Townships: Freckleton

A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 7. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1912.

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'Townships: Freckleton', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 7, (London, 1912) pp. 167-171. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol7/pp167-171 [accessed 19 April 2024]

In this section

FRECKLETON

Frecheltun, Dom. Bk.; Frequekon, 1212; Frekelton, 1242; Frekilton, 1244.

Formerly this township was bounded by two brooks flowing south to the Ribble, which forms the boundary on that side, and the Naze was a projecting point in the south-east corner. A large tract of land reclaimed from the Ribble has been added to the township to the east of the Naze. The highest ground is in the centre and north, attaining about 85 ft. above the ordnance datum. The large but somewhat straggling village of Freckleton lies near the centre, having a mill by the brook to the east. The area of the township measures 2,417 acres, (fn. 1) and the population in 1901 numbered 1,239.

The principal roads are one going west through the village from Preston to Lytham and another going from the village to Kirkham on the north. Other roads lead south to the Ribble.

Sailcloth and sacking used to be manufactured in the village; rope and twine are now made there, and there is a cotton manufactory.

Sites of two ancient crosses are known. (fn. 2)

There is a parish council.

Manors

Before the Conquest FRECKLETON, assessed as four plough-lands, formed part of Earl Tostig's Preston lordship, (fn. 3) and afterwards became a member of the barony of Penwortham, (fn. 4) being head of a knight's fee of eight plough-lands. (fn. 5) This was held by a family assuming the surname of Freckleton. (fn. 6) In 1242 Richard de Freckleton, (fn. 7) who was a benefactor of Cockersand Abbey (fn. 8) and Lytham Priory, (fn. 9) held in demesne 2½ plough-lands in Freckleton, while another ploughland was held by Alan de Singleton and Swain de Freckleton, and the remaining half plough-land by Gilbert de Meols, Roger de Nutshaw and William de Pool. (fn. 10) Amid so many subdivisions the succession is not clear. (fn. 11) In 1297 Adam de Freckleton was the principal holder, (fn. 12) succeeded before 1324 by Ralph de Freckleton, (fn. 13) who was living in 1346. In that year Queen Isabella had a knight's fee in Freckleton &c, of the inheritance of Alice Countess of Lincoln, and by Ralph de Freckleton her tenant rendered 10s. for castle ward yearly. (fn. 14) Afterwards an heiress, Joan, daughter of a later Ralph, carried the manor to William Huddleston about 1427, (fn. 15) and he held the manor in 1446. (fn. 16) The Huddleston estate, not described as a manor, was sold to the Earl of Derby in 1496. (fn. 17)

Alan de Singleton's estate descended to Banastre of Bretherton and so to the heirs of Balderston. (fn. 18) Their right in part was granted to the Earls of Derby, (fn. 19) who thus became the principal holders in the 16th century.

Richard le Boteler of Rawcliffe obtained a portion of the vill in 1259 from Richard son of Richard de Freckleton, (fn. 20) and this descended in his family till I 541, about which time part of the inheritance was divided among the daughters of John Butler. (fn. 21) The shares were further subdivided by sales, (fn. 22) but the Sharpies family seem to have acquired part, (fn. 23) and in 1618 a 'manor' of Freckleton was held by them. (fn. 24) Nothing further is known of it.

The other fragments of the manor in 1242 disappear from view very quickly. The surname of Freckleton (fn. 25) occurs often but not prominently. In the 16th and 17 th centuries Clifton of Westby, (fn. 26) Hesketh of Poulton, (fn. 27) Cowburn, (fn. 28) Browne (fn. 29) and others held lands in Freckleton. (fn. 30)

In addition to Cockersand and Lytham the abbey of Dieulacres (fn. 31) had some land in the township, as had also the Knights Hospitallers. (fn. 32)

There are 230½ cattle-gates on the marsh, but 231 are let yearly, the odd half-gate existing by a fiction for the benefit of the charity. (fn. 33)

For the worship of the Church of England Holy Trinity was built in 1839, services having begun in 1834. (fn. 34) A separate ecclesiastical parish was formed in 1874, (fn. 35) and the patronage is vested in the Dean and Chapter of Christ Church, Oxford. The building contains an old oak pulpit removed from Kirkham. (fn. 36)

The Wesleyan Methodists had a chapel in 1814; their present one was built in 1885. The Primitive Methodists have one dating from 1861. (fn. 37) The Congregationalists formerly held services there, but do not seem to have established themselves. (fn. 38)

Butler of Rawcliffe. Azure a cheveron between three covered cups or.

