Townships: Catterall

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

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'Townships: Catterall', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 7, (London, 1912) pp. 320-324. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol7/pp320-324 [accessed 11 April 2024]

In this section

CATTERALL

Catrehala, Dom. Bk.; Catrehal, 1272; Katerhalle, 1277; Caterhale, Caterale, 1292.

Catterall lies along the southern bank of the Calder and the Wyre, with Rohall at the extreme west; it has a detached portion, (fn. 1) in which is Landskill, some distance to the north-east. This detached part lies upon the slope of Bleasdale Fell, and a height of 745 ft. above sea level is reached on the east; but the main portion of the township is low-lying and comparatively level, though the surface rises a little from west to east. The area is 1,741½ acres, (fn. 2) and in 1901 the population was 317.

The principal road, on which the village is situated, is that from Preston to Garstang and the north. The London and North-Weatern main line crosses the eastern end, as does the canal from Preston to Lancaster.

The detached portion above named was in 1887 added to Barnacre with Bonds. (fn. 3) In it is the hamlet known as Calder Vale, founded in 1835 by Richard and Jonathan Jackson, who built a cotton-mill by the river and added houses for the workpeople. (fn. 4)

In the main part of the township a little wheat and oats are grown, but the land is mostly in pasture. The soil is heavy, with clay subsoil. A century ago there were large cotton-printing works at Calder Bridge, but they were given up in 1830. (fn. 5)

A parish council governs the township.

Manors

Earl Tostig held CATTERALL in 1066 as part of the lordship of Preston; it was assessed as two plough-lands. (fn. 6) Afterwards it was included in the Garstang or Nether Wyresdale fee held by the Lancaster family and their successors. (fn. 7) William de Lancaster II gave two plough-lands in Halecath and Catterall to Bernard son of Eilsi, and in 1212 Richard son of Swain (de Catterall), Beatrice daughter of Robert and Michael de Athelaxton or Ellaston held the same by knight's service. (fn. 8) Bernard was lord of Goosnargh, and the descent of that manor shows that of Catterall, the three daughters of his son Robert sharing the inheritance. Of the two portions of Catterall named, each seems to have been considered one plough-land; Halecath probably included Howath, Stirzacre and Landskill, Catterall in its wider meaning thus extending over the southern half of Barnacre with Bonds. (fn. 9)

Richard son of Swain, who married Isolda or Iseult, one of the daughters of Robert de Goosnargh, appears to have had Catterall proper assigned to him in right of his wife, and he and his descendants assumed the local surname. Richard died about 1220, and between 1222 and 1226 it was found that his son Richard was of the king's gift and in ward to Henry de Whittington. (fn. 10) He died about 1243 holding.land in Catterall of William de Lancaster, and leaving a son Ralph, twelve years of age. (fn. 11) Ralph de Catterall occurs in various ways down to 1305 (fn. 12); his eldest son John (fn. 13) had a son John who was living in 1346 but appears to have died without issue. (fn. 14) In virtue of a settlement made in 1287 Ralph was succeeded by another son Alan, (fn. 15) who obtained the manor of Little Mitton with Loretta his wife, daughter of Richard de Pontchardon, and died in 1322 holding a capital messuage in Catterall, with lands in demesne and service, of John son of John de Rigmaiden by the eighteenth part of a knight's fee and paying 3d. yearly for castle ward. Richard his eldest son was thirteen years of age. (fn. 16)

Catterall. Azure three mascles or.

Richard Catterall's son Adam (fn. 17) died in 1397 holding a third part of the manor of Catterall of Thomas de Rigmaiden by knight's service and paying 3d. for castle ward. (fn. 18) His son and heir Richard, then fifteen years of age, (fn. 19) proved his age in 1404. (fn. 20) The descent appears to be clear and uneventful from this time (fn. 21) until the death of Thomas Catterall in 1579, when his seven daughters became co-heirs. (fn. 22) A pedigree was recorded in 1567. (fn. 23)

With Dorothy, one of the daughters, the manor had been given to Robert Shireburne, who died in 1572 holding a capital messuage called the Crow's Orchard, &c., in Catterall of the queen as of her duchy by the fortieth part of a knight's fee, lands called Conigree in Claughton, and others in Mitton. The heir was his son Thomas, aged six. (fn. 24) Thomas Shireburne died in 1636 holding the manors of Catterall and Little Mitton by knight's service, and leaving a son Robert, aged forty-four. (fn. 25) Under the Commonwealth Robert's estate was sequestered for recusancy and delinquency, (fn. 26) and finally confiscated and sold in 1652. (fn. 27)

