Robert Worden and Isabel Worthington

Their child:		Individuals in this page:		Their parents:
		Robert Worden	{	No parents conclusively identified
Peter Worden (the elder)	{	&
		Isabel Worthington	{	Peter Worthington & Isabel Anderton

Robert Worden was from Clayton, Lancashire, England ^{FL7, WO10}, and his last name was also spelled “Weurden”, “Wearden”, or “Warden”. Robert’s father was alleged to be William ^{WO9, BO4}, who died around the year 1574 at Clayton Manor ^WO9. “Will[ia]m[u]s Weyrden de Clayton” and “Rob[er]tus Weyrden filius eius [his son] Jur’ [“Jur’ ” was an abbreviation for “jurat”, which meant a person who was sworn]” were listed as foreign burgesses in the Roll of the Guild Merchant for Preston, Lancashire in the year 1562 ^AB1. If his father was William Werden, then his grandfather was probably William Werden and his uncle was Robert Werden, because the names “Will[ia]m[u]s Werden Will[ia]m[u]s Werden filius eius Rob[er]tus Werden frater eius [his brother]” appeared in the Roll of the Guild Merchant for 1542 as foreign burgesses for the borough of Preston, Lancashire ^AB1. This indicates that in 1542, a man named William Werden had two sons, who were William and Robert.

He married Isabel Worthington ^{RI4, WO10, BO4} about the year 1568 ^BO4 or sometime before 1569 ^RI4, and in 1574 he released his brother-in-law, Richard, from a debt of twenty-six pounds, thirteen shillings, and four pence, which was Isabel’s dowry ^WO10. A transcription of the abstract of the deed, located among many other Worthington of Blainscough deeds at the Manchester Record Office, has been provided ^MA13:

A General acquittance from Robt Weerden of Clayton to Richard Worthington Sonne & heire apparent of Peter Worthington of Blanso, & especially for ye some of 26l. 13 [here the words are obscured, but probably reads, “13sh. 04d.”] covenanted to be pd [paid] to ye said Robt at Mariage of his wife his sister Issabel. in 1574. 16.to Elizab.

Robert was the father of William, James, and Peter Werden of Clayton, whose names appeared under the headings of “Burgens’ fforins’ ” or “Burgens’ forens’ ” (foreign burgesses, or citizens from a different borough) in the Roll of the Guild Merchant of Preston, Lancashire in 1582 and 1602 ^AB1. The Roll of the Guild Merchant of 1582 stated “Willms Werden de Clayton filius Rob[er]ti Werden Jacobus Werden frater eius Petrus Werden frater eius” ^AB1, which indicates that Will[ia]m[u]s (William) Werden of Clayton was the son of Robert Werden, and that James and Peter Werden were his brothers (“James” is the typical Latin translation of “Jacobus”). The “Burgens’ forens’ ” Roll of the Guild Merchant of 1602 stated “Will’s Werden de Claiton Jur’ Petrus Werden frater eius Jur’ Jacubus Werden frater eius Jur’ …Werden filius eius” ^AB1, which indicates that Will[iamu]s Werden, Petrus (Peter) Werden, and James Werden were all brothers, and that James Werden had an unnamed son ^AB1.

Robert died on September 11, 1580 ^{IN15, BO4}, when his son and heir, William, was eleven years old ^{IN15, WO10}. His inquisition post mortem, which had a date of September 3, 1584, stated that he held a messuage, a cottage, seven acres of land, and three acres of meadow in Clayton, a messuage, six acres of land, four acres of meadow, and six acres of pasture in Cophull, and two acres of pasture and meadowland in Leyland ^IN15. “Cophull” was likely Coppull, seven miles south of Leyland. A transcription of the inquisition post mortem follows, and a rough translation, with additional punctuation to improve its readability, has been provided by the author (A. Boaz) ^IN15:

