WEST DERBY HUNDRED 



in 1487 came into possession of the earls of Derby. 1 

 John Warren in 1561 by fine released his fourth 

 part of the manor to Henry Halsall of Halsall,' and 

 two years later Edward, earl 

 of Derby, sold his fourth share 

 to the same Henry Halsall. 8 



The other moiety of Formby 

 was granted by John, count of 

 Mortain, to Richard son of 

 Roger, thegn of Woodplump- 

 ton, who held it until the 

 rebellion of 1193-4, when he 

 was dispossessed for adhering 

 to the cause of his chief lord. 4 

 Formby was expressly excluded 

 when Richard's daughters and 

 coheirs obtained a confirma- 

 tion of their father's lands in 



Amounderness, 5 and in 1203 was granted to Richard 

 de Meath, one of the king's clerks, son of Gilbert de 

 Walton. 6 Three years later it was taken into the 

 king's hands, 7 and in 1208 granted to Hugh de 

 Moreton, who had married Margaret, one of the 

 daughters of Richard son of Roger. 8 Taking part 

 against the king, Hugh was dispossessed, and in 

 August, 1215, Richard de Meath was again put into 

 possession. 9 A year later Hugh de Moreton, who 

 had made his peace with the king, was reinstated, 10 



WALTON 



but in 1 22 1 Richard de Meath succeeded in obtain- 

 ing Henry Ill's mandate to the sheriff to put him 

 in seisin of this and other manors granted to him by 

 King John. 11 Richard granted it to his brother 

 Henry de Walton for life, with a provision, which 

 took effect, that should Henry 

 survive him, the estate should 

 descend to Henry's heirs ; this 

 arrangement was confirmed by 

 the king in 1227." 



The lordship of this moiety 

 descended with Walton until 

 1 489, when Roger Walton died, 

 leaving daughters as heirs ; after 

 which it does not seem trace- 

 able. 13 It had, however, been 

 early granted out to several 

 tenants ; partly to the Blundells 



three swans argen 



hose share was given to the 

 Morrises, 14 descending with the West Derby and 

 Speke branches until 1543, when Sir William Norris 

 exchanged it for other lands of Sir William Molyneux 

 of Sefton, 15 the latter's son in 1561 selling it to 

 Henry Halsall ; 16 partly to a local family, who 

 assumed Formby as a surname, and have retained 

 their share of the manor, now called a quarter, to the 

 present day ; and partly to others whose holdings 

 cannot be clearly traced. 17 



