A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE 



From 1277 until his death about 1 290, he was engaged 

 in the wars. 1 



He was succeeded by his son Nicholas, who was 

 quickly followed by his brother Robert.' In 1298 

 Robert de Lathom held the manor by a service of 201. 

 and doing suit to the county and wapentake.' In 

 1 304 he obtained a royal charter for markets and fairs 

 on his manors of Lathom and Roby ; also of free 

 warren. At the former place there was to be a market 

 every Tuesday, and fair on the eve, feast, and morrow 

 of St. Barnabas." 



He served in the wars and in public offices. 5 In 

 1324 he was among those returned by the sheriff as 

 holding land of the value of l 5 yearly. 6 His wife's 

 name was Katherine. 7 Sir Robert died at the be- 

 ginning of 1325,* and at the subsequent inquisition 9 

 it was found that he had held the manor of Lathom 

 as of the honour of West Derby by the service of zos. 

 and doing suit to the county every six weeks, and to 

 the wapentake every three weeks. His heir was his 

 son, Thomas de Lathom, then aged twenty-four years 

 or more. 



Thomas at once entered into public lite and the 



fulfilment of the duties imposed upon him by his 

 position in the county. 10 He had already (1322) been 

 appointed a commissioner of array for Lancashire 

 and in 1324 was one of the knights of the shire 

 attending Parliament ; in the following year he was 

 appointed a conservator of the peace, and shortly 

 afterwards again nominated a commissioner of array." 

 In 1339 he obtained a charter of free warren in his 

 demesne lands of Lathom and elsewhere. 18 In I 340 

 he was a commissioner for the taxation of the ninth 

 of sheaves, &c. 13 and was frequently engaged in 

 levying forces in the county to repulse the inroads of 

 the Scots in the reign of Edward III. 14 He was one 

 of the knight bannerets with the king in the French 

 expedition of 1344 to 1347, his retinue being a 

 knight, eight esquires, and twenty-three archers. 15 

 The extent of the county made in 1346 records that 

 he held the manor of Lathom, 16 and in the inquest 

 taken after the death of Henry, duke of Lancaster 

 (1361), it was found that he held of him a knight's 

 fee in Knowsley, Tarbock, and Huyton. 17 There are 

 but scanty records of his management of his estates." 

 He married Eleanor, daughter of Sir John de Ferrars, 



