Return to Standish families of the Manor of Duxbury.
The Pele Tower on the Manor of Duxbury Lancashire England.
The Standish Family of the Pele Tower 1647 to 2008.
The lord protector - Oliver Cromwell.
Christmas 1647 -
As the Eve of Christmas dawned and the old year of 1647 started to fade the male line of descent of the Lords of the Manor of Duxbury from Hugh Standish the founder of the Standish family of the Pele in 1303 expired. The English civil war brought the death of Alexander Standish in April 1644 the last son and male of the line in England. As a result of the English civil war the Duxbury Estates were heavily in debt upon the death in 1644 of Alexander Standish.
On Christmas day Colonel Richard Standish and his new wife Elizabeth were the new lords of the Manor of Duxbury. Legal arrangements in June 1647 with Margaret Standish widow of Alexander plus Richard's wife's dower which had paid off all the estate debts, made the Christmas season a joyous event and merriment rang out at Duxbury Hall as the season of goodwill ushered in a new owner of the Manor of Duxbury from a distant branch of the Standish family.
1647. Colonel RICHARD STANDISH, lord of the manor of Duxbury 1647 to 1662. He was a Colonel in the Parliamentary Army of Oliver Cromwell; made his will in 1657 with a codicil, 1662, which was proved at York.
English Civil War.
1647. Colonel Richard Standish married Elizabeth Legh.
Colonel Richard Standish married Elizabeth Legh, daughter of Piers Legh, Esquire, of Lyme (eldest son of Sir Peter Legh) by Anne Saville,
daughter of Sir John Saville, of Howley, Yorkshire.
The family home of Elizabeth Legh, daughter of Piers Legh, Esquire, of Lyme.
Colonel Richard Standish.
As a result of the English civil
war the Duxbury Estates were heavily in debt upon the death in 1644 of
Alexander Standish the last male of the direct line. Colonel Richard Standish a
cousin of Alexander secured his title to the Manor of Duxbury by three legal
steps the first in June 1647 the second in November 1647 and the third in March
1654.
1.
1647 -The legal transfer of the dower of
Margaret Standish widow of Alexander in June 1647 contained all of the Duxbury
estates and properties owned by the Lords of the Manor of Duxbury. The transfer
to a cousin of her husband Colonel Richard Standish also included the vast
debts attached to the Duxbury estate. No challenge is documented in the
Standish family papers to the legal transfer made by Margaret Standish from any
other member of the Standish family. Thus the balance of probability would
indicate that other members of the Standish family were aware of the dire
financial situation and concurred that –
2.
1647 The arranged marriage in November 1647 between
Colonel Richard Standish and Elizabeth Legh of Cheshire and the City of York
which provide for Elizabeth to settle the debts of the Duxbury estate was the
only way to retain the Manor of Duxbury within the Standish family.
3.
1654 March - Colonel
Richard Standish and his wife Elizabeth (Legh) consolidate their ownership of
the dower of Margaret Standish for themselves and their heirs by order of the
Court in Lancaster. The document sets a sum of £600 as the appropriate
recompense to Elizabeth and Richard upon any claim of inheritance made upon the
Duxbury Estate, the Manor having been financially secured by Elizabeth’s money and Colonel Richard’s stewardship.
Step 1.
Lancashire Record Office. DP375/21/16 - Margaret Standish 15th June 1647.