The Society of Friends had a meeting place from 1668. (fn. 39) They still have two ancient burial-grounds, and a meeting house, first built in 1720. No meetings are now held, but the room was in 1903 let to the Plymouth Brethren. (fn. 40)

Roman Catholics have the small school-chapel of the Holy Family, served from Kirkham.

Footnotes

  • 1. 2,207 acres, including 6 of inland water; Census Rep. 1901. There are also 67 acres of tidal water and 135 of foreshore.
  • 2. Hall Cross and Higher House Cross; Lancs, and Ches. Antiq. Soc. xx, 186.
  • 3. V.C.H. Lancs. i, 288a.
  • 4. Ibid. 335, n. 1. The Earl of Lincoln in 1292 claimed wreck of the sea at Freckleton and Warton in right of his fee of Penwortham; Plac. de Quo Warr. (Rec. Com.), 382. See also Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Chet. Soc.), i, 22.
  • 5. Freckleton, four plough-lands; Whittingham, one; Newton, one; and Elswick, two.
  • 6. The earliest member of it known is Roger de Freckleton, tenant in 1199, when he confirmed to Richard de Freckleton (who appeared by a brother, Adam) the sixteenth part of a mill and fishery in the township; Final Conc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 7. In 1200–1 Roger appears as holding by knight's service; Farrer, Lancs. Pipe R. 134. At the same time he paid 5 marks for having the pasture of Brethough Moor, to which his claim had been allowed; ibid. 132. He is named also in the Pipe Roll of 1203–4; ibid. 176. In 1202 he confirmed to William de Winwick and Maud his wife the lands they held of him in Whittingham and Elswick, and added 8 oxgangs more, they releasing to him all claim in his tenement and giving 9 acres in Brechou (Brethough) in Freckleton; Feet of F. Yorks. 4 John, no. 45. It is possible that he was the Roger son of Jordan who gave 2 acres on the south side of Freckleton, together with his body, to the canons of Cockersand; Chartul. (Chet. Soc), i, 198. He had a son Richard and a brother Swain, who also had a son Richard (perhaps the Richard of the fine of 1199); ibid. 199. Roger attested several of Quenilda de Warton's grants to Lytham Priory; D. at Durham. To another charter, perhaps somewhat later, the witnesses included Roger and Richard de Freckleton and Robert son of the lady of Freckleton; ibid. 1a, 2ae, 4ae, Ebor. no. 45. A third Richard (son of Waldeve) had lands in Freckleton about 1200–20; Cockersand Chartul. i, 200.
  • 7. In 1212 Richard son of Roger de Freckleton held one plough-land in Thorp in Bretherton; Lancs. Inq. and Extents (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 34. Richard lord of Freckleton attested a number of the Lytham Priory charters; in one (c. 1234) a Richard de Freckleton attested before Richard son of Roger de Freckleton; D. at Durham, ia, 2ae, 4ae, Ebor. no. 42. In a later one Richard is entitled Sir; ibid. no. 34. At an inquisition made about 1253 it was recorded that Richard de Freckleton held a knight's fee, but his ancestors had enfeoffed many persons of portions of it, so that his own residue was not worth £15 a year; Inq. p.m. Hen. III, 'de annis incertis,' no. 33. By a fine of 1227 Richard son of Roger obtained a release to himself of 5 oxgangs of land in Freckleton to which Maud daughter of Robert had some claim; Final Conc. i, 50. Richard was living in 1258; Lancs. Inq. and Extents, i, 212.
  • 8. As Richard son of Roger de Freckleton he gave the canons various lands, including Lyolfscroft and 4 selions at the Moor next the Hospitallers' lands; Cockersand Chartul. i, 197–8.
