Sir Robert Lawrence, 4th Squire of Ashton Hall

Robert Lawrence, 4th Squire of Ashton; knight of the shire

b. circa 1391, d. 3 April 1450 Son of Robert Lawrence b. c 1371, d. 8 Sep 1439 and Margaret Holden

Robert Lawrence was born circa 1391-1393 in Ashton Hall, Lancashire, England. He died on 3 April 1450.

He married first, Amphilis Longford, daughter of Edward Longford [Esq.]. Children of Robert and Amphilis Longford included:

1. Robert Lawrence b. s 1435
2. Thomas Lawrence b. c 1420, d. c 1471
3. James Lawrence b. 1428, d. 1490

He married second, in 1429, Agnes Croft of Dalton, daughter of Nicholas Croft. Children of Robert and Agnes Croft included:

1. Nicholas Lawrence
2. Margaret Lawrence d. b 19 Jun 1516
3. Alice Lawrence d. 14 Aug 1512
4. Agnes Lawrence
5. Elizabeth Lawrence

Biography

Sir Robert Lawrence was the fourth Squire of Ashton. In 1426 he purchased one-fourth part of the manor of Bolton.

Robert first married Amphibilis, daughter of Edward Longford, Esq., and had a number of children including at least three sons, Robert, Thomas and James, between 1410-1428. Given the time span, more children were likely born.

In 1429, he married Agnes daughter of Nicholas Croft, and upon this marriage he received lands in Middleton, Heysham, and Lancaster. Also that same year, he became Knight of the Shire and complained in Parliament that the men of Bolton had trespassed on his closes at Carnforth (from Schuyler Lawrence, 1936, see below)

Some confusion exists about who his children were and by which wives they were born. Some sources list two older sons, Robert and Thomas, born when Robert was a very young man, circa 1410-1420. In The Lawrences: Squires of Ashton (1936), Schuyler Lawrence notes that Robert's son and heir to Ashton, James, was age 22 when his father died in 1450, which would put his birth date at 1428, a year before Robert married Agnes Croft. From this, it appears that that James was a son of his first wife Amphibilis or perhaps a second wife in between Amphibilis and Agnes. Sir James and Robert are known for certain, while Thomas, if he existed, died without progeny. Somerby also argues that there was a son Nicholas who was the Nicholas of Agercroft who had a seven sons. Schuyler Lawrence indicates that this Nicholas could not have been the Nicholas of Agercroft as his descendants would have inherited the vast Lawrence estates. Schuyler also indicates that the children of Robert could not have had issue for the same reason.

Robert Lawrence who had (or claimed) the advowson of Warton Church held three messuages, etc. of the king in socage by 1d. rent in Warton, acc to William Farrer and J. Brownbill, editors, Victoria History of Lancastershire, Volume VIII, page 163.

At his death in 1450, Robert held the manor of Carnforth of the king as duke in socage paying 4d. yearly, moities of the manors of Scotforth of the king as duke in socage by 1d. rent and Middleton by rent of 2d., four messuages etc. of Richard Molyneux and Henry Pleasington in Ellel in socage, lands in Bolton by rent of 2d., burgages in Lancaster, lands in Skerton, and four messuages in Ashton of the king as duke in socage by a rent of 4d. He also held a moiety of the manor of Carleton of the king as his duchy of Lancaster in socage by 1d. rent and a moiety of the manor of Stavely in Westmorland which was formerly the sixth part of the manor of Kirkby in Kendal.

