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.

Rosthorne.

HEre is an ancient Parish-Church, Dedicated to St. Mary; their Wakes or Feast of Dedication being on the fifteenth day of August.

This Parish comprehendeth these Villages following (besides the Parochial Chap∣pelries of Knotsford and Over-Pever, which see in their due Places.)

	The Mize.
	l.	s.	d.
Rosthorne	00	14	00
Tatton cùm Norshagh	00	11	08
Over-Tabley cùm Sudlowe	00	13	04
Mere	00	19	00
Millington	00	09	04
High-Legh, with its Hamlets of Swineyard, Sworton, and North-wood,	01	13	00
Agden, one half	00	01	10
Bollington, one half	00	03	00
	05	05	02

That there was a Church at Rosthorne before Anno 1188. appears by this following Deed, collected by Samson Erdeswick of Sond in Staffordshire, out of the Evidences of Venables of Kinderton: Lib. H. num. 1.

UNiversis Sanctae Matris Ecclesiae Filiis—Willielmus de Venables Miles salutem. No∣verit universitas vestra, me concessisse Hugoni de Venables Clerico id juris quod ha∣bui in Ecclesiis terrae meae, scilicet, in Ecclesia de Rosthorne, & in Ecclesia de Eccleston, & in Ecclesia de Estbirie,—&c. Facta vero est haec Donatio Synodo apud Cestriam proxime cele∣brata post confectionem Venerabilis Episcopi nostri & Domini Hugonis de Novant; & ex∣istente Custode Honoris Cestriae Domino Adamo de Aldithley: Datusque est Tutor Praenominato Clerico Hugoni de Venables, Adam Panton ejus Avunculus. Hiis Testibus, G. de Venables, & R. & Michaele ejusdem Fratribus, N. & G. Capellanis, Willielmo de Monte alto, & Ma∣gistro Philippo de Cestria Clerico, R. Capellano, & Waltero Ecclesiae Sanctae Trinitatis Presby∣tero, Domino Nigello, & Hugone Filio Andreae Husbanda Ecclesiae Sancti Johannis in Ce∣stria Canonico, Warino de Vernon, & R. Fratre ejus, Liulfo de Crokeston, & Willielmo Donne, & multis aliis.

Hugh Novant was Consecrated Bishop of Coventry, 1188. So Hoveden in his Hi∣story.

But the Advowson of Rosthorne-Church came afterwards to Massy of Tatton; and Sir Richard Massy of Tatton releaseth all his Right in the Advowson of St. Maries Chuch of Rosthorn, unto Sir Hugh Venables of Kinderton, in the Reign of Edward the First. Lib. H. num. 61.

And ever since the Barons of Kinderton have been Patrons hereof, to this day, 1666.

The Steeple of this Church was built in Stone Anno Domini 1533. 25 Hen. 8. as appears by the Figures cut in Stone on the South-side of the said Steeple: Over these Figures is written,—Orate pro Anima Domini Willielmi Hardwick Vicarii hujus Eccle∣siae, & pro animabus omnium Parochianorum suorum qui hoc sculpserunt.

This Town of Rosthorne was held in the Conqueror's Time by Gilbert Venables Baron of Kinderton, as appears in Doomsday-book.

These following Notes were taken out of Will. Vernon's Collections.

In the Reign of Henry the Second, or thereabouts, the Daughters and Heirs of Homfrey de Rosthorne grant all their Lands in Rosthorne to Robert de Manwaring, in these Words.—

