A History of Cawthorne

Front matter

A HISTORY OF CAWTHORNE

A

HISTORY

Dedication

<>To <>WALTER T. W. SPENCER-STANHOPE, <>of Cannon Hall, <>Esquire, M.A., J.P., D.L,&c.,&c., <>AND <>TO THE MEMORY OF HER <>WHO WAS DEAREST TO HIM, <>this History of their Parish <>IS DEDICATED <>WITH A HAPPY AND GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE <>OF MANY YEARS OF KINDNESS TO >>The Author.

Preface

PREFACE.

This volume was originally intended to be merely a short history and description of the Parish Church in connection with its recent Restoration. It was afterwards thought best, however, to make it include those other branches of parochial history which more or less gather round the history of the Church.

It will be obvious to the reader that matters are frequently introduced into these pages which have no very immediate connection with Cawthorne or with Cawthorne more than any other Parish; that the pages are here and there loaded in an unusual manner with explanations; and also that some of the descriptions have been carried to great minuteness of detail, and matters mentioned which seem of very trivial importance.

This has not been done without a purpose. In the first place, it has been my wish to show in some measure how the chronicles of even a country Parish like our own interlace themselves with the most memorable events of our national life and history: how they bear traces of Saxon England's Conversion to Christianity, of the Norman Conquest and its Feudalism, of the Wars of the Roses, of the Dissolution of Religious Houses, of the Great Rebellion, and of other national crises.

The introduction of so many explanations of even familiar words and usages will shew that the author has not compiled his History for the learned antiquary or even the educated scholar, but rather for those who already feel some interest in Cawthorne, through residence, neighbourhood, or family connection, and who will feel an increased interest in its history from having the origin and meaning of familiar words and customs thus explained. The explanations are given in the text to avoid the distraction of foot-notes.

In defence of any wearisome minuteness, I would only give a remark of Pugin on Architecture: "Even the smallest details should have a meaning or serve a purpose." It is not without a meaning or purpose of some kind, that anything has been described at length or even mentioned at all in these pages. As for any lengthened descriptions in connection with the Church, the author fully agrees with one who has said, "If we place beautiful and costly ornaments and furniture in our Churches, the poorest person in the Parish should be taught the meaning of them."

The trivial and almost domestic details of Parish life are given under the impression that even such matters may not be altogether without interest to the Cawthorne people of the next century, if these pages should ever chance to fall into their hands.

It is obvious that a book written at intervals will shew signs of its fragmentary composition, nor can it be expected that it should be altogether free from errors or omissions. Some pains have been taken to make it as accurate as possible, and any omissions will, it is hoped, be gradually supplied by those who take an interest in the Parish. To encourage corrections and additions, several blank pages will be bound with each volume. It is suggested, that into these pages copies should be made of any inscriptions on family headstones; the dates of family Births, Baptisms, &c; personal recollections of any who are mentioned in the History, or of any others in the Parish, which are for any reason worth preserving; curious or amusing anecdotes of persons and places; old traditions or customs which seem likely to die out; alterations which are from time to time made in things mentioned in the volume; photographs of any home or birthplace. It has not been the intention of the author to make the History one of elaborate pedigrees or personal recollections, so much as merely a means of preserving ancient and modern records connected with the Parish, and making them more widely known among those who are likely to feel an interest in them.

It was intended at one time that an Index should be added which would include every Place and Person mentioned. The introduction of so many names has rendered it impossible within reasonable limits. The Headings of the several Chapters in the Table of Contents will, it is hoped, be found generally sufficient.

To those who have in any way assisted me I have the pleasant duty of thus publicly though generally expressing my best thanks.

The compilation of the following pages has been to me a source of increasing interest and pleasure. both in itself and in the historical and other researches into which it has led me: I can only hope that at least some small measure of the same kind of interest may be felt by some of its readers.

Cawthorne Vicarage: Oct., 1882.

Bibliography

The following are some of the Works and Authorities which have been made use of or consulted:

Monasticon Anglicanum per Rog. Dodsworth et Gulielm. Dugdale: 3 vols folio. London, 1655, 61, and 73.