Inquisicio Indentat[a] capt[a] apud Leyland in com[itatu] p[re]d[ict]o die Jovis viz tertio die Septembris Anno regni Elizabeth dei gra[cia] Anglie Francie Hib’me [Hibernie] regine fidei defens[ori]s &c. vicesimo sexto Coram Willmo Farrington armigo Andreo Huddleston ar[migo] Et Gilb[er]to Moreton gen[er]os[u]s Feodario de d[omi]no regine in com[itatu] pdco [predicto] Com[mi]ssum dce [dicte] [illegible] regine vurtute [virtute] Comissionis emsdem [eisdem] d[omi]ne Regine in natura br[evi]s de Mandamus post mortem Rob[er]ti Wearden gen[er]osi defuncte eisdem Comissionis direct et huic Inquisicoi Annex Sacr[a]m[enta] Johns Cueden genos Willmi Banester de [..w..gt..gton] gen Willmi Croston gen Rici Farrington gen Rici Walton gen Johns Singleton de Ingolhead gen Johns Diconson genos Willim Sonner gen Jacobi Stopforth gen Robt Farrington gen Thome Wearden gen Rogeri Farrington gen et Rici Kellet gen Jurat Qui dicunt sup[er] sac[rament]um su[u]m q[uo]d pdcus [predictus] Rob[er]tus Wearden in [Comiss] Commissione pd [predicta] nonatu [nominatus] die [illegible] sui fuit se[isi]tus in dmc [probably “dominico”] suo ut de feodo talliato videl[ice]t sibi et heredibus de corpore suo exeuntibz [exeuntibus] de et in uno messuagio uno Cotagio septem acris terre tribus acris prati et [illegible] ptin [pertinenciis] in Clayton in com[itatu[ pd [predicto] Ac de et in uno messuagio sex acris terre quatuo acris prati et sex acris pasture cu[m] ptin [pertinenciis] in Cophull in com[itatu] pd [predicto] Ac de et in tribz [tribus] acris [illegible] acris prati et duobus acris pasture cu[m] ptin [pertinenciis] in Leylonde in com[itatu] pd [predicto] Et predictus Rob[er]tus Wearden sic de o[mni]bus et singulis pmiss [premissis] cu[m] ptin [pertinenciis] seitus existens de tli [talis] st… obiit inde seitus Et Vlterius Juratores pdci [predicti] dicunt sup[er] sac[rament]um su[u]m q[uo]d pd [predicta] mesuagiu et cetera p[re]missa cu[m] suis ptin [pertinenciis] in Clayton pd [predicta] tenent[ur] et tempore mortis pd [predicta] Rob[er]ti Wearden tenebant de Edmundo Huddleston milite et Dorothea uxore eius ut de manio [manerio] suo de Clayton p[er] que s[er]vicia Juratores pdci [predicti] penitus ignorant. Et Valent per Annum in omnibus exitibus ultra reprisas quadraginta solidos. Et q[uo]d pd [predicto] messuago et cetera pmiss [premissis] cu[m] ptin [pertinenciis] in Copphull pd [predicta] tenent[ur] et tempore mortis pdci [predicti] Rob[er]ti Wearden tenebant & de domino man[e]rii de Copphull in Socagio viz p[er] fidelitatem tantu[m] et redditu[m] duodecem den[ar]ios pro [the following word was mostly faded, but was very likely the abbreviated form of the word “omnibus”] serviciis et demandis. Et Valent p[er] Aⁿ[Annum] in ob [omnibus] exit[ibus] ul[tra] reprisas viginti solidos. Et q[uo]d terr[e] et ten[emen]ta et cetera pmiss [premissis] cu[m] suis ptinen [pertinenciis] in Leylunde in com[itatu] pd [predicta] tenent[ur] et tempore mortis pd [predicta] Rob[er]ti Wearden tenebant pdi [predicti] Edmundo Huddleston milite et Dorothea uxore eius ut de medietate man[er]ii sui de Leylunde p[er] servic militare. Et valent p[e]r An[n]um in o[mni]bus exitibus ultra reprisas tresdecem solid[os] et quatuo den[ar]ios, Et Insuper Juratores pdci [predicti] dicunt sup[er] sac[rament]um su[u]m q[uo]d pdcus [predictus] Rob[er]tus Wearden in [Comissioe] Commissione pd [predicta] nonatus [nominatus] nulla alia sive plura messuage terras ten[emen]ta aut hereditamento ha[b]uit seu tenuit de dca [dicta] dna [domina] regina nec de aliquo alio seu de aliquibus aliis in dnico [dominico] revcoe [revercione] nec in servic[io] die quo obiit in dco [dicto] com[itatu] Lanc[aster] alit[er] q[ua]m supradict est Et q[uo]d pdcus [predictus] Rob[er]tus Wearden obiit undecimo die Septembris Anno dmi [domini] 1580 Et q[uo]d Will[el]mus Wearden est filius et heres pdcti [predicti] Rob[er]ti; et fuit etatis undecem Annoru[m] die obitus pd [predicta] Rob[er]ti Wearden prs [patris] [“patris” is extremely probable, but the word was abbreviated, and one letter was rubbed away somehow] sui In Cuius rei testimonium huic p[re]sent[i] Inquisic[i]o[n]i t[a]m p[re]d[icta] Comissionii q[ua]m juratores p[re]d[icti] Sigilla sua apposuerunt Dat[um] die Anno et Loco primo supradict. Transcript in Cur[ia] Ward[orum] p[er] W. Tusser ar[migero] cler[icus] ducat[u] Lancastrie

