Sir Elias de Workesley

"Nothing is known of Elias, the father of Richard. The legendary founder of the Worsley family was an Elias the Giant, who lived in the time of the Conqueror, became a Crusader, 'fought many duels, combats, &c.,for the love of our Saviour Jesus Christ and obtained many victories,' and died and was buried at Rhodes; Harland and Wilkinson, Lancs. Legends, 78."

"Wardley Hall has been successively the home of the Worsleys, the Tyldesleys, and the Downes, and many and various are the legends and romantic incidents associated with it. Of its earlier history we know little, and that little belongs as much to legend as to actual ascertained fact. The first possessors of whom any record has been preserved were the Worsleys, or de Workedeleghs, as anciently they wrote their name, or rather had it written for them, who were owners almost from the time of the Conquest. One of them, a certain Elias or Elizeus de Workeslegh, lord of Worsley, accompanied Duke Robert of Normandy in the expedition to the Holy Land projected by Peter the Hermit, when Europe sent forth the flower of its chivalry to do battle on the plains of Palestine for the recovery of the holy places from the Paynim foe; he was of such strength and valour as to be reputed a giant, and, according to the old scribes, was in consequence designated Elias Gigas, or Elias the Giant. Mention is made of this hero of ancient romance in Hopkinson's MS. pedigrees, and the quaint chronicler tells us "he fought many Duells, combats, &c, for the love of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and obtained many victories," and another writer adds that after many triumphs over the infidels he died at Rhodes, and was there buried." (Ref: Historic sites of Lancashire and Cheshire, by James Croston, publ. 1883.)

He attended Robert, Duke of Normandy, in his expedition to the Holy Lands, where he died and was interred in the Isle of Rhodes. http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Workedsley-2

Sir Robert Worsley, 3rd Baronet, painted by Sir Peter Lely The Worsley family is an English family that is derived from Sir Elias de Workesley, a Norman knight who was a youth at the time of the Norman conquest. He later accompanied Duke Robert II of Normandy (elder son of William the Conqueror) on the First Crusade and was buried at Rhodes.

Sir Elias had settled at Workesley, Lancashire, which later became known as Worsley, and the family seat was Worsley Hall. The family were seated at Worsley for over four hundred years and spawned a number of branches. One of these, the Worsleys of Appuldurcombe, has now died out in the male line, though represented by the Earls of Yarborough. Another, the Worsleys of Booth, is represented in the female line by the Tindal-Carill-Worsley family, formerly of Platt Hall.

There have been two baronetcies created for the Worsley family.
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Sir Elias de Workesley, a Norman knight who was a youth at the time of the Norman conquest. He later accompanied Duke Robert II of Normandy (elder son of William the Conqueror) on the First Crusade and was buried at Rhodes.

Sir Elias had settled at Workesley, Lancashire, which later became known as Worsley, and the family seat was Worsley Hall. The family were seated at Worsley for over four hundred years and spawned a number of branches. One of these, the Worsleys of Appuldurcombe, has now died out in the male line, though represented by the Earls of Yarborough. Another, the Worsleys of Booth, is represented in the female line by the Tindal-Carill-Worsley family, formerly of Platt Hall.