FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF EDWARD GREEN AND
ELIZABETH WITHINGTON
Edward Green of Atherton was born in about 1633 of Leigh,
Lancashire, the son of Giles Green and Isabel Pendleberie.
There are two christening records for an Edward Green in Leigh,
but no parents are listed in the christening register during this
time period:
Edward Greene,
christening 14 November 1631 in Leigh.
Edward Greene,
christened 23 November 1632 in Leigh.
Either could be
Edward's christening date, as Edward's parents married in 1630.
Marriage record for
Edward Greene in Leigh
Edward married in April
1663 in Leigh, but the bride's name was not recorded. She was
listed as being of Deane parish. Her name, Elizabeth Withington,
was mentioned in a history of Atherton. In the history of
Atherton, Edward and his wife are mentioned: "John Withington,
nailor died in 1665. His wife was Elizabeth, and a daughter of
the same name, who had married Edward Green." (History of
Atherton)
"Leigh was the name of a district embracing 13,793 acres,
bounded on the north, east, and partly on the south by the
hundred of Salford, on the west by the parish of Wigan, and on
the south-west by the parish of Winwick. As its name denotes it
was a district rich in meadow and pasture land, and the produce
of its dairies—the Leigh cheese—was formerly noted for its
excellence...Silk-weaving is a considerable industry in the
town. Nail-making, linen-weaving, and the manufacture of fustian
were largely conducted here in the seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries" (British History Online)
Atherton
Edward Green of Atherton died and was buried 2 February 1684/5 in
Leigh.
Burial
record for Edward Green in Leigh: "Edward Green of Atherton -
02"
Edward left a will written 31 January 1684.
Will of Edward
Greene of Atherton, 1684
Edward's
will was proven in 1685: "In the name of God Amen the
thirty first day of January Anno Domini 1684 I Edward Greene
of Atherton in the County of Lancaster yeoman being infirme
and weake of body but of sound and perfect memory praised be
almighty God for the same doe ordaine and make this my last
will & testament in manner following".
Edward left bequests to his wife and children. He mentioned
his oldest son Gyles, but did not list the younger children by
name: "My will and mind is that Elizabeth my now wife
shall have and enjoy all the rest of my goods chattels and
cattells for and towards the educacion and bringing up of my
younger children: onely I give and bequeath unto Gyles
my eldest sonne two chimneys or iron grates the one
standing in the fire house and the other in the parlor one
great Byble and Mr Perkins worke for his whole legasie. And
whereas I have reserved unto my selfe full power by
one indenture of Assignment beareinge date the twenty first
day of August in the thrity second yeare of the raigne of
our Soverigne Lord that now is over England &c to charge
my messuage and tenemt in Atherton aforesaid with the
payment of fforrescore poundes or any lesser sume to such
person or persons as I shall by this my last will an testamt
nominate It is therefore my will and mind and I doe hereby
limit grant nominate and appoint that Gyles my eldest
sonne shall pay the sume of fforescore pounds of
lawfull money of England unto my younger children sonnes or
daughters equeally to bee divided amongst them share &
share alike and this to be paid yearely & every yeare
after Gyles shall attaine the age of ffower and twenty
yeares by eight pounds six shillings eight pence yearly
until the said sume of fforescore poundes bee rune up and
discharged onely two of the last yeares shall pay unto his
brothers or sisters the sume of eight pounds & ten
shillings to make up the said sume of fforescore poundes."
Gyles was left the same bedsteads and meal arke which had been
earlier mentioned in his grandfather's will: "Item my mind
and will is that whereas I have fower bedstides which cannot
well be removed and one great meale arke standing in the
house if my sonne will paye the sume of thirty shillings for
ther fower bedstids and forty shillings for the meale arke
he shall have & hould them and they shall not bee
removed out of their places and shall pay for them after
the death of his mother shee to enjoy them during her
life". A meal arke is a large chest for holding meal.
Edward's wife Elizabeth and Henry Hampson were appointed
executors. John Greene was one of the witnesses.
