Grimshaws of Lancashire

 

Clayton le Moors

 

 

Links

 

Origins of the family crest

 

The Grimshaw's of Clayton

 

Pictures of Clayton

 

 

Links     For more information about Clayton or related topics try these: -

 

Clayton-le-Moors Tourist info

Map

 

 

Origins of the Family Crest

 

"I am informed by some persons, who had it by tradition from ancient people, that formerly there was in this country a monstrous serpent of four or five yards long, and thicker than a common axle-wheel (wooden) of a cart, and very mischievous, preying upon lambs etc. Its cheif residence was in a wood, near pickup bank, a few miles from Blackburn in Lancashire, called Ouse Castle, wherein there is yet a little spot of ground, called Griom's Ark, which is a deep cavern, situated among rocks in a wood, from whence it was seen to come out and bask itself on a sunny bank.

The picture of this serpent is drawn with wings, two legs, and talons like an eagle, which is seen in some ancient houses (and particularly at Claytion Hall, near Dunkenhall), by which it appears to be very large and furious.It is said one Grimshaw, esq., proprietor of that hall, shot the monster with arrows, and had an estate offered for that good service done to his country, which he generously refused, and only desired that he might have passage through that wood to a township he had on t'other side of it, which was granted, the title of which is found in ancient writings. (It is observeable, says the authior) that in the front of Clayton Hall are two figures drawn in plaister in the form of a serpent.The like figure is drawn in plaister in several ancient houses in that neighbourhood, which go under the name of The Griffin's picture, and the sign is used at public-houses. There is a place in that wood called the Griffin's Ark." (Charles Owen, D.D., A Natural History Of Serpents, 1742. 4to P.144.)

The first Grimshaw with reference to the griffon is Henry de Grimshaw of Clayton living in 1372-6 who divided the manor of Clayton with The Rishtons.

In the St George visitation records we find a reference to Henry Grimshaw follows: - "The carrying of weapons in medieval days led to serious disputes. For in 1465 Henry Grimshaw was implicated in the manslaughter of Robert Bynnes of Altham. The sheriff sent a warrant to the constable of Altham for the arrest of Robert Bynnes. Henry was assisting at the arrest and killed Robert with his lance, from which charge he was cleared. Being done in the execution of his duty.

 

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The Grimshaw's of Clayton le Moors

 

The Clayton's owned Clayton Hall until Adam de Grimshaw married cicely and made Clayton his home. The rest of the Grimshaw's remained in Darwen.

 

Henry de Clayton, {occurs 1277, 1283, 1292, 1302.}

He had one child: -

1.Phillip de Clayton, {lived 1310} (cont.)

 

Phillip de Clayton married Isabella, {about 1310} and had one child: -

1. John de Clayton, {occurs 1333 & 1338} (cont.)

 

John de Clayton had one child: -

1. Henry de Clayton, {occurs 1333} (cont.)

 

Henry de Clayton had two children: -

1. Cicely de Clayton, {sole heiress and widow in 1368} (cont.)

2. Margaret, {living 1368} (cont.)

 

Cicely de Clayton married Adam de Grimshaw and had four children: -

1. Henry de Grimshaw, {living 1372-6} (cont.)

2. Richard de Grimshaw

3. Agnes de Grimshaw

4. John de Grimshaw

 

Margaret de Clayton married Henry de Rishton

 

Henry de Grimshaw, {he divided the manor of Clayton with the Rishton's and lived to 1409, he bore the family crest. He had two children: -

1. Robert Grimshaw, {living 1454} (cont.)

2. Katherine Grimshaw, {living 1429}

 

Robert Grimshaw married? And had two children: -

1. Henry Grimshaw, {born about 1442} (cont.)

2. Hugh Grimshaw, {living 1441}

 

Henry Grimshaw married Isabel, {daughter of Henry Rishton of Rishton, married by dispensation 1446} and had two children: -

