Townships: Urmston

A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1911.

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Citation:

'Townships: Urmston', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5, ed. William Farrer, J Brownbill( London, 1911), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol5/pp50-56 [accessed 14 October 2024].

'Townships: Urmston', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5. Edited by William Farrer, J Brownbill( London, 1911), British History Online, accessed October 14, 2024, https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol5/pp50-56.

"Townships: Urmston". A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5. Ed. William Farrer, J Brownbill(London, 1911), , British History Online. Web. 14 October 2024. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol5/pp50-56.

In this section

URMSTON

Wermeston, 1194; Urmeston, 1212; Urmestone, 1302.

This township, measuring about a mile from north to south and a mile and a half across, has an area of 993 acres. (fn. 1) The land slopes gently from north to south, where the Mersey forms the boundary. The village lies in the centre of the township. The population in 1901 numbered 6,594. (fn. 2)

From the village a road leads east to Stretford and Manchester; to the west two roads diverge, one to Irlam, the other to the village of Flixton. The Cheshire Lines Railway from Manchester to Liverpool crosses the township, with a station at Urmston, opened in 1873.

'Tim Bobbin,' the Lancashire dialect writer, whose true name was John Collier, is said to have been born here, but is more closely associated with Milnrow in Rochdale. (fn. 3)

Urmston is governed by an Urban District Council formed in 1894.; there are twelve members. (fn. 4)

The cemetery was formed in 1892. The Manchester Jews have three separate cemeteries—for the Spanish and Portuguese synagogue, the New synagogue, and the Polish Jews.

The field-names (fn. 5) include Hillam, Barrowfield, Blakewell Meadow, Twinose, Treeley, Rant, and Woefield. (fn. 6)

Manors

The manor of URMSTON was originally part of the Marsey fee, and held of the lord as one plough-land by a family using the local surname. It was held by the eighth part of a knight's fee, rents of 8s. and 2s. being paid for castle ward and sake fee. (fn. 7) The earliest known holder of it is Richard de Urmston, who in 1193–4 gave 40s. for having the king's good will after the rebellion of John Count of Mortain. (fn. 8) Adam de Urmston held it in 1212. (fn. 9) After this there is a period of uncertainty. The superior lordship was acquired by the Trafford family, (fn. 10) who continued to hold it, at least nominally, down to the 16th century, though their mesne tenancy is often ignored. (fn. 11) The Urmston family and the lordship also appear to have been divided, (fn. 12) one branch settling in Westleigh. (fn. 13) In 1305 Adam de Urmston conferred all his lands in Urmston, together with the lordship of the whole town, upon Gilbert de Ashton. (fn. 14) The latter had several daughters, and Urmston became the portion of Hawise wife of Henry son of John de Trafford. Her heir was again a daughter, Aline, who married Ralph son of John de Hyde of Hyde in Cheshire. (fn. 15) In this family and its descendants the manor continued till the 18th century.

From a suit of 1317, in which Isabel widow of Adam de Urmston claimed dower, it appears that the land was then divided thus: Gilbert de Ashton held 3 oxgangs; Richard, son of Adam de Urmston, 3; and William son of William the Serjeant, 1; leaving an oxgang not accounted for. (fn. 16) The manor, however, appears always to have descended with the Ashton share.

Henry de Trafford was in possession in 1324 in right of his wife. (fn. 17) She afterwards married John Venables, of Ashton-on-Mersey, by whom she had the daughter and heir Aline mentioned above. From 1343 onward Ralph de Hyde and Aline his wife were engaged in suits respecting her inheritance. (fn. 18) Ralph and Aline were living in 1360, when they and their son William successfully defended their title to half the mill. (fn. 19) By 1370 Thomas son of Ralph appears to have succeeded his father, (fn. 20) and he is no doubt the same Thomas de Hyde who died in 1433, leaving as heir his son George's child Thomas, then fourteen years of age. (fn. 21)

The younger Thomas died in 1444, holding the manor of Urmston of Sir Edmund Trafford by knight's service; the clear value was 100s. George the son and heir was about three months old. (fn. 22) Margaret the widow had certain messuages and lands assigned to her as dower in 1445. (fn. 23) George died in or before 1500, in which year his widow Isabel claimed dower, Thomas Hyde being then in possession. (fn. 24) In I 517 John the son and heir of Thomas was contracted to marry Elizabeth daughter of Sir John Booth of Barton. (fn. 25) Thomas died early in 1534, holding the manor of Urmston of Edmund Trafford by knight's service and a rent of 8s. He had made provision for his wife and younger sons, and the heir was his grandson William, son of the above-named John, then about fourteen years of age. (fn. 26)

William Hyde in 1548 arranged for the marriage of his son and heir William with Margaret daughter of John Arderne; she was to have a jointure out of the Urmston lands of £4 clear value. (fn. 27) He died in 1574, holding the manor of Edmund Trafford by the eighth part of a knight's fee and 8s. rent; the clear annual value was £5. The heir was his said son William, then twenty-nine years of age. (fn. 28) A pedigree was recorded in 1567, but some of the earlier steps are omitted or wrongly given. (fn. 29).