The seal of Edward Greene on his will
An inventory was created for Edward's estate after his death.
The inventory included "six milk cowes" and a "hefar",
"one horse and furniture for him", "a litle flat of
wheat on the ground", "corne and mele" and hay.
The "one great mele ark and 4 bedstocks" were listed.
Household goods included "4 chests", a clock, "one
round table a joynt stool", "4 bufet stooles", "eight
cheares five stooles", "nine chesebords" and "one
chese press", pewter, brass, treenware, earthenware, and
ironware, and "21 quisheans".
Inventory for
Edward Greene, 1685
Information
about Edward's will is found in a history of Atherton: "Giles
Green, a faithful member of minister Wood's chapel
congregation owned a book; it was a religious work by Mr.
Perkins, the learned divine. This and his Bible he so
treasured that he left them by will to his eldest son,
Edward Green. When he came to die in 1685 he in turn
bequeathed them to his heir, Giles, who still had them
carefully preserved in 1701, when he died. The
grandson had to raise £80 out of the profits of Green's
house to pay for the legacies to the younger children. In
the farmstead were bedstocks so huge and cumbersome that
they were regarded as part of the permanent structure. The
son heir had thus to buy them at an agreed price of 30s. and
a meal ark as well at 40s. The father left £63 12 s. 0d.
which included a piece of land sown with winter wheat. In
the house was a clock and buffet stools." (History
of Atherton)
Atherton
Edward and his wife had the following children:
1. Giles, christened 28 October 1665 in Leigh.
2. Elizabeth, christened 26 February 1667 in Leigh.
3. Anne, christened 12 January 1669 in Leigh.
*4. Lydia, christened 19 January 1671/2 of Leigh; married
Raphe Rothwell 25 May 1697 in Deane; married George Seddon 9
February 1713 in Deane; married Edmund Clegg 2 January 1721/2 in
Deane; married Jeremiah Aynsworth 30 December 1726 in Bolton.
Baptism record for Lydia Green in Leigh: "Lydia dau: of Edward
Green of Atherton"
(Note: There is a will for Edward
Green of Green Hall, yeoman of Atherton in Leigh probated 10
April 1689 in the Archdeaconry of Chester, but this was not
Lydia's father. In the will he mentioned his mother Mary
Green, widow, brother George Green, sisters Hannah and Ellen
Green, and uncle Peter Withington.)
FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF GILES GREEN AND
ISABEL PENDLEBERIE
Giles Green was born in about 1605 of Atherton in the parish of
Leigh, the son of Gyles Greene. He married Isabel Pendleberie in 4
June 1630 in Leigh.
Marriage
record for Giles Green and Isabel Pendelberie in Leigh: "Gyles Green Izabell Pendleberie - 4"
Giles is mentioned in a history of Atherton: "An early stalwart
worshipper in the old Bent chapel was Giles Green, the great
friend of the elder James Wood, who, ejected by the Act of
Uniformity in 1662, was hospitably received in the house of this
faithful servant of the cause. Green died in April 1661 and was
buried at Leigh on the 27th. By his will he gave £10 to Lawrence
Rawsthorne, Edward Green, the testator's son, John Rigby,
William Smith, and Nicholas Withington, and this sum taken out
of the profits of Hope Mollynew's house in Atherton was to
maintain a preaching minister at Chowbent chapel for ever. Later
Green caused the direction of this money to be diverted to
Lawrence Rawsthourne, who was to improve it and at 21 to make
Mr. Richard Atherton responsible for it. Giles gave the poor of
Atherton and Westhoughton 20s. for the distribution and 6s. 8d.
to the indigent of the other five townships of the parish.
Gile's wife was Isabel, and sons Edward and Richard. His
daughter Rebecca had married William Yonge. John Tildesley of
Deane church was asked to help the executors as overseer. Green
lived at the Green Hall, a home of Puritan sentiment and piety,
where the ejected minister of the old chapel found asylum in the
turbulence of the intolerant times in which he lived. All told
Green left £423; there were many books in his house, the Bible
and one by Mr. Perkins, besides 4 spinning wheels, 2 stone of
flax, a peel for drawing loaves from the oven, a silver spoon
and a hand sieve." (History of Atherton)
Giles died and was buried 27 April 1661 in Leigh.