Indented inquisition taken at Leyland in the county aforesaid on Thursday, namely, on the third day of September in the twenty-sixth year of the reign of Elizabeth, by the grace of God, Queen of England France, Ireland, defender of the faith etc. before William Farrington, Esquire, Andrew Huddleston, Esquire, And Gilbert Moreton gentleman, Feodary of [the] Lady Queen in the county aforesaid, committed [by] the said queen [by] virtue [of a] commission [by] the same Lady Queen, in the nature of a writ of Mandamus, after the death of Robert Wearden gentleman, deceased, directed to the same commission, and to this Inquisition attached oaths. John Cueden [possibly Cuerden, but the “r” was absent] gentleman, William Banester de [..w..gt..gton] [this surname was blurred and mostly illegible] gentleman, William Croston gentleman, Richard Farrington gentleman, Richard Walton gentleman, John Singleton de Ingolhead gentleman, John Diconson gentleman, William Sonner [this surname was difficult to read] gentleman, James Stopforth gentleman, Robert Farrington gentleman, Thomas Wearden gentleman, Roger Farrington gentleman, and Richard Kellet gentleman, Jurors [the letters of this word, possibly “Jurat”, were obscured due to a wrinkle, but the word likely meant “Jurors”]. Who say on their oath that Robert Wearden in in the aforesaid named Commission day [the word “die” may have been an abbreviation, and if so, was probably not the translated word “day”, and was written at the end of the line; the beginning of the next line was illegible] was seised in his demesne as of fee tail, that is to say, to himself and the heirs issuing of his body, of and in one messuage one cottage, seven acres of land, three acres of meadow, and [illegible] appurtenances in Clayton in the county aforesaid. And of and in one messuage, six acres of land, four acres of meadow, and six acres of pasture, with appurtenances in Cophull in the county aforesaid. And of and in three acres [at this point, about two or three words were illegible due to damage to the document] acres of meadow, and two acres of pasture, with the appurtenances in Leylonde in the county aforesaid. And the aforesaid Robert Wearden, so seised of all and singular the premises with the appurtenances belonging to such [the following word, which began with “sta” or “sto”, was mostly absent] died seised thereof. And furthermore, the aforesaid jurors say upon their oath that the aforesaid messuage and the other premises with their appurtenances in Clayton aforesaid are held, and at the time of death of Robert Wearden, were in possession of the aforesaid Edmund Huddleston, soldier, and Dorothea his wife, as of his manor of Clayton, by what services the aforesaid jurors are completely ignorant. And is worth forty shillings yearly in all issues beyond reprises [i.e., after deductions]. And that the aforesaid messuage and the rest of the premises with the appurtenances in the aforesaid Copphull are held, and at the time of death of the said Robert Wearden, held and of the lord of the manor of Copphull in socage, namely by fealty only, and a rent of twelve pence for all services and demands. And is worth twenty shillings yearly in all issues beyond reprises. And that land and tenements and the rest [of the] premises with their appurtenances in Leylunde in the county aforesaid are held, and at the time of death of the said Robert Wearden, were in possession of the aforesaid Edmund Huddleston, soldier, and Dorothea his wife, as of a moiety of his manor of Leylunde by military service. And is worth thirteen shillings and four pence yearly in all issues beyond reprises. And moreover, the aforesaid jurors say upon their oath that the aforesaid Robert Wearden in the aforesaid named Commission had or held no other or more messuages, lands, tenements or hereditaments of the said lady queen, nor of any other [person] or of some other [person] in demesne, reversions, nor in service the day he died in the said county of Lancaster, other than was aforesaid. And that the aforesaid Robert Wearden died on the eleventh day of September in the year 1580, and that William Wearden is the son and heir of the said Robert, and was aged eleven years on the day of the death of his father Robert Wearden. In witness whereof to this present inquisition, the aforesaid commissioners, as well as the aforesaid jurors, affix their seals. Dated the day year and place first aforesaid. Transcript in the Court of Wards by W. Tusser squire clerk Duchy of Lancaster.

