Sir was born about 1318 in Rufford, Ormskirk, Lancashire, England, the son of John Hawkins, Hesketh and Alice Fitton.
He died after 1380. The place is not known.
His wife was Marcella Thwenge, who he married in ABT 1347. The place has not been found. Their three known children were Thomas (c1348->1390), Nicholas (c1375-?) and Agnes (c1379-1443).
| Event | Date | Details | Source | Multimedia | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | ABT 1318 |
| |||||
| Death | AFT 1380 |
Note 1
!Source: William Hesketh [abt. 1331] https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Hesketh-9
Born about 1331 [uncertain] in Rufford, Ormskirk, Lancashire, England
Died [date unknown] [location unknown]
William Hesketh
Son of John Hesketh and Alice [Fitton] Hesketh
[sibling[s] unknown]
Husband of Marcella [Thweng] Hesketh — married [date unknown] [location unknown]
Father of Agnes [Hesketh] Fitton
!Source: Full text of "The Victoria history of the county of Lancaster;"
The Victoria history of the Counties of England, EDITED BY WILLIAM PAGE, F.S.A., A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE, VOLUME VI, THE VICTORIA HISTORY
https://archive.org/stream/cu31924088434620/cu31924088434620_djvu.txt#:~:text=k%20[Standish]%2C%20211%20Emmott%20[Whalley]%2C%20525%20Euxton,[p]%20115%2C%20[m]%20115%20Thorp%20[Croston]%2C%20104.
VI. 3. Sir William Hesketh [next generation].
Son of Sir John, Knight.
Active in: legal disputes, military obligations [Gascony service].
!Source: Full text of "The Victoria history of the county of Lancaster;"
The Victoria history of the Counties of England, EDITED BY WILLIAM PAGE, F.S.A., A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE, VOLUME VI, THE VICTORIA HISTORY
https://archive.org/stream/cu31924088434620/cu31924088434620_djvu.txt#:~:text=k%20[Standish]%2C%20211%20Emmott%20[Whalley]%2C%20525%20Euxton,[p]%20115%2C%20[m]%20115%20Thorp%20[Croston]%2C%20104.
—
William de Hesketh, whose
parentage is unknown,® was
apparently a ‘land‘ess man,’
the possessions of the family
in Rufford, Great Harwood
and Tottleworth being ac-
quired from his wife, Maud
Fitton,‘ or by purchase. He
had two sons, the above-named <<<< This statement does not agree with other records, such as the visitation, which lists a son Thomas, then grandson John, probably not this one as the Ruford line.
John, who succeeded, and <<<< This John appears to be the son of William, grandson of Henry.
Adam.® The former, in 1323, made a settlement
of the manor of Rafford and two-thirds of the <<< Rufford was inherited through Alice Fitton, so not Henry’s John.
manor of Harwood, the remainders being to his
children—William, Alice, Katherine and Margaret.°
He is described later as Sir John de Hesketh,’
and was succeeded by his son William, also a <<< This William is likely the son of John of the Rufford line.
knight.$
—
In 1339 Sir William obtained the king’s charter <<<< This John is Sir William of Rufford born by 1318
for a weekly market and annual fair at Rufford ; free
warren also was allowed.? He fought at Crecy in
1346, and for his services in France was exempted
from serving on juries, &c.'? He was knight
of the shire in 1360, and was soon afterwards
followed by a son or grandson Thomas,” and he
by a son Nicholas, from which time the descent
of the manor is clear. Nicholas died in 1416 hold-
ing Rufford of the Abbot and convent of Chester
in socage by a rent of 4os., also the manor of
Harwood and a messuage in Rishton. His son and
heir Thomas was ten years old."
—
In 1346 Sir William de Hesketh
obtained the king’s licence to alienate in mortmain
200 acres of land, &c., in Rufford, Croston and
Mawdesley for the endowment of the chantry in
the chapel.2 The founder, according to the report
of 1547, ordained that there should be three priests
there, each having his special lands, to sing, celebrate,
and minister sacraments as need might require.?
Sir William and his descendants were the patrons.4
An indulgence was granted to benefactors in 1352
by Hugh, Archbishop of Damascus, then visiting
Ruftord,® and there are some later notices. In
1547 the commissioners reported that the three
priests resided and celebrated according to their
foundation, and the chapel seems to have been
decently furnished.
—
William son of John <<< Only Sir William is of Hesketh in this statement.
son of Adam de Mawdesley in 1342 re-
leased to Sir William de Hesketh all his
lands in Mawdesley in the vill of Croston ;
no. 1456.