William Hyde died 26 August 1587, holding the manor, with messuages, windmill, and lands in Urmston of the queen, as of her Duchy of Lancaster, by the eighth part of a knight's fee and a rent of 8s. 2d.; he also held a burgage in Stockport and lands in Cheshire. John his son and heir was ten years of age. (fn. 30) John Hyde was married in 1598–9, his wife, Susan daughter of William Ashton of Clegg, bringing him a portion of £400. (fn. 31) A pedigree was recorded in 1613, the eldest son George being then six years of age. (fn. 32) A settlement of the manor had been made the year before. (fn. 33) A further settlement was made in 1642, by John Hyde, Susan his wife, George Hyde and Margaret his wife. (fn. 34) John Hyde died in 1644, his wife having died the year before; and George died two years after his father. (fn. 35).

Urmston Hall: East Side

In 1642 Susan the daughter and heir of George Hyde married Richard Hulme of Davyhulme, (fn. 36) by whom she had a son William, the heir of Urmston. She afterwards married Richard Starkie, (fn. 37) and in 1670 a settlement was made by Richard Starkie and Susan his wife, William Hulme, Thomas Lucas, and Hannah his wife. (fn. 38) William Hulme, high sheriff in 1701, (fn. 39) died in November 1708, (fn. 40) and his mother followed him in February. (fn. 41) John, the eldest surviving son of William Hulme, succeeded, (fn. 42) and left a daughter Anne, who as 'heiress of Davyhulme and of the lordship and manor of Urmston,' was married at Flixton 3 September 1735 to Thomas eldest son of the celebrated antiquary Browne Willis of Bletchley. (fn. 43) Thomas Willis, perhaps the son, was lord of the manor in 1765, (fn. 44) but soon afterwards it was sold, together with Davyhulme, and has since passed through several hands. (fn. 45) It was in March 1822 purchased from William Marsden's trustees by John Miller, who bequeathed it for life to George Lewis Ridehalgh. The last-named was succeeded by his son, Colonel George John Miller Ridehalgh; after his death in 1892 his widow held it, and on her death recently it passed to Mr. George Ridehalgh, the present lord of the manor. (fn. 46).

A rental of 1779 shows that the Duchy of Lancaster then received 10s. 4d. from Urmston; of this sum 8s. 3d. was paid by William Allen and 9d. by the owner of Newcroft. (fn. 47).

Manor courts were held up to about the time of Colonel Ridehalgh's death, but had degenerated into an annual dinner. (fn. 48)

Urmston Hall stands a little to the west of the church and is a two-story timber and plaster building on a stone base, now used as a farm-house. The principal front, which faces north, is entirely of wood and plaster under a single gable about 21 ft. wide, and on the east side are two timber gables with a good brick chimney between. The whole of the west and south fronts, together with an addition at the southeast, are built of brick. The house is probably of late 16th-century date, but has been a good deal altered since, and is in only a moderate state of repair. Two windows, each of seven lights, in one of the side gables are now made up, and all the windows have lost their original glazing, or are otherwise modernized. The gables are without barge-boards, but that on the north front his a good hip knob on which is the date 1721 and the initials I H E. Probably a good deal of repair and renovation was done at this time, and the south-west sides rebuilt in brick. From the northeast the house, which stands back from the road amid trees, has a very picturesque appearance, the two fronts being well broken up with gables and chimneys. The quatrefoils along the front elevation and other portions of the black and white work, however, are only painted on the plaster, but the main timber construction of the building remains, and what restoration there has been follows the original lines. The half-timber work consists of a simple design with horizontal pieces and straight uprights and a central band of ornament. The entrance door on the north side is the original one of thick oak, nail-studded, and with good ornamental hinges and ring handle.

Urmston Hall: North Front

Of the other portions of the manor no proper account can be given. The Urmston family continued to hold theirs for some time. (fn. 49) The principal estate was NEW CROFT, regarded as a manor, held at one time by the Traffords, (fn. 50) then by the Warburtons, (fn. 51) and in the 16th and 17th centuries by the Radcliffes of Ordsall. (fn. 52) Sir Alexander Radcliffe of Ordsall, who died in 1549, held three-fourths of the manor of Newcroft and 100 acres of land, &, there of the king (as duke) in socage by a rent of 9d. for all services. (fn. 53) By the end of the 18th century it had come into the possession of William Allen, then lord of the manor of Urmston, (fn. 54) and on his bankruptcy in 1788 was purchased by the Taylors of Hulme in Reddish, and remained in their possession nearly a century, being sold in 1888 by the trustee of Samuel Taylor to Herbert Bannister. The estate was then supposed to be subject to some charitable rent-charges and also to a duchy rent of 9d., but it was stated that none of them had been demanded or paid for many years. (fn. 55) Newcroft is a plain brick building once surrounded by a moat, of no architectural beauty whatever. (fn. 56) Roger Rogers of Newcroft was summoned by the heralds to attend the visitation of 1664.; no pedigree appears. (fn. 57)

Hillam, (fn. 58) the Lodge, (fn. 59) and Brook House (fn. 60) represent old estates. A ghost story was told of Gamershaw, a house at the east side of the township. (fn. 61) The Newton, (fn. 62) Gregory, (fn. 63) and Hey (fn. 64) families were freeholders.