Isabel Worthington (Peter, Isabel) was the daughter of Peter (Piers) Worthington of Blaynscoughe and Isabell Anderton (the daugther of James Anderton of Euxton (Croxton), Lancashire) ^FL7. She was the mother of three known children, William, James, and Peter ^{BO4, RI4, WO9}. Her elder brother, Richard, paid her dowry ^WO10. After the death of her husband, she endeavored to retain custody of her son, William, who was subject to becoming a ward of Sir Edmond Hudleston and Dorothie Hudleston ^WO10. These circumstances were remarkably similar to her own father’s situation as a young boy.

William Wearden was called the son and heir of Robert Wearden and was eleven years old when his father died on September 11, 1580 ^IN15, indicating he was born in 1569. He was called the son of Robert Werden in the Roll of the Guild Merchant of 1582 for the borough of Preston, Lancashire (“Willms Werden de Clayton filius Rob[er]ti Werden”) ^AB1. The name “Will[iam]us Wearden de Clayton g” (perhaps an abbreviation for “gentleman”) was included in a list of the freeholders in Leyland Hundred in Lancashire in 1600 ^EA6. As “Will’s Werden de Claiton” (Williamus Werden de Claiton), he and his brothers, Petrus and Jacubus (Peter and James), were sworn as foreign burgesses in the Roll of the Guild Merchant for the borough of Preston, Lancashire in 1602 ^AB1. For the Roll of the Guild Merchant for the borough of Preston, Lancashire in 1622, Will’m’s [Williamus] Worden de Clayton gen’ [gentleman] was listed as a foreign burgess, along with his sons, Jacobus Worden, Will’m’s Worden, and Ric’us Worden ^AB1. This indicates that the sons of William Worden of Clayton were James, William, and Richard.

James Werden was called “Jacobus”, the brother of William, who was the son of Robert, in the Roll of the Guild Merchant of 1582 for the borough of Preston, Lancashire (“Willms Werden de Clayton filius Rob[er]ti Werden Jacobus Werden frater eius Petrus Werden frater eius”) ^AB1. He was again referred to as the brother of William and Peter in the 1602 Roll of the Guild Merchant for the borough of Preston, Lancashire, but by this time he had his own son, who was not named in the roll (“Will’s Werden de Claiton Jur’ Petrus Werden frater eius Jur’ Jacubus Werden frater eius Jur’… Werden filius eius” ^AB1.

Peter Worden may have been born about 1576 ^BO4.

In a pleading from Sir Edmunde Hudleston and his wife, Dorothie (the “suppliants”), to Sir Rauffe Sadler, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Hudleston stated that the deceased Robert Worden held the land, but it was owned by himself, and he seized the body of William Worden because he believed he was lawfully entitled to the wardship of William ^WO10. He supposed that Robert’s land had been held by knight service, and accused Isabel of filching the documents which would have proved this ^WO10. Essentially, Sir Edmunde Hudleston’s desire to be the guardian of William stemmed from greed, as wardship would guarantee that he would receive the profit of the land, which he felt was owed to him ^WO10. Historically, after they made provisions available to the minor heir who was in their custody, knights could withhold the surplus of that youth’s estate, and this privilege could often be purchased ^MO3. Sir Edmunde Hudleston also complained that William had been secretly taken from their possession by Isabel ^WO10. I received this document as a digital image from The National Archives, and while the image was clear, the ink was faded, particularly along the right margin ^B30. I was able to read it much easier after I increased the contrast and adjusted the brightness. This pleading appears to have been brought to the court on January 29, 1582 (“Br in xxix^ie Ja. 1582”), and a transcription follows ^B30:

