Richard de Radcliffe Sheriff of Lancashire

  Noted events in his life were:

• Background Information. ⁷⁴⁵
Richard de Radclyffe was the eldest son of William and Margaret. Richard was born about 1305, and was 29 at the time of his father's death. He married Isabel, daugther and heiress of Robert de Pleasington, and coheir of Michael de Harcla. Due to this marriage he acquired more land & the moiety of the manor of Winmarleigh. Richard was heir to his cousin, Sir Robert de Radclyffe of Ordsall, and the manor of Astley was passed on to him. Later lands that came into his hadns included part of Clitheroe.

Richard de Radclyffe was the Steward of Blackburnshire from 1332 up to 1335, and the Sheriff of Lancashire from 1356 until 1359. In 1344, as keeper of the Chace in the Forests of Blackburnshire, he had a dipute with the Abbot of Whalley regarding his right to Puture in the Waste of Brandwood. The Abbot won the case, and Richard was committed to prison until he could pay the award damages of £4. As Master Forester for Blacburnshire, he was ordered by John of Gaunt to deliver to harts from the forest of Rossendale and two does from the Chace of Pendle. Three years later he was granted a pension of 20 marks per year by John of Gaut when he retired from this office.

Richard enjoyed being in high favor with Henry, Duke of Lancaster. As High Sheriff of Lancashire, was ordered by the Duke to raise and equip archers and men-at-arms in Salford and Blackburn for the campaign against the Scots and for the war in France. In 1358, the Duke mandated that the 12 acres of land in Radclyffe, forfeited by Adam Radclyffe, who was hanged for a felony, be given to Richard.

Richard was also assigned as one of the jutices for the observance of the ordinances and statutes of servants and artificers within the Ducy. The Close Rolls, 15 May 1362, show that he entered into bond at Westminster "for the good behavior of Richard, son of William de Radclyffe, arrested and detained in the Tower of Londown for certain misprisions, trespasses, and commontions against the King and the people, laid against him." He was set free on a bound of £500.

Richard died in 1375. The children of Richard and Isabell were:

• William, eldest son and heir.

• Christopher, second son, had grant of lands in Sabdenhey. He died without children, and made his brother Thomas his heir to his estates.

• Thomas, third son, was given the manors of Winmarleigh, Astley and Clitheroe from his father. From him descended the Radclyffes of Winmarleigh.

• Nicholas, fifth son, was educated at Oxford, where he gained a degree of Doctor of Theology. He was appointed Prior of Wymondham in Norfolk in 1368. He was a prolific writing, publishing numerous manuscrips on the religious topics of the day.

• Elenna, their only daughter. was married three times. First she was married to Nicholas Boteler of Rawcliffe, in Amounderness. Her second husband was Sir John Dalton of Dalton, and her last husband was Sir Robert Urswidk, Knight, Justice of the Peace fo Lancashire, by commission of 12 Jul 1394.

~The Book of Radcylffe, pp. 19 - 24

Richard married Isabel de Peasington, daughter of Robert de Peasington and Unknown. ⁷⁴⁵