Adam Radcliffe

  General Notes:

de Radeclive | Henry de Radeclive, temp. Henry II | Possible son: Wiiliam de Radeclive, of Radcliffe Tower, temp. Richard I and John, married Cecilia de Montebou, lady of Kirkland and Hornby | Adam de Radeclive of Radcliffe Tower, living Henry III, married a daugher of Alan Culwen, and brother of Geoffrey and Hugh de Radclive | Robert de Radeclyye, of Radcliffe Tower, died before 20 Edward I (1291) "Radcliffe Parish," The History of the County Palatine and Duchy of Lancaster, Volume II, Radcliffe Pedigree, p. 422-425 1530a

  Noted events in his life were:

• Background Information: ⁷⁴⁵
Adam Radclyffe, the eldest son and heir, had to face numerous claims against the estate on his succession. He enhanced his position by his marriage to a kinswoman, the duahgter of Alan de Curwen. The Curwen family can trace its descent from Gospatric, Earl of Northumberland, and were intermarried with the Barons of Kendal and Lords of Lancashire. One branch of the family had a grant of the manor of Ashton-under-Lyne from Robert de Grelley at the end of the twelfth centry.

Adam de Radclyffe was an active man of affairs, as revealed by his frequent mention in the records of his day. He acted on numerous occasions as surety in various cases, and was a juror on an inquisition into the work and duties of the Great Serjeant. At Lancaster Assizes in 1248, Adam was a member of the jury, and the same court he and eleven others paid a find of 40s for trespass. In 1225, the King issued a mandate at Westminster ordering the woods and moor of Oswaldtwistle, in the possession of Adam de Radclyffe, to be disafforested. Forestwere great wasted used for hunting and pleasure. The removal of the forestry restrictionf on Radclyffe lands in the Forest of Rossendale was a mark of royal favor.

Adam had four sons:

Robert, his heir.

William, a priest, who in 1247 became chaplain of the Castle of Dublin by direct appointment of King Henry III, who further granted him "that as soon as there is an opportunity of any dignity in Ireland being void and the King's hands, there shall be assigned to him by the Lord Archbishop of Dublin 15 marks of rent, and the Justiclary is not to hinder the Lord Archbishop therein. Ordered at Reading in August and at Windsor in September." William was in royal favor and recieved numerous grants. He retained the King's regard during the next reign, and in 1280, he attested anumber of deed at Westminster.

John, the youngest son, in 1292, claimed a messuage and land in Harwood against Henry, son of Henry de Trafford. He was charged in 1298 along with other for the murder of Andrew de Tomiz, yet was pardoned by the Great Council on finding suffcient surety "to stay in the King's service in the present warre in Scotland at the King's will." He was later killed by Peter, son of William le Bold of Radclyffe, who was imprisoned in York Castle for the offence, but eventually bailed by the King's orders.

~The Book of the Radclyffes, page 7-9

• Background Information: ¹⁰⁴⁴
In 30 Henry III or 1246, Adam de Radeclive petitioned against Roger de Oswaldtwisel for the lands demised in Radeclive, for a term of years, by his grandfather, of whom he was heir.

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

• Background Information: ⁸⁶¹
Adam de Radcliffe is mentioned in 1223, [Final. Conc. (rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 20] and in 1227 acknowledged the service due to the lord of Manchester for Little Lever. [ibid. i, 47, this may be a different Adam.] In 1246 as Adam son of William de Radcliffe he was acquitted of having disseised Adam son of Alexander de Radcliffe and Peter son of Adam of 4 acres of common of pasture in Radcliffe, where he had dug a mine; but he was convicted of other disseisin. [Assize R. 1268, m. 12 d.] Robert son of Adam who had land in Oswaltwistle in 1241 [Final Conc, i, 85]. Robert was a juror in 1269, and Richard in 1282; Lancs. Inq. and Extents, i, 235, 244. John son of Adam son of William de Radcliffe was nonsuited in a claim against Roger de Middleton in 1292 [Assize R. 408, m. 32 d. 30 d.]

Victoria County History, A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5, The Parish of Radcliffe, pp. 56-67

• Background Information: ^1530a
The parish of Radcliffe, in Salford hundred, doubtless gave name to the family of Radcliffe before that lace was in the possession of the Earls of Chester. In the record of fees held in the reigns of John and Henry III., as exhibited in the Testa de Nevvill, William de Radeclive occurs in the Inquisicio Comitatus Lancastr', [fo. 401-405], where he is said to hold by 6s. a carucate of land of the fee of Ranulf Fitz-Roger's heir, a ward in the custody of Eustace Fitz-Moreton, for the king, besides twelve bovates of land in Edgworth.

In 30 Henry III. (1246), Adam, son of the William de Radeclive above named, petitioned a against Roger de Oswaldtwisel for the lands demised in Radclive, for a term of years, by his grandfather, of whom he was the heir. In 4 Edward I. (1276) Richard, son of Robert and great grandson of William de Radclyve, had a writ of novel disseisin, and held lands, &c., in Tottington, of the fee of Roger de Montebegon. This 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. (1304). [Rot. Chart., 32 Edward I, mem. 17]

"Radcliffe Parish," The History of the County Palatine and Duchy of Lancaster, Volume II, pp. 421 & 426

Adam married Daughter of Alan de Curwen, daughter of Alan de Curwen and Unknown.