Ditto: edition by Cayley, Ellis, and Bandinel: 6 vols folio: London, 1817-30.

Domesday Book.

Dom Boc. A Translation of the Record called Domesday as far as it relates to the County of York: by the Rev. W. Bawdwen: Doncaster, 1809.

South Yorkshire: History of the Deanery of Doncaster: Rev. Jos. Hunter. Vol. I, 1828; Vol. II., 1831. (Vol. II contains this neighbourhood.)

A Manual for the Genealogist and Topographer, by R. Sims, 2nd edition; Smith, London, 1861.

Whitaker's History of Whalley: Vol. I, 4th edition, Routledge, London, 1872.

Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England.

Dodsworth Manuscripts: Bodleian Library, Oxford.

Rawlinson do. : do. , do.

Collectio Rerum Ecclesiast. de Dioc. Eboracensi. New Edition: George Lawton: Rivingtons, 1842.

Ducatus Leodensis, Ralph Thoresby F.R S.; 2 edition, Notes by Whitaker. 1816.

Pedigrees of the County Families of Yorkshire: Vol I., West Riding; by Joseph Foster: London, 1874.

Surtees Society: Kirkby's Inquest; Inquisitions of Knight's Fees; The Nomina Villarum for Yorkshire: Vol.49. Glover's Visitation of Yorkshire, Vol. 63*. Yorkshire Diaries and Autobiographies, Vol. 65. And other Volumes.

Encyclopedia of Heraldry, (Burke.)

The Book of the Poll-Tax: West Riding. Yorkshire Archæol. Soc., 1882.

A List of Roman Catholics in the County of York in 1604. E. Peacock, F. S. A.: Hotten, 1872.

How to write the History of a Parish, J. C. Cox: Bemrose, 1879

A Short History of the English People, J. R. Green; Macmillan

History of Barnsley: Rowland Jackson: Bell and Daldy, 1858.

History of Worsborough; Joseph Wilkinson.

History of Pontefract; B. Boothroyd: Pontefract, 1807.

History of Kirkhurton, Henry J. Moorhouse: Huddersfield, 1861.

Walks about Wakefield and its Neighbourhood; W. S. Banks: Longmans, 1871.

Monasticon Eboracense, John Burton: London, 1758.

Hallamshire, Rev. Dr. Gatty: Bell and Daldy, 1869.

Lives of the Saints, S. Baring-Gould: Hodges, 1874.

An Attempt towards recovering some account of the numbers and sufferings of the Clergy of the Church of England in the times of the Grand Rebellion; Rev. James Walker: London, 1714.

Calendar of the Anglican Church: Parkers, 1851.

Glossary of Gothic Architecture; J. H. Parker. Parkers.

Stones of the Temple, Walter Field, F.S.A.: Rivingtons, 1876.

The Early English Church, E. Churton; Burns, 1840.

Conversion of the West: The English: Dr. Maclear: S.P.C.K.

Turning Points of English Church History, E. L. Cutts: S.P.C.K.

The Book of Church Law; J. H. Blunt: Rivingtons.

Various Parochial and local notes and notices, The Barnsley Chronicle, and Mr. Wilkinson's "Worthies, Families, &c., &c."

It need hardly be stated that Hunter's South Yorkshire—the Deanery of Doncaster—has been the foundation of a very large part of the early history of these pages: no one could possibly write on any part of this neighbourhood without having to acknowledge his great obligations to that learned antiquary and topographer.