The Shireburnes, being apparently much in debt already, were not able to clear their estates, and about 1665 these were finally sold to Alexander Holt citizen and goldsmith of London. (fn. 28) His descendants in 1704 sold Catterall to Thomas Winckley of Preston; from him it descended to Lady Shelley, whose trustees in 1876 sold to Joseph Smith of Lancaster (d. 1889). (fn. 29) His executors sold the Catterall Hall estate about 1906 to Mr. Yates. (fn. 30)

It does not appear that any manor is now claimed, and it is difficult to trace the third parts held by the Mitton and Longford families. The former third seems to have been granted to a junior Mitton family, who assumed the name of Catterall, (fn. 31) and to have passed later to Croft, (fn. 32) Winkley, (fn. 33) Rishton (fn. 34) and Shireburne in succession. By Sir Richard Shireburne the estate was given to his brother Robert, who, as shown above, had the Catterall third with his wife. (fn. 35)

The remaining third, including ROWALL, seems to have been acquired by the Hoghtons (fn. 36) and the Botelers of Rawcliffe. (fn. 37) It came in 1572 into the hands of Sir Gilbert Gerard, (fn. 38) and was later sold to George Preston of Holker. (fn. 39)

STIRZACRE, partly in this township and partly in Barnacre, was at one time owned by the Botelers of Rawcliffe, becoming an appurtenance of Rowall. (fn. 40) It gave a surname to a family frequently occurring in the district. (fn. 41) John Leigh in 1631 held a messuage, &c., in Stirzacre in Catterall of the heirs of Richard son of Geoffrey de Stirzacre as of the manor of Catterall. (fn. 42) In the same year Thomas Richardson of Stirzacre compounded for his refusal of knighthood (fn. 43); he was probably the Thomas Richardson who in 1654 desired to compound for the two-thirds of his estate sequestered for recusancy. (fn. 44) Thomas Goose of Stirzacre House registered his estate as a 'Papist' in 1717; his son Thomas had taken part in the Jacobite rising of 1715, and was executed at Garstang. (fn. 45)

LANDSKILL was part of the estate of Brockholes of Claughton. (fn. 46) Other landowners occur from time to time in the pleadings and inquisitions, but little of interest is known about them. The names of Catterall, Rowall, (fn. 47) Wedacre, (fn. 48) Brereworth (fn. 49) and Myerscough (fn. 50) occur in the 13 th and 14th centuries, Brand, (fn. 51) Pickering (fn. 52) and others later. (fn. 53)

Cockersand Abbey had some land in Catterall and Rowall. (fn. 54)

A few recusants and Royalists had their estates sequestered under the Commonwealth, (fn. 55) and two 'Papists' registered estates in 1717. (fn. 56)

In Calder Vale St. John the Evangelist's was built in 1863 for the Church of England. (fn. 57) The vicars are collated by the Bishop of Manchester. The Wesleyan Methodists have a small chapel in the township proper, dating from 1825, (fn. 58) and another, built in 1900, at Calder Vale.

