WEST DERBY HUNDRED 



He was, therefore, a rebel, and his lands were 

 confiscated.' 



The third son of Madoc son of Bleddyn, also 

 named Madoc, seems to have had a son Baldwin, who 

 had a son Madoc and a grandson Baldwin,* and this 

 last a son John. There are various notices of this 

 branch of the family, but it does not appear that any 

 manorial rights were claimed through them or for 

 them. 3 



The interest of the Molyneuxes of Sefton seems to 

 have originated in the purchase, in 1479, by Thomas 

 Molyneux of Richard Faldworthing's lands in Aughton 

 and Lydiate. Sir William Molyneux in 1 527 bought 

 from John Lunt a tenement granted in 1 340 to 

 Robert de Lunt by Thomas de Aughton. Another 

 small purchase of lands in Aughton and Melling (this 

 including Tatlock's Mill) was made in 1542 from 

 Katherine daughter and heir of John Tatlock. 4 Sir 

 William Molyneux died in 1 548, holding in Augh- 

 ton a messuage and twenty acres of land, &c., of John 

 Starkie by the rent of 8</. 4 The mill and lands of 

 the abbot of Merivale seem to have been acquired at 

 the same time as Altcar ; and part of the Middlewood 

 estate (but not Middlewood itself) which belonged to 

 Henry Beconsaw, was resold in 1557 by Lawrence 

 Ireland to Sir Richard Molyneux ; and this included 

 ' all courts and view of frankpledge.' 6 Thus in 1 569 

 it was stated that Sir Richard had held ' the manor of 

 Aughton,' but of whom the jurors did not know. 7 

 The same manor appears in the later inquisitions, 

 and was in the eighteenth century described as ' a 

 quarter or third of the manor.' In 1772 the family's 

 holding here was increased by the exchange made 

 with Henry Blundell of Ince ; but all was sold in 

 1798 to James Gill. 8 



The lordship of the manor ol Aughton therefore is 

 a matter of doubt. In 1730 the two constables of 

 the township were appointed by Lord Molyneux and 

 John Plumbe as lords of the manor ; but after the 

 earl of Sefton sold his estates, the parishioners elected 

 one, and his right in the matter lapsed. 9 



Molyneux of Hawkley held lands in Aughton 



AUGHTON 



and Uplitherland in the sixteenth century." A 

 considerable number of minor estates in Aughton de- 

 serve notice, the evidences being more abundant than 

 for similar estates elsewhere, and the owners of more 

 note. 



The Walshes of WALSH HALL and Brookfield 

 were a junior branch of the Uplitherland family." 

 Two early deeds relating to Stockbridge House have 

 been given. Brookfield was partly held of Cocker- 

 sand Abbey, partly by a grant from John le 

 Waleys, and partly by others from the Aughton 

 families. 1 ' Henry son of John le Waleys, and rector 

 of Aughton, acquired various lands, particularly in 

 Haylandhurst, 13 and transferred them to his brother 

 Gilbert, who purchased others. 14 A settlement was 

 made by Gilbert and Joan his wife, with remainders 

 to sons John and Richard. 15 Nevertheless the lands 

 seem to have descended to Henry, another son, who 

 is frequently mentioned from 1356 to 1367, and 

 himself made further acquisitions, including land 

 called Greenhearth. 16 There is some obscurity in the 

 descent from Henry le Waleys. In 1408 a claim 

 was made by Joan the wife of William de Huddleston, 

 as daughter and heir of Ralph de Freckleton, who 

 was son of Emma, the daughter (and, as Joan asserted, 

 the heir) of Henry, to the whole property. 17 Roger 

 son of Henry held it, and is found attesting deeds 

 in 1 389 and I4O5- 18 Joan Huddleston's suit led to a 

 fine by which her right was acknowledged, upon 

 which she granted the lands to Roger. 19 



Robert Walsh, son of Roger, in 1474 settled his 

 estate on Gilbert his son, with remainders to younger 

 sons Thomas, Edmund, and Henry." Gilbert mar- 

 ried about 1464, when Joan his wife is mentioned. 21 

 He was living in 1501, and holding lands in Aughton 

 which his father had had in 1451 and 1461." He 

 was succeeded before 1506 by his son Robert, who 

 in turn was succeeded between 1523 and 1529 by 

 Gilbert Walsh." 



This Gilbert was succeeded by his sons Robert, 

 who died in November, 1571, and Thomas, who 

 survived till 1594." The inquisition taken after 



299 



