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.

Winsham.

THis Township in Dooms-day Book is written Wimundesham, and was held by Gil∣bert Venables, Baron of Kinderton, under Hugh Earl of Chester, sirnamed Lupus, in the Reign of William the Conqueror, which formerly was held by one Dott; & liber homo fuit.

In old Deeds it is written Wimingham, but now usually called and written Wincham, or Winsham.

* 1.1William Venables of Kinderton gave unto Maude his Sister in Marriage, about the Reign of Richard the First, Winsham, and half of Pickmere; Faciendo Servitium dimidii militis de forinseco Servitio. Lib. B. pag. 50.a.

This Maude de Venables gave the Manor of Winsham, infra villam & extra, & unam Ca∣rucatam terrae cum pertinentiis in Twambroke, cum medietate bosci de Alreschagh, & Communa Pasturae in Linwood, unto Nicholas de Elets, for the Service of half a Knights-Fee. Lib. B.

pag. 50.b. which Grant was confirmed by Randle Earl of Chester and Lincoln, sirnamed Blundevill, about 1230. Lib. B. pag. 29.a. This Nicolas had married Maude her elder Daughter.

This Nicholas de Elets gives the Mannor of Winsham to Henry de Elets. Lib. B. pag. 50.c.

And Maude de Venables confirmed the Grant to Henry de Elets: for which Confir∣mation he gave to her and her Heirs, scilicet, to Maude de Shirburne, sometime Wife of Nicolas de Elets, and to Robert Brant and Emme his Wife, twenty Marks of Ster∣ling Money. Lib. B. pag. 29. d. which Daughters she had by her first Husband Raufe Son of Roger; and after she married Hugh de Bixis or Brixis.

Henry de Elets sells the whole Manor of Winsham, with its Apurtenances, to William Venables the younger, about 1233. 18 Hen. 3. Lib. B. pag. 29.c. & pag. 50 d. which Grant was confirmed by John the Scot, Earl of Chester and Huntingdon. Lib. B. pag. 29. b.

This William de Venables the younger thus possessed of the Manor of Winsham, bought out certain Lands in Winsham, which William Son of Guy of Winsham then stood possessed of: but these Lands of William Venables the younger, descended to his two Daughters and Heirs, by Partition made about 1273.

Lettice the elder Daughter married Philip de Baumvile, she had all the Outlands, to wit, Radnour, Hulme, Castle of North-wich, Hulcroft, and two Ox-gangs of Land in Congleton, and two Wich-houses in Middle-wich.

Beatrix the younger Daughter married Raufe de Wasteneys: she had all the Manor of Winsham, except Twambrookes, and the Mill of Winsham. Lib. B. pag. 31. m.

Raufe Wasteneys de Tyxale and Beatrix his Wife, gave to Pagan their Son and Marga∣ret his Wife, Daughter of Alexander de Baumvyle, and to their Heirs, all the Manor of Winsham, with Wardships, Reliefs, Escheats, &c. 21 Edw. 1. 1293. Lib. B. pag. 32.o. rendring six Marks yearly during the Lives of Raufe and Beatrix.

Margaret, after the death of Pagan Wasteneys, married Hugh Son of Henry de Pick∣mere, living 14 Edw. 2. Lib. C. fol. 229.o.

Placita apud Cestriam, 46 Edw. 3. in Crastino Sancti Botulphi.

RObertus de Cholmondeley & Alicia Uxor ejus, & Johannes Filius Willielmi de Legh, & Margareta Uxor ejus, petunt versus Hugonem Filium Alexandri de Wasteneys, unum Messuagium, & 30 Acras Terrae, & 6 Acras Prati cum pertinentiis in Winsham, quae Radul∣fus de Wasteneys & Beatricia Uxor ejus dederunt Pagano Filio suo & Haeredibus de Cor∣pore,—&c. Et quae post mortem Johannis, Filii praedicti Pagani & Margaretae Uxoris suae, Praefatis Aliciae, & Margaretae Uxori praedicti Johannis Filii Willielmi de Legh, ut Filiabus & Haeredibus praedicti Johannis Filii praedictorum Pagani & Margaretae, descendere de∣bent,—&c.

This John Legh of High-Legh de East-Hall, married Margaret Wasteneys, 1365. 40 Edw. 3. Lib. C. fol. 268. num. 39. and had a Daughter and Heir married to John Massy of Winsham. Lib. B. pag. 33. x.

This John Massy of Winsham, by his Coat of Arms wherewith he Sealed,* 2.1 seems to be descended from Massy de Sale originally, and had Issue Geffrey Massy of Winsham, li∣ving 21 Rich. 2. & 7 Hen. 4. which Geffrey had Issue William Massy, who died without Issue; and Maude married to Richard Legh of High-Legh of the West-Hall, 1375. and af∣terwards became Heir to her Father's Lands. Lib. B. pag. 35. g. h. Lib. C. fol. 266. num. 4, 5.