Footnotes

  • 1. It is known as Higher Catterall.
  • 2. 1,279 acres, including 29 of inland water; Census Rep. 1901.
  • 3. Loc. Govt. Bd. Order 20097.
  • 4. Hewitson, Our Country Churches, 530.
  • 5. Baines, Lancs, (ed. 1836), iv, 472.
  • 6. V.C.H. Lancs, i, 288a.
  • 7. See for example Lancs. Inj. and Extents (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), ii, 147–9.
  • 8. Lancs. Inq. and Extents (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 3; also the account of Goosnargh. In 1242 Richard de Catterall, Hugh de Mitton and Henry de Longford held of William de Lancaster III by knight's service; ibid, i, 154. At the partition of the Lancaster inheritance in 1281 the following were lords of Catterall—Adam de Hoghton, Hugh de Mitton and Ralph de Catterall; Cal. Close, 1279–88, pp. 105–6. Eustace de Cottesbech in 1293 obtained a messuage and two plough-lands in Catterall from John de Knyttecote of Leicester; Final Conc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 176. The meaning of this fine is unknown; 'plough-lands' may be used in a sense other than that of the ancient assessment. Hugh de Mitton in 1295 did not prosecute his claim against Eustace de Cottesbech, Ralph de Catterall, John, de Rigmaiden, John de Knightcote and Christiana his wife, Thomas de Singletbn and John de Fetherby; Assize R. 1306, m. 16d. Hugh de Catterall—apparently identical with Hugh de Mitton—claimed the manor of Catterall in 1306, Master John de Leicester and Christiana his wife being concerned; De Banco R. 161, m. 145.
  • 9. William son of Alan de Tarnacre about 1220 released to Michael de Athelaxton and Avice his wife all that he and his predecessors had in the third part of a plough-land in Halecath, which he had claimed in the court of Dame Helewise de Stuteville at Garstang; Dods. MSS. liii, fol. 95b. Richard son of John Perpont perhaps fifty years later released to Henry le Boteler son of Sir Richard all right in lands in Catterall, Rowall and 'Aleke'; ibid. fol. 91.
  • 10. Lancs. Inq. and Extents, i, 134.
  • 11. Ibid. 159–60; his Catterall lands were worth 30s. 10d. a year in demesne and in service. He also held land in Goosnargh, Threlfall, Chipping, Preston and Wrightington. He was living in 1242, but dead in 1244, when the king granted the wardship and marriage of his neir to William de Lancaster for 40 marks; ibid. 154, 160. After Ralph had come of age two nirther inquisitions were made in 1257–8; by one it was found that Richard had held 5½—corrected to 51/8—oxgangs of land and one-third part in Catterall by knight's service, where twenty-four plough-lands made a fee; also land in Howath of the Hospitallers; ibid. 210–12. The service due was the thirty-sixth part of a knight's fee. In 1246 Alice widow of Richard de Catterall was in the king's gift and marriageable; Assize R. 404, m. 22.
  • 12. Henry son of William de Catterall in 1292 complained of loss of common of pasture caused by approvements by the three chief lords of the vill, Henry son of Richard le Boteler, Hugh son of Hugh de Catterall and Ralph son of Richard de Catterall; Assize R. 408, m. 61.
  • 13. John de Catterall is mentioned in 1302; Lancs. Inq. and Extents, i, 318. In 1323 Robert de Grotton and Agnes his wife, she being widow of John son and heir of Ralph de Catterall, claimed dower in three plough-lands in Catterall, Goosnargh and Wrightington; De Banco R. 248, m. 229. Agnes was one of the co-heirs of Towneley of Towneley. An earlier dower claim had been made (in 1316) against Alan de Catterall respecting the manor of Catterall, and against Adam de Catterall respecting 4 oxgangs of land there; ibid. 216, m. 19 d.
  • 14. a V.C.H. Lancs, vi, 458.
  • 15. In 1287 Ralph granted to Alan de Catterall and his issue a messuage and the third part of two plough-lands in Catterall, with remainders to Adam and Paulin de Catterall; Final Conc, ii, 124–5; Towneley MS. DD, no. 8. In 1305 he granted to Alan his son his lands in Wrightington except the portion already given to another son Adam; W. Farrer's D. John de Hudleston granted land in Amolby in Millom to Alan son of Ralph de Catterall for life; Dods. MSS. xci, fol. 159.
  • 16. Lancs. Inq. and Extents, ii, 140–2. Lora the widow and Richard the son of Alan de Catterall were plaintiffs in 1334; Coram Rege R. 297, m. 3d. A fine already quoted indicates some dispute as to the inheritance, for in 1347 Richard son and heir of Alan arranged with John de Catterall, 'cousin and heir' of the Ralph of 1287; Final Conc, ii, 125. Katherine widow of John son of Richard de Catterall the elder and William son of John occur in 1421; ibid. iii, 87, 123. The writ of diem cl. extr. after the death of Richard de Catterall was issued in 1381; Dep. Keeper's Rep. xxxii, App. 353.
