Sir John Asheton, Kt.

John de Ashton is said to have distinguished himself at the siege of Noyon in 1370, (fn. 43) and represented the county in Parliament in 1382, 1388, and 1390. (fn. 44) He was apparently father of Sir John de Ashton his successor, (fn. 45) prominent in the French wars of Henry V, and Seneschal of Bayeux in 1416. (fn. 46) In 1413 Sir John obtained a release of the service due from the manor. After reciting that he held it of Sir Richard de Kirkby by the rent of 1d., and that Sir Richard held it of Thomas La Warre, lord of Manchester, by the rent of 22s. and a hawk or 40s., which services Sir John de Ashton had to render on behalf of Sir Richard, the feoffees of Thomas La Warre granted that Sir John, Sir Richard, and their heirs should be free from the said service after the death of Thomas. (fn. 47) This Sir John died in 1428, holding the manor of Ashton of Robert de Ogle (in right of his wife Isabel, granddaughter and heir of Sir Richard Kirkby), and other manors and lands. Thomas, his son and heir, then twenty-five years of age, (fn. 48) came to be known as 'the Alchemist'; (fn. 49) he left a son John, (fn. 50) made a knight in 1460. (fn. 51) Sir John died in 1484, holding the manor of Ashton, with the advowson of the church, lands in Manchester, Oldham, and Wardle; and the manor of Alt. Sir Thomas, his son and heir, was sixty years of age in 1507, when the inquisition was taken. (fn. 52)

In 1513 Sir Thomas Ashton made a feoffment of his manors of Ashton and Alt, and his lands and rents there and in Oldham, Hundersfield, and Manchester, for the fulfilment of his will; and died a year later, on 21 July 1514, leaving as heirs George Booth, son of his daughter Margaret, who had been the wife of Sir William Booth, and his other daughters Elizabeth Ashton, and Alice wife of Richard Hoghton, all of full age. (fn. 53) In accordance with Sir Thomas's will the estate was held for the use of the three heirs, a division being sought in 1537. (fn. 54) Elizabeth Ashton died on 31 December 1553, without issue, (fn. 55) so that afterwards the manor and lands were held equally by the Booths (fn. 56) and Hoghtons. (fn. 57) Before the close of the 16th century, however, the whole had come into the possession of the former family, (fn. 58) and descended to George Harry Grey, seventh Earl of Stamford and Warrington, who died in 1883. (fn. 59) Under his will, it is stated, the Lancashire estates are to pass to his wife's grandniece, Katherine Sarah, wife of Sir Henry Foley Lambert, baronet. (fn. 60) Trustees are in possession.