knight, second son of Edward, third Earl of Derby, a lease of the said rectory, parish church and benefice, with the manor, park, and glebe lands, for the term of 99 years, at a yearly rent of £120;[1] and he seems to have done but little better for the rectory of Wigan.
William Blackleach, whom I suppose to have been the next rector, paid his first fruits on 22nd June, 11 Eliz., 1569.[2]
From certain pleadings in the Duchy Court in the time of the next rector it appears that Blackleach leased the tithes of the rectory of Wigan, for the term of his own incumbency, to Edmund Wynstanley and John Wodcocke and their assigns, who passed over their interest therein to John Assheton and Robert Worseley, of the Boothes, Esq.[3] I learn nothing more of this rector, who resigned the benefice within two years of his appointment.
Edward Fleetwood was admitted and instituted on 8th February, 13 Eliz., 1571, to the parish church of Wigan, vacant by the resignation of the last incumbent, on the presentation of Queen Elizabeth by reason of the minority of Thomas Langton the patron.[4] He paid his first fruits on the 12th of the same month.
- ↑ History of Winwick, pp. 32, 114.
- ↑ Record Society (Lancashire and Cheshire), vol. viii. p. 409. There was a family of the name of Blackleach (alias Blackledge) seated at Leyland at this period. Bishop Huan Blackleach (or Hesketh), Stanley's predecessor in the bishoprick of Man, is said to have been born at Blackleach Hall, in the lordship of Lathom (Leyland ?) in the county of Lancaster, and to have been the eldest son of that house (Raines' MSS., vol. vii., altered in pencil to x., p. 98, and labelled on the side "Dodsworth's MSS., vol. 149 to vol. 161. Finis.")
- ↑ Duchy of Lancaster Pleadings, 13 Eliz. vol. xlix. A. No. 19.
- ↑ Chester Diocesan Register. Thomas Langton, then in his minority, was the son of Leonard, 6th son of Sir Thomas Langton, knight, and grandson and heir of the said Sir Thomas. He succeeded his grandfather in 11 Eliz. 1569, being then 8 years of age. This last baron of Newton of this name did not add to the lustre of his family. In the year 1589 he was concerned in a fatal affray at Lea Hall, when Mr. Hoghton
