WEST DERBY HUNDRED 



Adam. 1 At the beginning of 1336 Henry, son of 

 Randle de Hale, sold to John, son of Adam de Ire- 

 land, and Agatha his wife, 8 certain lands which they 

 held on lease from him. 3 



Some dispute appears to have arisen about this time 

 with Simon de Walton ; for Randle de Merton 

 entered into a bond to him for the production by 

 John de Ireland of two charters concerning Hale 

 the original one of King John to Richard de Meath 

 and the confirmation by Henry III. A royal confir- 

 mation was secured, and the contest with the Walton 

 family terminated. 4 John de Ireland continued to 

 purchase lands in Hale, and his name occurs as witness 

 to various deeds down to about 1358. 



David de Ireland, his son, succeeded, and was lord 

 of Hale for over twenty years, his name occurring in 

 a. receipt for 40 marks paid by him to Sir Richard 

 de Bold as late as 1378. s In 1367 the bishop of 

 Lichfield granted him a licence for an oratory in his 

 mansion at Hale. 6 



John de Ireland succeeded his father David early in 

 Richard II's reign ; he was knighted at the beginning 

 of Henry IV's. 7 In answer to a quo wurronto from 

 the king he claimed wrecks, fishes-royal, assize of 

 bread and beer, amercements of offenders against the 

 same, view of frankpledge and other liberties which 

 had been enjoyed by himself and his ancestors from 

 time beyond memory. 8 From a broken inscription 



CHILDWALL 



in a window in the chapel, preserved by Challoner, 

 he seems to have been a benefactor to the chantry. 9 

 His will dated 24 May, 1411, directs his burial in 

 Hale chapel, and mentions his wife Margery and his 



His eldest son and successor was William de Ire- 

 land. 11 At the beginning of 1422 he enfeoffed a 

 number of trustees, Thomas de Ireland being one, 

 of the manors of Hale and Hutt, and all his other 

 possessions. 13 He died in 1435." 



Another John de Ireland succeeded his father 

 William. He acquired lands in Smerley in Halewood, 

 in Fulshawfield, and in several other holdings ; 

 one of the latest being from Thomas Fulshaw, of 

 Halebank, in August, 1461, of a piece of land next 

 to Lord Lovel's holding. 14 A dispute between him 

 and William Norris, of Speke, was referred to the 

 award of Sir Thomas Stanley. 15 The inscription on 

 his tomb is given by Challoner (or Holme) as 

 follows : Hie iacetjoh'es Yerlond armiger qui fuit 

 dns de Hale et dimid ville de Bebinton inferioris qui 

 obijt sc'do die Maij ano dfii M CCCC sexagessimo 

 sc'do. . . . Cuius ale propicietur deus. Amen. 18 



His son William succeeded, 17 and was followed by 

 his son, Sir John Ireland, knighted by Lord Strange 

 in Scotland, in 1497, during the expedition led by 

 the earl of Surrey. 1 ' He made an exchange with 

 Richard Crosse, of Liverpool, taking the latter's holding 



