The parish of Prestwich with Oldham: Crompton

A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1911.

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'The parish of Prestwich with Oldham: Crompton', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5, ed. William Farrer, J Brownbill( London, 1911), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol5/pp108-112 [accessed 25 November 2024].

'The parish of Prestwich with Oldham: Crompton', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5. Edited by William Farrer, J Brownbill( London, 1911), British History Online, accessed November 25, 2024, https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol5/pp108-112.

"The parish of Prestwich with Oldham: Crompton". A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5. Ed. William Farrer, J Brownbill(London, 1911), , British History Online. Web. 25 November 2024. https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol5/pp108-112.

In this section

CROMPTON

Cromton, 1278; Crompton, 1292. (fn. 1)

The township of Crompton has an extreme length of about 3 miles from east to west, with a breadth of a mile and a half. The River Beal runs northward through a central valley; to the east the ground, broken by one or two cloughs, rises continually till 1,300 ft. is attained on Crompton Moor on the border of Yorkshire; while on the west the highest points near High Crompton and Whitfield, which are separated by a valley, rise to 700 and 825 ft; from them the surface slopes away in all directions, but most rapidly to the north. The Irk rises on the boundary between Crompton and Royton. The area is 2,864½ acres; (fn. 2) the population in 1901 was 13,427.

Two roads from Oldham meet near the southern boundary at Shaw Side and Cowlishaw, and go north along the Beal Valley, passing through the small town of Shaw and Woodend. From Shaw the road to Rochdale goes west to High Crompton, thence descending north-west by Burnedge to Rochdale; to the east a winding road goes through Clough into Yorkshire. Crompton Fold lies above Woodend to the east; and Whitfield Hall above the same hamlet to the north-west. The Lancashire and Yorkshire Company's Oldham and Rochdale branch railway line runs northward along the valley, crossing and recrossing the road, and has a station at Shaw, called Shaw and Crompton. Electric tramways connect the place with Oldham. To the south-east of Shaw is Birshaw, anciently a separate manor.

The soil is clay, with veins of sand ; the land is mostly in pasture. There are numerous cotton mills, and some collieries, (fn. 3) with quarries, and some minor industries.

A local board was formed in 1863, (fn. 4) and was in 1894 replaced by an urban district council of twelve members, chosen by four wards—North, East, South and West. The town hall, situated in Shaw High Street, was built in 1894. There are public baths. Gas and water are supplied to Shaw by the Corporation of Oldham. There is a cemetery between Shaw and High Crompton, formed in 1891.

Wakes at Shaw were held on the first Saturday after Old Lammas Day.

In 1666 no house had as many as six hearths liable to the tax, the largest being James Buckley's, with five. The total number of hearths was seventy-nine. (fn. 5)

Philip Gilbert Hamerton, painter, art critic, and essayist, (fn. 6) was born at Shaw in 1834; he died at Boulogne-sur-Seine in 1894.

Manors

Like Oldham, from which probably it was only gradually separated, CROMPTON formed part of the thegnage estate of Kaskenmoor held of the king by Roger de Montbegon and William de Nevill in 1212, and under them by a number of tenants. Gilbert de Notton, lord of Barton, held 4 oxgangs of land of Roger and 4 of William, the annual services being 3s. and 3s. 4d. respectively; while Henry de Scholefield held 1 oxgang by a rent of 10d. (fn. 7)

No proper account can be given of the descent of these manors or portions of manors. From the inquisitions of the 15 th and 16th centuries it appears that the Trafford family held WHITFIELD in Crompton of the king as Duke of Lancaster, as of his manor of Salford, by fealty and the rent of 3s. 4d. (fn. 8) Whitfield Hall was in 1787 in the possession of John Milne and brothers. (fn. 9) The Chaddertons of Lees in Oldham held High Crompton of the king as duke by knight's service and the rent of 3s. 2d. (fn. 10) The Chethams of Nuthurst also had an estate in Crompton of similar tenure, the rent being 3s. (fn. 11) The Langleys of Agecroft also had an estate, including Birchhaw or BIRSHAW, in Crompton and Oldham, (fn. 12) of which the tenure is variously stated, though it is identified with the unnamed estate of Henry de Scholefield (fn. 13) in 1212.