The most considerable contributor to the land tax of 1796 was William Marsden; after him came John Gregory, Stevenson's trustees, and Patten; these in all paid about a third of the tax. (fn. 65)

Robert Barlow of Urmston joined Prince Rupert when he invaded the county—in 1644—took part in the battle at York, and continued in arms with that force; his property seems to have been confiscated. (fn. 66)

In connexion with the Established Church a schoolchapel was opened in 1858; this was followed within ten years by St. Clement's Church, consecrated in January 1868. The site of church and churchyard was the gift of Colonel Ridehalgh. A separate district was assigned to it, and the patronage is vested in the Bishop of Manchester. (fn. 67)

The Wesleyan Methodists have had a meetingplace here since about 1813, but services were discontinued for some years after 1850. They were resumed about 1868, and in 1872 the present church was opened. The Primitive Methodists had a chapel in 1825, but the present one dates from 1873. The Independent Methodists have had services since 1838. (fn. 68)

A Congregationalist minister preached occasionally in Urmston about 1840, but the present church dates only from 1880, services having begun in a schoolroom the previous year. (fn. 69) The Baptists have a church.

The Unitarians have held services since 1894. (fn. 70)

The Roman Catholic church of the English Martyrs was opened in 1891. (fn. 71)

Footnotes

  • 1. 992, including 10 of inland water; Census Rep. 1901.
  • 2. Pop. Ret.
  • 3. Dict. Nat. Biog.
  • 4. Loc. Govt. Bd. Order.
  • 5. A list is given in R. Lawson, Flixton, 122.
  • 6. The following occur in a deed of 1300: Woodfalls, Whiteriffos, Welcome Ridding, Merulache, Stilley, Omerland, Simond Ridding, Hillum Carr, Merebutts.
  • 7. Lanes. Inq. and Extents (Rec. Soc. Lanes, and Ches.), i, 71.
  • 8. Farrer, Lanes. Pipe R. 77.
  • 9. Lanes. Inq. and Extents, loc. cit.
  • 10. Jordan de Worsley granted to Geoffrey son of Henry de Trafford all the lands which he had had by the gift of Adam de Urmston, and the reversion of the dower of Adam's widow, Isabel; De Trafford D. no. 292. In 1305 Jordan had, as creditor for £10, claimed the minor of Urmston against Adam de Urmston, Isabel his wife, Gilbert de Ashton, his children, and others, except four messuages, 4 oxgangs and 60 acres of land, and the moiety of a mill; Assize R. 420, m. I, 7.
  • 11. Sir Edmund Trafford in 1445–6 held 3 oxgangs of land in Urmston and the heir of Geoffrey de Urmston 5 oxgangs, for the eighth part of a knight's fee, rendering 12s. 6d. yearly. The said Edmund stated that he was mesne between the king, &c., and was in ward; hence there was no relief; Duchy of Lanc. Knights' Fees, 2/20. Sir Edmund Trafford, who died in 1563, held Urmston of the queen by the eighth part of a knight's fee and 8s. 4d.; Duchy of Lane. Inq. p.m., xi, 11. Robert Worsley of the Booths in the time of Henry VIII held lands in Urmston of Edmund Trafford, but the service due was not known; ibid, vii, 5. Sir Robert Lovell in 1600 held lands in Urmston, probably purchases from members of the Trafford family; ibid, xviii, 32; see also Ducatus Lanc. (Rec. Com.), iii, 421, 465, and the accounts of Chorlton and Didsbury. Richard Scott in 1547 claimed a messuage, &c., against Sir Edmund Trafford and James Hampson; ibid, i, 229.
  • 12. Richard de Urmston is named in 1265, 1278, 1284, and again in 1288; perhaps there were two of the name; Lanes. Inq. and Extents, i, 232, 273; Assize R. 1238, m. 34. d.; 1265, m. 5 d. Nigel son of Roger son of Adam de Urmston in 1288 demanded the manor against Adam son of Richard de Urmston, claiming as heir; De Banco R. 73, m. 49, 87 d. Thus Richard must have died in that year. In 1284, however, there was another Adam de Urmston, the son of William and Constance; in reply to a charge of novel disseisin in 'Ormiston,' he said there was no such vill, but the tenements claimed were in 'Urmiiton,' and he held them as his father's heir. Thomas de Urmston claimed under a grant from the father; Assize R. 1268, m. 19. In the same year Richard de Urmston claimed eight messuages in Urmston against Adam and Alexander de Hulme, John son of Wymark, and others. Robert Grelley had held them, and his son and heir Thomas being under age, the escheator had taken possession; ibid. 1265, m. 22 d.
  • 13. See the account of Westleigh; a Richard de Urmston and Siegrith his wife held it and lands in Flixton in 1292; Final Cone. (Rec. Soc. Lanes, and Ches.); i, 169, 174; ii, 20, 127. Siegrith, lady of Urmston, also occurs in 1311; Lich. Epis. Reg. i, fol. 114b. Adam de Urmston, probably the Adam son of Richard above mentioned, seems to have been the chief man in the township in 1292, when he was involved in several pleas. William son of William de Flixton (probably a Valentine), was nonsuited in a claim against Adam de Urmston and William his brother; Assize R. 408, m. 44 d. The same plaintiff was also nonsuited in a claim against William son of Thomas de Urmston; ibid. m. 48 d. Henry son and heir of Henry de Trafford was nonsuited in his demand that Adam de Urmston's mill-pool should be destroyed, having been formed by Adam's father, Richard, to the injury of the Traffords' estate ; ibid. m. 56 d.; De Banco R. 92, m. 129 d.
