Their child: |
Individuals in this page: |
Their parents: |
||
Rauphe Cudworthe |
{ |
Raufe Cudworth & Agnes Lees |
||
{ |
& |
|||
Jane Ashton |
{ |
Arthur Ashton |
Rauphe Cudworthe (Raufe, Agnes) “Ralph” was born in about the year 1533, as he was twenty-six years of age at the time of his father’s inquisition post mortem, in 1558 or 1559 FA6. He was of Werneth FL7, RA3 (“Wyrnythe” EA3) or Werneth Hall WA25, and married Jane Ashton in about the year 1550 SP3, EA3, CU1. According to “The Visitation of the County Palatine of Lancaster, Made in the Year 1613, by Richard St. George, Esq., Norroy King of Arms”, Raufe Cudworth of Werneth was the son of Raufe Cudworth and his wife, Agnes (the daughter of Allexander Leyes of Ashton-under-Lyne) and he was the grandson of John Cudworth of Werneth and his wife, Elyza (the daughter of Thomas Chetham of Nuthurst) RA3.
On October 12, 1552/53, Rauffe Cudworthe was mentioned as one of the church wardens for the parish of Oldham in an indenture between Sir Edmond Trayforth, Sir John Holcroft, and Sir Thomas Holt on the one part (acting on behalf of King Edward VI) and Rauffe Cudworthe, Willam Scolle, Rauffe Wynterbotham, John Cuckeley, and Laurens Hall on the other part CH40. This indenture detailed the delivery by Sir Edmond Trayforth and Sir Thomas Holt to the church wardens of two chalices, four large bells, one church bell, two handbells, four vestments, altarcloths, two small brass candlesticks, a censer, and other decorations for the church CH40. This indenture was copied by hand onto the back pages of the Oldham parish register by Thomas Stubbs, the Oldham parish clerk, on January 17, 1900, and has been reproduced below CH40:
This indentur made the xijth day of October in the sixt yere of the reigne of our sov[er]aigne lord Edward the sixt [1552/53] by the grace of god of england ffrance & Ireland Kyng defend[er] of the faithe & of the Church of england & also of Ireland in erthe the sup[re]me head Bitwine s[er] Edmond Trayforth s[er] John holcroft & s[er] Thomas holt Knyghtes oon the behalfe of our said sov[er]aigne lord the Kyng one the one p[ar]te and Rauffe Cudworthe, Willam Scolle, Rauffe Wynt[er]botham, & John Cuckeley churchwardens of the P[ar]ish church of Oldham & laurens hall p[are]st of Shay [probably Shaw, the parish near Oldham]… chapell within… the sayd pairsh of the… other p[ar]tie. Wittnessithe that wheare the said s[er] Edmonds Trayfort s[er] Thomas holt have delyv[er]ed att the tyme of the sealing and delyv[er]e of these p[re]sentes to the said Rauffe Cudworthe Willam Scolle, Rauffe Wynt[er]botham, & John Cuckeley Too Chaleses [chalices], Foure great belles, one Auteme [from a note in the transcription of this indenture, “auteme” was a word which meant “church”] bell, & ij hand belles. Too cowpes, Foure Vestemtes [probably “vestments”], Thre curtenes [the previous word is uncertain] Furnesshed wth aut[er]clothes [probably “altar cloths”]. Too litle candilstyckes brasse & a censer, And to the said laurens hall p[re]st at the said Shay chepell pme Vestemt. one litle chales & a litle bell savely to be Kept to the use of or said sov[er]aigne lord the Kyng the said Rauffe Cudworthe. Willam, Rauffe, John, & laurens hall, For them & there executors do covenant & grauant by these p[re]sentes to & wth the said s[er] Edmond Trayfort s[er] John Holcroft & s[er] Thomas Holt that the said Chaleses belle, Vestemts, cowpes, & all the church ornamts abovesaid shall nott at any tyme heraft[er] be alienatyed Imbeasled or otherwyse put away From or said sov[er]aigne lord the Kyng, but shalle be answerable & Forthe-comong to the use of his heignes [the previous word is uncertain because the transcription made in 1899 had a blotch of ink above the word] at suche tyme & tymes as his matie or his hon[er]able counsell shall demande the same.
In wittnes whereof the p[ar]ties afforesaid to these p[re]sentes Int[er]changeable have sett ther seals the day & yere abovewrytten
Rauffe cudworth. Willam scolles
Rauffe Wynt[er]botham. John Cucley
lawrence halle priest is gone From his servyce
On June 26, 1559, the escheator was ordered to give seisin of the manor of “Wyermyth” to Ralph, the son and heir of Ralph Cudworth, who had died the previous November GE6. In 1561, he made a settlement of the manor of Werneth and ten messuages in Oldham FA6. Werneth and Oldham are northeast of Manchester and were historically located in Lancashire.
The will of Rauphe Cudworthe, which was created on August 21, 1572 and proved on September 14, 1572, named Rauphe Cudworthe (who was his child born out of wedlock) and his grandson, the son of Rauphe (who was also named Rauphe Cudworthe) SP3, EA3. To his illegitimate son Rauphe, he bequeathed thirty pounds annually EA3, FA6 “out of a tenement now in the tenure of John Goddard, with power of distraint” EA3. His other children named in his will were John Cudworthe, Anne Cudworthe, Margere Cudworthe, Alys Cudworthe, and the child with whom his wife was pregnant EA3, SP3, CH14, who would later be named Ralph Cudworth SP3. His will also mentioned Jane, his wife, and his two executors, William Assheton, who was his brother-in-law FA6, SP3, and John Tayleur of Horshedge SP3, which perhaps was Horsedge Street in Oldham.
Rauphe’s will stated that his wife should have the governance of their daughters and their unborn child, unless she remarried, in which case, his executors should have the governance of his daughters and unborn child EA3. His will was: “All my goods to be divided into three parts, one part for myself, one part for my wife, and the third part for my children” EA3. The third part of the profit of his land, for a span of thirteen years, was designated for the education and marriage of his three daughters FA6. He died the following day, on August 22, 1572 FA6, and was buried in the Oldham Parish Chapel SP3, FA6 (“wythin the chapell on the northe side of ye pryshe church” EA3). Oldham is northeast of Manchester and south of Rochdale. At the time of his death, he held the manor or the capital messuage of Werneth, and six burgages at Wakefield FA6. It is fortunate that J.P. Earwaker published an abstract of Rauphe Cudworthe’s will in 1893, because the document must have deteriorated significantly since that time. I located his will and wrote a transcription to the best of my ability, but the condition of this document is poor and the right and left edges have crumbled away and are jagged, which means that some words are missing CH14:
In the name of god Ame[n] the xxjth day of august in ye yere of our lorde god Athowsand [a thousand] f… [the document has deteteriorated and torn on the right edge] and twelve; I Rauphe cudworthe of Wyrnythe w[i]thin ye countie of lancast[er] gentylma[n] Sycke in bo… [probably “body”, but the document was torn on the right side] & p[er]fecte Remebrance laude & prayse [praise] be unto almyghtie [almighty] god ordayen [ordain] and make this my testam… [torn; probably “testament”] contenyng my wholl wyll [whole will] and mynde Informe [in form] & man[ner] folowing that is to wytt [wit] ffyrst [First] & pncypa… [the preceding word may have been abbreviated and was cut off by the torn right edge; it may state “principally”] beque[a]th… and betake my sowle Into ye hands of almyghtie god my mak[er] & Rede[e]m[er] [the document is torn] by the merits [the previous word is uncertain] deathe and passyon [passion] of the S[o]onne Jesus chryste to be one… and my mortall bodye to chrystya [“Christian”] buryall w[i]thin the chapell on the north syde of ye p[a]rysshe… In p[ri]mis it is my wyll & mynde that all my moveable goods aft[er] my deathe shalbe devyded Into… p[ar]ts one p[ar]te for my Selfe one other p[ar]te for my wyffe and the thryd [third] p[ar]t for my chyldren It[e]m… my wyll & mynde & I do gyve & bequeth unto Rauphe cudworthe my