| Notes |
- Sir William de Lancaster. Born at Caton, Lancashire on the Monday before Michaelmas (29 September) in 18 Edward III (1344/5).[1]
To Ireland in 1360s.
1378-1387. Sheriff of Westmorland approximately
1382. Steward of the King's lands in Penrith and Sowerby in Cumberland
1390-1394. Paid 3s. 4d. rent for the right to fish in Rothmer, .
He died 1398, in the words of Ragg, "possessed of half the manor of Caton, and half Littledale and Priest Hutton in Lancashire; of the manor of Rydal, and lands in Depedale and Glencoin; of the manors of Milnburne and Holgill, and of parts of Kirkbythore."?[2]
His family possessions were recorded in detail and are useful for genealogy:
Glencone and Depedale (both near Hellvellyn) were held of Robert Graybroke, bishop of London, by service of 1/12 of a knight's fee. According to the inquisition at his mother Aline's death Deepdale was held for 1/20 of a knight's fee, of the heirs of William de Lancastre, once lord of Kendal. But William's father's inquisition makes it more specific that this was (at his death) held of John de Coucy, which means Deepdale was part of what is known as the Richmond fee, that had descended from William de Lancaster III via the Lyndeseys. This means Deepdale was probably once held by Walter de Lancastre under William de Lancaster III (see his bequest to his half brother at his death). So then the Patterdale property does very likely correspond at least partly to the tenth of a knight's fee that Walter is reporting having under William III.
His demesne as of fee of the manor of Milneburne on the other hand was held with its belongings of John, son and heir of Thomas de Clifford, formerly lord of Wesmorland.
His demesne as of fee of the manor of Holgil with its belongings was held of the abbot of Hepp (Shap). This is interesting for helping considering the families early dispute with the abbey, generations earlier.
He held 2 messuages and 9 acres of land and meadow with their belongings in the village of Kirkbythore, held of the bishop of Carlisle, as of the right of the church of St Mary of Carlisle.
He died seised of demesne as of fee of 1 messuage in the same village held of John de Kirkbythore.
Half the manor of Caton (in another inquisitio, because in Lancashire) was held of John, late Duke of Lancaster, in other words John of Gaunt, an important member of the royal family.
Also in Lancashire, and also under Duke John, he had half a pasture called Littildale.
Also in Lancashire he had half of the manor of Preste Hoton, under *William, rector of Warton, under the right of the church of Warton.
From the records of his son John, it seems that Rydal was held directly of the king "in chief". This was a possession going back to Roger "de Rydal" de Lancastre, whose son Sir John was heirless and left possessions to various families.
m. Christiana. Held dower until she died in 1406, of half Caton, half Priest Hutton and probably other tenements outside of Lancashire.
Apart from his son John, it seems William also had sons named William and Robert.
Concerning Robert de Lancaster, he is known for sure only because his son William is mentioned in records concerning John, his brother. But then we can add:
In a PRO document probably after 1413, William Louther (Lowther), esquire, master forester of Inglewood forest "and the other foresters of Inglewood forest request that John and Robert de Lancaster, William de Beaulieu, John and Roland de Cliburn and William de Lancaster be ordered to come before the council and answer concerning their hunting of the King's game in the forest".
The History of Parliament website says that he served as a member for Carlisle in March 1416, and that his wife's name was Christine. It also says that "it is worth noting that when he offered sureties at the Exchequer on behalf of Thomas, Lord Dacre, during the course of the session, he was specifically described as living in Westmorland" and...
Despite his important connexions, Robert played little part in local affairs. He attended the parliamentary election for Westmorland in 1425 and that for Cumberland in 1429, but otherwise little is known of his activities. He evidently did not survive long enough to become involved in the feuds and bloodshed which followed his sister-in-law’s strenuous attempts to retain her late husband’s property.
A 1436 "Lay Subsidy Roll" names Robert de Lancaster, as one of two Lancasters in that list. He only just squeezed in with 100 shillings value.
He seems to appear as a witness in a Durham cathedral document relating to Carlisle, f.273r-v 5 December 1441, showing that he was still alive at this time. (Or was this a separate man who was a cleric that became Bishop of Asaph in 1411? Or might Robert the brother of John himself have become a cleric?)
See also C 1/12/193 of 1433 wherein "Robert Crakanthorp, J.P. in co. Westmorland" accuses "William Thornburgh, of Meaburn, Oliver Thornburgh, of Celsheved, William son of Robert Lancastre, of Great Strickland (Stirkeland), Katherine wife of John de Lancastre, knt. and others" of "Riots and lying in wait in the forest of Whinfell (Whynwell) for petitioner on his return from a session at Appleby". (Cal. Pat. R. 1435, P. 455 and various other documents associated with the passing of John Lancaster of Howgill also confirm this son William.)
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1344 - 1398 (53 years)
