porteus

History of a Famous Estate by the Rev T C Porteus MA BD

(extracts from an undated newspaper cutting - left margin damaged hence the asterisks!)

PROOF BY FIELD NAMES

A smaller Duxbury Hall is to be identified with "New Barn" this is proved by field names.

In Mr Earwaker's series of Standish Deeds (nos 210, 248) Thomas son of Alfred (correctly Utred) DUXBURY sold to Matthew and Ralph STANDISH a field called Aldhall.

Land called the Two Acres was sold by him in 1521 and Highfield in **** (Earwaker's Deeds 259, 260);

Finally a Duxbury Hall with land was sold or mortgaged and is described in one of these deed abstracts as the capital messuage of Duxbury.

In our Standish Deeds in Wigan Library, where a later settlement of the ***er is given, as already cited, no Duxbury Hall is named; but Alexander DUXBURY promises to remove himself, his wife and children, his goods and chattels from **** messuages within six days after Martinmas 1533.

The field called Aldhall is referred to in this same deed quoted above. New field names, even when undistinguished, persistently cling to the land. (a list of later derived field names follows)

These names prove beyond all doubt the identity of Alexander DUXBURY's estate with New Barn. The Duxbury deeds in the Standish Collection relate to land held by rent of the manor. For instance the same Ralph STANDISH who acquired the smaller Duxbury ***** was found at his death in 1539 to hold land there worth £4-7s-4d yearly by **ty and a quit rent of eightpence, of ****s STANDISH of Duxbury lord of the manor (Deed at Wigan No.226).

This well may have been the original grant of Siward de DUXBURY about 1220 AD (No.1) for which the manorial rent was tenpence at Martinmas.

There are other deeds of great interest; but they do not include the pedigree of DUXBURY, mentioned by Mr Earwaker, which he saw, and described as imperfect but nevertheless interesting.

MAYORS OF WIGAN FROM THREE FAMILIES

Three families connected with Duxbury who served the Borough of Wigan as mayors, the DUXBURYs, STANDISHs and MAYHEWs, each contributed a representative.

The Standish Deeds in Wigan Library reveal that a certain Thomas de DUXBURY was Mayor of Wigan in 1393-4 and again in 1402-3. Not much is known of this family beyond what has been said about the BANASTRE Rebellion, but in view of Captain Myles STANDISH having fought in the Netherlands, and also in view of his naming a New England settlement Duxbury, it is interesting to find that a Capt.DUXBURY held a commission in the same campaign and fell at the battle of Neuport in 1601.

(stories of the STANDISH and MAYHEW families follow and the article concludes with the descent of ownership of Duxbury after the death of Sir Frank STANDISH in 1812 without issue and the dispute over rival claims)

Rev Porteous is author of "Captain Myles STANDISH" (published 1920) and of the "History of Standish" (published sometime later)

In the early days of the Revolution, Sir Richard STANDISH of Duxbury took a prominant part in Wigan affairs. He had been created a baronet in 1677, but nevertheless, he was not an adherant of the Stuarts and his father had fought in the Civil War on the Parliamentarian side. When the Earl of Derby was wavering in his allegiance between James II and William of Orange he called up the militia and stationed Lieut-Col Sir Richard STANDISH's company of foot at Wigan.

Porteous writes: The publication of "Captain Myles STANDISH" in 1920 and of the "History of Standish" more recently brought me a great many letters from people all over the world seeking to clarify their connection with local Lancashire families. Love of Old England and of all English things breathed in these epistles; they were not for the most part mercenary. True some correspondents wished to share in the fame of the colonist Myles STANDISH, and a few perhaps wished to have part, if possible, of his lost estates.