1647. Release of Dower, Margaret Standish widow of Alexander Standish.
Lancashire RO ref DP 397/21/16
This
Indenture made the fifteenth daie of June in the three and twentith yeare of
the raigne of our most gratious Sov[er]aigne Lord Charles, by the Grace of God,
of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Kinge, defend[e]r of the faith etc,
Betweene
Margaret Standish, widdowe, late wife of Alexander Standish, late of Duxbury
within the County of Lancaster, esquire, deceassed, of the one p[ar]ty,
And Richard Standish of Duxbury afforesaid, esquire, of the other party,
Witnesseth That the said Margaret Standish, for the good Love and affection
shee beareth unto the said Richard Standish, Anne Standish, Dorathy Standish,
Margaret Standish, Katherine Standish and Henery Standish, younger brother and
sisters of the said Richard Standish, and for the better enabling of the said
Richard Standish for the paiem[en]t of the Just and due debtes of Thomas
Standish, esquire, deceassed, his late father, and of the said Alex[ande]r Standish,
and of raisinge some competent porc[i]ons for the forenamed younger brother and
sisters of the said Richard Standish, And for divers other good causes and
Considerac[i]ons her, the said Margaret thereunto moveinge,
Hath remised, releassed, and for ever quite claimed, And by these presentes
doth remise, release and for ever quite claime unto the said Richard Standish
and his heires,
All her dower, right, tytle and interest of dower and demand whatsoever of, in
and unto the Mannors or lor[dshi]pes of Duxbury, Heapey and Anlezarghe in the
said County of Lancaster,
And the demesne and demesne landes thereunto belonginge and appertaininge, and
of, in and unto all and every the Messuages, landes, tenem[en]ts and
hereditam[en]tes whatsoever of the said Richard Standish, scituate, lieing and
beinge within the Townes, Townshipps, p[re]cinctes and Territories of Whitle,
Charnock, Standish, Langtree, Worthington, Heapy and Chorley, and elswhere
within the said County of Lancaster,
And of, in and unto all and every the Messuages, landes, tenem[en]ts and
hereditam[en]tes whatsoever, whereof or wherein the said Alexander Standish had
anie estate of inheritance duringe the Coverture betwixt him, the said
Alexander, and the said Margaret Standish,
And of, in and unto every parte and p[ar]cell thereof,
Soe as the said Margaret Standish shall not att anie tyme hereafter challenge,
tytle, claime or demand anie dower of, in, or unto the said p[re]misses, or
anie parte thereof, but bee utterly barred and excluded of and from the same,
And of and from all suites, acc[i]ons, tytles, claimes and demandes for,
touchinge or Concerninge the same.
In witnes whereof the p[ar]ties abovesaid to these p[re]sent Indentures
Interchangeably have put their handes and seales the daie and yeare first above
written.
Margrett Standish
- 1647 tranfer of dower transcribed by Brooke Westcotte Lancashire
Family History & Heraldry Society
Step 2.
Indenture on the marriage of Richard Standish and Elizabeth Legh 20th - November 1647.(Private Archive)den
ture
1647. Indenture on the marriage of Richard Standish and Elizabeth Legh.
This Indenture made the five and twentieth day of November
in the three and twentieth yeare of the reign of our Soveraigne
Lord Charles, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and
Ireland, defender of the faith etc,
Betweene Richard Standish
of Duxbury in the County of Lancaster, Esqjuire], of th'on p[ar]tie,
And Antony Foxcroft of
Halifaxe in the Countie of Yorke, gent, and Robert Coniers of Rawcar in the said Countie, gent, of th'other p[ar]tie,
Witnesseth that the said Richard Standish, for and in
considerac[i]on of a Marryage had and solempnized betweene him and Elizabeth
his wife, one of the daughters of Anne Legh of the Citie of York, wydowe,
And for the assuring of
a Jointure to the said Elizabeth in full recompence and satisfacc[i]on of her dower and title of
dower of, in and to all and every the lands and Tenements of the said Richard
Standish, according to former agreementes before the said marriage,
Hath given and granted, and by these p[re]sents
doth give and grant, unto the said Antony Foxcroft and Robert
Coniers,
One annuitie, annuall or
yearely rent charge of Two hundred and Fiftie pounds of lawfull money of England,
To be issuing and going
out of all those his Mannors or Lordships of Duxbury, Heapy, Whitle in the woods, Heath Charnocke and Anlezarch:
And out of all his, the
said Richard Standish, his messuages, lands, groundes, Tythes and other hereditaments, with their and every of
their appurtenances, in Duxbury, Heapy, Whitle in the woods. Heath Charnocke, Anlezarch, Worthington,
Standish, Langtree and Choreley, or Elswere in the said
County of Lancaster,
To have and to
hold the said Annuitie or yearelie rent of Two hundred and fifty pounds to the said Antony Foxcroft and Robert Coniers
and their heires, ymmediatlie from and after the death of the said Richard Standish for and during the terme of the
naturall life of the said Elizabeth,
To be paid at the Feasts
of Penticost, comonly called Whitsontide, And St Martin the Bishoppe in Winter, comonlie called
Martinmas, by equall porc[i]ons, Att or in the Church porch of Wiggin in the said Countie of Lancaster,
The first payment thereof to beginne at whether [ie whichever] of the said Feasts shall first
happen after the death of the said Richard Standish,
And if it shall happen the said yearely rent to
be behinde or unpaid, in p[ar]te or in all, by the space of
Fortie dayes after any of the said dayes of payment;
That then and soe often,
the said Richard Standish, his heires and assignes, shall forfeit and lose for every day after the said Fortie
dayes, Fortie shillinges of lawfull money of England, nomine pene [in
the name of a penalty], untill the said arrerages shalbe satisfied:
And that it shall and
may be lawfull to and for the said Antony Foxcroft and Rob[er]te Coniers, their heires and assignes, to enter
into the p[re]misses, or any p[ar]te thereof, and to distreine swell for the arrerages of the said
Rent, as alsoe for the summe of money to be forfeited {nomine pene) as aforesaid:
And the distresse and
distresses soe taken, to detaine and impound untill the said arrerages and sums soe to be forfeited (nomine
pene) shalbe fully satisfied and paid,
Provided alwayes and
upon Condic[i]on:
That if the said Richard
Standish shall at any time hereafter during his naturall life, by and with the consent of the said Elizabeth,
Assure, or cause to be assured unto her, pr to her use, Landes and Tenementes of a good and
indefeizible estate, for the terme of her life, of the Cleere yearly value of
Two hundred and fiftie poundes, above all charges and reprizes, for Jointure,
and in satisfacc[i]on of her Dower;
That then and from thence
forth, the said yearely rent of Two hundred and fiftie poundes shall cease and determine.
