of John.’3 This

moiety descended regularly 4 to William Fleming of

Wath, who died about 1470, leaving two daughters

as co-heirs, both named Elizabeth.®

married Richard Dalton, lord of the neighbouring

manor of Bispham, and her fourth part of the manor

of Croston descended like Bispham until 1558, when

it was sold to Sir Thomas Hesketh of Rufford, who

held the other fourth by inheritance.®

Elizabeth had married his ancestor Thomas Hesketh,….

—

Matthew Clifton in 1472 held a

messuage and lands in Croston claimed

by Thomas Hesketh, Elizabeth his wife,

Richard Dalton and Elizabeth his wife

in right of the wives; Pal. of Lanc.

Writs of Assize, 4 Aug. 12 Edw. IV.

—

*In June 1472 John Wombwell, as

trustee of John Fleming, granted to

Elizabeth late wife of William Fleming

and then wife of Roger Coton various

lands, &c., in Worth, Melton and Cramp-

ton for her life, with remainder to Eliza-

beth and Elizabeth, daughters and heirs

of the said William; Add. MS. 32104,

no. 1503.

® The descent of the manor to Hesketh

and Dalton is stated in the plea of 1472

above cited; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 39,

m, 14d.

—

In 1477 Richard Dalton and Elizabeth

his wife conceded to John son of William

Fleming an annuity of 46s. 8d. charged

on lands, &c., in Croston and Mawdes-

ley; Towneley MS. BB, no. 1638.

Richard and his wife in 1478 released

to Thomas Hesketh and Elizabeth his

wife all their interest in the lands of

William Fleming; no. 1547. They

made a feoffment of their estate in

1482, with remainder to Roger son of

Richard; no. 1551. Disputes between

Thomas Hesketh and Richard and James

Dalton were in 1489 referred to arbitra-

tion ; Add. MS. 32107, no. 1162.

—

Thomas Hesketh

and Elizabeth his wife were tenants of

half the manor of Croston, &c., in 1486 ;

Final Conc. iii, 142. Hugh Hesketh was

the feoffee. In 1487 Thurstan Hall and

Elizabeth his wife, daughter and co-heir of

William Fleming, agreed to abide the

award of Thomas Earl of Derby and others

as to their disputes with Thomas son and

heir-apparent of Robert Hesketh, con-

cerning manors, messuages, lands, &c., in

Wath, Clifton, Rathmell and Dalton in

Yorkshire, also in Croston, Mawdesley

and Longton in Lancashire ; Towneley

MS. RR, no. 622. The wife, as Elizabeth

Fleming, had shortly before this ratified

the estate of Hugh Hesketh son of Robert

and brother of Thomas in the moiety of

the manor of Croston, and lands, &c., in

Croston, Mawdesley and Longton; no. 636.

Hugh Hesketh in 1490 and 1498 re-

leased his right in the same to Thomas

Hesketh 3 no. 621,637. See Final Cone.

iii, 1523 also Dep. Keeper’s Rep. xl, App.

540, 543. The Halls retained the York-

shire manors.

—

“Thomas first [in rg71] married <<<< Likely 1471 from an OCR error.

Elizabeth younger daughter and co-heir

of Wiliam Fleming of Croston; later

she confessed to adultery and a divorce

Was procured, she afterwards marrying

Thurstan Hall. A confirmation of the

divorce was given by Alexander VI in <<<< Alexander VI was pope 1492-1503, meaning proclamation given during the time of that pope, so possibly the date was 1497 with another ocr problem.

14975 Harl. MS. 207-, fol. 28- [im-

Perfect] ; Towneley MS. HE, Edw. IV, <<<< This could just be pointing out the resumption of Edward iv’s reign: Edward IV [r. 1461-1470 and 1471-1483].

no. 4. A portion of the Fleming inherit-

ance was retained by Thomas Hesketh

and his heirs ; ibid. Hen. VII, no. 15.

—

Nicholas Rishton joined Thomas Hesketh, esq.,

in 1491 in an agreement with the lords of Great

Harwood touching the boundary between the un-

divided commons of Rishton and Harwood.

—

After the division of the Fleming

estates between Hesketh and Dalton, the

latter's moiety included an eighth part of

the manor of Longton; Pal. of Lanc.

