A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE 



were called, and doubtless in compensation for the loss of Prestatyn, he ob- 

 tained a grant from the crown of lands within the lordship of Makerfield, 

 including the demesne lands of Newton and the rectory manor of Wigan 

 with the advowson of the church. The absence in the Lancashire Pipe Rolls 

 of any reference to this grant before the time of John seems to suggest a doubt 

 whether Robert Banastre's tenure was more than that of farmer or bailiff. 

 One of the tenants of this lordship at the date of the great inquest of service 

 taken in 1 2 1 2 was Robert de Adburgham, who is described as holding 4 ox- 

 gangs of land in Adburgham, now Abram, by the gift of King Henry in fee 

 farm by rendering 4J. yearly.^ Now the original grantee of this land from 

 Henry II. was undoubtedly Warin, son of Godfrey Banastre, father of Richard 

 de Adburgham and of Henry de Bispham, and donor of one oxgang of his 

 demesne land in Abram to the canons of Cockersand. By his charter, to 

 which Thurstan Banastre and Robert, brother of Thurstan — note the relation- 

 ship — and Richard, the grantor's son, are attestants, he confirmed the grant 

 of land in Abram, called Ockelshaw, made by his nephew William de Ockel- 

 shaw to the same canons for the health of the soul of King Henry, and of 

 the soul of Warin Banastre.* These grants were made about 1 1 90, and supply 

 the only contemporary evidence that we have found of the settlement of the 

 Banastres in Makerfield before the end of the twelfth century and of the 

 probable nature of their tenure. 



To the circumstances related above is to be traced the settlement in the 

 county of numerous families of Welshmen, who soon exchanged their native 

 patronymics for territorial names. Certain letters close of Henry III., directed 

 to the sheriff in the year 1229, afford evidence of the very considerable num- 

 bers of these settlers, then and long after known as ' Banastre's Welshmen.' In 

 accordance with a precept to tallage the demesne manors, and manors for- 

 merly in the demesne of the county, the sheriff had assessed these men to a 

 tallage of 20 marks, against which they had protested, as being entirely 

 contrary to the custom under which they and their predecessors had enjoyed 

 immunity from tallage. The demand was put in respite, and nothing more 

 heard of it.' 



Robert Banastre probably died during Richard's reign, leaving three sons, 

 Richard, Warin, and Thurstan, all probably under age.* Richard, the eldest, 

 died during his minority without issue. In 1201 Adam de Lowton and 

 Thomas de Goldborne answered for the scutage of one knight's fee, by which 

 service Newton, Lowton, Kenyon, Arbury, and half of Golborne were held." 

 Upon attaining his majority Warin, the second son, in 1204 proffered 

 400 marks, payable within four years, to have the land of Makerfield, and was put 

 in seisin shortly before Michaelmas that year.' A grant of land in Walton 

 apparently made by this Warin to one Alvred, has a seal appendant, bearing 



1 Testa de yeviU (Rec. Com.), 406. 



= Cockersand Chartul. Chetham Soc. 660-1. S Qal. ofChse R i227-«i icg 



* Warin and Thurstan attested Theobald Walter's grant to the canons of Cockersand of the Hay of Pilline 

 between iig^and 1199. Cockersand Chartul. 375. °' 



^Rot.deObktis{^^c. Com.) 167. The great extent of ,322-3 specifically states that the manor of 

 Newton with Lowton Kenyon and Arbury, and half of Golborne, was held by the service of one knieht and 

 the render of i o.. at Midsummer for the casde-guard and y. 4^. (for sake fee), and the remainder of the lordship 

 or barony, including Wigan with the advowson of the church and half of Golborne, by fealty in wjcagc withoDt 

 any other service. Dodsworth MSS. cxxxi. 33. ' / 6>- "»"•""<• 



« Rot. de Oblatis (Rec. Com.), 207. 