  • 17. The descent is thus stated in a pleading of 1511: Richard -s. Adam -s. Richard -s. Richard -s. Ralph (plaintiff); Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. no, m. 2, 3. A charter was adduced by which Richard de Catterall gave a messuage, &c., in Catterall to Adam his son and his issue. Adam son of Richard de Catterall in 1392 granted land called the Slyched to John Boteler of Kirkland and Alice his wife; Dods. MSS. lxii, fol. 90.
  • 18. Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Chet. Soc.), i, 66. The other lands, &c., were in Little Mitton, Goosnargh, Wrightington and Inskip. Isabel mother of Adam was living. Her name seems to identify the Richard de Catterall who sold a moiety of the manor of 'Cundeshalgh' in 1380 to Alan de Catterall; Final Conc, iii, 9, 42. This manor may have been in Goosnargh.
  • 19. Lancs. Inq. (Chet. Soc), i, 67; the wardship and marriage were granted to Sir Ralph de Ipre. See also Pal. of Lane. Chan. Misc. bdle. 1, file 12.
  • 20. Towneley MS. DD, no. 1468. Nicholas de Singleton was then guardian of the heir. Thomas de Hesketh stated that Richard was born in Easter week 1382, and baptized at Garstang Church by Richard de Preston, the vicar, Richard de Winkley and Cecily the Webster being his godparents.
  • 21. Richard Catterall the elder made a feoffment of his manor of Catterall, &c., in 1432; Add. MS. 32104, no. 501, 503 (fol. 116). He names his son William in a deed of 1457; ibid. no. 511. To Roger, another son, he gave 200 oaks in Mitton woods in 1460; ibid. no. 515. In 1467 Ellen widow of Richard claimed dower against his son Richard Catterall; Pal. of Lanc. Writs Proton. 7 Edw. IV. Robert (cousin and heir of Robert) Shuttleworth released lands in Little Mitton to Richard Catterall in 1468; Towneley MS. DD, no. 30. A John Catterall the elder of Selby had lands in Goosnargh and elsewhere in Lancashire which he forfeited by attainder in or before 1471; Chan. Inq. p.m. 11 Edw. IV, no. 35. He may have descended from the Alan of 1380, who had land in Goosnargh. There is a difficulty at the next point. At an inquisition in 1504 it was found that Richard Catterall died in 1487 holding the manor of Catterall of the king as duke by knight's service, also Little Mitton, &c., and that his heir was his son Richard, aged thirty at his father's death; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. ii, no. 12. But already, in 1478, Ralph son and heir of Richard Catterall and Elizabeth his wife had made a settlement of messuages, lands, &c., in Catterall and other places; Add. MS. 32104, no. 513. The same or another Ralph and Emma his wife (widow of Robert Boteler) were in 148Z bound to William Kirkby of Rawcliffe to abide an arbitration; Dods. MSS. cxlix, fol. 99 d. Ralph as son and heir of Richard Catterall made a grant of land in Little Mitton in 1481; DD, no. 36. In 1501 he exchanged a messuage, &c., on the west side of Howath with James Boteler; ibid. no. 28. Ralph Catterall died on Christmas Day, 1515, holding his part of Catterall of the king as duke by the thirty-sixth part of a knight's fee and a rent of 3d. He had in 1508 made a feoffment of all his manors and lands for the fulfilment of his will, assigning part to Katherine daughter of John Langley, who was to marry his son John. The actual deed, with some others of the family, is in the possession of W. Farrer. John Catterall, the son, succeeded, being thirty-six years of age; Duchy of Lane. Inq. p.m. iv, no. 62. He died less than two years after his father (1517), and by his will made provision for his five sisters; ibid, iv, no. 4. The descent is given as Richard -s. Ralph -s. John. John's son Ralph succeeded, being ten years old. Ralph died in or before 1526, and was succeeded by his brother Thomas, fifteen years old. He was stated to have been born at Mitton in 1510 and baptized at Whalley; ibid, vi, no. 4. The inquisition in the Record Office (vi, no, 77) is almost illegible, but a brief abstract is given in Towneley's MS. 'Lancs.Tenures' (fol. 75) in the possession of W. Farrer; this states that the manor of Catterall, with some other lands, was held of the king as duke by the sixth (thirty-sixth) part of a knight's fee and 3d. rent. A settlement of the manor was made by Thomas Catterall in 1557; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 204, m. 2.