Plea R. go [1500], m. 5. It seems to

have been sold soon afterwards to Thomas

Hesketh, whose successor finally acquired

the other moiety, it appears, in 1526

[Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 11, m. 165],

and the estate of the family was after-

wards described absolutely as the ‘manor’

of Longton, In the earlier inquisitions,

however, nothing is named except mes-

suages and lands, the tenure being of the

Crown in socage; Duchy of Lance. Ing.

p-m. v, no. 16 ; xv, no. 56. The ‘manor’

appears in 1602 and became the usual

description ; e.g. Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F.

bdle. 64, no. 73 237, m. §23 Lancs.

Inq. p.m. [Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.],

iii, 351-7.

—

The Heskeths had long been land-

owners in Croston and Mawdesley, having

purchased several small holdings, as appears

from their charters. In 1503 Thomas

Hesketh purchased lands in Croston, Ulnes

Walton and Bretherton from Thomas

Banastre of Wigan ; Final Conc. iii, 154.

—

The free tenants in 1503, according to

the court rolls, were Thomas Earl of

Derby, Sir Peter Legh, William Moly-

neux, Thomas Hesketh, John Barton,

Henry Farington, esquires, Christopher

Leyland, Roger Farington, Gilbert Sutton,

George Dandy, chantry priest, Robert

Smith and John Clayton the younger;

each held lands, &c., by knights’ service

and suit of court.

—

1483 holding lands in Wiswell, apparently in right

of Grace his wife, of the king as duke by knight’s

service.’ Thomas Hesketh acquired the same in

1505," but Sir Thomas Hesketh and Alice his wife

sold in 1555 to Anthony Watson and Thurstan

Mawdsley. Walmesley of Coldcoats *' and Banastre

of Altham ® also had lands in Wiswell.

—

Richard Shireburne [1513] was found

to have held his messuage and land in

Longton of the Abbot of Evesham and

Thomas Hesketh in socage; Duchy of

Lanc. Ing. p.m. iv, no. 46.

—

In 1514 it was agreed that Nicholas

son of John Halliwell should marry Jane,

a daughter and co-heir of Richard Dwerry-

house ; Agnes was another daughter.

Kuerden fol. MS. 88. Three years later

testimony was given as to the true heir

of ‘littie Henry * Dwerryhouse, Towneley

MS. RR, no. 908. Thomas Hesketh in

1516 had given to William Tarleton all

his lands called Dwerryhouse lands in

Wrightington, Heskin and Eccleston ;

ibid. no, 972. See also Ducatus Lane.

ty TORS HFT.

—

Richard Croston son and heir of Henry

in 1519 and 1520 sold various lands in

lands, right of turbary, &c., in Croston and Mawdesley

of Robert Hesketh by a rent of 8s 4d.

—

Roger Dalton and William his son and

heir-apparent gave an acquittance for

money owing by Thomas Hesketh in

1520; Towneley MS. BB, no. 1542.

—

From a will of Thomas Hesketh of

Rufford, dated 1521, it appears that he

had a share in founding the chantry, and

the patronage was afterwards exercised by

Sir Thomas Hesketh; Towneley MS. <<< Sir

HE [Hen. VIII, no. 9]; Duchy Plead.

[Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.], iii, 189-191.

—

By his first will, made in 1521,

Thomas Hesketh founded a chantry in the chapel of

St. Lawrence at Harwood and endowed it with lands

to the value of £4 65. 8d. per annum to support an

able priest to pray and say mass and other divine

services there.“ It was dedicated under the invoca-

tion of St. Bartholomew, and was erected at the

east end of the south aisle. Richard Wood was the

chantry chaplain in 1534 ; the endowment produced

£4 75. 8d., of which 6s. $4. was distributed

among the poor on the anniversary of the founder’s

death. The year following the chantry was assessed

by the subsidy commissioners at 85. 14d. for the tenth

and 7s. 34d. for the subsidy.“* The commissioners

of 1546 certified that Richard Wood, priest, was

incumbent of the chantry ; he had licence to christen,

marry and bury and to minister the sacraments to the

neighbouring inhabitants, who numbered 400 ‘ house-

linge people.’ The endowment produced £4 135. 84.

per annum.“

—

This chantry also is named in the will

of Thomas Hesketh above quoted, so

that it existed as early as 1521.

