Elizeus De Workesley

Elizeus, was one of the earliest Crusaders and the founder of the family of Workedley, Workeslegh or Worsley, undoubtedly one of the oldest in Lancashire and is said to have held the Manor of Workeslegh as early as the Conquest, 1066. From the time of this Crusade, the manor of that name remained in the family until about the 46th of Edward III, 1372, when Alice, sole heiress of Sir Geoffrey Worsley, conveyed it by marriage to Sir John Massy of Tatton. Of this person we have the following account in Hopkinson's Manuscript Pedigrees of the North Riding of Yorkshire: "This Elias was seized of the Manor of Workesley, now Worsley, about the time of the Norman Conquest, anno 1066. He was of such strength and valour that he was reputed a giant, and the old script often calls him Elias Gigas. He fought many duels, combats, etc., for the love of our Saviour Christ Jesus and obtained many victories." Another account adds that he died at Rhodes and there lies buried.