The following record was not known to me at the time when the chapter on the Endowments of the Church was written:

"To the Right Honourable the Commissioners for Compositions sitting at Goldsmith's Hall;

"The Humble Petition of the Inhabitants and Parishioners of the Parish of Cawthorne in the County of York

"Humbly sheweth,

"That by order of the Hon. Committee of Plundered Ministers £50 per ann. was granted out of the Profites of the Impropriate Rectory of Penistone to the Minister of Cawthorne aforesaid, the said Rectory lately belonging to the Earl of Arundell, but, the said Rectory out of which the same was to proceed being given by will for the mayntenance of a Free School and Hospitall at Sheffield, your Petitioners could never yet reape any benefitt by the said order, but the Premises are wholey employed accordinge to the direction of the said Will;

"That Sir Thomas Smith Knt. has settled the Hospitall of St. Andrewes of Donwall Co. Chester, of the value of £110 per ann. for 3 lives, for the use of the ministers of such places as this hon. committee shall appoint;

"That the Minister of Cawthorne hath already but £19 per ann., the said Parish beinge very greate and consistinge of above 400 communicants;

"Your Petitioners humbly pray that you will be pleased as in cases of like nature to graunte unto the said Minister of Cawthorne £50 per ann. for an increase of mayntenance to be paid out of the Hospitall of St. Andrews above named: And your Petitioners, &c., &c.

"Granted, 5 Oct., 1648."

Royalist Composition Papers: Vol. XII., 767.

Chapter I: Derivation: Early History

History of Cawthorne.

CHAPTER I.

DERIVATION: EARLY HISTORY.

It is Hunter's remark, at the beginning of his notice of Cawthorne, that "various attempts have been made, but with little success, to explain the Origin of this name." It is given as "Caltorne" in the most ancient record in which the name is found, the Domesday Book.

Taking the last syllable of the word as it is spelt in later times, an understanding the word thorne to generally mean "marshy land," Hunter can see no connection, he says, between such a meaning and the side of a dry eminence fronting the north," which is "the situation of the vill of Cawthorne."

He mentions that "some one has said that thorne is an ancient word answering to the Latin castellum," but he evidently looks upon this explanation unsupported by any evidence with great suspicion. He adds, "The same writer who makes thorne have "the meaning of castellum regards the Cal of its ancient form as a contraction of the Anglo-Saxon cald."

It has been suggested to me by one of the greatest Anglo-Saxon authorities of the present day, that we may "conceivably" find the derivation of Cawthorne, through its earlier form of Caltorne, in Calt, representing the Anglo-Saxon cald (—cold), and —orne, a later spelling of ern (—house, or building).

The name of Caldern, Caltorne, Cawthorne, the vowel a having the same pronunciation in each word, would then be analagous to "Coldharbour," a later way of expressing the same idea of "a house wherein no man dwelt."

"Compounds of —ern," says the authority, "were liable to get spelt in time with —orn or horn. A palmary example is Whitehorn, in Galloway, of which name we have the best information. Beda tells us that it meant "Candida Casa," i.e., "White House," being made of Hwit—white, and ern—house."

It is not to be expected that any mention should be found of Cawthorne earlier than that of the Conqueror's great National Survey, which was commenced in 1085, and completed about 1086.

The country around Cawthorne at the time of the Norman Conquest would be for the most part covered with woods and thickets on the higher ground, and with marshes on the lower, while the hand of man was gradually extending the clearings round the site of our present neighbouring villages and hamlets, which are all of them mentioned in the Survey.

In making that Survey, the King's commissioners were directed to impannel a jury in each Hundred or Wapentake, who were to declare on oath the extent and nature of every estate within its boundary; the name of its owner; the nature of its tenure; the quantity of pasture, arable, and wood land; its value before the Conquest, in the time of Edward the Confessor; its value at that present time; and also what payments were due from it to the Crown.

The account of the Manor of Cawthorne would be given by the jury impannelled in the Wapentake of Staincross. The old Deira, the Latinized British "Dour," of the Kingdom of Northumbria, had by this time become the County of Yorkshire, with its three greater divisions of "Trithings," since corrupted into "Ridings," and with all its lesser divisions of "Wapentakes," so called most probably from the old custom of touching (tac—touch) arms or weapons, when the hundreder or high constable of the district entered upon his office. The Stone Cross of the accustomed meeting-place—the moot—of this division, in or near the present village of Staincross, gave origin to its name, no doubt, as the "Wapentake of Staincross," as some Cross of St Oswald (642 A.D.) gave its name to the neighbouring "Wapentake of Osgodcross." Hunter remarks, "By thus assembling at the Foot of the Cross, there was a tincture of religion diffused through the conduct of the civil affairs of the time."