—

Thomas Hesketh of Rufford in 1523

held 2 acres in Ulnes Walton, but the

tenure was unknown; Duchy of Lanc.

Ing. p.m. v, no. 16 3 vii, no. 14.

—

The tenure was unknown at Thomas

Hesketh’s death in 1523 and later;

Duchy of Lance. Ing. p.m. v, no. 163 vii,

no, 14.

—

58 Thomas Hesketh of Rufford held a

messuage in Oswaldtwistle in 1523, but

the tenure was unknown; Duchy of

Lane. Ing. p.m. v, no. 16 3 vii, no. 14.

—

Thomas Hesketh of Rufford died in

1523 holding seven messuages, 40 acres

of land, and 6 acres of meadow of the

Prior of St. John of Jerusalem in England

by the rent of 3d. ; Duchy of Lance. Ing.

pm. vy, no. 16, The same estate is

shown in later inquisitions; ibid. vii,

no, If 3 xv, no. 56.

—

His last will is in Add. MS. 32104, no. 1393.

It mentions that he has been

accountant to the Earl of Derby and his

grandfather. Provision is made for the

chantries at Harwood, Rufford, Croston.

—

and Longton ; for masses for his soul and <<<< Continuation of above, even though it comes later.

gifts to the poor; for almshouses and

school at Ruftord; for building a bridge

of stone where there was a ‘hyngand

brigge’ over the Douglas ; for paving the

roads and repairing the ‘bridges called

the Cour bridge, the Fisher tree, the

market bridge in Croston, the bridge

called South brook bridge next Croston,

the bridge next the house where William

Holme late dwelled, the bridge at the

north nook of Church carr, the bridge

over Sollom pool nigh the stone cross

there in the parish of Croston.’

—

He seems to have settled his manors

and lands on his natural children already

by a preceding will, made on the occasion

of the marriage of his bastard son Robert <<<< Robert and Charles are both labeled as bastards in Visitation of Lancashire by Richard St. George, 1613, [Harl. MS. 1437, fo. 122.]Inq: post Mortem Thome Hesketh 16 Sep. A 15 H. 8

with Grace Towneley, but some further

Provisions are made for Robert, Charles <<<< Alice Haworthe is listed in Visitation of Lancashire by William Flower, Hesketh of Rufford. [Hart. MS. fo. 70. Chetham MS. fo. -.] as their mother & his second wife after Grace..

and E len, and also for Alice Haward, <<<< However, he was married to Eliza Fleming at the time. Alice Haward may be the mistress and real mother of the said bastards.

their mother. <<<< After the 1497 divorce of Eliza married for 26 years, and the marriage to Grace until 1510, it appears he finally married his long-time mistress.

—

5 A number of deeds are in Towneley’s

MSS. DD, RR, &c., from the Hesketh

muniments, Thomas Hesketh in 1505-6

purchased from Ralph Fairclough and

Grace his wife lands, &c., in Wrighting-

ton and Shevington ; Pal. of Lanc. Plea

R. 101. Thomas Hesketh died in 1523

holding a few acres in Wrightington, but

the tenure was not known; Duchy of

Lanc. Ing. p.m. v, no. 16. In 1589,

however, it was found that the Hesketh

land in Wrightington was held of the

heirs of the lord of Manchester by fealty

only ; ibid. xv, no. 56.

—

Other wills are copied in Towneley

MS. HE, Hen. VIII, no. 9, 103; the

former of these [dated 15 May 1521]

makes a settlement of his manors, lands,

&e.

—

® Duchy of Lane. Ing. p.m. v, no. 16.

In addition to the manor of Ruff rd, held

[as formerly] of the Abbot of Chester by

a rent of 40. and valued at £20 clear,

he held lands, &c., in Harwood, Tottle-

worth, Croston, Mawdesley, Longton,

Hutton, Penwortham, Howick, Brether-

ton, Ulnes Watton, and a great number

of other places in the county, with the

advowsons of chantries at Croston, Ruf-

ford, Harwood and Longton. The will

of 2 July 1522 is given, settling the

estate upon Robert Hesketh, and several <<<< Still Rufford heir.

feoffments are recited. Alice Haward <<<< Alice Haward appears to be his mistress and the real mother of the said bastards, as well as his later wife.

had married William Tarleton of Rufford.