The Hospitallers (fn. 14) and the Abbeys of Whalley (fn. 15) and Cockersand (fn. 16) had small estates in the township, at Whitfield, Gartside, and Crompton Park respectively. The Byron estate in Crompton seems to have been regarded as part of Royton. (fn. 17) There was thus no resident lord of the manor, and little is known of the other holders of land, but the names of Buckley, (fn. 18) Crompton, (fn. 19) Prestwich, (fn. 20) Scholefield, (fn. 21) and Wild (fn. 22) occur. A survey of the township was made in 1623. (fn. 23) The moors were surveyed in 1640. (fn. 24)

In 1787 the principal individual owner was Mr. Pickford of Royton, who contributed about a seventh part of the land tax. (fn. 25)

SHAW seems to have given a name to a landowner in 1370. (fn. 26) The people of the place are noted for their love of vocal music; a musical society was formed in 1740, and continued almost to the present time. (fn. 27)

Church

The 'free chapel' at Shaw, now known as Holy Trinity, is said to have been called anciently St. Patrick's Chapelon-the-Moor. (fn. 28) Its origin is unknown, and the ornaments found there in 1552 show it to have been but poorly furnished. (fn. 29) There was no endowment, but after the Reformation it appears to have remained in occasional use, a 'reading minister' being supplied, and a lecturer being added, probably by the contributions of the people. (fn. 30) The Commonwealth authorities took advantage of the 'delinquency' of Edmund Ashton of Chadderton, who had the tithes of Oldham, to make him settle an endowment on the chapel. (fn. 31) This of course lapsed at the Restoration.

The Nonconformist Oliver Heywood preached at Shaw Chapel several times between 1663 and 1669; but ten years later he was molested after the conclusion of the services and brought before the magistrate. (fn. 32) At the Bishop of Chester's visitation in 1669 it was reported that considerable numbers of Nonconformists assembled constantly at Shaw Chapel, forcing the doors open when locked. On one Sunday, being prevented, they adjourned to Royton Hall. In 1671 Joshua Wilde, 'pretended clerk,' was presented for presuming to preach.

In 1719 it was recorded that ' no certain salary belongs to the curate, but the rector generally allows £5 per annum, and the neighbouring inhabitants about £13; augmented 1718 with £200 given by Mr. Ashton, rector of Prestwich.' (fn. 33) Grants from Queen Anne's Bounty were secured and laid out in lands, which in 1778 were producing £46 a year; the chapel was then regularly served every Lord's Day. (fn. 34) The chapel was rebuilt in 1739 and enlarged in 1798, (fn. 35) and again rebuilt in 1870. A district was assigned to it in 1835. (fn. 36) The following have been curates and vicars, the rector of Prestwich presenting:—

1693 Jas. Lawton
1699 James Makon (fn. 37)
1701 John Halliwell, M.A. (fn. 38) (Brasenose Coll. Oxf.)
1712 John Kippax, (fn. 39) M.A. (St. John's Coll. Camb.)
1727 Joshua Stopford, B.A. (Brasenose Coll. Oxf.)
1761 James Wild, B.A. (Brasenose Coll. Oxf.)
1766 James Mashiter (fn. 40)
1795 Joseph Hordern, M.A. (Brasenose Coll. Oxf.) (fn. 41)
1819 Joseph Hordern, M.A. (Brasenose Coll. Oxf.) (fn. 42)
1823 James Hordern, B.A. (St. Mary's Hall, Oxf.) (fn. 43)
1841 Daniel Brammall, B.A. (fn. 44)
1866 Samuel Edwin Bartleet, M.A. (fn. 45) (Trin. Coll. Camb.)
1875 James Hamer Rawdon, M.A. (fn. 46)
1877 Samuel Edwin Bartleet, M.A.
1878 George Allen, M.A. (St. John's Coll. Camb.) (fn. 47)
1902 James Wilkinson Pinniger, M.A. (Wadham Coll. Oxf.)
1907 Walter Muirhead Hope, M.A. (Hertford Coll. Oxf.)

The registers date from 1704.

St. James's, East Crompton, (fn. 48) was built in 1847; the Crown and the Bishop of Manchester present alternately; there are auxiliary services at Crompton Fold and St. George's Schools. St. Mary's, High Crompton, built in 1872, consecrated in 1878, and since enlarged, is in the Bishop of Manchester's patronage. (fn. 49)

There are Wesleyan, Primitive, and Free Methodist churches.

The Congregational church at Shaw originated in services begun in 1847, but suspended for a time. A small chapel, purchased from the Wesleyans, was opened in 1856 to serve for Shaw and Royton. Shaw became separate in 1861, but afterwards the work ceased. A fresh start was made in 1886, an iron chapel being erected, followed by the present building. (fn. 50)

The Roman Catholic Church of St. Joseph, Shaw Edge, built in 1874, was rebuilt in 1896.