The following is a full translation of the report on the Manor of Cawthorne, as given in the "Dom Boc," commonly called the Domesday Book, which is now preserved, since 1696, in the Chapter House, Westminster, having been formerly deposited in Winchester Cathedral:

"Staincross Wapentac.

"Manor. In Caltorne Alric had three carucates of land to be taxed, and there may be two ploughs there ("poss. ibi esse"). The same has it now of Ilbert: himself two ploughs there and four villanes with two ploughs. There is a Priest and a Church ("Ibi presbyter et ecclesia"). Wood pasture two miles long and two broad. The whole Manor three miles long and two broad. Value in King Edward's time, forty shillings; now, twenty shillings.

"To this Manor belongs Silchestone (Silkstone), one carucate and a half; Holant (High Hoyland), six oxgangs; Clactone (Clayton West), six oxgangs. That is, three carucates of land to be taxed, and there may be two ploughs there."

The "carucate" of land here mentioned was probably no fixed number of acres, but variously estimated according to the quality of the land at from sixty to one hundred and twenty acres; the "oxgang" or "bovate," being as much land as could be worked by one ox, was the eighth part of a "carucate;" the "villanes," or villeins (from vill—a village) were an order of tenants holding under the lord, born upon and transferred with their lord's estate, and bound by their tenure to perform what were called villain services, ignoble in their nature and indeterminate in their degree.The mile of Domesday Book was about one and a half of our present miles: the shilling, it need hardly be said, many times the value of the shilling of the present day. A "manor" was so called a manendo, as being the usual residence of the owner.

William the Conqueror divided such parts of England as did not belong to the Church and were not reserved for himself into seven hundred baronies or great fiefs, which he bestowed upon his particular friends, and on those who had most assisted him in his work of conquest. These baronies were subdivided into upwards of sixty thousand knight's fees, which usually consisted of about two carucates of land, and which were held from the King's immediate tenants on specified conditions of homage, fealty, &c.

In the first year after the Conquest, the Manor of Cawthorne passed from the hands of the Saxon Ailric into those of the Norman Ilbert de Laci, who held a hundred and sixty-four manors in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire, and whose lands in Yorkshire alone fill no less than seven pages of the Domesday Book. His estates formed what was known in later times as the "Honour of Pontefract," and included about one hundred and fifty-six townships. There is what Hunter calls "a beautiful history" of this de Laci family in Dr. Whittaker's "History of Whalley:" and, in that marvellous monument of human industry, the Dodsworth manuscripts, in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, there is a history of this family's Religious Foundations, which Dodsworth, who died in 1654, has marked as having been given to him by a John Stanhope, Esq. "Historia Fundationum diversorum Monasteriorum et ecclesiarum per nobilissimam Laceiorum Familiam: Ex dono Johis Stanhope, Armi." These six pages (Dodsw. MSS.157) are somewhat mutilated, and are continued in another handwriting, to show the connection of the de Laci family in later times with Henry VI. (See Dodsw. MSS., vol. II., p. 52 also Rawlinson MSS. (Bodleian) Libr. C., "4, 5," or 57, 8).

The Saxon resident at Cawthorne, with all his surrounding dependents, was not otherwise interfered with at the Norman Conquest of 1066 than by a change of tenure, which substituted for the freedom of an independence, which only acknowledged the sovereignty of the King, the new obligations of a feudal lord's tenant, which would not press upon him with any great severity. As the tenant of Ilbert de Laci, Ailric would still be, to use the expression of much more recent times, the great resident squire of the neighbourhood, exercising his power and influence over it according to the manners and customs of his day.