So that from about 10 Hen. 6. the Leghs of High-Legh de West-Hall were possessed of the Moiety of Winsham, until Richard Legh and Clemence his Wife, sold unto Anthony Grosvenour of Ridley in Cheshire Esquire, all his Lands in Winsham for two hundred and twenty Pounds: Dated the 14. of June, 7 Eliz. 1566. Lib. B. pag. 56.b. and Grosve∣nour sold them to Roger Pilston of the Temple at London, and to John Grosvenour of

Tussingham, Anno 8 Elizabethae. And soon after these Lands were bought by Sir Ri∣chard Egerton of Ridley in Cheshire.

Raufe Egerton of Ridley Esq and Sir Richard Egerton his Son and Heir, do sell unto Richard Harecourt of Winsham Gent, all the their Moiety of the Manor of Winsham, with certain Inclosures taken out of the Commons of Winsham by Sir Thomas Venables of Kinderton late deceased, and particularly named in the Deed bearing Date the 16. of April, 4 Jacobi 1606. excepted out of this Grant, all those Lands in Winsham for∣merly sold by them to Edmund Moldesworth of Winsham, Roger Wood, and Thomas Nor∣cot: but Richard Harcourt after purchased Norcot's Messuage

Concerning the Inclosures aforesaid, there was formerly some difference between Sir Rich. Egerton of Ridley, and Sir Tho. Venables aforesaid; but upon an Award made between them, Sir Thomas Venables released unto Raufe Egerton of Ridley Esq Son and Heir of Sir Richard, and to others, all the said Inclosures, to revert to the Heirs of the said Raufe Egerton, after the Death of Sir Thomas Venables aforesaid, and Thomas Vena∣bles his Son: Dated the 8. of June, 16 Eliz. 1574. The Originals of these Penes Harcourt of Winsham, 1666.

For in truth, though the Baron of Kinderton be Lord Paramount, yet had he then nothing to do with any part of the Manor of Winsham, or Wastes thereto belonging, that being given away by his Ancestour long time ago; onely the Service reserved in the original Deed was due to him, but no part of the Land or Soil, as is clear by the Deeds before-mentioned.

The other Moiety of Winsham (which was invested in Robert Cholmondeley's Heirs in Right of Alice his Wife, Daughter and Coheir of John Wasteneys) came afterwards to Buckley of Eyton nigh Davenham; and from that Family this Moiety at last descended to Richard Leftwich of Leftwich Esq in Right of Margaret his Wife, Daughter and Coheir of Robert Buckley of Eyton, whom he married 13 Hen. 8. 1521. and had Issue by her a Daughter and Heir, called Margaret Leftwich, who carrid away all her Mo∣thers Lands; but her Father's Lands were Entailed on the Heirs Males of the Left∣wiches: And she had two Husbands; the first was Thomas Woodrofe, by whom she had Issue Thomas, who died without Issue; and two Daughters, Elizabeth married Ro∣bert Edowe and Brigit.

After the Death of her first Husband, who died about 1 Eliz. 1559. the said Mar∣garet Leftwich married William Harcourt Gent. third Son of John Harcourt of Ranton in Staffordshire Esq unto the Issue of which William Harcourt by Margaret, this other Moie∣ty of Winsham descended, and hath continued unto his Heirs to this present, 1666.

So that William Harcourt of Winsham now living, 1666. having lately purchased Woods Tenement in Winsham, and two Water-Corn-Mills in Twambrooke, is now possessed of the Manor and whole Township of Winsham, excepting these Charterers following:

• 1. Moldesworth of Winsham: These Lands were purchased by Edmund Moldesworth of Winsham Gent. from Raufe Egerton of Ridley in Cheshire Esq 3 Jac. 1605. Lib, B. pag. 56.a.
• 2. Robert Venables of Anterbus in Over-Whitley hath two Messuages in Winsham; one now in possession of Raufe Pownall, the other of Richard Eyton.
• 3. Thomas Marbury of Marbury Esq hath one Messuage in Winsham, the greatest part whereof he hath now laid to his Demain of Merbury: the other part, and the House is now in possession of Widow Maddock, 1666.
• 4. John Swinton of Nether-Knotsford hath a parcel of Land in Winsham, adjoyning to his Land in Picmere: This was purchased from Mr. William Merbury, elder Brother of the said Thomas.
• 5. William Peacock of Winsham: This Messuage was sold by Mr. William Merbury aforesaid, unto Raufe Billinge; and Raufe Billinge sold it to William Peacock, Fa∣ther of the said William.
• 6. Hugh Lowton of Winsham: This Cottage he purchased from Mr. William Mer∣bury aforesaid, the 13. of April, 14 Car. 1. 1638.