SCiant tam praesentes quam futuri, Nos Filias & Haeredes Homfridi de Rosthorne, sci∣licet Margeriam & Sibillam, dedisse—Roberto de Menilwaring pro Homagio & Ser∣vitio suo, & pro 3 l. 7 s. 0 d. Argenti, totam terram nostram in Rosthorne, cum omnibus pertinentiis suis: Tenendum illi & Haeredibus—honorificè in Feodo & Haereditate: Red∣dendo inde annuatim nobis & Haeredibus nostris—quatuor Denarios in Vigilia Natalis Do∣mini, pro omni Servitio quod ad nos pertinet,—&c. Praeter hoc, quod praedictus Robertus de Menilwarin & Haeredes sui debent facere forense Servitium Ricardo de Vernon & Haeredibus suis, quod nos illi facere debemus; scilicet decimam sextam partem Servitii unius Feodi Militis, unde nos illi spontanea voluntate nostra & sua in pleno Comitatu Cestriae attornavi∣mus praedicto Ricardo de Vernon, & in Curia ejusdem Ricardi coram Hominibus suis. Te∣stibus Gilberto Pipardo, Ada de Aldithley, Radulfo Dapifero, Willielmo de Mesnilwarin, Liulfo de Twamlow, Ricardo de Sondbach, Roberto de Moldesworth, Roberto de Stafford, Rogero de Cumbray,—&c.

RIcardus de Vernon omnibus Amicis & Hominibus suis, tam praesentibus quam futuris, salutem. Sciatis me prece & petitione Haeredum Homfridi de Rosthorne concessisse— Roberto de Menilwarin & Haeredibus suis—totum Tenementum illud quod tenuit in Rost∣horne de Haeredibus Homfridi de Rosthorne. Tenendum illi & Haeredibus suis, liberè & qui∣etè honorificè in Feodo & Haereditate, cum omnibus libertatibus & pertinentiis suis, sicut Charta praedictarum Haeredum praedicto Roberto Testatur, salvo forinseco Servitio meo, unde praedictae Haeredes Humfridi praedictum Robertum mihi Attornaverunt in pleno Comitatu Cestriae, & in Curia mea coram hominibus meis. Testibus, Radulpho de Mesnilwarin, Wil∣lielmo de Mesnilwarin, Liulfo de Twamlow, Ricardo & Hugone de Blakenhall, Hugone & Willielmo de Lega, Gilberto de Hertford, Ricardo de Tewa, Roberto de Mara, Hugone le Bret, Petro Chanu, Gralam de Lostock, Ranulfo de Bertumley, Selone Clerico, & multis aliis.

SCiant praesentes & futuri, Ego Willielmus de Massy & Uxor mea Margeria dedimus— Hugoni de Venables & Haeredibus suis, vel cui dare aut assignare voluerit, pro Homagio & Servitio suo—certas Terras in Rosthorne. Testibus Domino Willielmo de Venables, Do∣mino Warino de Vernon, Domino Alano de Tatton, Domino Willielmo de Venables juvene, Viviano de Davenport, Ranulfo de Arclid, Ricardo de Blakenhall, Ada de Legh, Willielmo de Mara, Willielmo de Mobberley, Aytropo de Mulinton, Ricardo Clerico, & aliis.

—Ego Margeria Domina de Rosthorne in ligia potestate mea dedi—Hugoni de Vena∣bles, & Heredibus suis, [certain Lands in Rosthorne]. Testibus, Domino Willielmo de Ve∣bles, Domino Warino de Vernon, Domino Alano de Tatton, Domino Willielmo de Venables juvene, Viviano de Davenport, Ranulpho de Arclid, Ricardo de Blakenhall, Ada de Legh, Willielmo de Mara, Willielmo de Mobberley, Aytropo de Millington, Ricardo Clerico, & aliis.

These two Deeds were made tempore Hen. 3. at one time, coram iisdem Testibus.

SCiant—Ranulfus de Starkey & Ellena Uxor mea dedimus—Hugoni de Venables & Haeredibus suis, quartam partem totius Villae de Rosthorne cum pertinentiis, & quartam partem molendini—Excepta terra, quae prius data fuit Monialibus Cestriae—Reddendo inde annuatim duodecem Denarios in Festo Sancti Johannis Baptistae. pro omni Servitio. Te∣stibus,

Thoma de Sondbach, Johanne Capellano Fraire ejus, Henrico Capellano de Budworth, Ricardo Capellano de Torperley, Thoma Capellano de Rosthorne, Willielmo de Massy, Ricardo Clerico, & aliis.