bastarde son[n]e… during his naturall lyffe yssuying [issuing] and goyng [going] forthe of a tenement nowe in ye… of John goddard also it is my wyll and mynde yt for want of payme[n]t on [the previous word is uncertain] ye day with… ought to be payed at and by the space of xxth dayes yt then the… [the rest of this line and the following line are illegible and are missing the left and right sides of the lines due to the document being torn] be Anye be fully content satysfyed and payed [the previous two words are uncertain] It[e]m I do gyve and bequeth [the remainder of this line item is only partially legible and because it is missing several words due to holes in the document, there are very few contextual clues]… It[e]m I do gyve to… Rauphe cudworthe my bastards s[o]nne xlb [ten pounds] It[e]m it is my wyll & mynde yt my… other of them shall have for there paymes xs apeece [the previous word is uncertain] It[e]m I do gyve and bequeth un[to] John cudworthe as heyre lomes to Abyde & to contenew [probably “abide and to continue”] at the howse my best gelding… brydyll [bridle] to hy [the previous word is uncertain] belonging my best bedd w[i]th all things to ye same p[er]teni[n]g [pertaining] all meale arks… w[i]th all bourds & forms in the hall & also in ye buttree [perhaps “buttery”] and also… plowes ploo yrns [possible “plow irons”]… w[i]th all other Instrum[e]nts belong[ing]… whether they be wythin or w[i]thout It[e]m yt is my wyll… that is anne cudworthe margere cudworthe alys cudworthe and… is nowe w[i]th chylde w[i]thall shalt have towards there Educatyon [perhaps “education”] brynging up… thryd [third] p[ar]te of all the p[er]fecte yssuying & goyng out of my lands for the space of xiijth… come af[ter] ye date hereof Item I do gyve & bequeth unto Alys cudworthe Margere… cudworthe my daughters and to the chylde wich [the previous word is uncertain] my wyffe is now wt chy[ld]… all my p[ar]te of goods aft[er] that my [the next words was illegible] bringing [the preceding word is uncertain] detts funerals & legasyes… and payed to be Eqwaly devyded [equally divided] Amongst them further also it is my wyll & mynde… said wyff Jane shall have the tuyssyon [perhaps “tuition”] unto and gov[er]nance of my said daught[er]s & of ye chylde… come & there goods & lands duryng all ye tyme of hyr [her] wydohod [perhaps “widowhood”] and so long as she shalt… Selfe [the previous word is uncertain] sole & unmaryed and yf it so shall fortune my said wyff to marie [probably “marry”] aft[er] my death then… my wyll & mynde that my said executors here under named shall have the tuysshean [the previous word is uncertain but may state “tuition”] Rule & gov[er]nance… said chyldren and theyr goods and lands To p[er]forme and fulfyll this my last wyll… I do constytute ordayne & make my trew and leofull [perhaps “true and lawful”] executors wyllam asshet[o]n… brother in lawe and John taylear of horshedge In wytnes whereof I the said Rauphe… to this p[re]sent testame[n]t have putto my hande & Seale the day & yere… wrytten in the p[re]sence of arthure asshet[o]n of Rachedale gentylma[n]… S[er] Rodg[er] wright… Edmunde taylear
At the bottom-right side of his will, were a list of names (and presumably amounts) which was entitled “these be ye dettes wch ye sa… do ought” (people to whom he owed debts), but because the edge of the document has crumbled away, only some of this list is visible CH14. The names of this list include Henry Bexlane, Robert Holt, George Byrtse, Thomas Taylear, Edward Taylear, and Ellyn Newton CH14. On the bottom-left side of the will he included two notations about debts owed to him included “that ye wyff of edmunde…” and Richard Tetlowe CH14. The inventory of his estate was conducted on September 6, 1572 (“This Indenture mad[e] the sext day of septe[m]ber in ye yere of oure lord god a thousande fyve hundredth seventie & two wyteneseth [witnesseth] yt this is a Gewd Inventorie of all ye goods detts & cattals w’ch belonged to Rauphe cudworth decessed…”) CH14.