• http://www.lawrencefamhis.com/ashton-o/g0/p229.htm#i5702

___________________________

• Sir Robert Lawrence1,2,3
• M, #27919
• Father Sir Robert Lawrence
• Mother Margaret Holden
• Sir Robert Lawrence was born at of Ashton Hall, Lancashire, England. He married Amphilbus Longford, daughter of Edward Longford, Esq. Sir Robert Lawrence married Agnes Croft, daughter of Nicholas Croft, circa 1427.4,2,3
• Family 1 Amphilbus Longford
• Children
  • Robert Lawrence
  • Nicholas Lawrence+
  • James Lawrence
• Family 2 Agnes Croft b. c 1407
• Child
  • Sir James Lawrence5,6,2,3 b. c 1428, d. 31 May 1490
• Citations
• [S8721] Unknown author, Families Directly Descended from all the Royal Families in Europe, by Elizabeth M. Rixford, p. 91, 92; Ahnentafel charts from Douglas Scott Robertson.
• [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. IV, p. 310.
• [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. III, p. 307-308.
• [S61] Unknown author, Family Group Sheets, Family History Archives, SLC.
• [S5] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 759.
• [S15] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, p. 876.
• From: http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p930.htm#i... _____________
• A genealogical memoir of the family of John Lawrence, of Watertown, 1636; with brief notices of others of the name in England and America (1847)
• https://archive.org/details/genealogicalmemo00lawr
• https://archive.org/stream/genealogicalmemo00lawr#page/6/mode/1up
• It is, however, to one ROBERT LAWRENCE, of Lancashire, we are to look for the first individual of the name whose family and circumstances entitle him to be considered the Ancestor of the Lawrences of England. Born, probably, as early as A. D. 1150, he accompanied his sovereign, Richard Coeur de Lion, to the war of the Crusades, in the Holy Land, and so distinguished himself in the siege of Acre that he was knighted Sir Robert of Ashton Hall, and obtained for his arms, " Arg. a cross raguly Gu. " — A. D. 1191.
• Seized of Ashton Hall in Lancashire, his successors held this seat for many generations, and it has been said to have belonged, even of late, to some of Sir Robert's descendants. His son and immediate successor married a daughter of James Trafford, Esq., of Trafford, Lancashire, by whom he had a son and heir, James, who succeeded Sir Robert, his father.
• JAMES married Matilda de Washington, daughter of John Washington, of Washington, in 1252. She was an heiress, the only daughter. The son and successor of James Lawrence " living in the thirty-seventh year of Henry III. " by Matilda, was John, who married Margaret, daughter of Walter Chesford, whose son, named John, succeeding his father, married Elizabeth, daughter of --- Holt, of Stably, in Lancashire, and died A. D. 1360.
• Sir ROBERT, a knight, son and heir of John and Elizabeth Lawrence, married Margaret Holden, of Lancashire, by whom he had sons: first, Robert, ancestor of the Lawrences of Standish, Crich Grange and Sevenhampton ; second, Thomas; third, William; fourth, Edmund; — ancestors of other principal branches of the name in England.
• I. Sir ROBERT, son of Sir Robert and Margaret Lawrence, born before 1454, married Amphilbis, daughter of Edward Longford, Esq., of Longford, and had sons : first, James, a knight, styled " Sir James of Standish," to distinguish him from another of the name living at the time. He married Cecily, daughter of --- Boteler, Esq., of Lancashire, an heiress, and had issue, two sons and a daughter.
• Sir Thomas, first son of Sir James and Cecily Lawrence, married
• https://archive.org/stream/genealogicalmemo00lawr#page/7/mode/1up
• Eleanor, daughter of Lionel Lord Welles, and thus acquired estates in the counties of Lincoln, Nottingham and York. Sir John, a son by this marriage, the seventh knight in a direct line, is said to have possessed, in 1591, thirty-four manors; but being outlawed for crime, died without issue, an exile in France. Cecily, a daughter, married William Gerard, ancestor of the Bromley family of Gerards, to whom Ashton Hall and other estates passed, about 1600.