—Ego Ranulfus Starkey confirmavi & quietum clamavi Willielmo de Venables Domino de Kinderton, & Haeredibus suis, totum Servitium, Homagium, & redditum duodecem De∣nariorum annui redditus, quae Ricardus Starkey Pater meus annuatim quondam solebat recipere de praedicto Willielmo de Venables, pro quarta parte Villae de Rosthorne,—&c. This Deed was made Anno 1286. or thereabouts.

OMnibus Christi fidelibus—Hugo de Venables Miles salutem—Neveritis me con∣cessisse Johanni de Legh, & Ellenae Uxori ejus, & Haeredibus vel Assignatis ejusdem Johannis, totum jus & clameum quod habeo in omnibus Terris & Tenementis redditibus & servitiis, quae vel quas dictus Johannes & Ellena habuerunt ex dimissione & Feoffamento Willielmi Venables Fratris mei, in Villa de Rosthorne: ita quod nec ego Hugo, nec Haeredes mei, aliquod jus aut clameum—exigere poterimus, praeter exitum redditus duodecem De∣nariorum, & unius Paris albarum Cheirothecarum ad Festum Nativitatis Sancti Johannis Baptistae,—&c. Testibus Domino Roberto de Holland tunc Justiciario Cestriae,—&c. Datum apud Marston die Parasceuae* 3.1, Anno Domini 1308. (2 Edw. 2.)

OMnibus Christi fidelibus—Willielmus Filius Willielmi Venables de Bradwell salu∣tem. Noveritis me remisisse Johanni de Legh totum jus in Terris & Tenementis in Rosthorne, quae praedictus Johannes habuit ex dono Willielmi Patris mei,—&c. Testibus Domino Petro de Warburton, Willielmo de Baggiley Militibus, Willielmo de Mobberley tunc Vicecomite Cestershiriae, Roberto Massy de Tatton, Hamone de Ashley. Datum 13 Edw. 2.

Thus far out of Will. Vernon's Notes.

This was John Legh of Boothes, Son of William Venables of Bradwell by Agnes his second Wife; to whom, you see, his Father William Venables gave these Lands in Rosthorn; and they are confirmed unto him by William, Son of William Venables of Bradwell, Half-brother to the said John Legh.

And these Lands in Rosthorne, here given to John Legh, (as I take it) was a Moiety of Rosthorne; and Legh of Booths hath this Moiety at this day, 1666.

The Notes of Mr. John Halsey of Lincolns-Inn, out of the Earl of Bridgewater's Evidences. 1667.

SCiant praesentes & futuri, quod ego Mattheus de Alpraham dedi—Ricardo de Massy Militi, Homagium & Servitium Galfridi Filii Ricardi Starkey, de Terris, Tenementis, & Feodis omnimodis, quae de me ceu Antecessoribus meis unquam in Villa de Rosthorne tene∣bantur,—&c. Testibus Hamone de Massy, Rogero de Domvill Militibus, Ricardo de Bonebu∣ry, Thoma le Cryour, Thoma de Legh, Johanne de Legh, Henrico Heyron, Roberto de Mas∣sy, & aliis. (Sub Edw. 1.)

William Chanu granted to Richard Son of Richard Clerke de Rosthorne, in Fee, all his Right in one Oxgang of Land in Rosthorne; to wit, quartam partem Villae, quam Petrus Chanu Avunculus meus tenuit: For which was a Suit per Breve de morte Antecessoris, between the said William Chanu Demandant, and William de Massy and Margery his Wife, Tenants: Testibus Philippo de Orreby tunc Justiciario Cestriae, Willielmo Venables, Hamone de Massy, &c. Sub initio Hen. 3.