  • 9. As Richard son of Roger, lord of Freckleton, with the assent of Alice his wife and of his heirs, he (about 1230) gave his land between the lands of Richard son of Robert del Moor and William son of Hawise and confirmed the gift of Swain son of Osbert; Lytham D. at Durham, 3 a, 2 ae, 4 ae, Ebor. no. 8. This deed has a seal with the legend + s' rici dni de frekel'. Other grants by him in the same collection name lands on Scortefaldwrynges, Ulvesbothe Furlong, the Outlane Wra in Freckleton Field, the Housesteads, Curtasfaldwrigis, Tustehorn Furlong, the field called Strick, and an acre on Longrodes in Freckleton Field, extending from the road called Phusthor to the moor. In two of the charters (no. 11, 30) he describes himself as ' brother' of the house of St. Cuthbert of Lytham, though he does not seem to have been a monk there; in another (no. 13) his mother Sara is named. Richard's widow was Hawise daughter of Hugh de Mitton, who released her dower right in certain land to the monks; ibid. no. 21. Robert son of Hawise de Freckleton and brother of Richard de Freckleton was no doubt her son; ibid, no. 22, 23. In another charter Hawise is described as formerly lady of the vill; no. 36.
  • 10. Lancs. Inq. and Extents, i, 152. The Swain named is probably the Swain son of Osbert already mentioned. From charters already referred to it appears that he was a benefactor of Cockersand and Lytham. Two of his charters are preserved at Durham (no. 31, 33), one of them bearing his seal. Swain son of Osbert recovered a parcel of land in Freckleton in 1246 against Richard de Freckleton, Adam de Singleton and Adam his son; Assize R. 404, m. 8 d. Gilbert de Meols and Adam his brother attested a number of the Lytham Priory charters. This share seems to have been acquired by the Butlers of Rawcliffe. William dePool is probably the William son of Roger del Rise who, in conjunction with his wife Margery, released to the monks the land near Warton Pool in the field of Freckleton which he and his father had held of them by fee farm of 2s.; the monks had given him 5 marks in his great need; Lytham D. no. 28, 29. For Nutshaw (Nottesagh) see the account of Penwortham parish.
  • 11. Richard lord of Freckleton and Richard his son attested a local charter c. 1246; Lytham D. no. 36. Richard son of Roger, lord of Freckleton, granted 4 oxgangs of land in Freckleton and 1 in Elswick to Richard his son and heir, who was to marry Margaret daughter of Robert de Molyneux; Kuerden MSS. iv, F 13. Sir Adam de Molyneux was a witness. Richard son of Richard de Freckleton in 1259–60 claimed half-acres against Robert son of Richard de Freckleton and Adam de Singleton, so that he probably succeeded his father about that time; Curia Regis R. 166, m. 17 d. A year or two later the defendants' names are given as Robert son of Richard and Adam de Freckleton; ibid. 171, m. 76. At the same time Richard de Freckleton claimed the services due for their free tenements from John son of Richard, Gilbert de Meols and Margery his wife, Richard son of John and Joan his wife; ibid. Adam son of Alan de Singleton acquired the land pertaining to 2 oxgangs of land from Michael de Thornton about 1240; Dods. MSS. liii, fol. 93. John de Freckleton appears just afterwards as attesting charters and as juror; Lancs. Inq. and Extents, i, 231, 234 (1262–5).
  • 12. Ibid, i, 290, 298; he held the Earl of Lincoln's knight's fee in Freckleton of the Earl of Lancaster and paid 10s. yearly for castle ward. In 1302 also he held the fee in Freckleton, Whittingham, Newton and Elswick of the Earl of Lincoln; ibid, i, 316. Adam was still tenant in 1311, paying 4s. as sake-fee and doing suit to Penwortham Court; De Lacy Inq. (Chet. Soc), 22. Adam de Freckleton gave to Adam his son and Ellen his wife a messuage (bought of Sir William de Clifton) and 3 oxgangs of land in Freckleton; Kuerden MSS. iii, F 3. Adam the son was outlawed in 1315 for the death of Henry de Bury in the rising of Adam Banastre; Lancs. Inq. and Extents, ii, 159. He was living twenty years later; Coram Rege R. 299, m. 20 Rex. In 1322–3 Adam son of Adam de Freckleton released to his brother Ralph all right in his lands in Freckleton, except an oxgang which Edmund de Rigby and Joan his wife held for Joan's life; Kuerden loc. cit; Dods. MSS. cxlix, fol. 116. Ellen the widow of Adam son of Adam de Freckleton in 1337 claimed 2 oxgangs of land and an eighth part of another against James son of Robert de Freckleton, and against Nicholas son of Robert son of Michael de Freckleton the fourth part of an oxgang; De Banco R. 311, m. 82, 82d. Again in 1351–4 she claimed the same estate against John son of Robert de Freckleton and many others; Duchy of Lanc. Assize R. 1, m. 3 d.; 2, m. 3 d.; 3, m. 5. She had in the former case made an appeal on the ground of error; Coram Rege R. 316, m. 18 d.; 326, m. 20.