A marriage license was granted in Oldham to Ralph Cudworth of the parish of Middleton, Lancaster County and Alice Mather of the parish of Oldham, Lancaster County on January 29, 1611/12; the bondsman was Francis Lawson IR2. It is unclear if this license was for Rauphe Cudworthe (the illegitimate son of Rauphe Cudworthe [1533-1572]), or was for Rauphe’s grandson (the son of his illegitimate son), or was for a different Ralph Cudworth altogether. The register of the Cathedral Church of Manchester, England indicated that Cisley, the daughter of “Rauffe Cudworth base gott[en]” was christened on October 4, 1573 AX3. The same register recorded that Elline, the daughter of Rauffe Cudworthe, was buried on December 15, 1576 AX3.
Jane Ashton (Arthur) was the daughter of Arthur Ashton WA25, SP3, FL7, RA3, CH14 and the sister of William Ashton FA6. The visitations of Lancashire in 1567 and 1613 indicated that her father was of Rochdale in Lancaster County FL7, RA3, and the will of Arthur Assheton stated he was of Clegge in Lancaster County CH14. Clegg Hall is immediately northeast of Rochdale. She was the mother of John SP3, FL7, RA3, CU1, Anne SP3, FA6, CU1, Margery (Margere) SP3, FL7, RA3, CU1, Alys (Alice) SP3, FL7, RA3, CU1, and Ralph SP3, RA3, CU1. Ralph, born after the death of his father, was the second son of Ralph and Jane WA25, RA3, FA6. The parish register of St. Mary’s Church in Oldham, Lancaster County contains baptisms and burials beginning in 1558 and marriages beginning in 1598, although the records are spotty throughout some years CH40. The earlier baptisms and burials did not record the parents’ names.
Ann Cudworth was baptized on September 6, 1562 at St. Mary’s Church in Oldham, Lancaster County CH40. Based on the order of names of the daughters of Rauphe Cudworth in his 1572 will, this Ann was probably the daughter of Rauphe and Jane Cudworth, although there was a baptism for another Anne Cudworth which occurred on August 14, 1567 at the same church CH40. It is possible that this other Anne Cudworth may have been the granddaughter of Rauphe Cudworth and the daughter of his son who was born before he married Jane Ashton, who he called his “Rauphe cudworthe my bastarde son[n]e” CH14.
Elizabeth Cudworth was baptized on August 21, 1563 at St. Mary’s Church in Oldham, Lancaster County; the same parish register indicated that an Elizabeth Cudworth was buried on December 21, 1563 CH40.
John Cudworth was baptized on September 1, 1565 at St. Mary’s Church in Oldham, Lancaster County CH40. John Cudworth of Werneth married Alice, the daughter of Edmond Hopwood of Hopwood, and they were the parents of John Cudworth, who was born about 1585 (he was twenty-eight in 1613), as well as Raufe, Danyell, Samuell, Theophilus, Elyzabeth, and Susan RA3. “Joh[ann]es Cudworth de Wernithe gen” (probably an abbreviation for “gentleman”) was included in a list of the freeholders in Salford Hundred in Lancashire in 1600 EA6. John Cudworth of Oldham later married Alice (Webster) Mosley of Manchester (who was the daughter of Richard Webster of Manchester and the widow of Anthony Mosley of Milngate, Manchester) on May 3, 1613 at the Collegiate Church AX2, AX3, with a marriage license that was dated April 30, 1613 AX2, IR2. The bondsman for the marriage license was Robert Parker IR2.