With some knowledge of Anglo-Saxon life in the middle of the eleventh century, and of what this part of the country must have been with its woods and thickets and marshes, and its scattered villages with their surrounding clearings, it would not be difficult to re-people this neighbourhood in imagination with its Saxon lord and his family, still in virtually independent possession of his vast estates extending from Ingbirchworth in the West, to Brierley in the East, surrounded by numerous dependents holding land of him in the various hamlets round, himself a man of many noble qualities and much manly energy, neither free from the vices common to his times, nor yet altogether careless of his duties and responsibilities as a Christian and a landlord. It is to these Anglo-Saxon forefathers that we owe some of our national better qualities, and nearly all those great religious, civil, and political institutions, which are still influencing in their altered form our common national life.

Chapter II: The De Laci Family, Chief Lords of Cawthorne

CHAPTER II.

THE DE LACI FAMILY, CHIEF LORDS OF CAWTHORNE.

The Ilbert de Laci, to whom the Conqueror gave the vast estates which were afterwards called "The Honour of Pontefract," built the Castle of Pontefract for his residence. It was completed after twelve years in 1080, and he is said to have called the name of his castle Pontfrete, when he laid its foundation, because its situation reminded him of his birthplace of that name in Normandy. On his death, in 1090, he was succeeded by his son Robert, who was the founder of the Cluniac Priory of St. John at Pontefract, which was founded in the year of his father's death, and consecrated by Roger, Archbishop of York, in 1159.

Two charters of this Robert de Laci are given in the Monasticon Anglicanum as from the Chartulary of Pontefract then in the possession of Thomas Widrington (Ex cartulario de Pontefracto, fol. 1., penes Thomam Widrington militem an. 1652). This Thomas was prohably the son of the Roger Widrington who married a Rosamond Wentworth, of Woolley, in that century; hence the present possession of this Chartulary—the parchment Book of the Religious Foundation's Charters—by Godfrey Wentworth, Esq., of Woolley.

In the first charter, Robert de Laci gives to this Religious House he has built on his manor of Kyrkebi (i.e. Pontefract) the whole of his estate at Dodworth (Doddewrthe), along with many other estates; also, "the Church of Silkeston, of the gift of Swein the son of Ailric, with the chapels and all things belonging thereto" ("eccelsiam de Sylkeston ex dono Suani filii Aldrici, cum capellis et omnibus ad eandem pertinentibus.")

In the second charter, Robert confirms his former grant, and enlarges and explains it. He describes his gift of his estate at Dodworth as being made for the maintenance of the monks' borses and those of their friends. "Ad prebendandos equos suos et hospitum suorum quoddam dominium meum scilicet Doddewrthe, quod situm est inter Silkeston et Bernesle." He describes its position with great minuteness: its being bounded towards Silkeston by the Wolf-Pit, by the valley beyond Huggeside (Hugsett), and by the middle of Silkeston Beck as far as opposite Barneby, which water-course is the boundary between Barneby and Dodworth.

"I have granted and confirmed moreover to the said monks, of the gift of Swein the son of Ailric, the Church of Silkstone with six Oxgangs of land in the same village, with all things belonging thereto, and the Chapel of Cawthorne, and the other chapels, lands, and tithes belonging to the Church or Chapel aforesaid."

"Concesi autem et confirmavi eisdem monachis meis ex dono Suani filii Ailrici ecclesiam de Silkeston, cum sex bovatis terræ in "eadem villa, cum pertinentus suis, et capellam de Calthorn, et cæteras capellas et terras et decimas prædictæ ecclesiæ vel prædictæ capellæ pertinentes."

Hunter regards this second Charter with some suspicion, as having in the reign of Henry I. the same witnesses as the earlier one of the time of William II.

Probably with a view to preserving the family's estates in Normandy as well as in England, Robert de Laci espoused what Whittaker calls "the better cause" of Robert Curthose against the claims to the Crown of England of the Conqueror's younger son Henry I. In the first year of his reign, therefore, Henry dispossessed him of all his large estates, bestowed his castle and lands upon Hugh de la Val, and banished Robert and his son Ilbert de Laci from the Kingdom.