  • 22. Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xiv, no. 4; he held the manor or capital messuage of Catterall, called the hall of Catterall, ten messuages and two water-mills, 10s. free rent, &c., in the township. All was held of the queen as duke by the old service, the thirty-sixth part of a knight's fee. He had in 1561 granted his manors of Catterall and Little Mitton to Robert Shireburne of Gray's Inn, who had married his daughter Dorothy. (This was confirmed in 1562–3; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 24, m. 235; 25, m. 59, 94.) Robert Shireburne died, leaving a son Thomas, and Dorothy, who afterwards married Richard Braddyll, was living at Catterall in 1579, aged thirty. The other daughters were Anne wife of Thomas Townley, aged forty; Elizabeth wife of Thomas Procter, thirty-eight; Katherine wife of Thomas Strickland, thirty-five; Dame Margaret Atherton, then wife of William Edwards, thirty-four; Mary wife of John Grimshaw, thirty-two; and Jane, aged twenty-five. Further particulars are given in the account of Goosnargh. The Procters seem to have had some claim on the manor of Catterall; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 43, m. 130.
  • 23. Visit. (Chet. Soc), 39.
  • 24. Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xiii, no. 10. There were three children in all— Thomas, Robert and Jane. Their uncle, Sir Richard Shireburne, was guardian; Catterall D. (W. Farrer). For an account of this branch see C. D. Sherborn, Family of Sherborn, 91–9. His widow married for her third husband John Whipp, and died in 1620 holding the manor of Catterall, &c., of the king as duke by the fortieth part of a knight's fee; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), ii, 228. Robert Shireburne granted land in Catterall (held of the queen as of her duchy) to William Parkinson, whose son Edward died in 1631 holding lands there and in Myerscough and Claughton, his heirs being William Butler and Anne Shireburne, widow. The former (aged sixteen) was son of Cecily daughter of Edward Parkinson, and the latter (aged seventeen) daughter of Isabel, another daughter of Edward; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xxviii, no. 74; xxvii, no. 57. A deed relating to the manors is enrolled in Common Pleas, Easter 1599, R. 9 (19).
  • 25. Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xxix, no. 43. A settlement of the manors had been made by Thomas Shireburne and Isabel his wife in 1629; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 112, no. 23.
  • 26. Cal. Com. for Comp. iv, 2514–15. Sir Edward Moslcy of Hough End had a mortgage on the Catterall part of the estate, and secured this on the sale.
  • 27. Index of Royalists (Index Soc), 44.
  • 28. For disputes see Exch. Dep. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), 49, 50.
  • 29. This account is from Fishwick, Garstang (Chet. Soc), 239–42, where full details are given. For the Holt family see Whitaker, Whalley, ii, 24, and for the Winckleys the account of Brockholes in Preston. The following references may be added: 1686, William Daniell v. Robert Holt, manors of Little Mitton and Catterall, lands, &c.; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 216, m. 27; 1704, purchase by Thomas Winckley; Piccope MSS. (Chet. Lib.), iii, 318, 326; 1710, Thomas Winckley v. Alexander, Edward and William Holt, the above manors; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 264, m. 83; 1745, John Winckley and Nicholas his son and heir-apparent, vouchees in a recovery of the manor of Catterall, &c.; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 560, m. 2.
  • 30. Information of Mr. Richard Smith.
  • 31. Hugh de Mitton was party to several suits in 1292 concerning obstruction, &c.; Aasize R. 408, m. 57, 63 d., 67, 73, 74. He seems to be called also Hugh son of Hugh de Mitton and Hugh de Catterall, as above. Roger brother and heir of Hugh son of Robert de Wedacre successfully claimed common of turbary in 5 acres in Catterall against Hugh son of Hugh de Mitton, alleging that his brother had been disseised by Hugh the father; ibid. m. 50 d. Margery widow of Ralph de Mitton claimed dower against Hugh son of Hugh de Mitton in respect of three messuages and 3 oxgangs of land in Catterall; against Henry le Boteler in respect of 20d. rent; and against William de Wedacre in respect of a messuage and 9d. rent; ibid. m. 62.
  • 32. The mode in which this family acquired part of Catterall is unknown. They appear in Claughton also. In 1314–15 Gilbert de Southworth, clerk, gave Henry son of Henry de Croft and his issue by Joan daughter of the grantor free turbary in Upper Rawcliffe Moss for the manor of the said Henry in Catterall; Dods. MSS. xci, fol. 159. Henry de Croft the elder in 1325 demised all his arable lands in Catterall Field to William de Tatham for three years at a rent of 4 marks; Add. MS. 32104, no. 408. Edmund de Myerscough in 1344 complained of novel disseisin by Henry son of Henry de Croft of Catterall; Assize R. 1435, m. 37. John de Croft occurs in 1371; De Banco R. 443, m. 370 d.
