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.

Little-Pever.

THe Township of Nether-Pever, though now divided into two Hundreds, was an∣ciently but one entire Township: At this day it seems to be divided into two Townships; Great-Pever, which lieth in Northwich-Hundred; and Little-Pever, which lieth within Bucklow-Hundred, severed by the River called Pever-Eye.* 1.1

And whether you take them together, as one Township, by the Name of Nether-Pever; or as two Towns, called Great-Pever, and Little-Pever; yet have they jointly, or severally, been severed into two distinct Fees or Inheritances, ever since the Nor∣man Conquest, to this day.

One Moiety of them was held by William Fitz-Nigell, Baron of Halton, in the Con∣queror's Time, as appears by Doomsday-book.

This Moiety (I speak now out of my own Evidences) was given by Roger Lacy, Constable of Cheshire, and Baron of Halton, unto one Osberne de Wethale, about King John's Reign; to wit, all his Moiety of Pever; Rendring yearly half a Mark of Sil∣ver, and doing Foreign Service as much as belongs to the twentieth Part of a Knights Fee. G. num. 1.

And I find Robert de Pever possess'd hereof in the Reign of Henry the Third; to whom William Son of Richard Haddlebert (who, as it seems, claimed some Property there releaseth all his Claim in that Moiety of Nether-Pever, which is of the Fee of the Constable of Cheshire, that is, of the Fee of Halton. G. num. 3.

Hugh, Son of that Robert de Pever, sells all his Birthright in Pever, which was to descend to him after the death of his Father Robert de Pever, unto William de Hawar∣then, for One hundred Pound Sterling, about the beginning of Edward the First's Reign. G. num. 4.

William de Hawarthen sells it to Richard Bonetable; and Richard Bonetable sells it to William Son of Raufe de Mobberley, for fifty Marks of Silver, 1281. whose Son Wil∣liam de Mobberley was possessed of the said Moiety of Nether-Pever, cum Homagiis, War∣dis, &c. 13 Edw. 2. G. 6, 7.

Afterwards this Moiety was Purchased (as I take it) by Robert Grosvenour of Holme nigh Nether-Pever, about Edward the second: In which Line it continued till Edward

the Fourth, about 150 Years; and at last it descended to Margaret the youngest Daughter and Co-heir of Robert Grosvenour of Houlme in Allostock Esquire, with the third Part of Alderley also, the Wife of Thomas Leycester of Tabley Esquire, by Par∣tition dated 1465. 5 Edw. 4. Z. num. 28. whose Heirs do now enjoy the said Moiety of Nether-Pever, 1666. and the Rent now paid to Halton, according to the Original Deed of Roger Lacy aforesaid.

Charterers in this Moiety, 1666.

• 1. Thomas Wood of Little-Pever, near to Pever-Bridge: He pays a Pair of White Gloves yearly to Leycester of Tabley, at Midsommer, pro libero Tenemento suo in Pever.
• 2. Peter Wood of Little-Pever, formerly Robert Cotton's, more anciently stiled Min∣shull-Seat, did pay to Leycester 3 s. 4 d. yearly, Chief-Rent: But John Leycester of Tabley Esq remitted the same to Cotton, by Deed dated 17 Hen. 7.
• 3. Hiccock's Land, situate in Great-Pever, now enjoyed by Powdrill, Thomas Deane, and Mrs. Pemberton, who pay amongst them yearly 2 s. of Chief-Rent to Ley∣cester of Tabley.

And all these Charterers do Suit of Court to the Court-Baron of Leycester of Tabley, held for his Mannor of Pever.

The other Moiety of Nether-Pever was held in the Conqueror's Time by Ranulphus, as I take it, in Doomsday-book.

This Moiety was given to Richard Pool of Hartington by Robert Morley Marshal of Ireland, with all the Rents, Homages, and Services, which descended Hereditarily to the said Robert in the County of Chester, after the death of Sir Robert de Monte alto his Uncle; except the Rents formerly given unto Queen Isabel: Dated 24 Edw. 3. Lib. C. fol. 230. y. The Original of this Deed remained among the Evidences of the late Lord Cholmondley; and the Copy of the Fine Levied hereon in the same Year, is Enrolled in the Leiger-Book of the Abby of Vale-Royal, fol. 30. b. which Book was in possession of Thomas Merbury of Merbury nigh Comberbach, Esquire, 1666.

* 1.2In the Year of Christ 1364. die Veneris in Festo Sanctae Luciae Virginis, John Pool came before Thomas then Abbot of Vale-Royal, in the said Abby, and did Fealty to the said Abbot for this Moiety of the Mannor of Nether-Pever, which he acknowledged to hold of the said Abbot by the yearly Rent of Twelve Pence, to be paid at the Feast of St. Michael onely, and by paying to the said Abbot two Shillings for Relief; as appears by the same Book.

* 1.3From Pool of Hartington this Moiety was granted to George Holford of Holford, about the Time of Henry the Seventh: In which Family of the Holfords of Holford it con∣tinued, till Mary Daughter and Heir of Christopher Holford Esquire brought the Inhe∣ritance of all Holford-Lands unto Sir Hugh Cholmondley of Cholmondley, the younger, in Marriage, in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth.

Concerning which Inheritance great Suits fell between the said Lady Mary Chol∣mondley, and George Holford of Newborough in Dutton, uncle to the said Mary, and next Heir-male of the Holfords.

These Suits lasted above forty Years: At last, towards the end of King James's Reign, the matter was compos'd by Friends: The Lady Mary had Holford-Demain; and George Holford had the Demain of Iscoit in Flintshire, near to Whitchurch in Shrop∣shire. The Lands in Nether-Pever, Plumley, and Lostock-Gralam, belonging to the Hol∣fords, were promiscuously allotted, Part to the one, and Part to the other, as at this day they be enjoyed.

So that in the Year 1659. Robert Cholmondley Earl of Leimster in Ireland, Son and Heir of the said Lady Mary, and James Holford of Newborough Esquire, Son of Peter, Son of George Holford abovesaid, did enjoy this other Moiety of Nether-Pever between

them: In which Year the said Lord Cholmondley died, without any Lawful Issue of his Body.

Concerning the Chappel of Nether-Pever, see above in Budworth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ee is an old word for a Brook; and Ees is a Bank or Land lying by the side of a Brook, or Ri∣ver.
• * 1.2

  Vide Tom. 2. of my own Evi∣dences, in principio.
• * 1.3

  Lib. C. fol. 230. z.