76 History 0/ the 



Thomas Posthumous disposed of the lands to different persons. 

 Rockliffe passed into the hands of Thomas Baskerville Chapman, 

 20th February. 17th Charles II., for the sum of £500. Tong 

 Estate was purchased by James Hoyle, of Tong, yeoman, 2d 

 March, 20th Charles II., for £137 los. od. The messuage, 

 tenement, and farmhold, called Stubbylee, and Slack House or 

 Further Hey, and several closes of land in the manor of Spotland, 

 became the property of Edmund Barker, yeoman. May 24th, 21st 

 Charles II. Part of Greave Clough estate was purchased 3d 

 November following by James Grindrod ; the remaining portion, 

 with several closes of land called the Upper Parrock, by Richard 

 Lord of Greave Clough, on the 7 th May of the next year. 



The manor and estate of Rochdale were held in possession for 

 more than two centuries by the Byron family, several members 

 whereof distinguished themselves in the profession of arms, and 

 in more peaceful, but not less honourable, avocations. None of 

 these is better known to fame than Lord Byron, the distinguished 

 poet, who was the last of the family possessing the manor and 

 estate in question. These, in order to get rid of a prolonged and 

 vexatious litigation, he sold in 1823, the year before his lamented 

 death, to James Dearden, Esq., whose heir, James Griffith 

 Dearden, is now lord of the manor, (c) 



((■) The following interesting letter of the poet, addressed tu Mr. Dearden, 

 in regard to the lands and litigation referred to, is copied from the Raines 

 MSS. in the Chetham Library, Manchester : — 



Genoa, 9 September, 1822, 



Sir, — Vou and 1 have now been eighteen years at law with various 

 success — I succeeded in two decisions and you in one. The appeal is now 

 before the House of Lords. Of the original occasion of this suit I have no 

 great knowledge, since 1 inherited it and was a child when it began, and for 

 aught 1 know may arrive at second childhood before it terminates. But I 

 write to you to enquire whether an accommodation might not at least be 

 attempted, and I have not consulted with my lawyers, because they of course 

 would advise the contrary, as your own very probably will ; but I dispatch 

 my letter through the medium of the Honourable Douglas Kinnaird, my 

 personal friend as well as trustee, a man of honour and of business, who will 