  • 13. From the last note it appears that Ralph was a son of Adam the elder. In 1324 the heir of Adam de Freckleton held the knight's fee of Alice de Lacy, doing suit to county and wapentake and paying castle ward; Dods. MSS. cxxxi, fol. 39b. The subdivisions of the fee are shown in a list of those distrained to do homage in 13 22: Ralph de Freckleton himself held three plough-lands and 4 oxgangs in the four townships; Nicholas le Boteler, one plough-land and 3 oxgangs in Freckleton; Adam Banastre, one plough-land in Freckleton and Elswick, &c.; Lancs. Inq. and Extents, ii, 135. In the ministers' accounts of 1341–2 for Penwortham appear payments from Nicholas Boteler 4s. 2d., Robert de Shireburne 3d. (for 2 oxgangs and 3 roods of land), Adam Banastre 1½d. (2 oxgangs), Edmund de Rigby and Joan his wife 1½d.; Mini. Accts. bdle, 1091, no. 6. In 1335 Ralph de Freckleton granted Adam his son and Emma his wife land in the Cross-flat, &c, in Freckleton; Kuerden MSS. iii, F 3.
  • 14. Survey of 1346 (Chet. Sot), 44. In 1355 the tenants were separately named: Ralph de Freckleton, Nicholas le Boteler, Thomas Banastre, Richard de Shireburne, Richard de Newton and Sir Adamde Hoghton; Feud. Aids, iii, 87. The same persons held it in 1361; Inq. p.m. 35 Edw. III, pt. i, no. 122. Emmota widow of Adam son of Ralph de Freckleton in 1374 released to Ralph her son 40 acres she had received in free marriage; Kuerden MSS. ut sup. It was probably this younger Ralph who made a feoffment of lands in Freckleton and Elswick in 1369 and had the manor of Freckleton, demesne of Elswick, lands in Kirkham, &c, regranted to him in 1371; ibid. In the same year he demised his fishery at Freckleton to John Boteler for sixteen years; from a bond it appears that his wife was named Agnes; Towneley MS. C 8, 5, Edw. III, no. 8, 9. Ralph de Freckleton in 1374 complained of depasturing by John Boteler of Marton and others; De Banco R. 455, m. 395. In 1382–3 an agreement was made for the marriage of John son of Ralph de Freckleton and Alice daughter of Adam de Bradkirk; it shows that Ralph had mills in Freckleton and lands in Aughton, Maghull, &c; Kuerden, loc. cit. In the following year Ralph made a feoffment of the manor of Freckleton, &c; ibid.
  • 15. In 1428 William Huddleston and Joan his wife were in possession of the manor; Final Conc, iii, 94. The name is here spelt Hodelston. In 1431 William Huddleston held a moiety of the manors of Freckleton and Elswick by the service of half a knight's fee; Feud. Aids, iii, 95.
  • 16. William Huddleston and Joan his late wife held a knight's fee in Freckleton, &c, the relief being 100s.; Duchy of Lanc Knights' Fees, bdle. 2, no. 20. It was, perhaps, the husband who had died, for the writ 'diem clausit extr.' after the death of Joan was not issued till 1454; Dep. Keeper's Rep. xxxvii, App. 175. In it she was described as 'daughter and heir of Ralph de Freckleton.'
  • 17. Towneley MS. C 8, 5 (Chet. Lib.), Hen. VII, no. 1. Thomas Earl of Derby v. William Huddleston nine messuages in Freckleton, &c. Land, &c, in the township is named in the possessions of Thomas the second earl in 1521, but the tenure is not stated; Duchy of Lanc Inq. p.m. v, no. 68. The rental of 1522 (at Lathom) shows that 109s. 9½d. was received from the estate purchased from William Huddleston, including 2s. 4d. for fisheries in the Ribble and 4s. 4d. profits of the court held during the year. In addition 19s. 9d. was received from the lands purchased from John Coppull. The estate descended to Ferdinando the fifth earl; Add. MS. 32104, fol. 406.
