Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 1.djvu/83

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History of the Church and Manor of Wigan.

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Thomas Langton, clerk, rector of Wigan, acquired the custody of the lands held by Joane, widow of Ralph Langton, until the full age of the heir.^[1] This rector was probably a brother of Ralph Langton, Baron of Newton, though he is not mentioned in the pedigree. They seem to have been a short-lived family, and he died within two years of this date.

Mr. Richard Wyot, S.T.P., was admitted 16th August, 1506, to the parish church of Wigan, vacant by the death of Sir Thomas Langton, by the Reverend Father and Lord Geoffrey, bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, on the presentation of King Henry VII. by reason of the minority of Thomas Langton, son and heir of Ralph Langton, deceased.^[2]

Richard Wyot (Wiot or Wyett) had been ordained acolyte 22 Feb., 1493-4, and was Proctor of the University of Cambridge in 1498 and 1501.^[3] He was admitted to the prebend of Bishopshill in the cathedral church of Lichfield, in September, 1506, which he resigned in January, 1508-9, for that of Ruiton in the same church, which latter he held from 10th February, 1508-9,

↑ History of Langton by John Harwood Hill, p. 20 Mr. Hill says that he had the custody of these lands given to him at this date, on the death of the said Joane, but her death at this time must be an assumption on Mr. Hill's part, for she was certainly living after this date. Joane, the widow of Ralph Langton, was the daughter of Sir Christopher Southworth of Samlesbury. She is erroneously called Elizabeth in the pedigree printed in Baines' History of Lancashire. Her husband had bequeathed to her the custody of his children, but the wardship of the heir of a military tenant belonged to the King, and it was by the King's grant of 13th May, 1504, 19 Hen. VII., that the widow had custody of the estates, held by knight's service, together with the marriage of the heir (see Lancashire and Cheshire Wills edited by Rev. G. J. Piccope, p. 246, printed for the Chelham Tract li). I presume that she sold her rights (or perhaps only the custody of the lands) to Thomas Langton; after whose death she granted them, on 11th November, 1506, 22 Hen. VII., to Sir Edward Stanley, a younger son of Thomas, first Earl of Derby, popularly known as the hero of Flodden Field, and in consequence of his good services created Lord Monteagle, who eventually married the heir to his own daughter Elizabeth.
↑ Lichfield Diocesan Register Lib. xiii., now in the Chester Diocesan Registry.
↑ Athenæ Cantabrigienses vol. i. p. 26. He bore for his arms—per fesse asure and gules, a barnacle argent.

[1] History of Langton by John Harwood Hill, p. 20 Mr. Hill says that he had the custody of these lands given to him at this date, on the death of the said Joane, but her death at this time must be an assumption on Mr. Hill's part, for she was certainly living after this date. Joane, the widow of Ralph Langton, was the daughter of Sir Christopher Southworth of Samlesbury. She is erroneously called Elizabeth in the pedigree printed in Baines' History of Lancashire. Her husband had bequeathed to her the custody of his children, but the wardship of the heir of a military tenant belonged to the King, and it was by the King's grant of 13th May, 1504, 19 Hen. VII., that the widow had custody of the estates, held by knight's service, together with the marriage of the heir (see Lancashire and Cheshire Wills edited by Rev. G. J. Piccope, p. 246, printed for the Chelham Tract li). I presume that she sold her rights (or perhaps only the custody of the lands) to Thomas Langton; after whose death she granted them, on 11th November, 1506, 22 Hen. VII., to Sir Edward Stanley, a younger son of Thomas, first Earl of Derby, popularly known as the hero of Flodden Field, and in consequence of his good services created Lord Monteagle, who eventually married the heir to his own daughter Elizabeth.

[2] Lichfield Diocesan Register Lib. xiii., now in the Chester Diocesan Registry.

[3] Athenæ Cantabrigienses vol. i. p. 26. He bore for his arms—per fesse asure and gules, a barnacle argent.

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