In witnes whereof the said p[ar]ties to these
p[rese]nte Indentures, their handes and seales Interchangablie
have sett, the day and yeare first above written.
Annoqfue] d[omi]ni [and in the year of our Lord] 1647.
Ri. Standish
[Written on reverse:]
Sealed and Delivered in
the presence of us,
Gerard [?]Jackson
... [?]Rowe
Willi: [?]Barroby
Robert...
Rich: [?]Ashworth
Joynturedeed 1647 determined Rich'd Standish
Step 3.
Final agreement, made in the Court at Lancaster on Saturday 24th March 1654.
1654. Final agreement, made in the Court at Lancaster.
Lancashire RO ref DP 397/21/17
This is the finall agreement, made in the Court at Lancaster on Saturday the
four and twentieth day of March in the yeare of our Lord one thousand six
hundred fifty four,
Before Richard Newdegate, one of the Justices of the Upper Bench, And Robert
Hatten, Serjeant at Law, Justices at Lancaster, And others then and there
present,
Betweene Edward May, gent, and Alexander
Standish, gent, plaintifes, And Richard Standish, esquier, and Elizabeth his
wife, deforceants,
Of the Mannors of Duxbury, Heapey, Whittle in the woods, Heath Charnocke and
Anlezargh, w[i]th the appurtenances, and one hundred and twenty mesuages, four
water corne Millns, one hundred and twenty gardens, fifty Orchards, one
thousand acres of Land, two hundred acres of meadow, four hundred acres of
pasture, fifty acres of Wood, six hundred acres of Mosse, two hundred acres of
Marsh, four hundred acres of furze and Heath, fifty shillings rent, and
Co[m]mon of pasture, w[i]th the appurtenances, in Duxbury, Heapey, Whittle in
the Woods, Heath Charnocke, Anlezargh, Standish, Langtree and Chorley,
Whereupon a plea of Covenant was su[m]moned betweene them in the same Court,
that is to say,
That the said Richard and Elizabeth have acknowledged the said Mannors, Tenements,
Rent and Co[m]mon of pasture, w[i]th the appurtenances, to be the right of the
said Edward,
As those w[hi]ch the said Edward and Alexander have of the gifte of the said
Richard and Elizabeth,
And those they have remised and quite claymed from them and theire heires unto
the said Edward and Alexander, and the heires of the said Edward for ever.
And moreover the said Richard and Elizabeth have granted, for themselves and
the heires of the said Richard, that they will warant the aforesaid Mannors, tenements,
Rent and Co[m]mon of pasture, w[i]th the appurtenances, unto the said Edward
and Alexander, and the heirs of the said Edward, against them, the said Richard
and Elizabeth and theire heires for ever.
And for this Acknowledgment, remission, quite clayme, waranty, fyne and
agreement the said Edward and Alexander have given to the said Richard and
Elizabeth six hundred pounds sterlinge.
Lancaster
Note.
Final Concord. These were not genuine disputes. A sale
would already have been agreed, but theoretically all land was held "of
the crown" and could not be sold. By fabricating a dispute and
negotiating an "out of court settlement" which was recorded at
Westminster, the purchaser (Edward and Alexander here) got indisputable legal
title subject to a payment of six hundred pounds sterling. If the payment of
six hundred pounds sterling was not paid to Richard Standish, esquire,
and Elizabeth his wife the indisputable legal title remained with Richard and
Elizabeth and their heirs forever.