To the Right honorable S^r Rauffe Sadler Knight Chauncellor of the Duchye of Launcaster

Humblie Compleynninge shewethe unto Youre honor Youre Suppliante S^r Edmunde Hudleston knighye ^{and dorathie nowe his wieffe} that whereas one Robert Werden laite of Leylande in the Countie of Lancaster gentleman was in his leiffe tyme lawfullie seased in his demeane as of fee or of fee taile generall or speciall w^the the fee simple expectant to hym and his heires, of and in dyverse messuages landes ten[amen]tes and hereditamentes in Leylande and Cleyton in the said Countie of Lancaster, all or the most parte of w^che said premisses weare and are houlden of youre said Suppliantes by knighte service and the said Robert werden soe beinge thereof seased about twoe yeares nowe laste past died of suche an estate soe seased in the homage of youre said Suppliantes by and after whose decease the same premises, did discende and come to one william werden as sonne and next heire of the said Robert whoe at the tyme of his said fathers decease was of the age of eleven years or thereaboutes, by force whereof your said Suppliantes were and are lawfullie intitled to have the wardshippe as well of the bodie of the said william werden, as of the saide premisses soe to theym discended duringe the nonage of the said William : and by reason thereof youre Suppliantes seased the bodie of the saide william and entered into part of the premisses in the name of all the lands soe houlden of youre saide Suppliantes and discended to the saide william as aforesaide : But soe yt ys if yt maye please Youre honor that certeyne deedes evidences Chres [perhaps “Charters”] and wrytinges provinge the said premisses or a great part thereofe to be houlden by knight service as aforesaid of youre said uppliantes, w^che of righte doe belonge unto youre saide Suppliantes, are by casuall meanes comen to the handes custodie and possession of one of Issabell werden Richarde woorthington and John Bannester whoe by coler of havinge thereof have wrongfullie w^thout anye coler of right by indirect meanes taken or caused or procured to be taken out of the possession of youre saide suppliant the bodie of the said william werden youre Suppliantes said warde pretendinge that the same premiss[e]s are not houlden of youre said suppliantes by the service aforesaid meanynge thereyby to disinherite youre said Suppliantes of the saide Service and segniorie and of the proffittes w^che he oughte to have by reason of the saide wardshippe and Segniorie : In tender consideracion whereof and for asmuche as youre said suppliants not knowe the certeyne nomber daites or contentes of the said deedes and wrytinges, nor wherein they be conteyned nor cann directlie prove that the said defendantes did take the bodie of the said william out of the possession of yo^r said suppliantes otherwise than by theire confession for that the same was done secretlie and the said william secretlie conveyed to places unknowne unto youre said suppliantes soe that youre said Suppliantes are by the ordinarie course of the comon lawe without remedie to be relined herein ; It maye therefore please yo^r honor to grannt the Quenes Ma^tes proces of pryvie seale to be directed fourthe of her ma^tes Courte of the Duchie Chamber at Westminster to the said Issabell werden Richard woorthington and John Bannester comanndinge theym and everie of theym thereby at a certeyne daye and under a certeyne paine therein by youre honor to be lymitted to be and p[er]sonallie appeare before youre honor in the said Courte then and there to answare the p^remisses and further to stande to suche order and direction therein as to youre honor shall seme mete and convenient And youre said Suppliantes shall dulie praye to god for the preservac[i]on of youre honor in healthe longe to contynue :

Isabel responded under oath before William Farrington and William Chorley, Jr. on April 6, 1583, and her answer in written form was received in court on April 20, 1583 ^WO10. She stated that Robert’s estate had been held in socage, rather than knight service ^WO10. Socage was a feudal system of holding land in which the tenant either paid rent or performed agricultural services. For this reason, she stated, the custody of William’s person and his estate fell to her ^WO10.

Isabel’s death occurred sometime after 1585 ^WO10, when her name was written in an abstract of a deed ^MA13:

A General Release from Issabel Wewrden widow to Richard Worthington of Blanso her Brother, delivered to Wm. Worthington her Brother for ye use of ye sd [the said] Richard Worthington. in 1585. 27 Eliz: