Richard Lathom, of Allerton

"Lathom (Parbold and Allerton, co. Lancaster). Same Arms as Lathom, of Lathom. Crest - An oak branch fesseways truncated and leaved ppr. thereon an eagle".

From: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53093

"The estates descended (fn. 15) to Thomas Lathom, who died in 1597, (fn. 16) and his son Richard, who died in 1602, leaving as heir a son Thomas, fifteen years old. (fn. 17) Thomas died in 1623 holding Parbold and the fourth part of Wrightington as before, together with another fourth part recently bought of Roger Kirkby; his heir was his son Richard, only five months old. (fn. 18) The family adhered to Roman Catholicism, and in the Civil War to the king's side. (fn. 19) Hence Richard Lathom's estates were confiscated for treason in 1652 (fn. 20) and ordered to be sold. (fn. 21) Allerton had to be alienated, and though a pedigree was recorded in 1664 (fn. 22) and the family retained Parbold a little longer, they were unable to retrieve their losses. Their possessions were therefore sold about 1680 to John Crisp, (fn. 23) whose descendants retained them for a century, (fn. 24) the manors of Parbold and Wrightington with various lands being sold to William Dicconson of Wrightington about 1791. (fn. 25) They have since descended with Wrightington. Manor House Farm is now known as Damstead Wood Farm. (fn. 26)"

Richard Lathom, who was born in 1563 and died in 1602. married Elizabeth daughter of Sir Piers or Peter Legh of Lyme. by whom he had several children. In an enquiry such as this, concerned as it is, not with the eldest sons who inherit. but with the younger sons and their possible descendants, we are at once confronted with some serious, almost insuperable difficulties. The genealogists seldom mention other than the heir, and if they do speak of any younger sons their accounts are usually incomplete. For example Gillow (C) only mentions Thomas (19) the eldest son and heir, and Richard, who was killed at Lichfield in 1643, fighting for the Royalists during the Parliamentary siege of the town.

From the Duchy of Lancaster Inquisitions Post-Mortem XVIII No. 44 (see the Victoria County History, Vol. VI, P.I79. note II) we learn that Richard Lathom (17) made a scttlement of Allerton on behalf of his wife and his younger sons, Edward, Peter, William, Richard, and John. As this seems to be the most complete account of these children it has been adopted in the genealogical tree.

From: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53092&strquery=...

Landowners contributing to the subsidy of 1542–3 in Wrightington with Tunley were Thomas Wrightington, Nicholas Rigby, Richard Banastre (two), and Robert Stopford. (fn. 71) In 1564 those in Wrightington with Parbold were Richard Lathom, Nicholas Rigby, Robert Stopford and John Wilson. (fn. 72)

From: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53093

At this point there is some obscurity, perhaps due to illegitimate succession.

William is said to have had a son William, whose son Richard was father of the Thomas named in the text; Piccope MS. Pedigrees (Chet. Lib.), ii, p. 37. William Lathom was described as 'a great man in those parts' in 1527; Duchy Plead. (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), i, 148.

Richard Lathom was in possession in 1546, when he purchased two gardens, &c., in Parbold and Wrightington from Richard Banastre; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 12, m. 170. See also Ducatus Lanc. (Rec. Com.), i, 182, 222. He was still living in 1567, when he claimed from Richard Stopford and others suit to the halmote court; ibid. ii, 348, 353.

Thomas Lathom was a defendant in 1578; ibid. iii, 69. He and Isabel his wife sold land in Walton in 1577; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 39, m. 83.

John Lathom of London claimed the manors of Allerton, Parbold and Wrightington (one-fourth) and various lands as son and heir of Robert brother and heir of William son and heir of Robert.

This last must be the Robert who died in 1516, so that at the date given for the petition John Lathom must have been a very aged man. He asserted that various deeds came into the hands of Richard Lathom of Parbold, who wrongfully entered and took the profits. See Duchy of Lanc. Plead. cciii, L 16.