  • 14. In 1301 Adam de Urmston made claims, which he did not prosecute, against Robert de Ashton and others, respecting tenements in Urmston; Assize R. 418, m. 12 d. These Ashtons were of the adjacent township of Ashton on Mersey. In the same year Richard son of Adam de Urmston, and Cecily his wife, made a similar claim against Adam and others; ibid. 419, m. 3; 420, m. 7. Richard son of Adam son of Richard de Urmston in 1333 and up to 1342 claimed eighteen messuages, &, in Urmston, against Henry son of John de Trafford of Urmston; De Banco R. 295, m. 28; 332, m. 100 d.
  • 15. The story is told fully in a document compiled about 1430, in HarL MS. 2112, fol. 158, printed in Coll. Topog. et Gen. viii, 146. Adam de Urmston granted all his lands of Urmston, with the demesne, wards, reliefs, &, to Gilbert de Ashton, who in return granted the moiety of Ashton on Mersey, and lands in Sale and Altrincham. These being more valuable than Urmston Adam granted a rent of £3 a year from them. After this Adam sold the Ashton lands to John de Leigh and Ellen his wife, who gave them to William Venables and Katherine his wife. [This was in 1307–8; Dep. Keeper's Rep. xxvii, App. 94]. William not paying the rent of £3, Gilbert de Ashton made a distraint and proved his right in open court. Gilbert married Margaret daughter of Roger de Cheadle, and their daughter Hawise was married in childhood to Henry son of John de Trafford of Newcroft, the father giving her the manor of Urmston. Afterwards a divorce took place; Henry married Joan de Worsley, and Hawise married John son and heir of the above-mentioned William Venables, by whom she had a daughter and heir Alice (elsewhere Aline). After the death of Hawise John married Joan, sister of the said Henry de Trafford, and had a daughter Cecily, wife of Robert de Ashton. Meantime John de Trafford had killed Gilbert de Ashton at Urmston, hiding his body in a 'rindle' and taking the deeds of the manor. Henry de Trafford also arranged with Richard son of Adam de Urmston that the latter should recover the lands and then grant them to him. Thus Aline's inheritance was in great danger. Her father also was against her; he wished her to marry Adam de Trafford, his second wife's brother, and shut her up in the 'city of Brvnuegg,' till she escaped one night and found refuge in Timperley, on which her father, in his anger, burnt the deed securing to her the rent of £3. Next, Hamon Massey of Timperley married her to Ralph de Hyde, who managed to regain the manor of Urmston against Henry de Trafford and Richard de Urmston ; after which the stolen deeds were given up to him. A copy of the grant by Adam de Urmston to Gilbert de Ashton follows. Some illustrative references will be found in the following notes.
  • 16. De Banco R. 217, m. 183 d. It is possible that the oxgang not mentioned was Newcroft, the possession of Henry de Trafford. Gilbert de Ashton after wards proffered a charter of Isabel's, but she denied it to be hers; De Banco R. 218, m. 30. Adam de Urmston in 1300 granted to his son Richard and Cecily his wife, daughter of Thomas de Hulme, 3 oxgangs of land in Urmston, & De Trafford D. no. 294. Richard and Cecily in 1305 accordingly claimed three messuages, 3 oxgangs, 12 acres of land, 1 acre of heath, and the moiety of the mills in Urmston, against Adam de Urmston, Gilbert de Ashton, Robert, Thomas, Richard, and William his sons, Hawise, Margery, Lettice, and Margery his daughters, and Roger Plat. One writ was abstracted, and William son of the rector of Lee sent to gaol. Gilbert pleaded a quitclaim of the same year, but Richard was then a minor ; Assize R. 420, m. 7, 5d. ; 423,01. 3d. The Serjeant family occurs several times in the pleadings, &c. William the Serjeant in 1346 called John de Radcliffe, rector of Bury, to warrant him in the possession of his estate in Urmston; De Banco R. 345, m. 113 d. Joan daughter of William, in 1352 released to Thomas del Booth her right in her father's lands, &c.; P.R.O. Anct. D., A, 8175. Later, however, she seems to have recovered all or part of them; Duchy of Lanc. Assize R. 3, m. 2.
  • 17. Duchy of Lanc. Rentals and Surv. 379, m. 13; he paid for ward 8s. and sake fee 2s. In the copy in Dods. MSS. exxtci, fol. 37b, the sake fee is given as 2s. 6d., making 10s. 6d. in all. In the same year Robert de Hulme claimed land in Urmston against Henry son of John de Trafford, Hawise his wife, and John de Trafford the elder; Assize R. 425, m. 5d. John de Trafford contributed to the subsidy of 1332; Exch. Lay Subs. (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), 41. Thomas son of Adam de Hulme, in virtue of a grant made to his grandfather Thomas in 1302 by Adam de Urmston, successfully claimed leave to get turves on the moor of Urmston in 13345 Adam de Hulme was brother and heir of Robert, eldest son of Thomas the grandfather. The defendants were Henry son of John de Trafford of Newcroft and Isabel widow of Adam de Urmston, the latter in right of her dower; Coram Rege R. 297, m. 125.