The lawful heirs were Henry Kighley <<<< His sisters and their husbands.

[son of Richard son of Margery], Richard

Aughton [son of Maud], Roland Kighley,

clerk [son of Murgaret], Roger Nowell of

Read [son of John Nowell by Dulcia],

which Margery, &c., were sisters of

Thomas Hesketh.

—

The house was probably erected by Thomas

Hesketh, who died in 1523, but the only portion of

the original building now left is the great hall, a fine

apartment 46 ft. 6 in. long by 22 ft. 6 in. wide with

open-timbered roof, the side walls, which are of

timber on a low stone base, measuring 18 ft. to the

—

lands he had inherited had come into the

hands of the son and one Robert Nelson,

who asserted that those deeds were void

and showed false deeds ; Duchy of Lanc.

Plead. Eliz. exxxix, H 14.

—

Sir Thomas’s will is in Add. MS. <<<< Actually these sons from the father of Thomas 1453 - 1523, Robert 1427 - 1490.

32104, no, 1. He gave lands in Mawdes-

ley to his second son Thomas; in

Becconsall to his third son Richard; in

Rufford to his bastard son Hugh Hesketh,

who had a son Robert 3 and in Croston

and Wrightington to another bastard son

Thomas.

—

The Heskeths of Rufford about 1500 acquired an <<<< See Sir Thomas ~1453 - 1523 of Rufford & Mawdesley, ar.

estate in Wrightington,® but it was not till the

beginning of the 17th century that their ‘ manor’ is <<<< See Thuston !1626 - > 1699

named.® It is probable that it was the Stopford

manor.’

—

Sir Thomas’s younger sons Thomas <<<< Actually these sons from the father of Thomas 1453 - 1523, Robert 1427 - 1490.

and Richard are noticed in the Dict. Nat.

Biog., the former as a botanist, the latter

as executed for inciting Ferdinando Earl

of Derby to assert his title to the throne.

For Thomas see also Pa/. Notebook, v, 7.

—

Livery of Sir Thomas's lands was

granted to Robert Hesketh in 1589 ;

Dep. Keeper's Rep. xxxix, App. 554. A

recovery in the same year is enrolled

in Com. Pleas Recov. R. East. 31 Eliz.

Robert Hesketh served as knight of the

shire in 1597 , and as sheriff in 1599-1600 and

1607-8; P.R.O. List, 73. He was a

justice of the peace in 1600 ; Misc. , i, 244. A settle-

ment of the manors, &c., was made by

him in 1602; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F.

bdle. 64, no. 7.

—

* Henry Kighley and the other heirs

named in the inquisition put forward

their claim in 1525. They alleged that

Thomas was brother and heir of Richard

Hesketh, who is not named in the inqui-

sition after the death of Robert Hesketh

[1491], but is said to have been an

official of the Crown; L. and P. Hen.

FIL, i, 1781 5 Dods. loc. cit. Richard is

called a younger brother in 1511;

Kuerden MSS. iii, H 84. Thomas is

again descrited as brother and heir of

Richard Hesketh, deceased, in a grant of

his in 1523; Towneley MS. DD, no.

392. The defendants in 1525 were the <<<< In other words, the Executors of the will won and the supposed heirs lost.

feoffees and executors of the will of

Thomas Hesketh, and showed that they

had due authority for their action ; Duchy

of Lane. Dep. Hen. VIII, xv, K 2.

—

6 In the last will of Thomas Hesketh,

1523, he left money for a new aisle, 20 ft.

by 40 ft., to be built on the south side of

Rufford chapel, the east end to have a

window like that in the east end of Up-

holland Priory ; or a new chapel might

be built to the east of the existing build-

ing. A steeple of stone, like that at

Brindle Church, was to be built at the

west end, and four bells were to be bought

and placed there. The chapel yard was

!Source: Visitation of Lancashire by Richard St. George, 1613, page 128. https://johnhoughton.me.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/1613_visitation.pdf

Heskayth.