1. Henry Grimshaw, {lived 1467-1507} (cont.)

2. Nicholas Grimshaw, {living 1481}

 

Henry Grimshaw, {born 1467 and died 1507} married Alice, {daughter of Sir Richard Tempest of Bracewell} and had three children: -

1. Thomas Grimshaw, {died 1539} (cont.)

2. Walter Grimshaw

3. Richard Grimshaw

 

Thomas Grimshaw, {died 1539} and married Margaret, daughter and co-heiress of Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Harrington, of Hornby, by John Stanley, of Melling, esq. Illegitimate son of James Stanley, Bishop of Ely. They had seven children: -

1. Richard Grimshaw, {died 1575} (cont.)

2. Henry Grimshaw

3. Nicholas Grimshaw

4. Ralph Grimshaw

5. Anne Grimshaw

6. Alice Grimshaw

7. Isabel Grimshaw, {living 1513}

 

Richard Grimshaw, {died 1575 at 66 years of age} MARRIED Elizabeth, {daughter of John Cudworth, of Oldham, gentleman. 29 of Henry VIII}

1. John Grimshaw, {died 1586} (cont.)

2.  John Grimshaw

3. Henry Grimshaw

4. Nicholas Grimshaw, (cont.)

5. Raphe Grimshaw

6. Margery Grimshaw

7. Elizabeth Grimshaw

8. Anne Grimshaw

 

John Grimshaw married Mary, {daughter and co-heiress of John Catterall, of Little Mitton, esq.} and had six children: -

1. Nicholas Grimshaw, {living 1586} (cont.)

2. Andrew Grimshaw

3. Richard Grimshaw

4. Henry Grimshaw

5. Anne Grimshaw

6. Margaret Grimshaw

 

Nicholas Grimshaw was alive around 1594 and could be the same Nicholas who moved to Sabden, (Go to Sabden)

 

Nicholas Grimshaw married Helen, {daughter of Robert Rishworth, esq. Of Riddlesden Hall, com} and had twelve children: -

1. Thomas Grimshaw, {died by accidentally falling on a knife}

2. John Grimshaw, {died 1662} (cont.)

3. Nicholas Grimshaw, {slain at the siege of Tredough, or Drogheda, in Ireland}

4. Robert Grimshaw

5. Thomas Grimshaw

6. Mary Grimshaw

7. Jane Grimshaw

8. Margaret Grimshaw

9. Anne Grimshaw

10. Elizabeth Grimshaw

11. Eleanor Grimshaw

12. Katherine Grimshaw

 

John Grimshaw, {died 8th March 1662, aged 48} married Anne, {daughter and co-heiress of Abraham Colthurst, of Burnley, 6 of Charles I. Ob 24 July 1661} and had five children: -

1. Richard Grimshaw, {lived 1664} (cont.)

2. Nicholas Grimshaw, {lived 1642} (cont.)

3. John Grimshaw, (cont.)

4. Mary Grimshaw, (cont.)

5. Helen Grimshaw, (cont.)

 

Richard Grimshaw married Elizabeth, {daughter of Stephen Tempest esq., of Broughton} and had one child: -

1.Susanna Grimshaw, {born1658, died 1727}

 

Susanna Grimshaw married Ralph son of Nicholas Shuttleworth, of Clitheroe, Son of Richard Shuttleworth, of Gawthorpe. And died without issue.

 

Nicholas Grimshaw was a student at Douay. In 1642 appeared at Preston guild. He died without issue?

 

John Grimshaw married Jennet, {daughter of Robert Cunliffe, of Sparth and co-heiress of Christopher Cunliffe her brother; died and buried 16 December 1663.

 

Mary Grimshaw married John Heywood, of Urmston. And had one Child: -

1. Rebecca Heywood, {died 1772}

 

Rebecca Heywood married Richard Lomax and being the sole heiress to Clayton it passed to the Lomax family.

 

Helen Grimshaw married john Clarkson of Cowhill.

 

 

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