  • 18. The earliest statement (1343) recites the possession of the manor of Urmston by Gilbert de Ashton, with remainder to his daughter Hawise and her issue; and by Henry son of John de Trafford of Newcroft, in right of Hawise, after Gilbert's death, and by Henry after the death of Hawise. It alleges that Henry and others in 1340 conspired with Richard son of Adam son of Richard de Urmston, so that the latter might sue Henry for the manor; he did so, and in 1342 recovered it by Henry's wilful default. Henry and Richard defended, but the jury found that Adam alienated the manor in exchange for other tenements, so that his son Richard had never any right in it, and upheld Aline's claim. They assessed the damages as £4 instead of the £2,000 claimed; Assize R. 430, m. 10 d. In the following year Ralph and Aline were nonsuited in a claim for ten messuages, 40 acres of land, &, against John de Trafford of Newcroft, Joan his wife, and John, Richard, Robert, and Adam his sons ; ibid. 1435, m. 42. A further statement of the case was made in 1347, in the king's writ to the justices; herein Geoffrey de Urmston and Roger de Chisnall are named as the partners of Henry de Trafford in the conspiracy ; De Banco R. 351, m. 435 d.; 352, m. 227 d.; 356, m. 412 d. In July 1351 Ralph and Aline proceeded against Richard de Urmston, Geoffrey and Adam his brothers and others, but the writ was adjudged bad, having questus for questi; Duchy of Lane. Assize R. 1, m. 2. At the same time Amice daughter of Henry son of John de Trafford did not prosecute her claim against Ralph and Aline; a mistake was found in her writ, more tenants being named in it than were shown on the endorsement; ibid, m. 4 d, 5. This dispute, however, had not been confined to the courts; for in Aug. 1350, Richard de Urmston, Adam his brothers and others, had with bows, arrows, swords, and shields, taken some of Ralph de Hyde's cattle—a horse worth 40s., four oxen worth 50s., and two cows worth 13s. 4d.—and committed other enormities, treading down his corn to the value of £6 3s. 4d.; whereupon, being convicted, Richard was sent to gaol; Assize R. 431, m. 1 d. In 1351 Richard son of Geoffrey de Urmston released to Ralph de Hyde all his right to the lands in dispute; Harl. MS. 2112, fol. 159. The suits went on for some years after this, with varying success.
  • 19. Duchy of Lane. Assize R. 8, m. 4.
  • 20. De Banco R. 440, m. 244; he was plaintiff in a continuation of the old suits.
  • 21. Lanes. Inq. p.m. (Chet. Soc), ii, 40; he is stated to have held no lands. Thomas de Hyde of Urmston and Margaret his wife granted to feoffees their manor of Urmston with the appurtenances; the date is uncertain; Harl. MS. 2112, fol. 160. In 1419 Thomas de Hyde of Urmston and Margaret his wife empowered John de Bamford to give seisin of all their lands, &c., in Stockport, Offerton, and Marple to George their son and Alice daughter of Robert de Stockport; Bratnhall D. Arrangements were made in 1429 for the marriage of Thomas son of George de Hyde with Margaret daughter of Thomas de Leigh of Baguley. The marriage portion was 40 marks, the jointure 6 marks, and lands in Urmston to the clear value of 6 marks were set out for the purpose; Harl. MS. 2112, fol. 160.
  • 22. Lanes. Inq. p.m. ii, 50.
  • 23. Harl. MS. 2112, fol. 160; the lands assigned were those in Urmston tenanted by Henry Johnson, Agnes Milner, Richard Gefferson, Robert Gefferson, and Richard Sherlock.
  • 24. Ibid. fol. 161; Sir John Booth was the arbitrator. George Hyde was at Chester outlawed for debt in Sept. 1487, and his lands at Offerton and Marple were seized; Ches. Inq. 3 Hen. VII, no. 2.
  • 25. Harl. MS. 2112, fol. 161, 177; the contract was made between Thomas Hyde and Ellen, widow of Sir John Booth; Elizabeth's portion was 85 marks, and a jointure of 4 marks was provided for.
  • 26. Duchy of Lane. Inq. p.m. viii, 37. To Thomas his son he granted pastures called Cobrysshes and Medylst Raynshaghe for life; to James, another son, the Horsecroft, Newhey, and Formeste Raynshaghe for life; to Hamnet, another sen, lands in Cheshire. Margaret his wife survived him.
  • 27. Harl. MS. 2112, fol. 161 d. In the following year William the father married Douce, 'cousin' of John Warburton;ibid.
  • 28. Duchy of Lane. Inq. p.m. xii, 31. By his second wife he had a daughter Ellen, who married Thomas Boydell of Pulford. The latter, shortly after his father-in-law's death, had disputes with the son; Ducatus, iii, 32, 33.
  • 29. Visit. (Chet. Soc), 14.
  • 30. Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xiv, 49; a third of the manor was devoted to the use of the son John, another third to the widow, Margaret, and the remaining third to the daughters Bridget and Anne until the son should come of age. His will is printed in full in Piccope, Wills (Chet. Soc.), ii, 189– he desired to be buried in the chancel at Flixton. His harness, with his bow and arrows, was to be kept for the use of his son. Margaret, the widow, was in 1593 concerned in a suit respecting the Old Hall in Urmston with a tenant of the Radcliffes; Ducatus, iii, 304. In 1589 Richard Gerard, rector of Stockport, surrendered to the widow the wardship of her son; Harl. MS. 2112, fol. 162.