—
5 Sir William de Hesketh is namedina
charter of 13343; Dods. MSS. cxlii, fol. <<<< probably 1343.
110b, He in 1354 successfully claimed
40 acres in Rufford against Thomas de
Lathom the elder and others, the defence
being that the land was in Lathom ; Duchy
of Lanc. Assize R. 3, m. 3d. ]Mich.].
Three years later he claimed common
of fishery in Lathom, Scarisbrick, &c.,
against Gilbert de Scarisbrick, but did
not prosecute his claim ; ibid. 7, m. 2.
—
®°Dods. MSS. calix, fol. 83. The
market was to be held on Friday and the <<<< Continuation of Market reference above.
fair on 1 May.
—
3 Alice widow of Sir John de Hesketh
and Sir William de Hesketh granted land
formerly belonging to John son of Adam
de Mawdesley to Roger son of Adam de <<<< de Mawdesley here is not Hesekth.
Kispham in 1345; Towneley MS. BB,
no. 1405.
—
Sir William was exempted from serving
on juries, &c., in 1346, and was a custos
of the peace in 13503 ibid. 1345-8, <<<< Probably 1350.
P- 476 5 1348-50, p. 533.
—
In 1349 an agreemert respecting the
bounds between Rufford and the Hulmes
was made by Sir William de Hesketh
and the abbot. The bounds were de-
clared to begin at the mere, proceed
east along a syke to the moss, through a
certain lache ]as long as it endures], and
across the middle of the moss to Monks’
lache, according to pits and other marks ;
Teowneley MS. DD, no. 1393.
—
In 1360 also Richard de Hale of Bowdon
and Alice his wife released to Sir William
de Hesketh all their title to lands in the
vill of Mawdesley belonging to Ralph son <<<< Here it sounds like maybe William will keep Mawdesley land.
of Roger de Tunstall, formerly husband
of Alice ; Towneley MS. BB, no. 1495.
—
2 Dodsworth ]loc. cit.] states that
Thomas son of Sir William de Hesketh,
kt., was living in 1377 and 1385.
Thomas de Hesketh had the bishop’s
licence for an oratory at Martholme in
1387; Lich. Epis. Reg. vi, fol. 123.
—
It appears, however, that the heir of Sir
William in 1362 was a son William,
under age, whose wardship and marriage
were granted by John Duke of Lancaster
to the Abbot of Whalley and Richard de
Towneley ; Duchy of Lanc. Anct. D.
LS 120. It is thus uncertain whether
Thomas was a brother or a son of the <<<< Not related to Thomas as in other Hesketh line.
younger William, but probably the former.
—
Thomas son of Sir William de Hesketh
occurs ; Towneley MS. GG, no. 1160.
In some pedigrees compiled about 1450 <<<< Good attempt but has an Extra Thomas and the wrong Alice.
the following descent is given: [Sir
John] married [Alice] daughter of
Richard de Radcliffe -s, Thomas -s. Sir
William -s. Thomas -s. Nicholas —s.
Thomas, who now is; MS. in possession
of W. Farrer. The first Thomas [son of
Sir John] does not occur elsewhere, and
is probably an error.
!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/b785a66d-3ffd-4c5b-ad05-67273842f170
55 - Lancashire Archives
DDN - NATIONAL TRUST DEEDS
DDN 1 - Description available at other catalogue level
Catalogue description Lease: Thomas son of Sir William of Hesketh to John Colhod, chaplain -- the chantry...
Reference: DDN 1/27
Description:
Lease: Thomas son of Sir William of Hesketh to John Colhod, chaplain -- the chantry chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Rughford, & a rent of from -- Witn: -
Date: 25 Apr. 1378
Held by: Lancashire Archives, not available at The National Archives
Language: English
!Source: Visitation of Lancashire by Richard St. George, 1613, page 128. https://johnhoughton.me.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/1613_visitation.pdf
Heskayth.
[Harl. MS. 1437, fo. 124 b, 125.].
Arms. — The first twelve quarterings of the shield described at fo. 110.
Entered.
Richard Heskayth. Richard de Stafford.
= =
| |
William de Heskaith = Annabell, dau. and
| heir of Rich:
___________|
|
Robert Heskaith. = ….. Richard, de Totleworth, = Isabell, dau. and coheir
| in right of his wife. | of Rich: Lo: of
| | Totleworth.
_________| ________________________________|
| |
William Hesketh = Elbora, dau. and sole heire
| of Rich: and Isabell.
|
>>>>>
>>>>> Note: The [above] earlier part of this visitation chart [before Sir William & Maude] appears to have been based on actual names of earlier Hesekth records,
>>>>> but without any knownledge of how they were actually related. Also the wives in that portion don’t appear to have been real.
