1556 CHANCERY COURT OF LANCASTER 1556 CHANCERY COURT OF LANCASTER
from Abram's History of Blackburn pp 496-498
Evidence given in respect of a dispute between John son of Sir Alexander OSBALDESTON Knt and Sir John SOUTHWORTH about ownership of part of the Manor of Over Darwynd, includes the following deposition:
"John CROSSE of Over Darwynd, of the age of 66 years, saith that he knoweth the lordship of the Manor of Over Darwynd and the waste ground now in variance called Darwynd Moss. That Sir Alexander OSBALDESTON, father to complainant, and his ancestors have been taken, reputed and known as the only owners of the said Manor and Waste, and the said Sir Alexander was owner of the same at the time of his death. That the said Manor or lordship after the death of Sir Alexander came to John OSBALDESTON as his son and heir; that John OSBALDESTON did keep six years past a Court at Over Darwen aforesaid in his own name, without stop or let; that deponent hath heard his father say that the ancestors of John OSBALDESTON kept Court in like manner; that John SOUTHWORTH was called to appear at the Court kept by John OSBALDESTON, and that Lawrence GORTON, Rauff BARON and Henry DUCKESBURY, tenants at will to Sir John SOUTHWORTH, appeared at the said Court; that John OSBALDESTON and his ancestors have always used to appoint the Constables in the said lordship of Over Darwynd as only lords; that John OSBALDESTON hath enclosed parcel of the said Waste without any let of defendant, and that Sir Alexander his father likewise enclosed other parcels of the said Waste, and the tenants do occupy the same at the liberty of the said John OSBALDESTON; that complainant and his ancestors have used to cause the said Waste to be driven, and the beasts and cattle of strangers dwelling out of the said lordship, to be pynden or folden there in a pynfold belonging to the said John OSBALDESTON; that divers persons out of the said lordship have asked leave of Sir Alexander OSBALDESTON to get turves and sclate in the said Moss, . ." [after mention of past disputes between the two families the deposition ends as follows] . . "that during his (John CROSSE) remembrance the said John OSBALDESTON and his ancestors have always used and occupied the chief house and Mansion Place of Over Darwynd and the demesne belonging thereto commonly called Darwynd Hall in severalty as sole tenants thereof."
It has to be assumed that Henry DUXBURY was a tenant in Darwen and not of some other land holding of the SOUTHWORTHs. As well as the early mention of a DUXBURY the deposition is also interesting as an illustration of the role of a Lord of the Manor in Tudor times.