  • 31. Ibid. A settlement of the manor, &c., was made at the same time by the widow, her son and his wife; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 61, no. 343.
  • 32. Visit. (Chet. Soc.), 53; two deeds are quoted in it.
  • 33. Pal of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 82, no. 27.
  • 34. Ibid. bdle. 141, no. 1.
  • 35. These dates, and later ones for which no other authority is quoted, are taken from the Flixton registers. John Hyde in 1631 paid £10 on refusing knighthood; Misc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), i, 215. In his will of 12 Mar. 1643–4, he mentioned his wife Margaret, his grandchild Sarah and her husband Richard Hulme, also two grandchildren, sons of George Griffith of Prescot.
  • 36. He was the son of William Hulme of Davyhulme, buried at Eccles 20 Jan. 1640–1; he was himself baptized at Eccles 1 Aug. 1624, and buried there 5 June 1649; Hulme pedigree in Piccope's MS. i, 327. The surname of Margaret, George Hyde's wife, is unknown. The Urmston halmote in 1642 was that of John Hyde, the next (in 1647) was that of Richard Hulme, the next (in 1651) was that of Richard Starkie, the next (in 1673) was that of William Hulme.
  • 37. Richard Starkie of Urmston was summoned by the heralds at the Visitation in 1664; Dugdale, Visit. (Chet. Soc.), v. In 1650 Richard Starkie's mother seems to have been living at Warrington; Crofton, Stretford (Chet. Soc.), iii, 204.
  • 38. Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 184, m. 81. William Hulme, baptized at Flixton 5 April 1649, married Hannah daughter of Samuel Blackleach at Macclesfield, where her father was alderman, on 9 Dec. 1668; James, the eldest son, was born 30 Aug. 1669. Hannah Hulme the wife was buried at Flixton 6 Oct. 1684. In 1673 William Hulme in a petition to the Chancellor of the Duchy set forth his descent and claim to the lordship of Urmston, and lands, &c., in Urmston, Hulme, and Newcoft, reciting the settlements and stating that his mother had surrendered her estate therein, and he had taken peaceable possesion; but Peter Holford of London, Elizabeth his wife, Charles Moore of London, and Alice his wife had obtained certain deeds and sought to oust, alleging in particular that George Hyde, his grandfather, was 'a mad and distracted person' at the time of the settlement in 1642; Lancs. Chan. Bills, P.R.O., vol. xxx. There was a recovery of the manor in 1705, William Hulme being a vouchee; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 482, m. 2 d. He is several times mentioned in the Kenyon MSS. (Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. xiv, App. iv), and some of his letters are printed. In 1694 he wrote to Roger Kenyon respecting 'an impudent conventicle' held just by him; he desired to suppress it; ibid. 290.
  • 39. P.R.O. List, 74.
  • 40. His will, dated 26 Mar. 1707, mentions John his son and heir, and his daughters Mary (wife of Thomas Shaw of Manchester), Hannah, Elizabeth, Frances, Jane, and Susannah.
  • 41. She is described in the register as 'mother of the late Captain Hulme.'
  • 42. John Hulme was baptized at Flixton 20 Feb. 1679–80, and was married there on 19 April 1711 to Elizabeth Bate. She was buried there on 1 June 1724. A lease by John Hulme to John Dewhurst in 1718 is recited in a deed in Manchester Free Library, no. 113. There was a recovery of the manor, &c., in 1736, John Hulme being a vouchee; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 542, m. 5.
  • 43. Pedigree in Burke, Commoners, ii, 372–5. John Willis brother of Thomas was rector of Bletchley, but was buried at Flixton 24 July 1741. Anne Willis daughter of Thomas was born 11 Aug. 1736; Thomas the son was born 11 Feb. 1737–8; and Hulme, another son, was buried 4 Mar. 1738–9; Flixton Reg.
  • 44. Lawson, Flixton, 104, quoting an advertisement in the Manchester Mercury, 9 July 1765. There was a recovery of the manor of Urmston, &c., in 1759, Thomas Willis and Arthur Trollope being vouchees; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 591, m. 3.
  • 45. In 1773 Roger Sedgwick was plaintiff and William Allen and Ellen his wife defendants in a fine respecting the manor of Urmston, with messuages, dovehouse, lands, common of pasture, and turbary, &c., in Urmston, Davyhulme, Newcroft, Shaw, Flixton, Lostock, Bent Lanes, Barton on Irwell, and Manchester; Pal of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 389, m. 48. William Allen, a Manchester banker, became bankrupt in 1788, and his estates were sold.
  • 46. From information of Mr. Ridehalgh's solicitors, Messrs. Taylor, Kirkman & Co.
  • 47. Duchy of Lanc. Rentals, bdle. 14, no. 25 m.
  • 48. Lawson, op. cit. 105. A volume containing the Urmston Halmote Records from 1613 to 1699 is in the care of the solicitors above named.