• Robert, second son of Sir Robert and Amphilbis Lawrence, married Margaret, daughter of John Lawrence, Esq., of Rixton, in Lancashire, by whom he had Sir Robert, who married a daughter of Thomas Stanley, Esq., and died in 1571. Also John, who commanded a wing of the English army under Lord Stanley at the battle of Flodden Field, and died without issue, aged thirty-eight years. William; a third son, born 1509, or before, married Isabel Molyneux, daughter of John Molyneux, of Chorley, in Lancashire, and held great estates — Sevenhampton, &c., in Gloucestershire, the manor of the Sea House, Somerset, &c. He had several children, of whom John, Doctor of Laws, was Archdeacon of Worcester, &c. Robert, born at Withington, 1521, married for his second wife Eleanor, daughter of John Stratford, of Farncot, by whom he had: first, William, who received from his father the estates of Shurdington. He married, and had Anthony, his heir, who also married, and had a son William, who died without issue, and the estates went to Littleton Lawrence, Esq., of Cricklade.
• Robert, second son of Robert and Eleanor Lawrence, died without issue, 1585. He was of Sevenhampton. Anthony, a third son, married a daughter of William Gradwell, Esq., of Gray's Inn, and had by her Anthony, his heir, a daughter Frances, or Elisabeth, who married William Rogers, Esq., of Sandiwell, and a son William. Anthony Lawrence, Esq., married Mary, daughter of Giles Broadway, Esq., and had two sons and three daughters. Robert Lawrence, Esq., was of Sevenhampton, and the second son, and married Mary, daughter of John Rogers, Esq., of Hazleton, and was the ancestor of " Walter Lawrence, Esq., said to be the last heir-male of the elder branch of the Shurdington family, who died in May, 1810," and likewise of John Lawrence, living unmarried, in 1806, aged 73 years, who was Rector of Sevenhampton.
• Nicholas, third son of Sir Robert and Amphilbis Lawrence, living in 1454, married, and had a son Littleton Lawrence, Esq., of Cricklade, who inherited estates under the will of William Lawrence, Esq., of Shurdington, which are still held by his descendants.
• The arms of this branch at Shurdington and Sevenhampton, &c., were : " Argent, a cross, raguly gu." Crest — " The tail or lower part of a fish erect and couped." Estates " in Gloucestershire." Seat, " Sandy-Well Park."
• https://archive.org/stream/genealogicalmemo00lawr#page/8/mode/1up
• II. THOMAS, second son of Sir Robert and Margaret Lawrence, was the father of Arthur Lawrence, Esq., who was seated at Prior's Court in Gloucestershire. This Arthur was ancestor of John Lawrence, Esq., of Delaford, in Iver, Bucks, and of Chelsea, Middlesex, who was created a baronet in 1628. He married Grisel, daughter of Jarvis Gibbon, Esq., in the county of Kent, and died in 1638.
  • Sir John Lawrence of Chelsea, his son and successor, married, and had a son, Sir Thomas, who married, but had no issue, and was the last of this baronetcy, which was established in 1628, and became extinct in 1717. It is said that this person just named spent all his estate, and about 1700 emigrated to Maryland, in America.
• III. WILLIAM, third son of Sir Robert and Margaret above, born 1425, or before, fought under the Lancastrian banner at St. Albans, in 1455, where he fell, and was buried in the Abbey of St. Albans.
• IV. EDMUND, (the youngest of the four sons of Sir Robert Lawrence, who married Margaret Holden,) is said to have married a daughter of Miles de Stapleton, a descendant of the distinguished family of that name of Norman extraction, found in England, by which marriage he derived his title. ___________________
• Cecily BUTLER
• Born: ABT 1423
• Died: ABT 1455
• Father: John BUTLER of Warrington (Sir Knight)
• Mother: Isabel HARRINGTON
• Married: James LAWRENCE of Standish (b. 1428 - d. 1490) (son of Robert Lawrence and Amphilia Longford) (m.2 Eleanor De Welles) Ashton Hall, Lancashire, England
• Children:
  • 1. Thomas LAWRENCE of Ashton (Sir) (b. 1470 - d. 1540)
  • 2. John LAWRENCE (Esq.)
  • 3. Robert LAWRENCE (Rev.)
  • 4. James LAWRENCE
  • 5. Agnes LAWRENCE
• From: http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/BUTLER4.htm#Cecily BUTLER1 __________________________________________