—Ego Ricardus de Rotherston, Filius Ricardi Clerici de Rothesthorne dedi—Margeriae Filiae Homfridi de Rothesthorne Clerici, unam Bovatam Terrae in Rothesthorne, quam Petrus Chanu tenuit; scilicet, quartam partem Villae: Pro qua, Margeria dedit quatuor Marcas

Argenti:

And so released to Richard all Covenants which had been between Richard and his Father and Wimar his Sister on the one Part, and the said Margery and William her Son and Amabilia her Daughter on the other Part: Testibus Philippo de Orreby tunc Justiciario Cestriae,—&c.

SCiant praesentes & futuri, Quod ego Rogerus de Hale Carpentarius, dedi Thomae de Massy, Filio Domini Willielmi de Massy, totam Terram meam Tenementum meum, tam in Molendinis quam in Terris, quod habui in Villa de Rosthorne—Faciendo inde Servitium Dominis illius Villae, quod continetur in Charta Originali quam sibi deliberavi quando istam Chartam sibi feci,—&c. Testibus Ricardo de Wilbraham tunc Vicecomite Ce∣stershiriae, Ricardo de Vernon, Willielmo de Massy, Willielmo de Carrington tunc Ballivo de Doneham,—&c. This Deed was made 1270.

OMnibus Christi fidelibus,—Willielmus Filius Willielmi Filii Gilberti de Tabley, sa∣lutem. Noveritis me remisisse Roberto de Massy Domino de Tatton—totum jus meum in omnibus Terris quae fuerunt Margeriae Proaviae meae in Villa de Rosthorne,—&c. (Sub. Edw. 2.)

Richard Bruncroft gives to Richard Massy, Son of Sir William Massy Knight, certain Lands in Rosthorne, in exchange for Lands in Quiter-hall, towards the Bounds of Nor∣shagh in Tatton. Testibus Willielmo de Venables,—&c.

The Prior and Convent of Norton give to Sir Richard Massy Knight, the Homage and the Service of the Lands of Henry the Hunter in Rosthorne. Testibus Hamone de Massy, Roberto le Grosvenour tunc Vicecomite Cestershiriae,—&c. This was made in Anno 1286. or thereabout.

Robert Massy Lord of Tatton, and John Legh of Booths, make an Agreement and Partition; to each a Moiety of Rosthorne-Mill, and to each the Mulcture of their own Tenants: They exchange Land, and release Rent to each other; and Legh is to hold a fourth Part of Rosthorne of Robert Massy in Fee, by the yearly Rent of Twelve pence. Testibus Hugh de Heelegh Chief-Justice of Chester* 3.2,—&c. (1315.)

So far out of Mr. Halsey's Notes.

Inter les Fines Cestriae, 18 Edw. 3. Finalis Concordia coram Henrice de Ferrars Justicia∣rio Cestriae, Johanne de Arderne, Radulfo de Vernon, Petro de Thorneton, Willielmo Boy∣dell Militibus, Johanne de Wetenhale, Willielmo de Praers, & Thoma Danyers—Inter Ricardum Filium Hugonis Massy de Tatton & Aliciam Uxorem ejus quaerentes, & Hugonem Filium Willielmi Massy de Tatton deforciantem; de Mannerio de Rosthorne cum pertinen∣tiis,—&c.

So that Massy of Tatton was Lord of the other Moity of Rosthorne, ever since the Reign of Edward the First; if not the Royalty of the whole.

How these Lands descended to the Earl of Bridgewater, see the Pedegree in Tatton.

Charterers in Rosthorne, 1666.

• 1. George Massy of Denfield, whose Ancestors descended out of the Massies of Tat∣ton under Edward the Third.
• 2. Edward Allen of Rosthorne.

Notes

• * 3.1

  On Good∣friday, 1308.
• * 3.2

  This was Hugh de Aud∣ley of Heeley-Castle in Staf∣fordshire.