Richard Radcliffe Esquire of Radcliffe Tower

  Information about this person:

• Background Information. ⁷⁴⁵
Richard de Radclyffe, elsest son and heir of his father was already a man of considerable experience on his succession. He had his own suit and service of men at the manor-house. Shortly after his inheritance, he had a writ of "novel dessezin" for the recovery of the lands in Tottington which Henry de Lacy had taken from his father. He strenghthened his position by marrying a daughter of William le Boteler, Baron of Warrington.

Richard was a gallant soldier, and served the King with distinction in the Scottish wars, supplying considerable forces of armed men to the king's service. His name occurs frequently in the Charter Deeds of Whalley, and as a juror at the Hundred Court of Salford he is often mentioned in escheator's inquisitions. At a Privy Council, 12 July 1291, held at Stirling, a grant was issued to Richard de Radclyffe, as lord of lancashire border and to Hugh de Elland, as occupying a similar status on the Yorkshire side, to levy custom on goods for sale taken across the causeway of Blakesteynegge, the main commerce route between the two counties, to be applied to its repair.

Richard also held the appointment of Seneschal and Minister of the King's Forests of Blackburnshire. He had to defend his lands against a claim by the Gorhull family, who sought to establish a claim to certain portions of the Radclyffe estates, by plea of a family titled to 30 messuages, 20 acres of pasture and 20 acres of moorland. Richard's reply was that Geoffrey de Gorhull had legally enfeoffed him of these lands, and he was accordingly confirmed in possession.

Richard was given a grant at Stirling, dated 11 Aug 1304, of free warren and free chace in all his demesne lands of Radclyffe and Quarlton by the King as a royal favor for his public service.

Richard died in 1326. He left a family of five sons and four daughters. His children were:

Richard, entered the Holy Orders, but though an ecclesiastic, he had inherited the fiery spirit and military qualities of his Montbegon blood, and conflict marked the whole of his career. In 1307, he became Rector of Radclyffe, and was immediately called upon to defend his title to the Rectory lands against William de Markelow, Rector of Prestwich. The following year his names appears as a witness to a marriage agreement for the espousal of Agnes, daughter of William de Radclyffe to Henry, son of Henry de Shackerley. In this he is described as "the lord Richard, Rector of the Church of Radclyffe." Eight years later, his sister Margaret appointed him to the Rectory of Bury. He died at Bury in 1324.

William, the second son, succeeded his father at the Tower

Robert, third son, came into possession of the manor of Pilsworth. He first married Mary, daughter of Adam de Bury, with whom he had a son, Ralph, who died without issue. He married, Margaret, Lady of Booths as his second wife in 1305. She was the daughter of Robert de Shoresworth and the widow of Henry de Worsley. By Margaret he had two sons, William Radclyffe of Smithills, and John, Rector of Bury. After his death, Margaret was married again to his cousin, Robert, son of Roger de Radclyffe, who was in possession of Ordsall.

Adam, the fourth son, entered the Holy Orders, and was nominated to the Rectory of Bury on 23 Dec 1323. He was only a minor at the time, for he was not ordained Sub-deacon until Sep 1325, and a priest a year later. Adam died in 1331.

John, the fifth son was the founder of the line of Radclyffe of Ordsall.

Elizabeth, the eldest daughter was married to Nicholas de Townsend.

Amabel, the second dauhgter was married to Adam de Tetlow, and had a daughter, Joan, who married Richard de Langeley of Agecroft. Amabel's name occurs frequently in deeds and suits regarding claims against her husband's estates after his death.

Margaret, the third daughter, married Henry de Bury. Her husband was slain at Bury in 1315, by partisand of Adam de Banastre, whereupon Margaret became the ruler of Bury Town, in the annals of which she is known as the "Great Dame Margery, Lady of Bury." Two years before the death of her husband made settlement of his lands, which were to remain to margery, daughter of Richard de Radclyffe, for life; then to Henry, son of henry de Bury, and in default of heirs, to Alice, Agnes and Isabel, daughters of the elder Henry, failing whom, to Adam, son of Matthew de Bury, and his heirs. Shortly before the death of her husband, another son, Adam, was born to Margery, but his father's untimely end prevented any alteration of the settlement. Margery's elder son, henry, was slain in another affray in 1318, one of the ringleaders which was a relative of Roger de Freckleton, whom Margery had appointed Rector of Bury. She thereupon arranged an exchange of livings, sending Frekleton to Radclyffe, and bring to Bury, Richard de Radclyffe, her brother, that in the midst of a host of enemies she might have the support of one of her own indomitable clan. In the County Rolls, under the date of 1323, it is recorded that "Margt. de Burie held Manor of Burie, and renders Socage 8s. and the same Margery holds the town and renders for ward of the castle 10s." On the death of Lady Margery, the Bury estated passed to the Pilkingtons, by marriage of Alicia, eldest daughter of Margery, to Roger de Pilkington.

Alicia, the youngest daughter married a Hesketh of Hesketh.

~The Book of the Radclyffes, pages 9-12

• Background Information. ¹⁰⁴⁴
In 4 Edward I, 1276, Richard de Radclyve had a writ of novel disseisin, and held lands in Tottington, of the fee of Roger de Montebegon. Richard accompanied the King in his wars in Scotland, and obtained from him a charter for free warren in his manors of Radcliffe and Querndone, dated from Strevelin, 32 Edward I, 1302.

~ History of the Borough of Bury and Neighbourhood in the County of Lancaster, p.225

Richard married Daughter of Henry le Boteler, daughter of Henry le Boteler and Isabella le Boteler. (Daughter of Henry le Boteler was born about 1260 in Lancashire, England.)