[Harl. MS. 1437, fo. 124 b, 125.].

Arms. — The first twelve quarterings of the shield described at fo. 110.

Entered.

Richard Heskayth. Richard de Stafford.

= =

| |

William de Heskaith = Annabell, dau. and

| heir of Rich:

___________|

|

Robert Heskaith. = ….. Richard, de Totleworth, = Isabell, dau. and coheir

| in right of his wife. | of Rich: Lo: of

| | Totleworth.

_________| ________________________________|

| |

William Hesketh = Elbora, dau. and sole heire

| of Rich: and Isabell.

|

>>>>>

>>>>> Note: The [above] earlier part of this visitation chart [before Sir William & Maude] appears to have been based on actual names of earlier Hesekth records,

>>>>> but without any knownledge of how they were actually related. Also the wives in that portion don’t appear to have been real.

>>>>>

| Rich: Fitton, = ….

| lord of |

| Great Har- |

| wood and |

| Martholme. |

________________|_________________ ___________________ |_______________________

| | | | | |

John Adam de Sir William Heskayth, = Mawde, dau. and Elyza., dau. and Anabyll, dau. and

Heskaith. Heskaith. knt., lo. of Heskayth | co heire of coheire, wife to coh: wife to

and Betonsaw, | Rich: Fytton. Roger Nowell, Edmond Leghe,

4 Ed. 1.[1275/6] | Lo. of Read. Lo: of Croston.

|__________________

|

Thomas de Heskayth. = Alice, dau. of ...

Come chose soit a totez gentz per ceste En- | Warren de Byspham,

denture qe de debatez qe furent Entre John de ___________| Lo. of Byspham.

Heskaith et Adam Nowell des tentz en graunt |

Harwod qe furent apres Ie Mort William Fitton Sir John de Heskaith, = Alice, sole dau. and

de sou heritage despartez entre sez treiz soeures knt. | heire to Edm: Fytton

et heires et lour barons, et cestasavoir Entre ___________| Lo. of halfe Rufford.

William de Heskaith et maude sa femme, Ed- |

mond de Legh et Amabilia sa femme, Roger Sir William de Heskayth, = Marcella, dau. and

Nowell, et Elizabeth sa femme. Lan du raigne knt., anno 29 Ed. 3. | coheire of Thwenge

le roy fitz au tres noble roy Edward disim et [1355/6] | of Kendall,

vint'. ______________| co. Westmerland.

|

Seal of Arms,-a wheatsheaf- Thomas Heskalth, = Margaret, dau. and

Signed, SIGILLVM : IOHANNIS : HESKETH: esq. | coheire of Tho:

| Banester, Baron of

__________________________________________________| Newton.

|

Nicholas Heskayth, = Margaret, dau. and coheire of . . .

esq. | Mynshull, obiit at Rufford, 5 H. 5 [1417/8].

[page 129] |

Sir Thomas Heskaith, = Sibill, dau. and coheire of Sir

knt., obiit 38 H. 6. [1459/60] | Robert Lawrance, knt., 5 H. 5. [1417/8]

_______________|

|

Tho : Heskaith, = Margaret, dau. to

Esq., Lo. of | Hamon Massy

Heskaith. | of Rixton.

____________|

|

Robert Heskaith, = Alice, dau. of Sir Robert Booth knt

Lo. of Heskaith, | lo: of Dunham Massye; after her hus-

obilt. 1490. _| band's death she professed chastitye.

|

Grace, dau. of = Thomas Heskaith, = Elyza., dau. and Drawing of a seal of arms, viz.- <<<< Grace & Thomas & Eliza

Jo : Townley esq., obiit 1523. | sole heir of a fess engrailed between 3 fla-

of Townley. | William Fleminge, mingos [?J heads erased, ---;

| Baron of Wath, and helmet and mantling surmounted

______| lo. of Croston. by a flamingo's [?J head couped,

| wings erect, for crest.

Sir Robert Heskaith, = Grace, dau. of

knt. | Sir John Townley

| of Townley, knt.