  • 49. They have been noticed already in the account of the claims of Ralph de Hyde and his wife Aline. A Geoffrey de Urmston contributed to the subsidy of 1332; Exch. Lay Subs. (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), 41. Richard the son of Adam de Urmston was succeeded about 1352 by his son Robert, who in July of that year was plaintiff against Thomas de Trafford; Duchy of Lanc. Assize R. 2, m. 4; R. 3, m. 3 d. 5. Robert also continued the family suits against the Hydes; ibid. R. 2, m. 4; R. 3, m. 3 d. 4 d.; R. 8, m.4. Richard son of Geoffrey de Urmston was also concerned in this litigation; Assize R. 435, m. 6d. Robert de Urmston did not prosecute his writ in 1353 against Richard and Geoffrey sons of Geoffrey de Urmston; ibid. m. 22. One of the disputes concerned a fishery in the Mersey as far as the thread of the water, taking salmon, bream, pike, &c., with nets or otherwise. Robert, quoting the charter of 1300, stated that Adam his grandfather had given to Richard his son and heir, on his marriage with Cecily daughter of Thomas de Hulme, three oxgangs in Urmston, with the buildings upon them, a moiety of the mills and fishery within all his limits (defensis), except his vivaries; but Ralph de Hyde and Aline his wife had disseised him. They denied that the proffered charter was Adam's; ibid. m. 30d. Afterwards they objected that the wording of the writ was wrong, as it read 'de libero tenemento suo' instead of 'de communa piscarie sue,' and this seems to have been fatal; Assize R. 435, m. 17. In another case, in which Robert claimed 10 acres of land and pasture for six cows, they tried a technical objection, but did not succeed; ibid. m. 31 d. In a document of about the same time John de Trafford of Urmston is said to hold two and a half oxgangs lately belonging to Geoffrey de Urmston, and five and a half oxgangs, by the eighth part of a knight's fee; Duchy of Lanc. Misc. Bks. no. 130, fol. 16 d. With this may be compared the statement of the Traffords' holding quoted in an earlier note.
  • 50. The Traffords of Newcroft have been frequently mentioned in the preceding notes. There seem to have been three generations—John, Henry, and Amice; but John and Thomas de Trafford are also mentioned. The Hydes were in 1354 and later involved in disputes with Cecily widow of John de Trafford of Newcroft regarding lands of which Roger son of Roger de Barlow was tenant. Cecily called Amice daughter of Henry de Trafford to warrant her; Duchy of Lane. Assize R. 3, m. 3 (July), 2 (East.); 4, m. 29; 5, tn. 18 d. 20 d. &c.
  • 51. William de Warburton in 1357 was the husband of Amice the above-named daughter of Henry de Trafford, and they were called to warrant Cecily the widow of John in the suit with Ralph de Hyde and his wife; ibid. R. 6, m. 4 d. Later, at Michaelmas 1359, William and Amice claimed a messuage and lands against Richard de Hill, chaplain; ibid. R. 7, m. 1. Disputes were still going on in 1370; De Banco R. 440, m. 244 ; 446, m. 200 d. Geoffrey de Warburton of Newcroft in 1389–90 acknowledged a debt of £20 due to Adam de Lever; Pal of Lane. Chan. Misc. ⅓. He and Katherine his wife, widow of Thomas de Knoll, sent up a petition concerning lands in Chipping in 1425; Lanes. Inq. p.m. (Chet. Soc), i, 73; ii, 9. William de Warburton of Newcroft in 1429–30 made a grant of land in Urmston to Richard his son on the occasion of his marriage with Marion daughter of Maud Ashton; Newcroft and Foxdenton D. (Chet. Lib.). Thomas Warburton in 1531 disputed the title to Newcroft against Sir Alexander Radcliffe and others; Ducatus Lanc. (Rec. Com.), i, 149. In 1566 Peter Warburton, who had married Katherine daughter and heir of John Cowper, and claimed under a grant from William Hyde, proceeded against the last-named and others for divers trespasses; ibid, ii, 334.
  • 52. Richard Smith and Randle Ryder of Flixton in 1532 sold to Sir Alexander Radcliffe of Ordsall their moiety of Newcroft, late the inheritance of Richard Warburton, and later in the same year Thomas Warburton of Tabley Hill, Cheshire, sold his moiety to the same; Newcroft D. (Chet. Lib.).
  • 53. a Duchy of Lane. Inq. p.m. ix, 26. Similar statements are made in the inquisitions after the death of Sir William Radcliffe (1568), Sir John Radcliffe (1590), and Sir Alexander Radcliffe (1599); ibid, xiii, 33; xv, 45; xvii, 35. Richard Radcliffe, youngest son of Sir William, lived at Newcroft, holding it on lease from his brother Sir John Radcliffe (Newcroft D.), and was buried at Flixton. His memorial brass states that he was 'captain over 200 foot at the siege of Leith and at the rebellion in the north.' By his second wife he acquired the estate of Foxdenton in Chadderton. He had also an estate in Altcar. In 1605 Sir John Radcliffe of Ordsall made a settlement (or a sale) of the manor of Newcroft, with messuages, gardens, lands, and common of pasture; Pal. of Lane. Feet, of F. bdle. 68, no. 16. About 1632 there was a dispute as to Newcroft between Greenhalgh and Radcliffe; Lancs, and Ches. Rec. (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), ii, 246.