History of Ashton Hall

Ashton Hall, the ancient seat of the Lawrences, is located about three miles to the south of the town of Lancaster, in northern Lancashire. It is picturesquely situated, commanding fine views of the estuary of the River Lune, and of Morecambe Bay, an extensive inlet of the Irish Sea. Ashton Hall is noted for the sylvan beauty of its spacious park, which is well diversified with hill and vale. The mansion is a large edifice, with many of the characteristics of an ancient baronial castle, having a square tower at one end, and numerous battlements, turrets, and machiocolations. Successive alterations and additions have been made at different epochs, in harmony with the medieval type of architecture. The oldest portion is probably from the fourteenth century. The interior contains a fine baronial hall.

In 1066 Ashton was one of three manors of Cliber, Machern and Gillemicheld and appears to have been accessed of two plough-lands. (The other twom manors, Ellel and Scotforth, retained their connection to Ashton being held by the Lancaster family.) Afterwards, it was granted to Count Rogers of Poitori and a little later formed part of the lordship held by the Lancaster family, being held by knight's service. In the time of Henry II (1154-1189) William de Lancaster I granted half a plough-land to Gilbert de Ashton to hold by service of half a mark yearly. The second moiety wash shared or inherited by the families of Stableton and Metham, Thweng and Pedwarding, and appears to have been acquired by the Lawrence family of Lancaster.

In 1226, the Millfield at Ashton rendered 5s. a year to the king. in 1323 it was held by many free tenants, who in all paid 5s. to the earl. This Millfield contained 20 acres. Tenants were William and Randle le Gentyl and John and Alice Lawrence.

The free tenants in 1301 were Roger de Slene; another who had a messuage and 5 acres for a rent of 20d.; Lawrence son of Thomas who rendered 6s. 8d. yearly; John de Ashton who held a messuage and 4 oxgangs of land and paid 6s.8d. rent; and Randle who paid 7d. In 1292 Gervase de Ashton claimed land against a Lawrence de Ashton. In a list of free tenants some 40 years later are recorded: William son of Lawrence, 2s. 6d.; the same William, for Brantbreck, 1d.; Alan de Ashton, 17 1/2d.; John Ward, 2s. 6d.; John, son of William the Clerk, 20d.; Gervase del Green, 20d.; Henry Alcok 5 1/2d.; in all 14s. 6d.

Traces of the Lawrence estate in Ashton appear in inquisitions of some of the heirs, though the tenures are not always recorded. By some agreement, the manor descended through Boteler (Butler) of Rawcliffe to Radcliff of Winmarleigh, and so by marriage to Gilbert Gerard woh purchase the other moiety from the Crown. Thus the whole became united in him and his descendants, the Gerards of Bromley and the Dukes of Hamilton. (Richard Skillecorne held part of it of the king in cocage in 1534. Thomas Regmaiden in 1520 held the reversion of the fourth part of the manor. John Boteler in 1534 held the manor of the king as duke in socage.) Sir Gilbert died in 1593 holding the manors of Ashton, Stodday, and Scotforth of the queen as of her crown of England in a fee farm by the hundredth part of a knight's fee and a rent of £16.11s. 4d.

On 10 August 1648, the 1st Duke of Hamilton stayed a night at Ashton Hall on his way to his defeat by Oliver Cromwell's forces. In March 1648 he was beheaded several weeks after the execution of Charles I. William, the 2nd Duke of Hamilton, accompanied Charles II to Ashton Hall in 1651 and died in the battle of Worchester shortly afterwards. Through the marriage of the 4th Duke of Hamilton and the heiress of the Gerard estates the Hamiltons became the owners of Asthton Hall.

Ashton Hall is currently the headquarters of the Lancaster Golf Club. Photographs of Ashton Hall, Lancastershire, England, October 2000 Images of Ashton Hall now part of Lancaster Golf Club

History

In the 13th century, the lordship of the Manor was held by the De Coucy family and from them passed to John de Coupland. The original hall dates from the late 14th century. It was probably completed in 1381, built by Edmund Lawrence.

It then passed by marriage to the Butlers of Radcliffe and from them to the Gerards of Bromley. In 1698 the estate was acquired by James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton, on his second marriage to the Gerard heiress Elizabeth Gerard. He fought a famous duel in 1712 with Lord Mohun over the right of ownership of Gawthorpe Hall and was fatally stabbed by General Macartney, Mohun's second. His widow lived for another 32 years, spending most of her time at the Hall.

In 1853, the hall was sold by the Dukes of Hamilton to Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie of the wealthy Starkie family of Huntroyde Hall and in 1856 was largely rebuilt to a design by William Le Gendre Starkie.The only part of the 14th century structure that still remains is the tower that now forms the southern wing of the hall.

After Le Gendre Starkie's death Ashton passed to his younger son, John Piers Chamberlain Starkie who passed it in turn to his eldest son Edward Arthur Le Gendre Starkie. He sold it in 1884 to James Williamson, the linoleum manufacturer, who lived at the hall until his death in 1930. Williamson was High Sheriff of Lancashire for 1885 and on his elevation to the peerage took his title Baron Ashton of Ashton. After his death in 1931 the major portion of the estate was purchased by William Pye and his sons.

____________________________________________