  • 18. See the accounts of those townships. Adam de Hothersall gave Thomas Banastre and Joan his wife half an oxgang of land in Freckleton; Kuerden MSS. ii, fol. 257. Thomas Banastre granted a capital messuage and the moiety of 2 oxgangs of land in Freckleton to Roger son of Robert the Forester of Preston; Dods. MSS. liii, fol. 94. No tenure is recorded for Sir Thomas Banastre's lands in Freckleton in 1385; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Chet. Soc), i, 14. Nor again in the case of Richard Balderston in 1457; ibid. ii, 63. From the inquisitions of the time of Henry VIII it appears that the following held lands in Freckleton of the Balderston inheritance, but no details are afforded: Edmund Dudley, Thomas Radcliffe of Winmarleigh (held of Osbaldeston) and Sir Alexander Osbaldeston. Other Singletons appear in the township, one of them having been named above. Alice widow of Alan de Singleton claimed an acre in 1246 against Ellis son of Herbert, but Richard de Freckleton warranted the land, being of his demesne, whereupon the plaintiff remitted her right for 40d.; Assize R. 404, m. 14. Adam son of Alan de Singleton granted land in Racarr to the same Ellis; Kuerden MSS. iv, F 3. Ellis about 1260 granted various lands to Gilbert son of Alan de Meols; Dods. MSS. liii, fol. 95. Later Maud widow of Ellis made a grant to Gilbert de Meols; Kuerden MSS. loc. cit. Maud widow of Adam de Singleton in 1294 and later claimed dower against Thomas Banastre of Bretherton and others in respect of 1½ oxgangs of land, &c; De Banco R. 106, m. 8; 153, m. 410. Gilbert de Singleton of Broughton in 1326 held his lands in Freckleton of Adam Banastre by the sixty-fourth part of a knight's fee, paying 2d. for castle ward. There were a messuage worth 12d. a year and an oxgang of land containing 12 acres, each worth 12d.; Inq. p.m. 19 Edw. II, no. 67. Thomas son of Gilbert de Singleton gave his brother John all his land in Freckleton in 1332; Dods. MSS. cliii, fol. 73. The same Thomas granted a lease of the fourth part of an oxgang of land to James the Tailor in 1348; Kuerden MSS. iii, F 3.
  • 19. Pat. 4 Hen. VII; in a grant of Sir James Harrington's lands to the first earl. Some land also descended to him by virtue of the purchase from Coppull, mentioned in the account of Newton. William Earl of Derby and Edward Stanley sold a messuage, &c, in Freckleton to Cuthbert Sharpies in 1597 (Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 58, m. 360), but the manor was reputed to be held by the earl years afterwards, as appears by the inquisitions. It must have been alienated before the Civil War, as it is not named in the Royalist composition papers, or later.
  • 20. Richard de Freckleton granted 2 oxgangs of land (which his father Richard had given to the grantor's brothers, Robert and William), and seems to have added in 1259 2½ oxgangs recovered from his brother John; Dods. MSS. liii, fol. 90; cxlix, fol. 117b. The Botelers made a number of other acquisitions. Thus Richardson of Michael de Thornton gave Richard le Boteler the service of Gilbert de Meols for 2 oxgangs of land, a pair of gloves being the rent; Kuerden MSS. iv, S 20b. To the same Richard land was given by Richard son of John son of Alice de Warton, and Richard de Pemberton granted Sir Richard le Boteler half an oxgang of land; ibid. F 13. John son of Robert de Hothersall in 1348 gave land to Master Nicholas Boteler; ibid. The above-named Richard de Pemberton is named in some Lytham Priory charters as a tenant in Freckleton. In 1276 William de Meols, nephew of Gilbert, claimed 2 oxgangs of land, &c, in Freckleton and Hutton against Richard le Boteler and the Abbot of Cockersand; Assize R. 405, m. 2. Adam de Meols and William his son attested charters about 1265; Lytham D. at Durham, 3 a, 2 ae, 4 ae, Ebor. no. 20, 44. Lands formerly belonging to Margery widow of Gilbert de Meols were acquired by Sir Adam de Hoghton; Dods. MSS. cxlii, fol. 58b, 50; Add. MS. 32106, no. 688; Kuerden MSS. iii, W 30. They are not named in the