  • 33. John son of Roger de Croft in 1374 released to Richard, de Winkley and Margaret his wife his manor (house) of Catterall, the third part of Howath water mill, the third part of the manor of Catterall, and right of turbary and fishery in Pilling Moss in the vill of Upper Rawcliffe; Dods. MSS. xci, fol. 159. Richard de Winkley and Katherine his wife were concerned in Howath in 1383–4; ibid, cxlii, fol. 64. Richard de Winkley in 1409 or later settled his third part of the manor on Henry son of John de Winkley, his next of kin, with remainders to Richard and Henry sons of Adam de Winkley; ibid, xci, fol. 159b.
  • 34. Nicholas Rishton clerk in 1443 obtained a messuage called Winkley's Place, a third part of the manor of Catterall, and various messuages, lands, &c., in Catterall, Howath and Garstang, from Richard Winkley and Margaret his wife; Final Conc. iii, 109; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 5, m. 5. A few years later, 1449, Henry Rishton and Agnes his wife granted their manor of Catterall to Margaret widow of Henry Rishton, grandfather of the former Henry; Dods. MSS. xci, fol. 160. See also Towneley MS. HH, no. 116. Henry Rishton (of Clayton-le-Moors) and Margaret his wife were living in 13 90; Final Canc, iii, 36. One Henry Rishton (perhaps the Henry of 1449) died about 1490 holding the manor of Catterall of the king in chief by knight's service; Towneley's MS. 'Lancs. Tenures' (in possession of W. Farrer), fol. 8; Dep. Keeper's Rep. xl, App. 541. Nicholas Rishton about 1520 held messuages, &c., in Catterall by knight's service, and his son Richard Rishton later held messuages and lands in Little Catterall of the king by the fortieth part of a knight's fee; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. vi, no. 36, 9. Henry Rishton son of Richard held similarly (ibid, ix, no. 30).
  • 35. In 1557 the Rishton family's Catterall estate was sold by Ralph Rishton to Sir Richard Shireburne, who in 1563 gave it to his brother Robert; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 17, m. 24; Dods. MSS. xci, fol. 160. It was no doubt this estate which was recorded in the Inq. p.m. of Robert Shireburae already cited (note 21).
  • 36. In 1255–6 Adam de Hoghton was bound to warrant Richard le Boteler in the third part of the manor of Catterall, but Adam retained the third part of Howath and its mill; Dods. MSS. xci, fol. 160b. In 1313–14 Richard son of Adam de Hoghton granted his son Richard the homage of William son of Nicholas le Boteler and the yearly rent of 6s. 8d. from the lands held of the grantor by the said William; ibid. Alexander Hoghton in 1498 had a rent of 6s. 8d. from the land of James Boteler in Catterall, and held a tenement in Howath and Catterall of the king as of his duchy by services unknown; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. iii, no. 66. In 1501 and later the tenure was described as socage; ibid, v, no. 66; xi, no. 2. In 1554–5 Thomas Catterall and Sir Richard Hoghton had a dispute as to Crakemer and Waterings in Catterall, also as to the mill; Ducatus Lanc. (Rec. Com.), ii, 153–4. Robert Shireburne in 1566 purchased some of Thomas Hoghton's estate in the township; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 28, m. 54. Richard Hoghton and Katherine his wife had lands in Catterall and Nether Wyresdale in 1598; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 60, m. 107.
  • 37. Robert son of Bernard confirmed to William de Rowall all Rowall, i.e. 2 oxgangs of land; Dods. MSS. liii, fol. 90b. Henry de Rowall confirmed to Richard le Boteler his father Henry's capital messuage, with land, &c., and the homage of Thomas de Rowall and the daughters of Alexander de Elswick; ibid. fol. 83b. Among the witnesses were Hugh de Mitton, Ralph and Peter de Catterall. Richard son of Henry de Rowall released to Henry le Boteler the rent of 2s. due from a tenement in Rowall in Catterall; ibid. fol. 95b. William son of Alexander de Elswick granted his hereditary estate in Rowall (descending from his brother Thomas) to Thomas son of Alan de Singleton and Joan his wife; ibid. fol. 89b. He also granted to Henry son of Sir Richard le Boteler the homage and service of Thomas his brother for a tenement in Rowall; ibid. fol. 100. Ralph son of Richard de Catterall granted to Peter de Catterall, clerk, all the waste in Catterall between Thevethornlands and Blackbrook and another piece of waste; ibid. fol. 100, 100b. Peter de Catterall gave Richard le Boteler certain land and received from him all his land in Thevethornlands; he also made a grant to Nicholas son of Richard le Boteler; ibid. 100, 100b, 89b. Ralph son of Peter the Clerk released all his right ia the vill of Catterall to Henry son of Sir Richard le Boteler, and gave 4½ acres to Nicholas son of Richard le Boteler; ibid. fol. 100b. Maud daughter of William de Winwick sold to Nicholas le Boteler the rent she had received from Rowall; ibid. fol. 89. Richard le Boteler confirmed to Henry his son all his land in Catterall, as well in Rowall as in