In 1856 the Mormons had a meeting-place at Shaw.

Footnotes

  • 1. On the place-names in Crompton see Oldham Notes and Gleanings, i, 156.
  • 2. 2,865, including 12 of inland water, according to the census of 1901.
  • 3. In the Chetham rental of 1524 (Clowes D.) 16d. appears as paid by Richard Wild 'for getting coals in Lennardine.'
  • 4. Lond. Gaz. 23 Oct. 1863.
  • 5. Subs. R. bdle. 250, no. 9, Lancs.
  • 6. Dict. Nat. Biog.
  • 7. Inq. and Extents (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 63,64. It appears that Gilbert de Notton's share descended to his son Roger, and after the latter's death in 1241 to Gilbert de Barton, son of William son of the former Gilbert; ibid. 61. In 1246 Gilbert de Barton, Brun de Crompton, and Jordan his brother, Simon de Lee and Hugh his son, and Adam son of Ellis complained that the Abbot of Roche and others had disseised them of a certain mine in Crompton. The jury found that the defendants had dug in the mine and had excluded the plaintiffs from their right to enter it. It was probably a quarry on the border of Yorkshire, to which county the defendants belonged; Assize R. 404, m. 1. Gilbert de Barton probably sold the manor to Geoffrey de Chetham, which would explain the descent of one moiety (Whitfield) in the Traffords of Stretford, and of the other moiety in the Chaddertons. It is possible, however, that Whitfield was a distinct grant to the Traffords, made after 1212, and that the Chadderton and Chetham moieties of High Crompton and Beal Moor represent Gilbert de Notton's estate. Geoffrey de Chadderton of Chadderton in 1278 laid claim to a moiety of the manor of Crompton, and had it settled on him; Final Conc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 154. This moiety again was alienated, and the inheritance of the Chaddertons of Lees and the Chethams appears to represent it. At one time the Pilkingtons, also heirs of Geoffrey de Chetham, had a share in the manor—called one-seventh in 1319 (Final Conc. ii, 35)—and the grant of free warren made to Roger de Pilkington in 1291, included his estate in Crompton; Chart R. 19 Edw. I, pt. i, m. 41. The later Pilkington inquisitions do not mention Crompton; the estate was, in part at least, alienated to the Chaddertons. This descent is put forward only as a conjecture. The rents subsequently paid by the tenants of Crompton show an increase on that paid by Gilbert de Notton, unless Whitfield was an independent estate. The rents payable to the Crown in 1324 in right of the Earl of Lancaster were thus stated: Henry de Trafford for 2 oxgangs in Whitfield, 3s. 4d.; John de Chetham, I oxgang in Crompton, 3s. 2d.; Roger de Chadderton, the moiety of Beal Moor, 3s. 2d.; William son of Peter, a certain assart in Crompton, 2s. (?); Adam de Tetlow, 1 oxgang in Birshaw, 10d.; Duchy of Lanc. Rentals and Surv. 379, m. 13. About 1565 they were—For Whitfield farm, 3s. 4d.; Low Crompton farm, 2s. 1d.; Edmund Chadderton for High Crompton, 3s. 4d.; James Ashton for Birshaw, 11d.; Baines, Lancs, (ed. 1868), i, 447. The rent of 3s. payable by Chetham of Nuthurst is omitted.
  • 8. From a suit in 1292 it appears that Henry son of Henry de Trafford demised to John de Halliwell a moiety of all his tenements in Whitfield for sixteen years at 14s. 6d. rent; and the other moiety to Robert de Halliwell for ten years at the same rent. Afterwards Henry granted the whole to Richard his brother for life, which led to the ejection of John and Robert. It was ordered that the grant to Richard should stand good, and that the plaintiffs should do fealty to him ; Assize R. 408, m. 39, 93. In 1324 Henry de Trafford held 2 oxgangs in Whitfield by a service of 3s. 4d. for all; see last note. This statement is varied in 1346 by the substitution of 'four plough-lands' for 'two oxgangs'; a double rent was payable as relief; Add. MS. 32103, fol. 146. Margery, the widow of Sir Ralph Radcliffe, died in 1417 holding four ploughlands in Whitfield as her dower, by assignment of Henry son of Henry Trafford, who held of the king as Duke of Lancaster in socage by a service of 3s. 4d.; the clear value was 20s.; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Chet. Soc), i, 127. In 1556–7 Sir Edmund Trafford granted to John Chetham, of Nuthurst, all his part of Beal water in Crompton, with lease to make a dam, for 12d. rent; John was making a water-mill; Clowes D. Edmund Trafford, who died at the end of 1563, held messuages, &c in Whitfield in socage, as of the queen's manor of Salford, by a rent of 3s. 4d.; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xi, 11. In the following year John Chetham purchased four messuages, &c in Whitfield from Edmund Trafford and Elizabeth his wife; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle, 26, m. 87. This seems to mark the end of the Trafford tenure in Crompton. Edward Milnes of Whitfield was a freeholder in 1600; Misc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 250.
