1. Myles Standish and the Standish family of the Burgh at Duxbury.

3. Duxbury in England and Duxbury in the USA.

6. The Residents of Duxbury - Coppull - Heath Charnock in 1584.

Deowuc the Saxon.

The origin of the place name “Duxbury” as defined by many learned scholars -:

Burh - Burgh and Wallfield are of Anglo-Saxon origin .

The development of burhs: Eighth to early Ninth century.

The Anglo-Saxon word burh means a fortified enclosure and may refer either to a small private plot, such as the enclosure around a royal or thegnly residence, or to a larger public fortress. Public fortresses, of all shapes and sizes, were established usually against Viking aggression on many different types of site. Only an impermanent garrison defended many of these, on hilltops or naturally inaccessible spur sites. The larger ones on flatter sites or larger spur sites would however have been defended settlements, the construction and upkeep of their defences and their general military effectiveness guaranteed by a permanent population. They were all closely associated with a bridge or bridges over a major river, both burh and bridge forming a single military unit designed to control movement both across and along these rivers.

There is some evidence that in the late eighth century King Offa established a series of such public burhs in Mercia as a systematic and comprehensive defence of his kingdom against Viking attack, which began at this time. These were large defended places, which in the main were sited to block penetration by Viking warships up the major estuaries and rivers of both western and eastern Mercia.

The Burh or Burgh of Deowuc the Saxon became the Manor of "Duxbury”

( Deowucbyrh - Deukesbiri - Dukesbiri) in Lancashire England.

A consequence of the arrival of Myles Standish in America (1620) was that he took the name of Deowuc the Saxon with him and named his land allocation in America "Duxbury” after the Burgh of Deowuc the Saxon in Lancashire England.

Deowuc the Saxon ?

Deowuc’s Burgh existed in the 8th century long before the system of Manors and Manorial Boundaries were drawn. The scant information from documents available indicates that the lands of Deowuc’s Burgh were on both banks of the River Yarrow from the Wall Field - fortified enclosure in the North to Birkacre in the West. Thus the Burgh lands are primarily part of the Manor of Duxbury but also parts of the Burgh lands are located on the Manors of Chorley and Coppull. Modern day Maps show the Burgh to be on the West bank of the River Yarrow while early Maps and documents show the Burgh to be on the East bank of the River Yarrow.

Documents relating to the Manor of Duxbury and the Burgh Lands.

Standish deed No. 3. Date.1241 (the de Duxbury Family)

Grant from John son of Robert de Dokisbiry to William my brother and his heirs for his homage and service a certain part of my land in Dokysbiry, namely, the Lytle-heuyd within its bounds : starting at the ditch of the curtilage of the said William, and so descending by the ditch as far as Fulford excepting the house and curtilage of Richard Fossor (" the ditcher"), and so ascending the boundary of Chernoc, as far as the first boundary, to hold of me & c. in fee and inheritance, with common of pasture and all easements, & c.and acquittance of pannage for all his pigs in the wood of Duxbury, except in the lord's park. And know that neither I the said Johnnor my heirs will ever make suit by the writ of the Lord King concerning measurement of pasture against the said William and his heirs. Rent to me and my heirs ninepence of silver at the Assumption of the B.V.M. for all services. Clause of warranty. Witnesses: Warine de Waleton, Henry de Longetre, Ralph de Stanedis.

Standish Deed No. 46. Date Wednesday after St Laurence (10th Aug.), 7th year Edward III [11th Aug., 1333]. (the de Burgh and de Standish families)

Grant from William de Standisch and William del Burgh to Henry Knoute of [turf for] one hearth (astrum) and common of pasture in our vill of Dokesbury, as our other tenants have common of pasture in the said vill. Saving to us and our heirs our approvements [improvements of the waste] now made or to be made hereafter in the vill. To hold of us and our heirs to the said Henry and the lawful heirs of his body quietly, wholly, and in heritage, with free entrance and exit to his said land for building and burning as our other tenants do. Rendering yearly to us and our heirs three pence at the feasts of the Nativity of the Lord and at the Nativity of St John Baptist and St Michael for all. And if the said Henry die without lawful heirs of his body the hearth and common of pasture shall remain to us and our heirs. Witnesses: John de Cophull, John de Chisenale, Roger de Chisenale, John de Derbyshire, and Roger the clerk. Dated at Dokesbury, Wednesday after St Laurence (10th Aug.), 7th year Edward III [11th Aug., 1333]. 8 J X 4. Two tabs ; seals lost. Deed damaged.

Burgh - The three ways division of the Burgh in 1423.

Burgh - Molineux - Ashton and Standish Families.

Standish Deed Dated 20^th April, first year of Henry VI [1423].

Indenture tripartite made between Ralph Molineux and Ellen his wife, James de Standish and Alice his wife, and Richard Ashton and Margaret his wife, relating to land in Dokesbury and Chorley, in the place called the Burgh, descending to Ellen, Alice, and Margaret, daughters of Robin [Robert] del Burgh. Ralph Molineux and Ellen his wife are to have the Hall of Burgh, Hogscroft at the end of Burgh, Five-acre Field, and Carfield lying to Yarrow, with a share of the walk mill and corn mill, part of Birkacre, Red Land Bank, and part of the New Marled. They are to pay part of the sixpence rent to Henry Charnoc for Birkacre, and a part of the rent to the lords of Chorley for new approvements [of the waste] and a part of the rent to Christopher Standish [of Duxbury].