One of the daughters of Anthony and Alice (Webster) Mosley was named Alice Mosley, and she had married John and Alice (Hopwood) Cudworth’s son, John Cudworth, two years earlier in 1611 AX2, RA3. This John, the son of John and Alice (Hopwood) Cudworth, was perhaps the “John Cudworth of Oldham, gen” of Salford Hundred whose name was amongst other men in a list dated September 13, 1631 who refused the order of knighthood at the coronation of King Charles I EA7. Elyzabeth Cudworth, the daughter of John and Alice (Hopwood) Cudworth, married Robert Parker of Bridhall in Chester County RA3. Susan Cudworth, another daughter of John and Alice (Hopwood) Cudworth, married John Soundeforth fo Deanshutt EA3.
According to the Subsidy Roll for Salford Hundred, Lancshire in 1622, John Cudworth of Ouldhame was assessed a levy of twelve shillings for land worth three pounds EA8. John Cudworth wrote his will on May 19, 1631, which was proved at Chester on June 1, 1631; a copy of the transcription written by J.P Earwaker follows EA3:
In the name of God, &c. I John Cudworth senior, of Werneth in the parish of Oldham, co. Lanc. gent., 19 May, 1631. To be buried in my chapel in the church of Oldham. My debts to be paid, the chief being the sum of £100, wch I owe to my son and heir apparent John Cudworth. The residue of my goods to be divided into three parts whereof I will that Alice my wife shall have one part. The second part to my two sons Ralph Cudworth and Samuel Cudworth (in regard I have no more children unpreferred) and I desire my executor to have the disposition of the portion of my said son Ralph during his life and to find him meat, drink, lodging, &c., fitting to his estate and condition. The third part I reserve to myself to pay the following legacies. To my daughter Elizabeth now wife of Robert Parker 5s. To my daughter Susan now wife of John Soundeforth of Deanshutt, 5s. To the poor of Oldham £10, and towards the furtherance of the school of Oldham £10. The residue of my third part to my grandchildren John Cudworth, Jonas Cudworth, Richard Cudworth, Anthony Cudworth, Thomas Cudworth, Anna Cudworth, and Francis Cudworth, sons and daughters of my said son and heir John Cudworth equally between them when 21 years of age.
I make my said son and heir John Cudworth, executor, and desire my friends Edmund Ashton and Edmund Hopwood Esqrs to be overseers.
Witnesses - Isaac Allen, Josua Cudworth, Gerard Simkin.
Memorandum – That John Cudworth of Werneth the testator did further declare that whereas certain legacies were given to divers of his children by the last will of Theophilus Asheton late of Clegg Esq. deceased, to be disposed at the discretion of him the said John Cudworth the testator. He the said John Cudworth hath heretofore in his lifetime disposed of the same for the preferment of his children according to the trust reposed in him by the said Theophilus Asheton, &c. The same witnesses.
Margeri Cudworth was baptized on January 21, 1566 at St. Mary’s Church in Oldham, Lancaster County CH40. Margerye married James Chetham of Nuthurst RA3. James Chetam of Nuthurst was found to be the brother and heir of Henry Chetam during a Manchester Court Leet session held on April 11, 1577 MU9. She was probably the mother of all the children mentioned in the will of her husband, who were Isabell (who married George Chetham), Alyce (who married Adam Holland), Mary (who married William Bowcker), Sara, Martha, Anne, Elizabeth, and Thomas Chetham PI14. She was likely the “Margerye Chetham” who was one of three witnesses to the will of Isabell Chetham of Nutthurst on Lancaster County, dated January 3, 1596/7 AX4. Isabell Chetham would have been Margerye’s mother-in-law; she was the widow of John Chetham of Nuthurst and was sometimes called Elizabeth AX4. The other two witnesses were “Thomas Mellor” and “Rauffe Jackeson” AX4. Isabell’s will mentioned her daughter, Anne, and her son, James AX4.