  • 9. a Land Tax Returns.
  • 10. In 1301 and 1302 there was a dispute between Richard de Trafford, rector of Cheadle, and Geoffrey de Chadderton (and others), respecting lands in Crompton; Assize R. 1321, m. 9 ; 418, m. 12 d. Crompton seems to have been given to younger branches of the Chadderton family, and other lands were acquired by them. In 1307 Roger de Pilkington granted all his lands in Crompton to Adam son of Geoffrey de Chadderton, together with the homage of Adam son of John de Birshaw and his service of 2s. a year, reserving the homage of John de Furness and a piece of land bounded partly by the Wrobrooks and the Wallsyke. This grant was by way of exchange for lands in Cheetham held by Adam, who is called also Adam de Crompton. The mill is mentioned; Clowes D. no. 96, 97. Alice, the widow of Alexander de Pilkington, confirmed the grant made by her son Roger, of lands in Crompton by the Beal; ibid. Cecily widow of Adam de Chadderton, in 1324 released her lands on the west side of the Beal, and Richard de Oldham granted them to John her son ; ibid. The moiety of Beal Moor was then held by Roger de Chadderton at 3s. 2d. rent; see preceding note. The receiver for the forfeited Holland estates about the same time rendered account of 26s. 8d. as the issues of two-thirds of a messuage and plough-land, the lands of Roger, son and heir of John de Chadderton, who was in ward ; L.T.R. Enr. Accts. Misc. no. 14, m. 76 d. In 1346 John de Chetham held 1 oxgang and Agnes, Joan, Alice, and Cecily, the daughters and heirs of Roger de Chadderton, held the twentieth part of a knight's fee in Crompton and Beal Moor, paying together a rent of 6s. 8d.; Add. MS. 32103, fol. 146. The descent is again uncertain, but the two families do not appear to have remained on friendly terms. One Thomas de Chadderton granted lands in High Crompton to his son Alexander, with remainder to a younger son Thomas. The elder son died without issue, and the younger had to fly for felony, being concerned in the death of Thomas de Chetham; he died in July 1393, and his son and heir Thomas was then about sixteen years of age. The lands were held of the Duke of Lancaster by knight's service and a rent of 3s. 2d.; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Chet. Soc), i, 54. The custody of the lands escheated was granted by the duke to John de Radcliffe of Foxdenton in 1392, and then to Richard de Chadderton, in whose hands they remained till 1414, at a total rent of 30s.; ibid. See also Dep. Keeper's Rep. xl, App. 527, 532. Probably the lands were restored to the heir; for Oliver, son of Thomas de Chadderton, was in possession in 1428; Clowes D. no. 105. In 1445 John Chetham and Roger son of Oliver Chadderton were holding the twentieth part of a knight's fee in Crompton and Beal Moor, paying 5s. rent; John was charged with 2s. 6d., but pleaded that he was in ward, and Roger, charged with the other half, said that he held as feoffee; Duchy of Lanc. Knights' Fees, 2/20. The feoffees of Thomas son of Roger Chadderton were in possession in 1463; Clowes D. George Chadderton of Lees in Oldham had in 1515 four messuages, &c., in Crompton, held of the king (as duke) by the thirty-second part of a knight's fee and a rent of 3s. 2d. yearly, which he settled on his wife Katherine. On her death in 1543 the tenement went to their grandson Thomas, then of full age; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. vii, 31. A similar return was made after the death of this Thomas Chadderton in 1572 ; ibid, xiii, no. 7. George the son and heir died in 1606, and the tenement in Crompton was then found to be held by the twentieth part of a knight's fee and 3s. 8d. rent; the clear annual value was £5; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 64. The estate was sold by Thomas Chadderton to John Plumpton of Warrington ; Exch. Dep. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), 59. In the time of Charles I a decree between Chadderton and Walker had been made touching lands in Crompton, Whitfield, and Oldham; Lancs, and Ches. Rec. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), ii, 248.
  • 11. From the last note it will be seen that the Chethams at first held jointly with the Chaddertons. The increase of rent may have been due to the grant of Beal Moor. In 1334 John de Chetham held half of Beal Moor and an oxgang in Crompton, which had belonged to William de Weston; Lancs. Inq. and Extents, ii, 104–5. John de Chetham in 1342 granted to his son Adam, with remainders to other sons, all his lands on the east side of the Beal, together with the fourth part of the mill of Crompton, &c at the same time granting to his son Robert, with like remainders, all his lands on the west side of Beal, the fourth part of the mill, lands in Royton and Ashworth, and a burgage in Manchester; regrants followed ; Clowes D. no. 98–101. As already stated John de Chetham was tenant when the extent of 1346 was made. Later Chetham deeds mention the lands in Crompton in feoffments for different purposes. Thomas de Chetham, who died (or was killed) in September 1383, held a messuage in High Crompton of the Duke of Lancaster by knight's service and a rent of 3 s.; its clear value was 23s.; Towneley MS. DD, no. 1463. In 1428 an exchange of lands in High Crompton was made between John Chetham and Oliver Chadderton; the bounds mention Crosshillgate, Bolastree rand, the 'great within ' growing in John's garden, Hallhillgate, Bealmoorhev, Kenyon croft, lands of Sir Edmund Trafford, Robert Langley, Thomas Wild, and Robert Taylor, the two Gosnorhills, Hathershaw Moor, Crawlache, Smallbrook, Ringyard; also in Mosshey; Clowes D. no. 105–7. Lands including Gosard hills, Small brook meadow, and the Mill croft, were in 1472 leased to Thomas Chetham by Katherine the widow, and Thomas, the son and heir of Roger Chadderton; ibid.no. 127. In the same collection are rentals of the Chetham estates, including Crompton, beginning in 1520. The tenure by knight's service and a rent of 3s. is again recorded in the inquisitions made after the death of Thomas Chetham and John Chetham, in 1504 and 1515; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. iii, 62 ; iv, no. 6. In 1614 the estate consisted of twelve messuages, half a water-mill, 120 acres of land, &c held by the fourth part of a knight's fee and the ancient rent of 3s.; Lanes. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), ii, 16–18. The will of Ralph Chetham of Crompton, dated 1537, is printed in Cbet. Gen. (Chet. Soc.), 16.
  • 12. In 1324 Adam de Tetlow held an oxgang in Birshaw which Richard de Birshaw had formerly held; the service was 10d. a year; Lancs. Inq. and Extents, ii, 104–5. In 1346 Robert de Tetlow held Birshaw in socage at a rent of 10d.; Add. MS. 32103, fol. 146. From the Tetlows it descended to the Langleys. Roger de Langley, who died in 1393, held by inheritance a parcel of land 'in Oldham' called Birshaw, the rent being 10d. as before; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Chet. Soc), i, 51. In 1445 Margaret wife of Roger Langley held it at 10d. rent; Duchy of Lanc. Knights' fees, bdle. 2, no. 20. In the inquisition after the death of Thomas Langley six messuages and tenements in Crompton and Oldham were stated to be held of the king (as duke) in socage, by the rent of 1d. for all services; Agecroft D. 80. The 16th-century inquisitions join together messuages &c in Crompton, Oldham, Middleton, and Broughton—or Crompton and Oldham alone—as held in socage by a rent of 2s. 11d.; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. vi, 7; xi, 16. On the division of Sir Robert Langley's estates, the Crompton and Oldham lands fell to his daughter Dorothy, wife of James Ashton, of Chadderton; Pal. of Lane. Feet of F. bdle. 24, m. 3; Duchy of Lanc Inq. p.m. xvi, 22; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 225. Sir Watts Horton had a small estate in Crompton in 1787. A dispute about Towe carr and Birshaw meadow in Crompton occurred in 1564; Ducatus Lanc. (Rec. Com.), ii, 284.
  • 13. a The surname long continued in the township. Thus in 1426 the escheator was ordered to give Hugh, next of kin and heir of Henry Scholefield—i.e. son of John brother of Henry—livery of four messuages, 80 acres of land, &c in Crompton, and two messuages, &c., in Oldham, which had been taken into the king's hands in consequence of the felony of Thomas de Chadderton, who had formerly owned them; Dep. Keeper's Rep. xxxiii, App. 27; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Chet. Soc), i, 56.
  • 14. The Prior of the Hospitallers in 1243 called upon Gilbert de Barton to warrant to him 80 acres of land in Crompton, and the same in Barton, held by charter; Curia Regis R. 130, m. 25 d. Crompton is named among the places in which the order had lands in 1292; Plac. de Quo War. (Rec. Com.), 375. Forty years later the prior claimed due service from John de Trafford for a messuage and 20 acres in Crompton; De Banco R. 292, m. 354 d. The Hospitallers' land, which was at Whitfield, was in 1639 tenanted by James Buckley, as may be seen in the inquisition quoted later; see also Lancs, and Ches. Antiq. Soc. viii, 156, 157.
  • 15. Charles, Abbot of Stanlaw, granted to Adam de Windhill in Blackburnshire the land in Crompton called Gartside, lying on the west of Aspiwallesyke, near tile Hospitallers' land, which they had had from Gilbert de Barton at a rent of 12d. Adam seems to have sold his right to Geoffrey de Chetham, who regranted it to him. Then Adam released his right to the Abbot of Stanlaw for 14 marks of silver, and Clarice his widow afterwards released her claim; Whalley Coucber (Chet. Soc), i, 163–5. This land was probably among the other Whalley lands granted to Holt of Gristlehurst; in 1580 Thomas Holt and Constance his wife sold a messuage in Crompton to Francis Entwisle, Alice his wife, and John his son; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 42, m. 43.
  • 16. Gilbert de Notton granted part of his land in Crompton to the canons of Cockersand, the bounds being the Bathe (or Bache) brook, the Beal, Hullilache, and the Black lache. Roger de Notton (his son and successor) granted a land in Gholmerscliff called Hesseneslac, to wit, from Lovenath-denebrook to Henecesclough; together with the Cliff on which stood the buildings of Geoffrey de Manchester; Cockersand Chartul. (Chet. Soc.), ii, 726–9. It appears from the margin that Geoffrey son of Luke de Manchester held both pieces of land in 1268, by inheritance, rendering for the former 2s. a year and ½ mark at death, and for the latter 6d. In 1246 Simon son of Thomas de Chaydock did not prosecute a claim for warranty made against Geoffrey son of Luke de Crompton ; Assize R. 404, m. 13 d. It appears that John son of Thomas de Chaydock had a grant from William son of Adam de Crompton of half his lands in the township ; Clowes D. no. 94. In 1259 Geoffrey son of Luke de Manchester leased for ten years to Sir Geoffrey de Chetham all the land he held of the Abbot of Cockersand in Crompton at a rent of 2s. 6d.; ibid. no. 95. Part of this land afterwards came to the Chethams. Thomas de Chetham in 1383 held lands called Crompton Park of the abbot in socage by the rent of ¾d.; worth 21s. clear; Towneley MS. DD, no. 1463. Crompton Park is mentioned in 1461; Clowes D. no. 123. It was leased in 1475 to Edmund Brereley for the life of James Chetham; ibid. no. 128; but is not named in the later inquisitions of the family.
  • 17. It is not separately mentioned in the inquisitions. In 1551 the tenants of Crompton had a dispute with Sir John Byron regarding common of pasture; Ducatus Lanc. (Rec. Com.), i, 250. Sir John Byron in 1561 purchased lands in Castleton and Crompton from Robert and James Stott; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 23, m. 6.
  • 18. The Buckleys occur from the beginning of the 15th century, when James Chetham married Eleanor daughter of Ellis Buckley; Clowes D. no. 102. An estate in 1346 held by William the Parson (alias Pereston) by a rent of 12d. and 13d. for castle ward, was a century later held by James Buckley, by the same services; Add. MS. 32103, fol. 146; Duchy of Lanc. Knights' Fees, bdle. 2, no. 20. In 1463 the feoffees of Thomas Chadderton granted lands in Crompton to Bernard Buckley; Clowes D. The wife of Robert Buckley of Whitfield contributed to the subsidy of 1526 for 'goods'; Shaw, Oldham, 16. Lawrence Buckley in 1564 purchased from Edmund Trafford and Elizabeth his wife two messuages, two dovecotes, &c in Crompton and Butterworth; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 26, m. 43. John Chetham in 1565–6 sold land in Whitfield to William Buckley; Clowes D. In 1590 a settlement was made of three messuages, &c., in Crompton and other places, by James Buckley and Elizabeth his wife ; Pal. of Lanc Feet of F. bdle. 52, m. 83. James Buckley died in 1608, holding nine messuages and lands in Whitfield of the king as of the dissolved priory of St. John of Jerusalem in socage by 3d. rent; his son and heir George was over thirty years of age ; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 145. James Buckley, who died in 1627, had the same or a similar holding in Whitfield and land in Butterworth held by a ginger root; James, his son and heir, was five years of age; Duchy of Lane. Inq. p.m. xxvii, 51. Another James Buckley died in September 1638 holding a messuage and lands in Whitfield as above, and a cottage, &c also of the king, by the 200th part of a knight's fee. James, the son and heir, was seventeen years of age. A settlement made in 1637 is recited in the inquisition; ibid, xxviii, 72. James Buckley was in ward to the king in 1641; Shaw, Oldham, 92. James Buckley of Whitfield occurs in 1673 and 1681, and was buried at Oldham, 24 January 1699–1700; John Buckley is named in 1708; ibid. In 1713 the estate was sold by James Buckley to John Lever of Alkrington and was afterwards (in 1849) in severalties; Raines, in Notitia Cestr. ii, 115. In the Clegg Pedigree (1840) the succession is given as —Lawrence Buckley, s. James, s. George, s. James, s. James, s. James, who died in 1726, leaving his sisters as heirs.
  • 19. From some of the preceding notes it will be seen that a family or families using the local surname had existed in the 13th century. Among the Agecroft deeds (334) is a grant of homages and services from Adam son of Hugh de Goledene and Eve his wife to Adam son of Jordan de Crompton, but the place is not mentioned. Disputes as to bounds and right of way between Thomas Chetham and William Crompton were in 1481 and 1482 settled by arbitration, bounds being 'preket be iiij men'; Clowes D. no. 131, 132. From 1451 to 1537 one John Crompton after another was a free tenant of the Abbot of Cockersand, paying 12d. rent; Chartul. iii, 1238–41. Robert Crompton of Crompton Hall contributed to the subsidy of 1523 for his lands; Shaw, Oldham, 15. William Crompton died in 1587, holding a capital messuage called Whetstone Hill in Oldham of Edmund Prestwich of Hulme, and messuages in Crompton of James Browne of Westhoughton (the purchaser of the Cockersand lands), by a rent of 12d. Thomas, his son and heir, was thirteen years of age; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xiv, 25. About the same time died Edmund Crompton, whose will is printed in Shaw, op. cit. 32. Thomas Crompton's name is on the list of freeholders, 1600; Misc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 247. He died in 1607, leaving three young daughters as heirs; the lands in Crompton were stated to be held of the king (as duke) by the twentieth part of a knight's fee; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 92. His will is printed in Shaw, op. cit. 45; it mentions brothers Abel and Samuel. Some deeds relating to the Cromptons of Crompton and Oldham are contained in the Hyde of Denton charters, Harl. MS. 2112, fol. 153, &c.; for Robert Hyde in 1630 married Alice, one of the daughters and co-heirs of Thomas Crompton, Deborah, another daughter, married Samuel Hamer. Crompton Hall, perhaps at first so called from its tenants under the Abbey of Cockersand, was in 1672 owned by William Richardson, and in 1696 and later by Hugh Yannes; Shaw, op. cit 176, 218, 264. Hugh Yannes of Crompton Hall died in 1746 or 1747, having made a settlement in 1732. His heirs were his daughter Alice wife of the Rev. Samuel Townson and the children of his other daughter Esther, who had married John Buckley; note of his will by Mr. W. F. Irvine.
  • 20. Edmund Prestwich of Hulme in 1577 held lands in Oldham and Crompton of the heirs of Robert Chadderton; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xii, no. 4.
  • 21. This family has been mentioned above. Cuthbert Scholefield of Shaw was a freeholder in 1600; Misc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 249.
  • 22. The Wilds seem to have lived at Low Crompton and Cowlishaw. Robert Wild contributed to the subsidy of 1523 for lands; Shaw, Oldham, 15. Ottiwell Wild in 1571 made a settlement of his messuage, burgage, lands, &c.; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 33, m. 156. His name, as 'of Cowlishaw,' appears among the freeholders of 1600 ; Misc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 249. Henry Wild of Low Crompton, Henry Wild of Doghill, and William Wild, senior, a recusant, contributed to the subsidy of 1641; Shaw, op. cit. 88. James Wild in 1672 left a rent-charge of £5 for the poor; Char. Rep. 1826, xvi, 233.
  • 23. The principal proprietors were:— Chetham, 259 acres; — Chadderton, 225; Sir John Byron, 169; Edmund Ashton, 161; — Lever, 134; — Crompton, 114; the others, holding from 30 to 50 acres, were: — Wrigley, Prestwich, Scholefield, Kershaw, Buckley, Wild, and Tetlow. The total, 1,124 acres (large measure), corresponds nearly with the 2,865 acres of the township. Details of Sir John Byron's holding were: —Inland 110 acres; on Shaw and Hathershaw Moor, 16; Beal Moor, 6; High Moor, 30, with turbary on 6 acres; and 1 acre stone and coal; Shaw, Oldbam, 63, 66.
  • 24. Oldham Notes and Gleanings, ii, 53–5 ; they were: — Shaw Moors (4), High Moor, Beal Moor, and Hathershaw.
  • 25. Land-tax returns at Preston. The proportion is about the same as the Byron holding in 1623.
  • 26. In 1370 Thomas de Shaw settled lands in Crompton on his son Alexander, with remainders to Thomas and Henry, brothers of Alexander; Raines in Gastrell's Notitia, ii, 119.
  • 27. Oldham Notes and Gleanings, i, 125.
  • 28. Canon Raines in Gastrell's Notitia, ut supra. He states: 'The chapelry is parochial, and a chapel rate is levied [1849] and collected independent either ot Prestwich or Oldham.'
  • 29. Ch. Gds. (Chet. Soc), 43; Lawrence Hall was the priest there. The chapel was valued at 13s. 4d. on its confiscation by the king, and purchased by the inhabitants; Raines, Chantries (Chet. Soc), ii, 277.
  • 30. Hugh Burdman, literate, was licensed to be the reader at Shaw in July 1575; Pennant's Note-book (Chest. Reg.), fol. 4. John Yareley was there in 1587, and William Plant in 1636; Mr. Earwaker's notes. It was 'supplied by a curate' about 1610; Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. xiv, App. iv, 11. A Mr. Worthington was lecturer there in 1622; Misc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 66. Lemuel Allen was curate in 1625; Shaw, Oldham, 70.
  • 31. Out of the impropriate rectory of Oldham, part of his estate, £40, was in 1646 ordered to be paid for 'increase of the maintenance of a minister in the chapel of Shaw'; Plund. Mins. Accts. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 39. This was afterwards agreed to by Edmund Ashton and James his son and heir; ibid, ii, 117. In 1650 the Commissioners recommended that it be made a parish church; Commonw. Ch. Surv. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), 22. In 1649 Robert Symonds had been the minister, but like his superior, the rector of Prestwich, he did not pay much respect to the Manchester Classis, and left in 1650; he was rector of Dalbury from 1652 to 1662, and then, conforming, became rector of Middleton; Manch. Classis (Chet. Soc), ii, 134, 137; iii, 446; Raines, in Gastrell, Notitia, ii, 120. James Walton was minister in 1655–6; Plund. Mins. Accts. ii, 118. He remained till 1662, when he was ejected ; Manch. Classis, iii, 449. The following is mentioned as curate in Shaw's Oldham:—1674, Benjamin Gilbody, B.A. No curate is named in Stratford's Visitation List, 1691.
  • 32. O. Heywood's Diaries, i, 184, 259, 264, 265 ; ii, 90.
  • 33. Gastrell, Notitia Cestr. ii, 119.
  • 34. Rector Harris in Booker, Prestwich, 85.
  • 35. An account of Shaw Chapel, by John Higson, is printed in Oldbam Notes and Gleanings, i, 112, 122.
  • 36. Lond. Gas. 5 May 1835.
  • 37. The church papers at Chest. Dioc Reg. begin at this time.
  • 38. Afterwards curate of Oldham. Oxford degrees are taken from Foster, Alumni.
  • 39. Admissions to St. John's Coll. ii, 148.
  • 40. There was a Richard Mashiter, of Pembroke College, Oxford; B.A. 1742. For his son see E. Butterworth, Oldham [ed. 1856], 60.
  • 41. Father of his two successors, and of Rev. Peter Hordern, librarian of the Chetham Hospital.
  • 42. Afterwards vicar of Rostherne (1821) and Burton Agnes (1855).
  • 43. Senior magistrate of Oldham Sessions; had a school at Royton Hall and then at Failsworth Lodge; vicar of Doddington, Kent, 1841.
  • 44. Vicar of Chislet, Kent, 1833.
  • 45. Perp. curate of Ringley 1875–7; in 1878 exchanged Shaw for Brockworth, Glos.; of St. Mark's, Gloucester, 1885.
  • 46. Vicar of Preston, 1877.
  • 47. Vicar of Brockworth, Glos., 1871–8.
  • 48. For district, Lond. Gaz. 14 Jan. 1845.
  • 49. For district, Lond. Gaz. 9 July, 1878.
  • 50. Nightingale, Lancs. Nonconf. v, 264–6.
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