- Final Concord, 1654/5 transcribed by Brooke
Westcotte Lancashire Family History & Heraldry Society
InIndenture 3rd April 1649 (Private Archive)
The father of Richard Standish Esquire was named Thomas his mother was the daughter of Sir Alexander Radcliffe.
1649. Lease for 99years - Standish to Withnell - father of Richard Standish Esquire.
This Indenture made the third day of Aprill in the yeare of
our lord, according to our English Computac[i]on one thousand six hundreth
forty Neene,
Betweene Richard Standish of Duxbury in the county
of Lancaster, Esquire, uppon th’one p[ar]te,
And Richard Withnell
of Whittle in le woods in the County aforesaid, husbandman, uppon th’other
p[ar]te,
Witnesseth that wheras
Thomas Standysh, late father of the said Richard Standish, by his Indenture of Lease Lawfully executed, demysed unto
Edward Woodcock, late of Whittle afforesaid, deceased, amongst other
things,
One
Close or p[ar]cell of ground in Whittle afforesaid, knowen by the name of the
Little Masse, contayninge
five acres or theraboutes, as by the s[ai]d Indenture, bearing date the
twenteeth day of February Anno d[omi]ni 1635, it doth appeare,
Death of the first son of Richard and Elizabeth (Legh) Standish - Thomas 24th February 1649.
Thomas Standish first son died 24th February 1649.
Children of Richard and Elizabeth (Legh) Standish.
Richard Standish,
Esquire, of Duxbury, baronet, Feb. 8, 1676/7; m. Margaret Holcroft (d. Oct.
1735, aged nearly 100 years, widow of Sir Thomas Stanley, Bart.), daughter of
Thomas Holcroft, Esq., of Holcroft. County Lancaster.
Peter Standish, d. unm.
Alexander Standish, d.
1680.
Ralph Standish, d. unm.
John Standish, d. unm.
Hugh Standish, d. unm.
Elizabeth Anne Standish, m.
Stephen Radley.
Parish Register of the Church of St. Laurence Chorley Lancashire.
On the 14th January 1661 a child of Richard and Elizabeth Standish died during the birth. The difficult birth brought about the death of Elizabeth Standish on the 6thMarch 1661.
Colonel Richard Standish is said to have died of a broken heart on the 14th of
March 1661.
1661. Sir RICHARD STANDISH of Duxbury, first baronet, succeeded as lord of the manor of Duxbury, 1661-1693. He was created baronet, 1677; M.P., 1690-1693; d. 1693.
Parish Register of the Church of St. Laurence Chorley Lancashire 1693 death of Sir Richard Standish.
1693. Sir THOMAS STANDISH of Duxbury, lord of the manor of Duxbury, 1693-1746, was buried at Chorley, 26th March 1746; he was High Sheriff, 1711; made a settlement of his manors, 1711 and 1730.
Lancashire Record Office DP502/1/8/7 hand written notes by Sir Thomas Standish regarding contractual arrangements upon the manor of Duxbury from 1647 to 1731.
Parish Register of the Church of St. Laurence Chorley Lancashire death of Sir Thomas Standish.
Lancashire Record Office -FILE ref. DX 851-861 - date: 1742-1744
[from Scope and Content] Accounts of Sir Thomas Standish of Duxbury.
1746. Sir THOMAS STANDISH of Duxbury, was lord of the manor of Duxbury, 1746-1756.
Monument in the Chancel of the Church of St. Laurence Chorley Lancashire.
Parish Register of the Church of St. Laurence Chorley Lancashire.
1768. Sir FRANK STANDISH lord of the manor of Duxbury, 1768-1812, but died without issue,1812; last of the male line 1647 to 1812.
He was M. P. for Preston, 1768-1774, and High Sheriff,1782; he was the last male Standish of the original English Standish of Duxbury line. At the death of Sir Frank, the baronetcy expired. The Manor went to a descendant of his Aunt Margaret - Frank Hall, and was finally sold out of Standish family ownership in 1891.
Monument in the Chancel of the Church of St. Laurence Chorley Lancashire.
Parish Register of the Church of St. Laurence Chorley Lancashire.
The End of the Male line of the Standish Family of the Pele Tower.