Hoghton inquisitions. A moiety of Margery's lands went to Richard le Boteler; Dods. MSS. cxlix, fol. 117. In 1364 a settlement of the manor of Freckleton was made by Richard son of Sir Nicholas Boteler (Ralph de Freckleton being a witness), the remainder being to John le Boteler of Marton; ibid, fol. 115. Sir John (son of Nicholas) Boteler of Rawcliffe somewhat later recovered a moiety of the manor against Nicholas de Croft and Ellen his wife; ibid. fol. 116. John de Cottam in 1395 obtained a mill and an oxgang of land in Freckleton against Nicholas and Ellen de Croft; Final Conc, iii, 46. The lands of Sir John Boteler in 1404 were said to be held of Ralph de Freckleton by knight's service and 2s. 6d. rent; Towneley MS. DD, no. 1460. Those of John Butler, who died in 1488, were in 1502 found to have been held of the Earl of Derby by knight's service; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. iii, no. 45.
  • 21. In the year named Nicholas Butler claimed as brother and heir male; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 172, m. 11. A large part of the estate was in 1572 divided among representatives of the four daughters, and the manor of Freckleton became part of the share of Thomas Standish of Duxbury and James Anderton of Clayton; ibid. 231, m. 8. In 1599 the lands of Thomas Standish in Freckleton were said to be held of the queen as of her duchy by the hundredth part of a knight's fee; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xvii, no. 54. As early as 1552 James Anderton (father of the Hugh who married Grace Butler) was said to hold of the heir of Michael de Freckleton (cf. Michael de Thornton above) in socage by ½d. rent; ibid, ix, no. 14. Some particulars of the Shireburne estate may be added. This was of varied origin. Adam son of Adam de Freckleton gave land to Robert de Shireburne in 1324–5; Dods. MSS. liii, fol. 86. In 1441 Richard Shireburne was stated to have held in demesne two messuages, 40 acres of land, 20 acres of meadow and 100 acres of pasture in Freckleton, of the king in socage; Lancs. Rec. Inq. p.m. no. 30, 31. Later, however, the tenure was recorded otherwise; thus Robert Shireburne (1492) held his land in Freckleton of John Butler in socage; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. iii, no. 92. A similar statement was made in later inquisitions.
  • 22. James Anderton and Dorothy his wife made sales in 1573 (Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 35, m. 23, 98); Thomas Standish and Margaret his wife in 1580; ibid. bdle. 42, m. 134. In 1631 Richard Butler, who on declining knighthood was fined £10, was described as 'of Freckleton'; Misc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 222.
  • 23. George and James Sharpies purchased a messuage and land in 1548 from John Browne; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 13, m. 191. John Sharpies was among the purchasers in 1573, and John Sharpies the elder, John Sharpies the younger and James Sharpies in 1580, as above. John Sharpies also acquired three messuages &c, from James Anderton and Henry Marsden in 1580; ibid. bdle. 42, m. 156. John Sharpies was the only freeholder recorded in the township in 1600; Misc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 232.
  • 24. Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 90, no. 48. The deforciants were John Sharpies the elder, Arthur Sharpies, Alice his wife and Cuthbert Sharpies. Freckleton and Warton are named together, but in the later fine (1652) Warton only is named.