“James Chetham of Nuthurst in the County of Lancastr Gentleman” wrote his will on “the last daye of January” in 1613, which was proved at Chester on January 19, 1615 by his executors, Margerie Chetham and William Taylor PI14. He was buried on December 27, 1614 at the Collegiate Church in Manchester which he referred to as the “P[ar]ishe Churche of Manchester where my Auncestors are buryed” PI14. He divided his estate into “three equall p[ar]tes” and he bequeathed one part to “Margerie Chetham nowe my Wyff for and during the terme of her natural lyff in lieu of her Joyneture or dower” PI14. He bequeathed another part to “Thomas Chetham my Sonne and Heire apparent for and untill suche tyme as he shall accomplishe the age of Twenty and one yeares” PI14. The remaining third part of his estate he set aside for “for and towards the payment of my detts the education advancement and prferment of Sara, Martha, Anne and Elizabeth Chetham my doughters for and untill such tyme as everie of my said foure Doughters shall have receyved or maye receyve out of the yssues and proffits of the said last mentioned third p[ar]t of my said Messuages Landes tenements and hereditaments the severall somes of Fortie poundes a peece…” PI14. His will also mentioned his daughter and son-in-law, Isabell Chetham and George Chetham, and then named six of his seven daughters (Isabell being previously named), who were “Alyce the nowe Wyff of Adam Holland the Yonger, Mary the nowe Wyff of William Bowcker the Yonger, Sara, Martha, Anne, and Elizabeth Chetham” PI14. He then mentioned his brother, Thomas Chetham, and his unmarried sister, Anne Chetham PI14. He named his wife, Margerie Chetham, and his “lovinge tenant William Taylor my true and lawfull Executors of this my last Will and Testament. And I do desire my lovinge brother in lawes John Cudworth and Edward Shacklock Gentlemen to be oversars of the same and to see the same truly executed as my trust is in them” PI14. In the Manchester Court Leet session held on October 5, 1615, the jury found that “James Chetam of Nuthurste” was deceased and that Thomas Chetam was his minor son and heir MU9.
Alys Cudworth was mentioned in her father’s will in 1572, but a record of her baptism was not located in the parish register for Oldham. Reverend Booker referred to Alice as “the daughter of Mr. Ralph Cudworth of Werneth, and sister to Margaret, wife of James Chetham of Nuthurst, and of… Dr. Ralph Cudworth” BO38. Alice Cudworth married Edward Shaklocke of Moston RA3, FA5, BO38, who was the son and heir of Robert Shacklock FA5. Alice and Edward Shacklock were the parents of John Shacklock, who was twenty-two when his father died in 1618 FA5. Reverend Booker provided a pedigree of the Shacklock family of Moston, which showed three children of Edward and Alice (Cudworth) Shacklock; these were John, Susannah, and Daniel BO38. This diagram indicated that John Shacklock of Moston was baptized on March 14, 1595/6 at the Collegiate Church (in Manchester), was married at the same church on May 4, 1631 to Mary Radcliffe, and was buried at the same church on September 18, 1663 BO38. Susannah Shacklock was baptized at the Collegiate Church on October 18, 1598, and Daniel Shacklock was baptized at the Collegiate Church on July 11, 1603 BO38.
Edward Shacklock described himself as a gentleman of Moston when he wrote his will on October 24, 1618 BO38 or October 14, 1618 MU10. He bequeathed “one full third part of his goods, chattels, and credits” to his “loving wife Alice” and he mentioned six servants by name, to whom he made bequests BO38. He mentioned his “beloved kinsmen, James Hall and John Hall, sons of James Hall of Drielsden, yeoman” BO38. He named his wife and his eldest son as his executors and appointed “his loving brother Mr. John Cudworth of Werneth and Mr. Edward Tetlowe of Coldhurst” as overseers BO38. His will mentioned his younger children but did not name them BO38. His burial was said to occur on October 20, 1618 at the Collegiate Church in Manchester, and an inquisition post mortem was conducted on January 14, 1618/19 MU10. A Manchester Court Leet jury found on October 7, 1619 that Edward Shackelocke of Moston was deceased, and that his son and heir, John Shackelocke, was “at full age and ys to come in to doe his suite and service” MU10.
