A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE 



of Ireland in 1771.' His son, William Philip, suc- 

 ceeded in 1 794. He took an active part in politics 

 on the Whig or popular side, and though unsuccessful 

 at Liverpool was returned as member for Droitwich 

 in 1816. Retaining his seat until 1831 he was by 

 William IV created a baron of the United Kingdom, 

 as Lord Sefton of Croxteth.' He died in 1838.' 



His son Charles William, who died in 1 855,' 

 succeeded, and was followed by his eldest son Wil- 

 liam Philip (died 1897),' who in turn was succeeded 

 by his eldest son Charles William Hylton (died 1901), 

 and by his second son Sir Osbert Cecil Molyneux, the 

 sixth earl, and present lord of the manor of Sefton. 6 

 See Pedigree next page. 



No manorial courts are now held. Several fifteenth- 

 century court rolls are preserved at Croxteth ; the 

 officers appointed were the constables, ' birelagh ' men, 

 ale-tasters, afferers, and layers of the mise. A ' view of 

 the houses' taken in December, 1411, has also been 

 preserved, recording the various dilapidations which 

 had to be made good under penalties set forth. 



The Pepperfield in Sefton, comprising 6 acres of 

 land lying next to the Hanecroft, was in 1 294 given 

 by Richard de Molyneux to his son Peter. 7 By Peter 

 it was granted to Richard the Judge or Doomsman 

 of Down Litherland in 1335 ; 8 and from Richard 

 ' the Demand ' of Ince no doubt the same person 

 it passed by charter in 1344 to Robert his son and 

 heir and Emma his wife.' The next step is un- 

 known ; but in I 395-6 Richard de Eves of Thornton 



gave to Henry Boys the 6 acres called Pepperfield, 1 ' 

 and about fourteen years afterwards Richard de Eves 

 and Maud his wife sold it to Nicholas Blundell of 

 Little Crosby, Henry Boys, son of William Highson, 

 releasing all his right therein. 11 Next Henry Blundell 

 gave to Robert, son of John Molyneux of Melling, in 

 1454-5 a pound of pepper with the field called 

 Pepperfield. 1 ' 



The EDGE in Sefton is in one charter called a 

 manor. 11 An estate here was granted in 1315 by 

 Richard de Molyneux to his 

 son Thomas, 14 whose mother 

 Emma in 1334 inade him 

 steward of all her lands and 

 commanded her tenants to 

 render account of all matters 

 to him ; ls two years later he 

 released to her all his right to 

 the marsh of Sefton and the 

 heys and meadows there. 16 He 

 died shortly after, for at the 



beginning "of ,337, Cecily, J^^".^ 

 widow of Thomas de Molyneux, moline or ; in dexter 

 acquired a lease of lands in Great Mefafieur de Us argent 

 Crosby. 17 His son Thomas ap- 

 pears to have acquired the manor of Cuerdale, and 

 took his distinguishing title from it ; 18 his widow 

 Joan was at the beginning of 1388 put in posses- 

 sion of various lands of his, including the Edge in 

 Sefton. 1 * After her death his lands descended in 



