Historical antiquities, in two books the first treating in general of Great-Brettain and Ireland : the second containing particular remarks concerning Cheshire / faithfully collected out of authentick histories, old deeds, records, and evidences, by Sir Peter Leycester, Baronet ; whereunto is annexed a transcript of Doomsday-book, so far as it concerneth Cheshire, taken out of the original record.

Gropenhale.

THis Town of Gropenhale in the Conqueror's Time belonged to Osbern Son of Tezzon, Ancestor to the Boydells of Dodleston in this County.

Afterwards it seems to be given to William Son of Samson, who released the same to Hugh Boydell about the Reign of Richard the First, in these words:—

* 1.1Notum sit—Ego Willielmus Filius Samsonis, dedi & omnino relaxavi Domino meo Hugoni de Boydell pro defectu Servitii sui, quod retrò est, Gropenhale, cùm omnibus perti∣nentiis suis, in Bosco & Plano, &c. Salvo forinseco, scilicèt dimidiâ Parte trium Partium de Feodo unius Militis: Et pro hâc Donatione meâ Dictus Hugo de Boydele Dominus meus va∣lentiam trium Marcarum mihi donavit.—Testibus Radulpho de Manwaringe tùnc Justiciarto Cestriae, Hamone de Massy, &c. Lib. C. fol. 280. bb.

After this, Sir John Boydell, in the Reign of Edward the First, gives Caterich (a certain Place in Gropenhale) unto Robert his younger Son, who granted the same to Thomas Son of Sir Hugh Dutton of Dutton; but Thomas Dutton releaseth it unto William Son of Sir William Boydell of Dodleston, 16 Edw. 3. 1342. Lib. C. fol. 280. cc.

6 Edw. 2. the King granted to William Boydele liberam Warrennam in Dominicis Terris suis de Dodleston, Gropenhale, & Lachford: Lib. C. fol. 282. r. This William Boydell married Maud Daughter of Raufe Vernon, and had Issue Raufe Boydell, who died with∣out Issue; and so the Inheritance of Boydell was shared by the two Sisters and Co-heirs of William Boydell aforesaid, to wit, Margaret Wife of Owen Voil a Welshman, and Joan Wife of Sir John Danyell of Gropenhale, younger Son of Thomas Danyers of Bradley in Appleton senior, and afterwards Heir to his Father.

Howel ap Owen Voil released to Sir John and Joan all his Purparty of Gropenhale-Wood, 25 Edw. 3. Lib. C. fol. 291. f. The Original hereof is now among the Evi∣dences of Legh of Lime, 1666.

42 Edw. 3. Sir John and Joan Levied a Fine of the Mannor of Gropenhale, To re∣main to the Heirs Males of the said John and Joan; and if Sir John had no Heir by Joan, then one half of Gropenhale should revert to the Heirs of Sir John, and the other half to the Heirs of Joan. Lib. C. fol. 242. v. & fol. 290. a.

Sir John Daniell had Issue by Joan a Daughter and Heir, called Nicolaa, Mother of Margaret Wife of Alan de Rixton in Lancashire; which Margaret dying without Issue, 6 Rich. 2. Margaret the Wife of John Savage of Clifton, Daughter and Heir of Sir Thomas Daniell of Bradley the younger, elder Brother of the said Sir John Daniell, had the Purpart of the said Lands, as one of the Heirs of Margaret late Wife of Alan de Rixton, 9 Rich. 2. And Thomas Boydell (Son of William sir-named Boydell, Son of Howell, Son of Margaret Sister of Joan, Mother of Nicolaa) was the other Heir: Lib. C. fol. 290. c. whose Land was after divided, as anon shall appear.

Margaret Wife of John Savage, afterwards married Piers Legh of Maxfield, 1388. 12 Rich. 2. younger Son of Robert Legh of Adlington; and she gave unto Peter Legh of Lyme, her Son, the Moiety of Gropenhale, 4 Hen. 4. in her Widowhood, which she

had as Heir to Margaret late Wife of Alan de Rixton; from whom the Leghs of Lime, now Lord of the moiety of Gropenhale, 1666. Lib. C. fol. 290. d. The Originals Pe∣nes Legh of Lime.

The other Moiety of Gropenhale, descending to Thomas Boydell aforesaid,* 1.2 came to the Part of Hugh Reddish of Caterich (younger Son of Reddish of Reddish in Lancashire) in Right of Margaret his Wife, Daughter and Co-heir of Thomas Boydell, by Partiti∣on made of all Thomas Boydell's Lands, 5 Hen. 5. Lib. C. fol. 282. I.

Isabell, the other Daughter and Co-heir of Thomas Boydell, married John Alburg∣ham; whose Son Gilbert had also two Daughters and Heirs; Constance Wife of Henry Byrom of Byrom in Lancashire, and Isabel Wife of James Holte, 3 Hen. 7.

The Part belonging to Reddish of Caterich, came to William Merbury of Merbury Esq in Right of Maud his Wife, Daughter and Heir of Thomas Reddish of Caterich in Gro∣penhale, Anno 1556. Lib. C. fol. 284. P. whose Heirs have ever since enjoyed the same, to this present, 1666.

In this Township hath been anciently, and yet is, a Parish-Church Dedicated to St. Wilfrid, whose Feast of Dedication was usually Celebrated the twelfth day of October yearly; and hath onely two Townships in its Parish, to wit,—

	The Mize.
	l.	s.	d.
Gropenhale	00	14	00
Lachford	00	10	00
	01	04	00

I find Gropenhale Church was a Rectory in the Reign of Henry the Third, Lib. C. fol. 283. x. and had then the Boydells of Dodleston for its Patron, who were Lords of Gro∣penhale and Lachford both: But now Byrom of Byrom in Lancashire hath the Advowson hereof, 1666.

Sir William Boydell of Dodleston built a Chappel in this Church, wherein William Boydell his Son and Heir swore to find an honest Chaplain to pray for the Souls of the said Sir William and Nicolaa his Wife, for evermore, 8 Edw. 3. 1334. She was Daugh∣ter of William de Doncaster: Lib. C. fol. 285. d. e.

Charterers now in Gropenhale, 1666.

• 1. John Middlehurst.
• 2. William Morris of Gropenhale.
• 3. Richard Davys.
• 4. Thomas Blackborne of Lachford now hath got half of Davys's Land.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ex Chartulis Thomae Mer∣bury de Mer∣bury de Mer∣bury juxta Great Bud∣worth, Armi∣geri, 1666.
• * 1.2

  Ex Chartulis Merbury de Merbury ju∣xta Great Budworth.