Raffe Cudworth was baptized on September 2, 1572 at St. Mary’s Church in Oldham, Lancaster County CH40.
The Special Collections at the Leeds University Library holds a document which is a “Grant from the Court of Wards to Jane Cudworth, widow of Ralph Cudworth, and William Assheton, of the wardship and marriage and lands of John Cudworth, minor, with schedule of extent of Ralph Cudworth's land in Oldham, 1573” UN25. A request for digitation of this document (meaning, a request for the Special Collections at the Leeds University Library to photograph this document with the intent that I would then attempt a partial or full transcription) was not possible because the library representative stated “Upon retrieving this item, we have noticed its poor condition and raised it with our conservation team who have advised that we cannot issue this material to researchers or handle it for digitization”. Without the benefit of reading the document, I can assume from the abstract that in 1573, the Court of Wards granted the wardship, lands, and freedom to arrange a marriage of the minor John Cudworth to his mother, Jane Cudworth, and to William Assheton. It would have been useful to see a list of the lands that the deceased Ralph Cudworth held.
While Jane Cudworth and Henry Chetham were set to marry in 1574, it is unlikely that this marriage transpired, because she was still called Jane Cudworthe (rather than Jane Chetham) in her father’s will in 1591 CH14. In the Manchester Court Leet session held on April 15, 1574, the jury found that Henry Chetame was the son and heir of the deceased John Chetame of Nuthurste (John Chetham had been buried at the Collegiate Church in Manchester on December 7, 1573) MU8. “Jane Cudworthe, widow of Ralph Cudworthe, late of Wernethe, deceased, and sister of William Assheton of Rachdall” and Henry Chetham, the son and heir of John Chetham, entered into a marriage covenant on October 18, 1574 CL17, AX4. This covenant stipulated that their wedding would occur before the following Christmas AX1, AX4. Henry Chetham accidentally drowned while crossing or riding through a brook called Middleton water at about 8:00am on January 5, 1576/7 AX1, CL17, AX4. He was buried the following day at Middleton AX4. At a Manchester Court Leet session held on April 11, 1577, the jury found that James Chetham was the brother and minor heir of Henry “Chethm” of Nuthurste MU8. Henry Chetham, the son of John and brother of James, seems to have died intestate MU8. The administration of the goods of Henry Chetame of the parish of Manchester was granted to James Chetame of Nuthurst, the “natural and lawfull brother of the deceased” on September 13, 1589 PI14. It had a total value of three pounds, three shillings, and four pence, and included a dagger, sword, two rings, and books PI14.
She was called Jane Cudworthe, the daughter of Arthure Assheton of Clegge in Lancaster County, in his will dated March 5, 1590/91 CH14. Select portions of Arthur Assheton’s will stated CH14:
I gyve and bequethe in manner and forme followinge ffirste I gyve and bequethe unto Edward Assheton my sonne p[er]son [Parson] of midleton willm Assheton my sonne and heire apparente Jane Cudworthe and Grace Buckley my doughteres all and ev[er]ye suche debtes and som[m]es of moneye as they or anye of them ys indebted and doe owe unto me the daie of the date of this my laste will It[e]m I doe gyve unto the said Jane Cudworthe twoe beddes and bedde stockes nowe standinge in her Chamber at Clegge and all thinges belonginge thereunto to her owne use, It[e]m I gyve to the same Jane Cudworthe Tenne poundes… I doe Constitute and make the said willm Assheton and Jane Cufworthe my true and Lawfull executors, yet yt is my will that the saide Jane Cudworthe shall not discharge or Releasse anye obligacon or Coven[a]nte wherebye anye p[er]son or p[er]sons stande bounden unto me or have Coven[a]nted unto me but the said obligacons and Coven[a]ntes and the benefitte there of (yf anye there be) shalbe whollie unto my said sonne willm Assheton because they Cheefelie Concerne landes and Tenementes wch I purchased…