_________________________________|___________________________

| | |

Sir Thomas Heskaith = Alice, dau. of Elynor, wife to Jane

knt. Lo. of Rufford, | Sir John Holcrofte Robert Barton

High Shenff of Lanc., | of Holcrofte, knt. of Barton Row.

anno 5 of Q. Elizab: |

obiit 1587. |_______________

|

Blanche, dau. and = Robert Heskaith, = Marye, dau. of

coheire of Hen: esg., lo. of Hes- | Sir George Stanley, knt.,

Twyford of Ken- kaith, Rufford, | Marshall in Ireland

wick, co. Salop, Holmes and | sister and heire to '

2 Wife, s.p. Holmewood Mart- | Hen: Stanlye, esq.,

holme, Great Har- | of the Croshall,

wood, Hougwick | 1 wife.

and Beconsawe, |

now living, 1613. |

_____________________________________________________________|_______________________

| ||| | | ||

John, Robert, 2. Thomas Heskaith, = Susan, dau. of Holcrofte, I dau., Jane, wife to

mar. the Henry, 3. sonne and heire, Th . .. Powes, wife to Lawrans William Reynalds.

dau. of… George, 4. ætat. 41 annor. co. Salop. Royston, after to

Haydock. 1613. Roger Dodsworth, Mary, wife to Rich:

= Chancelor of Barton, and after to

| York. Thomas Stanley,

Robert. and hath issue by

both

Source: Visitation of Lancashire by William Flower, 1567, p. 80. https://johnhoughton.me.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/1567_visitation.pdf

Hesketh of Rufford.

[Hart. MS. fo. 70. Chetham MS. fo. -.]

Arms. - Quarterly o[ five, viz: 1. Argent, on a bend sable, three garbs or; 2. Barry of six, argent and azure, in chief three

lozenges, gules; 3. Argent, a cross flory, sable; 4. Argent, a fess gules; 5. Sable, three mullets, each issuing

from a crescent, argent.

Sir William Heskethe,

knt. |

I

Thomas Heskethe = ... dau. of ...

of Rufforde, ar., | Massy of Rix-

sonne and heire, | ton, co. Lan-

co. Lancaster. | caster, ar.

- |

Robert Heskethe = Grace, dau. of

of Rufforde, | … Phyton of

sonne and heire. | Gawseworthe,

| co. Chester,

| knt.

- |_________________________________________________________________________________________

- | | | | |

Grace, dau. = Thomas Hesketh = Alice, dau. of Richard, William, ... a dau. … , a dau. <<<< Grace & Thomas & Alice

of Sir John | of Rufford, ar. | Christopher 2 sonne. third sonne, maryed to maryed to

Towneley of | | Haworthe, bishop of Rich. Awgh- Sir Henry

Towneley, | | second wyf. Man. ton of the Kyghley of

co. Lancas- | | Myles, co. Ingkippe,

ter, knt. | | Lancaster. co. Lancas-

| |______________________________________________________ ter, knt

| | | |

William Hesketh, Sir Robert Hesketh, = Grace, dau. of Charles, Helene,

dyed sans yssue. knt., obiit 1539. | Sir John 3 sonne. maryed to

| Towneley of Laurence

| Towneley,knt.; Towneley of

| obiit 21 Maii, Barnshed,

| 1543· co. Ebor., ar.

________________________________________________________________________

| | | |

Sir Thomas Hesketb = Alice, dau. of Robert, Jane, Helene,

of Rufford, co. Lan- | Sir J olm Hol- 2 sonne. maryed to maryed to

caster, knt., sonne and | crafte of Hol- Richard Richard Bar-

heire of Sir Robert. | crafte, co. Asheton of ton of Bar-

| Lancaster, knt. Croston, co. ton Rowe,

Lancaster,ar. co. Lancas-

ter, ar.

__________________________________________________________________

- | | | | |

Robert Heskett = Mary, dau. of Thomas, Richard, Dorothe. Margarett.

of Rufford, esq., Sir George 2 sonne. 3 sonne.

sonne and heire Stanley of

of Sir Thomas. Crossehall, co.

Lancaster, knt.

-

Note: Location Rufford is 4.92 miles from Hesketh Bank, Prston, Lancashire.