Stirzacre, with watermill, &c.; ibid. fol. 91b. William son of Richard le Boteler about 1280 conceded to Henry his brother all the land of Catterall, within the vill and without, that is to say, both in Rowall and in Stirzacre; ibid. fol. 100b. Thus it came about that Henry le Boteler was one of the three lords of Catterall in 1292, as above stated. Ralph son of Peter the clerk of Aukelaund in that year claimed a tenement in Catterall against Henry le Boteler, but was nonsuited; Assize R. 408, m. 21 d., 42. In 1311 Roger de Wedacre, as heir of his brother Hugh, claimed turbary in Catterall against Henry son of Richard le Boteler; De Banco R. 184, m. 30 d. The estate appears to have reverted soon afterwards to the main line of Boteler of Rawcliffe, and is in 1331 named among their lands, then held by Sir Henry de Croft and Isabel his wife; De Banco R. 287, m. 307 d. In 1443 lands in Catterall, Rowall and Stirzacre were held by Nicholas Boteler of Rawcliffe; Final Conc, iii, 108–9. James Boteler in 1501 acquired from Ralph Catterall all his lands in Rowall; Dods. MSS. liii, fol. 92. He died in 1504 holding certain lands in Catterall of Ralph Catterall in socage, and other lands there of the king; Duchy of Lane. Inq. p.m. iii, no. 109. Sir Thomas Boteler of Warrington was said to hold land in Rowall in 1522; ibid, v, no. 13.
  • 38. On a partition of the Butler inheritance in 1572 the manors of Catterall and Rowall were assigned to Gilbert Gerard and Anne his wife; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 231, m. 8. Sir Gilbert at his death in 1594 held the manors, with messuages, water-mill, &c., of the queen as of her duchy by knight's service; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xvi, no. 2.
  • 39. Dodsworth states that Sir Gilbert himself sold it; vol. xci, fol. 160b. George Preston of Holker in Cartmel died in 1640 holding Rowall in Catterall, which with Nateby Hall he gave to a younger son George; Chan. Inq. p.m. (ser. 2), dc, 122.
  • 40. In 1281 Ralph de Catterall allowed Henry son of Sir Richard le Boteler to bring water from the Calder across Stirzacre marsh to his mill at Stirzacre, Henry giving land in Catterall and ½d. rent by way of recompense; Dods. MSS. liii, fol. 89. Henry le Boteler in 1310 demised his water-mill at Stirzacre to William son of Christiana de Howath for six years; ibid. fol. 89b. Hugh son of Hugh de Catterall granted the third part of Stirzacre with all its appurtenances in Catterall to Nicholas son of Sir Richard le Boteler; ibid. fol. 100. To the same Nicholas Maud daughter of Walter de Winwick released all right in Stirzacre; ibid. fol. 89.
  • 41. Lawrence Stirzacre ('Steresacre') and Joan his wife in 1420 made a feoffment of their lands in Claughton and Catterall; Anct. D. (P.R.O.), C 1320. From a plea in 1446 it appears that William Stirzacre granted a messuage and land in Catterall to his daughter Alice. She married Nicholas Pleasington, and their son William recovered the box containing the evidences, which had been detained by his mother's second husband Alan Clapham of Laithwaite in Garstang; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 9, m. 20b. For Laithwaite see the account of Cockerham.
  • 42. Towneley MS. C 8, 13, p. 747.
  • 43. Misc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 222.
  • 44. Cal. Com. for Comp. v, 3 185.
  • 45. Estcourt and Payne, Engl. Calk. Nanjurors, 141.
  • 46. It was part of the estate given by William de Tatham to Roger son of John de Brockholes in 1338, having been acquired from William de Southworth; Add. MS. 32105, fol. 94. John de Brockholes had in 1324 acquired all Henry son of Henry de Croft's land in the field called Thevethornlands below the forest of Myerscough in the vill of Catterall; Add. MS. 32105, SS 680. Roger Brockholes in 1496 held three messuages, 40 acres of land, &, in Catterall of the Prior of St. John of Jerusalem; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. iii, no. 73. Thomas Brockholes in 1567 held various lands there of the queen as of her duchy by the service of half a knight's fee; ibid, xi, no. 6. Landskill as a 'chantry farm' was in dispute in 1589 and 1595; Ducatus Lanc, iii, 264, 474; Exch. Dep. 8; Pat. 31 Eliz., pt. v. In 1659 and 1690 it was in the possession of the Sheringtons of Worsley; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 164, m. 120; 225, m. 65.
  • 47. Roger son of Alan de Rowall was a plaintiff in 1277; De Banco R. 18, m. 54. Henry de Rowall about 1320 granted land in Ollershaw to William de Tatham, clerk; Add. MS. 32104, no.429. William de Bartail in 1332 complained that Ralph de Rowall, Maud his wife and Roger his son had carried off his goods at Catterall; De Banco R. 292, m. 312 d.