A Charter of Hugh de La Val is given in the Monasticon in which he confirms to the Monastery of Pontefract all that Robert do Laci had granted. "Confirmo quicquid Rodbertus de Laceio tempore Regis Willielmi secundi et ego postmodum tempore Regis Henrici donavi." Amongst the numerous Churches mentioned is that of Silkston and the Church of Cawthorne. "* * et in Silkeston VI bovatas terræ de dono Ailsi et ecclesiam de Silkeston cum hiis quæ ad illam pertinent de dono Swaini filii Ailrici et iterum de dono ipsius ecclesiam de Caltorna cum duabus partibus decimarum totius dominii sui."

This Charter is confirmed by King Henry: "Ego Henricus Rex Angliæ signo sanctæ x crucis confirmo."

After a few years' exile, Robert was allowed to return, and all his estates and honours were restored to him. He assisted in the roof the Priory of St. Oswald at Nostell, and confirmed many of the grants of Churches to that Priory which de la Val had made in his absence, including those of South Kirkby, Featherstone, Huddersfield, Rothwell, and Kirkthorpe.

In the Dodsworth MSS, Vol.II. 52, we read, "Iste Robertus de Laci de Pontefracto fundabat prioratum Canonicorum Regularium Sci Oswaldi apud Nostla, non procul a castello suo de Pontefracto … fundabat etiam prioratum Sci Johannis Apostoli et Evangelisticæ in Domino suo de Kirkeby postea vocata de Pontefracto."

He gives too (f. 119) "Carta Roberti de Lacy de situ Prioratus S. Oswaldi de Nostell ." (Nostell—North Stall).

Robert died in the latter part of Henry I., leaving two sons, lbert and Henry, the latter of whom became the founder of Kirkstall Abbey, after he had succeeded to his father's estate on the death of his elder brother Ilbert without issue.

This second Ilbert greatly distinguished himself by his faithfulness to King Stephen against Matilda's claims, and by his conspicuous valour in the Battle of the Standard, fought at Cowton Moor near Northallerton (1138), where the barons and freemen of the North gathered round Archbishop Thurston, and completely routed their Scottish enemies.

Henry de Laci, Ilbert's brother and successor, died in the latter part of Henry II., being succeeded by his son Robert, one of the barons who attended the coronation of Richard I. This Robert died in 1193, leaving no child. He is spoken of by Hunter (Deanery of Doncaster, Vol.II., p. 202, 1831) as "the last of the original line of Laci, and, as far as it appears, the last remaining descendant, male or female, of Ilbert de Laci, the original grantee" of the Conqueror.

Following Dugdale and the whole body of later genealogists, Hunter makes the de Laci estates go to Henry's half-sister Albreda de Lizours, the daughter of his mother by her second husband Robert de Lizours, lord of Sprotborough. This descent is taken from a historical fragment, written not earlier than Henry VI., called "Historia Laceiorum," which is given in the Monasticon.

In his preface, when editing the Pipe Rolls in 1833, (Magnus Rotulus Pipæ, 31 Henry I.) Hunter is able to correct this strange and unexampled manner of descent, and to show, with almost certainty, that this Albreda to whom the estates descended was the lineal heiress of the family, being the cousin of their last possessor, and granddaughter of the first Robert de Laci.

The connection is thus given in Glover's Visitation of Yorkshire, 1584-5 (Surtees Society, Volume 63*): "Albreda de Laci, sister and ultimately heir of Ilbert de Laci (vide fine 5 King Richard), married Robert de Lizours: had daughter Albreda de Lizours, dau. and heir (vide fine 5 King Richard), married Sir Wm. Fitz-Godric, 1st husband, a quo Earl Fitzwilliam: 2nd husband, Richard Fitz-Eustace, only son inherited the honours of his mother and became 5th Baron of Halton and Constable of Chester. He paid 25 marks for his marriage (Pipe Roll 31 Henry I.): ob. 1178."

