George Thomas Orlando Bridgeman

“ In 5 Eliz., 1562-3, there was a lawsuit between Sir Thomas Langton and Sir Thomas Gerrard, knights, concerning the tithes of corn and grain in the township of Pemberton, which Langton claimed as the purchaser of a lease granted by Thomas Stanley, dated 22nd March, 1 Eliz., 1559, to Edmund Burscough and William Straitbarell for a term of years yet enduring, they paying a yearly sum for the same. ”

“ The defendants, in reply, deny that Harryson had an execution against Sweeting, or did pursue, as stated by the complainants, but assaulted Sweeting unjustly and would doubtless have murdered him if some of the townspeople had not interfered. They declare all the statements made to be untrue. [13] There is no order or decree to be found with reference to this suit. It would seem, however, that it had the effect of bringing Bishop Stanley and his parishioners at Wigan to some understanding ”

“ Thomas Stanley and Sir Thomas Langton say in answer that James Harryson [Henryson] is bailiff in Wigan and that he had the said Sweeting in execution of a certain debt, and Sweeting "dyd flee from the sayd Harryson and wolde have escaped owte of execution, and thereupon the sayd Harryson did freshelye hym pursue, and the sayd Sweeting dyd returne agayne and draw hys dagger and dyd stryke at the sayd Harryson; and that the blows struck by Harryson were in self defence. ”

“ Mr. Beamont informs us that he was a bad steward to the rectory of Winwick, one of his preferments, for in 3 Eliz., 1563, he granted to Sir Thomas Stanley, knight, second son of Edward, third Earl of Derby, a lease of the said rectory, parish church and benefice, with the manor, park, and glebe lands, for the term of 99 years, at a yearly rent of £120; [25] and he seems to have done but little better for the rectory of Wigan.
↑ Chester Diocesan Register. ↑ Beamont's History of Winwick, p. 30. ↑ York Diocesan Registry. ↑ Le Neve's Fasti; Wood's Athenæ vol. iii. p. 807. ”

“ I presume that he recovered his writings and proceeded against the said William Gerrard, who seems to have died about this time; for in Hilary Term of the same regnal year, 1 Eliz., 1559, a final decree was made in the following terms, with respect to the suit commenced by Richard Gerrard, clerk, rector of Wigan, against William Gerrard and John Winstanley: "Whereas in the term of St. ”

“ L. No. 7. ↑ Duchy of Lancaster Pleadings, 2 Eliz., vol. ii. S. No. 2. ↑ Duchy of Lancaster Pleadings, 3 Eliz., vol. vii. S. No. 4. ↑ Vide ante p. 11 ↑ Duchy of Lancaster Pleadings, 5 Eliz., vol. xv. L. No. 1. ↑ Duchy of Lancaster Pleadings, vol. xvi. S. No. 16. ↑ Ibid., S. No. 17. ↑ Baines Hist. of Lancashire, vol. iii. p. 100. ↑ Duchy of Lancaster Pleadings, 11 Eliz., vol. xi. S. No. 5. ”