  • 48. Hugh Wedacre in. 1271–2 charged Benedict Gernet and others with having burnt his grain at Catterall; Curia Regis R. 208, m. 34. Henry de Wedacre wa3 defendant in 1280 (De Banco R. 36, m. 55 d.), while in 1292 he and Christiana his wife claimed dower against William the Clerk of Whittingham; Assize R. 408, m. 1 d. At the same time Paulin and William, sons of Henry de Wedacre, and John son of Walter de Wedacre occur in Catterall pleadings; ibid. m. 32 d. 54. In 1330 Roger de Garstang claimed a messuage, &, against Thomas de Goosnargh, who held by demise of Edmund de Wedacre; De Banco R. 282, m. 277 d. Alexander Goosnargh held land in Catterall of the king in 1524, but the tenure is not separately given; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. v, no. 55. John de Pleasington as trustee granted lands in Catterall and Claughton to Edmund de Wedacre in 1349; Add. MS. 32104, no. 911. The Pleasingtons themselves had land in Catterall and Claughton; Final Conc, iii, 29. The family occurs again in 1483; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 57, m. 16; 63, m. 14. Isabel daughter of John Pleasington and widow of Sir Richard Sapcote was claimant in 1489; ibid. 68, m. 6 d.; 70, m. 12.
  • 49. John de Brereworth the elder and Margery his wife claimed messuages, &, in Catterall and Goosnargh in 1358 against Sir Adam de Hoghton, Roger de Wedacre and others; Duchy of Lanc. Assize R. 6, m. 3 d. The jury wai set aside.
  • 50. In 1304 Christiana daughter of Godith and William son of Alan claimed a messuage, &, against John son of William de Myerscough; De Banco R. 149, m. 266.
  • 51. This family seems to have succeeded Wedacre, for in 1515 Richard Brand claimed the third part of a messuage called Wedacre's Place by inheritance from his mother Margaret; Towneley MS. DD, no. 20. He made a settlement of his estate in 1618; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 123, m. 4d. William Brand died in 1619 holding a messuage, &, of the king as duke by knight's service; James his son and heir was nine years old; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc. Lancs and Ches.), ii, 132, 216 (correcting).
  • 52. Roger Pickering in 1438 demised a moiety of the Cowfield in Catterall to John Urswick, Ellen his wife and Thomas their son; Anct. D. (P.R.O.), C 815. James Pickering in 1611 held 7 acres of the king as duke by the two-hundredth part of a knight's fee, and left as heir his son John, aged fifteen; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc), i, 194. Anthony Pickering died in 1613 holding his tenement of Thomas Lord Gerard by knight's service and 4s. rent, doing suit at the manor court of Catterall. His son William being dead, the heir was a grandson Anthony, who, though only twelve years of age, had been married to Cecily daughter of James Barnes; ibid, i, 242–4. Anthony Pickeringas a recusant petitioned in 1654 to contract for the two-thirds of hi8 estate sequestered for recusancy; Cal. Com. for Comp. v, 3186.
  • 53. John Urswick, Helen his wife and Thomas their son had land in Catterall in 1438; Anct. D. (P.R.O.), C 815. William Bank in 1497 obtained lands in Catterall, &, from Ralph Hoghton; Final Conc, iii, 146. George Hesketh of Poulton (1571) held of Thomas Catterall in socage; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xiii, no. 15. Thomas Allanson died in 1608 holding of Thomas Lord Gerard in socage by 1d. rent. His son and heir Ellis was aged fifty; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 135. Alexander Rigby of Goosnargh (1621) held of the king in socage; ibid, iii, 457. Thomas Bateson died in 1629 holding a messuage, &c., of the heirs of Thomas Catterall; Robert, his son and heir, was twenty-eight years old; Towneley MS. C 8, 13 (Chet.Lib.), 55. William Barnes died in 1633, leaving a son George, aged twenty-four; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xxviii, no. 21. In this and some other cases the tenure is not recorded. Thomas Adamson in 1640 held his messuage, &c., of Robert Shireburne in socage. His heir was his son John, aged forty; ibid, xxx, no. 60. Edmund Adamson occurs in 1550; Ducatus Lanc. i, 232, 252.
  • 54. Ralph son of Hugh de Mitton gave land by the Calder, together with a 'scaling' in Havedargh, and Beatrice his mother confirmed the same; Cockersand Chartal. (Chet. Soc), i, 273. William de Rowall gave land there, and the gift of Nuncroft by Isolda daughter of Robert son of Bernard was probably in the same part of the township; ibid. 274–5.
  • 55. The cases of Shireburne, Richardson and Pickering have been referred to.
  • 56. Elizabeth Melling, widow, and David Cross; Estcourt and Payne, Engl Cath. Nonjurors, 142.
  • 57. A district was assigned to it in 1804; Lond. Gaz. 4 Mar. See Hewit.on, Our Country Churches, 532.
  • 58. Baines, Lancs, (ed. 1836), it, 472.
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