In this Pipe Roll of the King's Exchequer Court of 1131, Robert de Lizouis is given as paying a fine of £8 6s. 8d. to the Crown for being allowed to marry the sister and heir of Ilbert de Laci. "Robertus de Lusoriis reddit compotum de viii li. vi s. viii d., ut ducat in uxorem sororem Ilberti de Laci. In thesauro iiii li., et debet iiii li vi s. viii d." (Dodsw. MSS., III., 78.)

Their daughter Albreda was also heiress of her father's lordship of Sprotborough. As her first husband she married Fitz-Eustace, Baron Halton in the Earldom of Chester, and hereditary Constable of Chester, who died before 1178. By this husband she had a son John, who died (1190) before his mother, leaving a son Roger heir both to the de Laci and Fitz-Eustace estates. This Albreda's second husband was William Fitz-Godric, lord of Elmley, from whom is descended the noble family of Fitzwilliam, and also that of Sir Jos. Copley, of Sprotborough. Albreda's grandson Roger was living at the time of Robert de Laci's death in 1193, and there is record of a fine levied in the King's Court at Winchester, on April 25th, 5 Richard 1. (1194), by which Albreda makes her grandson Roger heir to all the de Laci estates, whilst he at the same time quits claim to her of all the lands of her father, Robert de Lizours.

This Roger de Lizours now assumed the name of de Laci, and became the founder of the second de Laci family, chief lords of Cawthorne, having their residence at the great fortress and place of Pontefract. When he died, in 1211, he left a son John de Laci, Count of Chester, who married Margaret, daughter and co-heiress of Robert de Quincy, son of Saher, Earl of Winchester. This Robert had married Hawys, fourth sister and co-heiress of Ranulph Blondeville, Earl of Chester and Lincoln. Immediately on this Earl of Chester's death, the Countess Hawys transferred the Earldom of Lincoln to her son-in-law John de Laci, an arrangement no doubt contemplated by his uncle, the late earl, and one which was completed and confirmed by Royal Charter, Nov. 23rd, 1232 (17 Henry III.)

John and Margaret (1230) had a son Edmund de Laci, who, as he died (1258) in the lifetime of his mother, in whom the title vested, never assumed the Earldom of Lincoln, though he was from 1240 to 1258 lord of the Honour of Pontefract. Edmund left a son Henry, "the last and greatest man of all his line." "1251: Natus est Henricus de Lacy 3 idus Januarii." (MSS. Cotton; Vesp. D. xviii. f.) He was the confidential servant and friend of Edward I., and on the death of his grandmother he became Earl of Lincoln, in 1278.

This Henry, whose name plays a conspicuous part in the history of his time—that "period of national glory," as Hunter calls it, "the "reign of Edward I."—was lord of this Honour of Pontefract for fifty-two years. He died Feb. 5, 1310, and was buried in St. Paul's; of his two sons and two daughters, his daughter Alice alone survived him. In 1294, this daughter and heiress was contracted in marriage, when only nine years old, to Thomas Plantagenet then Earl of Leicester, elder son of Edmund, Earl of Lancaster, brother of Edward I., and younger son of Henry III.

Henry de Laci, this last male heir, at that time (1294) surrendered all his lands to King Edward I., who, at the same time, re-granted them to Henry for his life, and after his decease to Thomas Plantagenet and Alice his wife, and their heirs, annexing to this grant the extraordinary provision, that, in default of such heirs, the estates should go to Edmund, the father of Earl Thomas, and to his heirs for ever.

Thomas Earl of Lancaster is given as the lord of this Wapentake of Staincross in the "Nomina Villarum" of 9 Edward II., being the returns made by the Sheriffs (shire-reeves) of the hundreds, wapentakes, &c., in the several bailiwicks. The entry is, "Libertas de Osgotcrosse." "Thomas Comes Lancastriæ dominus est libertatis de Osgotcrosse," Staincross being included in the Wapentake of Osgoldcross. Cawthorne in this Return is given as "Salthorn." No mention is made of either Staincross or Osgoldcross in the earlier Survey known as "Kirkeby's Inquest," 13 Edward I., 1284-5, on account, most probably, of all the land being held by one person.