• Richard Leftwich of Leftwich Esquire, Obiit 2 Hen. 8. — Margery Daughter of Laurence Marbury of Marbury Esquire.
  • Richard Leftwich of Leftwich se∣nior, died 30 Hen. 8. — Katharine Daughter of Henry Man∣waring of Carincham Esquire.
    • 1. Richard Left∣wich junior, Son & Heir, died without Issue-male, 34 Hen. 8. — Margaret, Daughter and Heir of Robert Buckley of Eyton nigh Da∣venham, Lord of the Moiety of Winsham.
      • Margaret, Daughter and Heir of Richard Leftwich: She died 1588. 30 Eliz. — Thomas Woodrofe, first Husband: He died 1 Eliz. * 2.2
        • ...Thomas sine prole.
        • Elizabeth Wife of Robert Edowe.
        • ...Brigit.
    • 2. Raufe, Heir-male to his Brother Ri∣chard. Ob. 37. H. 8. — Elizabeth daughter of Foulk Dutton of Chester. John Legh del Ridge, second Husband.
      • Raufe, a Child, died 6 Edw. 6.
    • 3. George Leftwich third Son, of whom the Left∣wiches of Left∣wich.

{fleur-de-lys} Thomas Buckley of Eyton died 6 Hen. 7. and had Issue Thomas Buckley of Eyton, living 15 Hen. 8. who died without Issue; and Robert Buckley of Eyton, Brother and Heir to Thomas.

This Robert Buckley had Issue Margaret Wife of Richard Leftwich, and Anne Wife of John Brereton, 7 Hen. 8. younger Son of Sir William Brereton; and Ka∣tharine, third Daughter: But Anne and Katharine had no Issue.

The Family of the Harcourts of Ranton in Staffordshire are a Noble and Ancient Fa∣mily; whose Ancestor Richard Harcourt, Son of William Harcourt of Stanton-Harcourt in Oxfordshire, married Orabella Daughter of Saher de Quency Earl of Winchester, and of Margaret his Wife, Sister and Co-heir to Robert Fitz-Parnell Earl of Leycester, unto whom her Father Saher gave Bosworth in Leycestershire in Marriage, to wit, Market-Bosworth, about the end of King John's Reign, to be held by the Service of a whole Knights Fee: So saith Burton in his Description of Leycestershire, p. 47. where he addeth, That this Family came originally out of France; and that Jean le Feron a Frenchman (who wrote under our Edward the Sixth) blazeth the Coat-Armor of John de Har∣court, Marshal of France under Philip le Beau, 1286. thus:—Gules, two Fesses Or; which is the same Coat born by the Harcourts in England: And further saith, That the Family of Harcourt had continued more than 800 Years, to his time. But of this enough.

I. William Harcourt of Winsham Gentleman, third

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Son of John Harcourt of Ranton in Staffordshire Esq married Margaret Daughter and Heir of Richard Left∣wich of Leftwich in Davenham-Parish Esquire, and Widow to Thomas Woadrofe, about 6 Eliz. 1563. and had Issue Richard Harcourt, eldest Son; Thomas Har∣court, second Son, who died without Issue 1640. Si∣mon, third Son, died without Issue; and Margaret, married to John Grimsdich (then of Hallum, by vertue of a Lease).

And by Parnell, a second Wife, William Harcourt had Issue Mary Wife of Robert Pownall of Witton; she was born 1599. And Jane married Richard Broom of Lostock-Gralam.

Margaret, the first Wife of William, who had her Mothers Lands, to wit, the Moie∣ty of Winsham, died 30 Eliz. 1588. William Harcourt her Husband died 43 Eliz. 1600.

II. Richard Harcourt of Winsham Gentleman, Son and Heir of William, was Lord of the one Moiety of Winsham, by Descent, in Right of his Mother: The other Moi∣ety he Purchased 1606.

He married one Elizabeth Widnester of London, and had Issue William Harcourt, el∣dest Son, born 1605. Raufe, born 1614. he died without Issue 1647. Thomas, ano∣ther Son, died without Issue: Elizabeth married Randle Birchenhead of Northwich, whose Father was Usher of the Free-School of Northwich; Mary married John Capper of Brindley; she was born 1619. Margaret, and Jane, both died Infants.

This Richard Harcourt died 1628.

III. William Harcourt of Winsham Gentleman, Son and Heir of Richard, married Ma∣ry Daughter of George Holford of Newborough in Dutton, Gentleman, Anno Domini 1629. This George Holford was younger Son of Thomas Holford of Holford nigh Nether-Tabley, Esquire.

This William Harcourt and Mary are both yet living, 1669. and had Issue Frances, a Daughter, who died young, 1651. and George Harcourt, a Son, born 1632. yet living 1669. who hath sold the Reversion of all Winsham-Lands (after the death of his Fa∣ther and Mother), and also what he had in possession, unto Robert Venables of Anterbus in Over-Whitley, Gentleman, Anno Domini 1668. to whom he had Mortgaged the same before.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ex Chartulis Willielmi Har∣court de Win∣sham, 1666.
• * 2.1

  Anno 19 R 2. Geffrey, Son of John Massy of Winsham, Sealed with a Cheveron be∣tween three Lozenges, written about the Seal, Si∣gillum Gal∣fridi Mas••y. Lib. C. fol. 266. num 5.
• * 2.2

  William Harcourt, third Son of John Harcourt of Ranton in Stafford∣shire Esquire, second Husband.