WEST DERBY HUNDRED 



his lands, &c., in Downholland which he had had 

 after the death of his father and mother. 1 Another 

 William Holland* in 1444-5 settled lands in the 

 same place upon Peter Holland and his wife Margaret, 

 with remainders to Richard, Ralph, Nicholas, John, 

 Henry, and Thomas Holland.' 



It is no doubt this Peter who survived till 1513. 

 He seems to have married a second wife, Ellen, in 

 1478, when a settlement was made, the remainders 

 being to his son Robert and heirs male, and then to 

 a younger son Edmund. 4 Ellen survived her hus- 

 band, but some of the lands had been assigned to 

 Alice widow of Robert, who died without male 

 issue. Thus Edmund was heir to Downholland at 

 his father's death, and over forty years of age. The 

 service was the fourth part of a knight's fee. 5 



Edmund Holland very soon after his succession 

 sold his manors to Sir Henry Halsall of Halsall. 6 He 

 died about ten years afterwards, and in I 5 3 3-4 his 

 son and heir William released to Sir Thomas Halsall 

 all his claim in Downholland and Westleigh, Elizabeth, 

 widow of Edmund, having her dower assigned some 

 four years later. 7 From this time Downholland and 

 the half of Barton have descended with Halsall. 



Several disputes followed with the lords of neigh- 

 bouring townships Altcar and Formby as to 

 boundaries. 8 



HASK4YNE, as stated above, was granted to the 



HALSALL 



Hospitallers in alms by Henry de Holland. 9 The 

 hamlet of Haskayne gave a surname to a family who 

 prospered until in the seventeenth century they were 

 reckoned as gentry. 10 One of them was a benefactor. 

 The Harkers of Downholland are commemorated 

 by an inscription in the vestry. The will (1618) oi 

 Thomas Harker of Haskayne, gentleman, mentions 

 his nephews Richard and Henry, and demises lands in 

 Aughton and Barton. 11 



Thomas Johnson, Francis Farrer, and Richard 

 Moore, of Downholland, registered estates in 1 7 1 7 as 

 ' Papists.' " 



As already stated B4RTON was divided between 

 Downholland and Warrington. 



The four thegnage oxgangs of land appurtenant to 

 Downholland were divided by 1212 between Adam 

 the brother of Henry de Holland " and an unnamed 

 sister or daughter on her marriage with Robert son of 

 Wronou. Robert son of Wronou de Barton gave to 

 Cockersand Abbey a selion of his land, extending 

 from the vill towards Harewer, in pure alms, for the 

 soul of King John in the first place, and then for his 

 own soul and those of his relatives. 1 * These two ox- 

 gangs seem to have returned into the possession of 

 the superior lord. 15 



The Halsall family early acquired an interest in 

 Barton and Downholland, and in 1292 Henry son of 

 Robert de Holland claimed tenements in Barton from 



