A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE 



first earl of Derby, 1 of whom the Irelands continued 

 to hold the manors of Hale and Halewood by the 

 tender of two roses on Midsummer Day. 



A junior branch of the Holand family was esta- 

 blished in Hale. 1 



The appearance of the Ireland family has already 

 been narrated. Adam Austin, having established his 

 claim to a portion of the lordship, in 1285 married 

 Avina, daughter of Robert de Holand, his superior 

 lord. The grant to Avina on her marriage 3 may be 

 regarded as a settlement of the disputes between her 

 father and her husband. 



The Norris interest in Hale began with Alan, 

 father of the Alan and John le Norreys who settled 

 at Speke. In an undated charter, Alan le Norreys 

 granted to Simon his son the Ditton half of the mill 

 of Hale that upon the pool between Hale and 

 Ditton which he had received from Henry de 

 Walton, formerly the king's servant, with fishing and 

 other rights. 4 



This will explain the position in 1292, when the 

 tenants of Hale were summoned to prove their title to 

 their holdings. Robert de Holand had 160 acres and 

 his brother Richard 60 ; Adam de Ireland and Avina 4 

 his wife had 200 acres ; Alan le Norreys had but 2O. 6 



From this time the Irelands' position was secure. 7 

 Adam Austin de Ireland, in spite of his many law- 



suits, lived until 1324,* and his wife Avina also. In 

 1 292 he was non-suited in divers claims against Robert 

 de Holand, Robert Erneys of Speke, and his wife 

 Joan, and Roger de Culcheth. 8 In 1323 he was 

 returned by the sheriff as one 

 of those holding lands of the 

 annual value of 1 5 and more ; 10 

 and about the same time a 

 claim was made against him 

 and his wife Avina and their 

 sons Robert and Adam, by 

 Randle, son of Henry Malin- 

 son, respecting his free tene- 

 ment in Hale, but it was un- 

 successful." Another claim was 

 at the same time made against 

 Adam and Avina, and Adam, 

 their son, by Robert Grelley." 

 A charter exists of Adam de Ireland, lord of Hale, to 

 Richard, son of Henry Malinson, another defendant in 

 the former suit, granting him a messuage and lands 

 upon the waste of Hale, near the Old Barn yard, and 

 a fishery in the Mersey called 'the Heegh Yord,' 

 for a rent of 5</. 13 



During Adam's lifetime John de Ireland, who 

 succeeded to Hale," had become possessed of lands in 

 the place." In 1331 he appears as son and heir of 



IRELAND or HALE. 

 Gules, lix Jleurs de lit 



three, tivo and one argent. 



144 