  • 54. From references already given it would appear that Newcroft had been purchased by the Hulmes, and from their heirs by William Allen.
  • 55. End. Char. Rep. for Flixton (1900), pp. 3, 6. The price paid in 1888 was £4,000; Lawson, Flixton, 105.
  • 56. D. H. Langton, Hist. of Flixton, 30.
  • 57. a Dugdale, Visit. v. Roger Rogers, gent., in Nov. 1690 became steward of the Urmston halmote, and appears among the free tenants at the same court. He ceased to hold the office between 27 Aug. and 26 Sept. 1695, when William Rogers succeeded him. In 1699 Peter Egerton of Shaw Hall granted Shaw Manor House to Richard Tonge and William Rogers of Stretford; Baines, Lanes. (ed. Croston), iii, 307. In 1701 William Rogers became steward of Stretford Court Baron.
  • 58. The title to Hylland was in 1548 disputed by Giles and William Partington; Ducatus Lanc. (Rec. Com.), ii, 88; see also i, 228, ii, 94, for other references to the family; Duchy Plead. (Rec. Soc. Lanes. and Ches.), iii, 34. In 1559 John Partington of Manchester, mercer, sold all his lands in Urmston to Edmund Trafford; he inherited from his uncle James Partington, and another uncle, Ralph, is named. The tenants were John Gregory, Thomas Gregory, George Gregory, William Holland, and Thomas Gregory of Hillam; De Trafford D. no. 115, 116. In 1546 William Partington had purchased from John Gregory and John his son six messuages, &, in Urmston; Pal. of Lane. Feet of F. bdle. 12, m. 256.
  • 59. Lawson, op. cit. 108; known as 'Pine apple hall' from a carving over the door.
  • 60. Ibid.; now known as the 'Grange.'
  • 61. Ibid. 109; the house called the 'Anchorage' stands on the site. Gamershaw is a corruption of Grimelshagh; see D. of 1554 in Crofton, Stretford, ii, 42.
  • 62. John Newton, who died in 1597, held a messuage in Urmston of the queen; John his son and heir was about sixteen; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xvii, no. 82. Newton of Urmston occurs in the list of freeholders in 1600; Misc. (Rec. Soc. Lanes. and Ches.), i, 249. Robert Newton of Urmston had land in Barton on lease in 1676–7; De Trafford D. no. 112. Mr. Crofton adds the following further information:— In 1673 John Newton paid hearth tax in Stretford for one hearth; Stretford, iii, 212. On 21 Nov. 1684 'John son of Mr. John Newton of Stretford' married Sarah daughter of Mr. Francis Brown of Manchester; Stretford Reg. John Newton was steward of Stretford Court Baron. He was also a highway overseer for Stretford in 1691, and chapelwarden in 1700. He was buried at Bowdon 3 June 1701, and the entry in the Stretford registers calls him 'gentleman.' The will of 'John Newton of Stretford, yeoman,' was proved at Chester the same year. On 27 Sept. 1690 letters of administration had been granted to John Newton of Stretford, yeoman, as kinsman of Winifred wife of Thomas Barlow of Barlow, who was daughter of Anthony Meinell of N. Kilvington, co. York. She had been wife of—Killingbeck of Ellerton Grange, co. York, and was buried at Manchester Collegiate Church in 1690. Thomas Newton was John Newton's executor. In Oct. 1620 the Urmston Halmote Recs. mention Thomas Newton senr. and junr., John Newton, gent., free tenant, and William Newton, inhabitant.
  • 63. Robert de Moston of Chester and Cecily his wife in 1402 gave to William son of Robert Gregory all their lands in Urmston; De Trafford D. no. 296. Thomas de Hyde in 1418–19 contracted to marry his daughter Maud to William Gregory the younger of Leigh; Harl. MS. 2112, fol. 160. John Gregory of Newcroft was by Richard Radcliffe in 1593 called upon to pay a debt due to Sir Edmund Trafford for fine and gressum; Ducatus Lanc. iii, 289. Henry Gregory contributed to the subsidy in 1622 for lands; Misc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), i, 154. A pedigree recorded in 1567 shows that the Gregorys claimed by descent from Adam Urmston of Urmston; Visit. (Chet. Soc), 7.
  • 64. Hugh Scott of Wigan and Alice his wife had lands in Urmston in 1576; Pal. of Lane. Feet of F. bdle. 38, m. 119. Edmund Hey in 1590 purchased a messuage, &c., from Hugh Scott, Gilbert his son and heir, and Margaret wife of Gilbert, Richard brother of Hugh, and Roger brother of Gilbert; Pal. of Lanc. Feet off. bdle. 54, m. 156. John Hey, who died in 1596, held messuages in Urmston and Culcheth, and left as heir his son Edmund, six years of age; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xvii, no. 90. Mr. Crofton adds: At Urmston halmote 19 Oct. 1613 (when Edmund Hey would be twenty-three) the free tenants who are recorded were Alexander Radcliffe, gent., John Newton, gent., and the heirs of John Hey—each fined 6d. for not appearing. This is the only record relating to Hey. At next Court, 16 Apr. 1614, only Radcliffe and Newton are named, as if Hey had sold to someone.
  • 65. Returns at Preston.
  • 66. Royalist Comp. Papers [Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), i, 137.
  • 67. Lawson, Flixton, 98–102; Lond. Gaz. 31 Mar. 1868 (district).
  • 68. Lawson, op. cit. 130, 131.
  • 69. Nightingale, Lancs. Nonconf. v, 74, 77–9; Lawson, op. cit. 131.
  • 70. Ibid.
  • 71. Ibid.