  • 25. Some notes have been preserved by Kuerden (MSS. iii, F 3): Adam son of Osbert released to Richard de Freckleton (c. 1230) all right in an oxgang of land. Richard son of Osbert de Freckleton gave a messuage to Robert son of Thomas. Margery daughter of John de Freckleton released her right in half an oxgang of land to Stephen son of William del Carr. Maud daughter of Geoffrey de Pool gave to John son of Adam de Freckleton all her father's land in the Pool field; William son of Nicholas, the reeve of Freckleton, was one of the witnesses. Richard de Freckleton in 1325 gave a rood on Threperth to John son of Thomas de Plumpton, Ralph and Robert de Freckleton being among the witnesses; Towneley MS. C 8, 5, Edw. II, no. 5. Among the charters of Lytham Priory some other early families appear. Richard Waldeve was a benefactor, the charters naming Thuftthorn Furlong, Stubbiholm, Elvive Furlong, Weselbutts, all in the fields of Freckleton; Rutheditch and the tlousesteads; D. at Durham, 3a, 2ae, 4ae, Ebor. no. 35–40. Eve his widow gave lands to William son of Roger de Rise; no. 24. Richard del Moor gave land to Michael son of Hugh de Hambleton and Michael gave to the priory; no. 44, 20. Adam son of Richard son of Margery de Freckleton occurs in 1346; no. 25, 26. See also Final Conc, ii, 131, 170. Richard son of James de Freckleton in 1332 demised land to Nicholas son of William Bussel; Kuerden fol. MS. 131. Elizabeth widow of Robert son of Adam son of Nicholas de Freckleton was plaintiff in 1365; De Banco R. 421, m. 205 d. James Freckleton died in 1586 holding a messuage, &c., in the township, but the tenure is not stated; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xv, no. 49. Gregory his son and heir, then aged twenty-four, occurs frequently among the jurors in the time of James I. Ralph Freckleton died in 1587 holding two messuages, &c.—one of the queen as of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem by a rent of 6d., and the other of Thomas Holcroft as of the priory of Lytham by a rent of 2d. Henry his son and heir was twenty-six years of age; ibid, xiv, no. 35. Henry Freckleton died in 1626 holding of the king and of Cuthbert Clifton, the heir being his nephew Ralph (son of Richard brother of Henry), aged twentyfour; Towneley MS. C 8,13 (Chet. Lib.), 426. Ralph died in 1632, leaving a son Henry as heir, three years old; ibid. 428.
  • 26. Cuthbert Clifton in 1580 was said to hold of the heirs of Richard formerly lord of Freckleton by a rent of 4d.; but his son Thomas five years later was said to hold partly of the queen by knight's service and partly of Thomas Holcroft by a rent of 4d.; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xiv, no. 76, 21.
  • 27. George Hesketh in 1571 held of the Earl of Derby by a rent of ½d.; ibid, xiii, no. 15. His son William, however, in 1622 was said to hold of Thomas Holcroft by 1d. rent; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), iii, 366.
  • 28. Two messuages, &c, in Freckleton were in 1552 obtained by William Cowburn, clerk (probably as trustee), from Christopher Cowburn; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 14, m. 109. Christopher's wife Joan occurs in 1554; ibid. bdle. 15, m. 15. Henry Cowburn the elder purchased from James and Dorothy Anderton in 1573; ibid. bdle. 35, m. 98. John Cowburn in 1578 obtained a messuage, &c, from William Cowburn; ibid. bdle. 40, m. 192. John Cowburn died in 1578 holding a messuage, &c, of the queen as of the late abbey of Dieulacres by a rent of 8½d. His heirs were his sisters, Janet wife of Richard Butler and Ellen wife of Henry Freckleton, aged thirty-eight and thirty in 1588; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xiv, no. 30. Some disputes in the Colburn or Cowburn family are referred to in Ducatus Lanc. (Rec. Com.), iii, 214, 233, &c. Lawrence Cowburn died in 1604 holding a messuage, &c, of the Earl of Derby by ½d. rent, leaving a son and heir Henry, ten years old; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc), i, 32, 44. Henry Cowburn died in 1605 holding a messuage, &c, partly of the king by knight's service and partly of the Earl of Derby by the fortieth part of a knight's fee and 2d. rent; his heir was a daughter Judith, a year old; ibid, i, 45. Lawrence Cowburn died in 1622 at Freckleton holding a messuage, &c, partly of the king in socage, as of his manor of East Greenwich, by 12d. rent, and partly of the king as of his duchy by the two-hundredth part of a knight's fee. William his son and heir was eight years old; ibid, iii, 317–19.