Richard Ashton and Margaret his wife are to have what John Lawrence holds with the greatest barn at Burgh, part of the Plat field, part of Hoarstonehey, Little Burgh, Miln Hey, a yard that falls to the mill, part of Birkacre and of the Riding and of Broad-hurst and of land in the New Marled Wood, part of the walk mill and of the corn mill, and they are to pay a share of the three rents described.

James Standish and Alice his wife are to have Fincle Car, the Riding, two Marled Holms, Calves Hey [or Cats Hey], Foxhold hey, and Broadhurst in Birkacre, part of Birkacre meadow, a share of the walk [or water] mill, and to pay a share of the three rents mentioned. All six parties sign and are sworn on a book before William Orrell, Mayor of Wigan, to perform the covenants. Dated 20^th April, first year of Henry VI [1423].

Earwaker. CXV. and West give only a meagre abstract of the deed. Like Piccope (vol. V., 379) they give the name of the wife of James Standish as Margaret. The most full account is to be found in Kuerden’s Folio Vol., Chetham Library, page 297, but his writing is more difficult to read than the original deed would have been. For Birkacre see Standish deed No. 2, and for further reference to themills, Standish deed No. 114. For some notes on the three divisions see History of Standish, pages 39, 40; but possibly some other divisions were made later.

The following paid equal quit rentsfor divisions of the Burgh estate to the lords of Chorley in 1563 : John Ashton of Bamfurlong (tenant Ralph Lawe), the heirs of Robert Ugnall, for the land of Molineux of Rawcliffe (tenant Richard Pilkington), Edward Standish (tenant Alexander Holt).

In a list of ratepayers in Chorley in 1639 Thurstan Standish,gentleman, appears, and a later hand has written" now Crook."

In 1718 a third part of the quit rent due formerly to the Charnock family for Birkacre was paid by Samuel Crooke for Waring's o' th' Plock. Mr. Crooke had also Little (or Lower) Burgh.

The heirs or assigns of Sir Alexander Rigby paid the other two thirds.

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Myles Standish the great grandson of Thurston Standish of the Burgh in Duxbury and great great grandson of Sir Alexander Standish Lord of the Manor of Standish 1468 - 1507 ?

The Arms of Thurston Standish of the Burgh in Duxbury.

The Arms of Standish of the Burgh in Duxbury as officially recorded by the College of Arms London in the year 1613.

The Pedigree of Thurston Standish of the Burgh in Duxbury as officially recorded by the College of Arms London in the year 1613.

The Pedigree of Thurston Standish of the Burgh in Duxbury private research 1850

Thurston Standish of the House of Standish was resident on land bought by Ralph Standish Lord of the Manor of Standish in 1536 from the Rigby family. Private research in 1850 suggests that Thurston Standish is the second son of Sir Alexander Standish and thus the younger brother of Ralph Standish.The official record for 1613 held at the College of Heralds in London records Thurston as a younger brother of Standish of Standish and the official record also confirms that Thurston Standish is authorised to use the Arms of Standish of Standish. Thus this branch of the Standish family is resident on the Manor of Duxbury at the date of the birth of Myles Standish and they are using the Arms of Standish of Standish. Thurston Standish and his family are Catholics in common with the Standish Family of Standish and Thurston Standish of the Burgh is officially recorded as a "younger brother of Standish of Standish" the very words Myles Standish uses in his Will to describe his own great grandfather.Consequently Thurston Standish of the Burgh in Duxbury may well be the great grandfather cited in the will of Myles.

Some researchers have suggested the possibility that the Standish family of the Burgh were descended from the Arley-Shevington-Gathurst branch of the Standish Family but documentation and information provided by the College of Heralds shows the Standish family of the Burgh were not descended from Arley-Shevington-Gathurst branch.

Standish deed dated 1531. Ralph Standish Lord of the Manor of Standish secures title to land at the Burgh in Duxbury. Ralph Standish then transfers the land to Thurston Standish ( an act of brotherly love from the elder brother to the second or younger brother?).

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Early Maps locating the Pele Tower and Burgh at Duxbury.

Saxton's Map of 1577 (The Pele Tower to the West of the river - the Burgh to the East of the river).

John Speed 1610 (The Pele Tower to the West of the river - the Burgh to the East of the river)

Thomas Conder 1784 (The Pele Tower demolished not shown - the Burgh to the East of the river)

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Duxbury (Deowuc's Burgh) in England and America.

Duxbury Lancashire England The view from - DEOWUC'S Burgh - Duxbury Lancashire England

Duxbury Massachusetts America A view of (DEOWUC'S Burgh) Duxbury Massachusetts America

The location of DEOWUC’S Burgh - Duxbury Lancashire England.

John Blaeu 1645. (The Pele Tower to the West of the river the Burgh to the East of the river)

Map of Central Lancashire. Dr. W . Farrer's map of Lancashire in the thirteenth year of King John, A.D. 1212 from his Lancashire Pipe Rolls and early Charters.

Birds-eye view (part) of the Burgh area of Duxbury Lancashire 2001

Old Bridge remains at the Duxbury Burgh crossing.

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The Knights of St.John held lands on the Manor of Duxbury.

The Lone Sentinel of the Knights of St. John - the only remaining base of four ancient markers defining the lands of the Knights of St. John at Duxbury.