The History of the Church and Manor of Wigan/Sir Thomas Langton

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The History of the Church and Manor of Wigan
by George Thomas Orlando Bridgeman

Sir Thomas Langton

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477913The History of the Church and Manor of Wigan — Sir Thomas LangtonGeorge Thomas Orlando Bridgeman

Sir Thomas Langton was admitted, 9th August, 1504, to the parish church of Wigan, vacant by the death of John Langton, the last rector, on the presentation of James Anderton, William Banastre, Thomas Langton, brother of Gilbert Langton of the Lawe, and William Wodcokke, true patrons for that turn by virtue of the feoffment made to them by Ralph Langton, Esq., deceased, of all his lands and tenements together with the advowson of the said church.^[1] The author of the History of Langton, informs us that on 6th December of the same year, 20 Hen. VII., 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.^[2] 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.

↑ Lichfield Diocesan Register.
↑ 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.

[1] Lichfield Diocesan Register.

[2] 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.

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