>>>>>
| Rich: Fitton, = ….
| lord of |
| Great Har- |
| wood and |
| Martholme. |
________________|_________________ ___________________ |_______________________
| | | | | |
John Adam de Sir William Heskayth, = Mawde, dau. and Elyza., dau. and Anabyll, dau. and
Heskaith. Heskaith. knt., lo. of Heskayth | co heire of coheire, wife to coh: wife to
and Betonsaw, | Rich: Fytton. Roger Nowell, Edmond Leghe,
4 Ed. 1.[1275/6] | Lo. of Read. Lo: of Croston.
|__________________
|
Thomas de Heskayth. = Alice, dau. of ...
Come chose soit a totez gentz per ceste En- | Warren de Byspham,
denture qe de debatez qe furent Entre John de ___________| Lo. of Byspham.
Heskaith et Adam Nowell des tentz en graunt |
Harwod qe furent apres Ie Mort William Fitton Sir John de Heskaith, = Alice, sole dau. and
de sou heritage despartez entre sez treiz soeures knt. | heire to Edm: Fytton
et heires et lour barons, et cestasavoir Entre ___________| Lo. of halfe Rufford.
William de Heskaith et maude sa femme, Ed- |
mond de Legh et Amabilia sa femme, Roger Sir William de Heskayth, = Marcella, dau. and <<<< Sir William, knighted 1355/6. So likely born 1330.
Nowell, et Elizabeth sa femme. Lan du raigne knt., anno 29 Ed. 3. | coheire of Thwenge
le roy fitz au tres noble roy Edward disim et [1355/6] | of Kendall,
vint'. ______________| co. Westmerland.
|
Seal of Arms,-a wheatsheaf- Thomas Heskalth, = Margaret, dau. and
Signed, SIGILLVM : IOHANNIS : HESKETH: esq. | coheire of Tho:
| Banester, Baron of
__________________________________________________| Newton.
|
Nicholas Heskayth, = Margaret, dau. and coheire of . . .
esq. | Mynshull, obiit at Rufford, 5 H. 5·
[page 129] |
Sir Thomas Heskaith, = Sibill, dau. and coheire of Sir
knt., obiit 38 H. 6. | Robert Lawrance, knt., 5 H. 5.
_______________|
|
Tho : Heskaith, = Margaret, dau. to
Esq., Lo. of | Hamon Massy
Heskaith. | of Rixton.
____________|
|
Robert Heskaith, = Alice, dau. of Sir Robert Booth knt
Lo. of Heskaith, | lo: of Dunham Massye; after her hus-
obilt. 1490. _| band's death she professed chastitye.
|
Grace, dau. of = Thomas Heskaith, = Elyza., dau. and Drawing of a seal of arms, viz.-
Jo : Townley esq., obiit 1523. | sole heir of a fess engrailed between 3 fla-
of Townley. | William Fleminge, mingos [?J heads erased, ---;
| Baron of Wath, and helmet and mantling surmounted
______| lo. of Croston. by a flamingo's [?J head couped,
| wings erect, for crest.
Sir Robert Heskaith, = Grace, dau. of
knt. | Sir John Townley
| of Townley, knt.
_________________________________|___________________________
| | |
Sir Thomas Heskaith = Alice, dau. of Elynor, wife to Jane
knt. Lo. of Rufford, | Sir John Holcrofte Robert Barton
High Shenff of Lanc., | of Holcrofte, knt. of Barton Row.
anno 5 of Q. Elizab: |
obiit 1587. |_______________
|
Blanche, dau. and = Robert Heskaith, = Marye, dau. of
coheire of Hen: esg., lo. of Hes- | Sir George Stanley, knt.,
Twyford of Ken- kaith, Rufford, | Marshall in Ireland
wick, co. Salop, Holmes and | sister and heire to '
2 Wife, s.p. Holmewood Mart- | Hen: Stanlye, esq.,
holme, Great Har- | of the Croshall,
wood, Hougwick | 1 wife.
and Beconsawe, |
now living, 1613. |
_____________________________________________________________|_______________________
| ||| | | ||
John, Robert, 2. Thomas Heskaith, = Susan, dau. of Holcrofte, I dau., Jane, wife to
mar. the Henry, 3. sonne and heire, Th . .. Powes, wife to Lawrans William Reynalds.
dau. of… George, 4. ætat. 41 annor. co. Salop. Royston, after to
Haydock. 1613. Roger Dodsworth, Mary, wife to Rich:
= Chancelor of Barton, and after to
| York. Thomas Stanley,
Robert. and hath issue by
both