  • 29. William son of Robert Browne of Freckleton in 1313–14 unsuccessfully claimed a messuage and land against Adam son of Alan de Pool, who had been enfeoffed by Agnes daughter of Jordan de Freckleton; Assize R. 424, m. 2 d. William Browne died at Freckleton in 1617 holding a messuage and land there of the king as of his duchy by the twohundredth part of a knight's fee. His son Richard having died shortly before him, the heir was his grandson William Browne (son of Richard), aged sixteen; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc), ii, 86. Richard Browne died in 1639, leaving as heirs two nieces—Janet, aged twenty-five, wife of William Cowbura and widow of Thomas Hall, being daughter of Elizabeth sister of Richard Browne; and Ellen Derham, aged thirteen, daughter of Janet, another sister; Towneley MS. C 8, 13 (Chet. Lib.), 79–80.
  • 30. Thomas Border of Warrington(1522) held lands, but the tenure was unknown; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. v, no. 13. Gabriel Hesketh of Aughton, who died in 1573, held his land in Freckleton of the Earl of Derby by a rent of 2d.; ibid, xii, no. 32. In 1597 it was sold to John Bradley of Bryning (Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 58, m. 328), and at his death in 1617 the same tenure was recorded; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc), ii, 80. James Hall died in 1609 holding a messuage and land of the king by a rent of 6d. His son and heir Thomas was twenty-six years old; ibid, i, 124. Peter Mason of Lathom in 1570 purchased a messuage, &c, in Freckleton from Richard Chisnall and Christopher Anderton, they giving warranty against Thomas Dicconson of Eccleston and the Master of the Savoy; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 32, m. 99. This land had belonged to Eccleston Chantry; Lancs. and Ches. Rec. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), ii, 252. The purchaser died in 1612, and then his land, &c, in Freckleton was stated to be held of the Earl of Derby in socage, but on his son's death later in the same year this was corrected, the lands being held of the king as of his manor of East Greenwich; Lancs. Inq, p.m. (Rec. Soc), i, 215, 237. Nicholas Badger died in 1612 holding a tenement of the king as of his duchy by 6d. rent. Thomas his son and heir was of full age; ibid, i, 217. Thomas Badger died in May 1637, when the tenure was recorded as of the Earl of Derby; the heir was Thomas's son Nicholas, aged thirty; Duchy of Lanc Inq. p.m. xxx, no. 83. Thomas Hankinson died in 1628, leaving a daughter and heir Ellen, aged nine; the tenure of his messuage, &c, was not stated; ibid, xxvii, no. 32. In another copy he is called John Hankinson; the tenure was 'of the king'; Towneley MS. C 8, 13, p. 516. Thomas Taylor died at Freckleton in 1640 holding land there of James Lord Strange in socage, and leaving a brother Nicholas, aged sixty-eight, as heir; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xxx, no. 15.
  • 31. Adam de Singleton gave 'lands' in the field called Hwldismont upon Ribblebank, with appurtenant easements in the vill of Freckleton; Dieulacres Chartul. (Staffs. Hist. Coll.), 349. See the Cowburn inquisitions above.
  • 32. Mentioned in 1292; Plac, de Quo Warr. (Rec. Com.), 375.
  • 33. End. Char. Rep. for Kirkham, 85.
  • 34. Baines, Lancs. (cd. 1836), iv, 396.
  • 35. Lond. Gaz. 30 Jan. 1874.
  • 36. Fishwick, Kirkham (Chet. Soc), 67.
  • 37. Baines, loc. cit.
  • 38. Lewis's Topog. Dict. 1831–44, assigns them a chapel.
  • 39. Information of Mr. R. Muschamp. In 1689 Lawrence Coulborne's house at Freckleton was a certified Quaker meeting-place; Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. xiv, App. iv, 230.
  • 40. Quaker Char. Rep. 1905, p. 29. The 1720 room was pulled down in 1870. The meetings ceased before 1800; Baines, loc. cit.
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