Burial
record for Giles Green in Leigh: "Giles Greene of Athertone 27"
Giles
left a will proven in 1663, mentioning his eldest son Edward,
son Richard, daughter Rebecca wife of William Younge, Isable
his wife, and his brother-in-law Peter Smith.
Will
of Giles Green of Atherton, 1661
In the name of God Amen the twenty third day of Aprille in
the yeare of our Lord God 1661 And in the thirteenth yeare
of the raigne of our most gratious Lord Charles the Second
by the grace of God King of England Scotland ffrance &
Ireland defender of the ffaith etc. I Gyles
Greene of Atherton in the county of Lancastre yeoman
being sicke & weake in body but of good & perfect
memory praysed bee god for the same and takeing to
remembrance the merlayne estate of this transitory life and
tha all flesh must yeild unto death when ittshall please God
to take, doe make constitute ordayne & declare this my
last will & testeanemt in manner & forme following
revoking annulling by theise pubts all & any testament
& testaments, will & wills heretofore by mee made
& declared whether by word or by writeing, And this to
bee taken onely for my last will & testament & none
other, that is to say, ffirst and principally commit my
soule into the hands of Almighty God trusting through the
merits of Jesus Christ to have full remission & pardon
of all my sinnes and that my soule with my body all the
genrall day or resurrection sha rise agayne with joy &
inherit the kingdome of heaven prepared for his electe &
chosen and my body to Christian buryall att the discretion
of my executors & overseers hereafter named. And for my
goods & chattels that itt hath pleased God to bestowe
upon mee I doe hereby order & dispose thereof in manner
& forme following (that is to say) itt is my mynd &
will and I doe hereby give & bequeath unto Edward
Green my eldest sonne, my house messuage and tenement
with its appurtenances situate in Atherton aforesaid during
the terme of the lease which is for yeares determinable upon
lives paying the rents, & doeing the boones & dutyes
thereupon referred, Item I give and bequeath unto Isable
my wife foure pounds a yeare during her natuall live
if the orridginall indenture of lease for long continure
& bee in being to arise and become payable out of my
layd messuage & tenement in Atherton aforesaid and to
bee payd unto her by my sayd sonne Edward or the occupant of
that tenement att every six months and from & after by
equal ptons my decease Item I give and bequeath unto
Lawrence Rostorne Esqe, my sonne Edward Greene
aforesaid Roger Rigby Willm Smith Charles Greene John
Hindley & Nicholas Withington all of Atherton aforesaid
yeomen ten pounds ariseing and issueing out of the tenement
belonging to Hope Mollyneux att Christmas by five pounds a
yeare for twoe yeares next ensueing, And after the receipt
of the sayd ten pounds, my will & mynd is that the sume
bee by them the sayd Lawrence Rostorne Edward Greene
Roger Rigby Willm Smith Charles Green John Hindley &
Nicholas Withington used & improved to the best
advantage together with what other moneys either already is
or hereafter may bee given to Atherton Chappell to & for
the maintenance of a preaching minister att the sayd
chappell for ever, Then itt is my will & mynd that my
sonne Edward Greene aforesaid shall have retayne &
keepe the bedstidd in the Parlor I now lye on curtaines
& valance other twoe bedstidds in the chamber over the
say Parlor curtaines & valance and the bedstidd in the
higher chamber together with all all my carts wheels plowes
harrowes withal there furniture all the ladders all my house
foure stone trouges one greate meale arke, twoe frame borde
and greate cheste one dishbord one great bord in the buttery
with all the shelves & other bords there one greate
scalding turneble one great tubb and all the loose tymber or
wood aboute the house, ffor which goods aforementioned
specified given & bequeathed the sayd Edward my
sonne shall sattissfie & pay the sume of five
pounds which five pounds I doe order dispose give &
bequeath as ffolloweth (that is to say) to George Greene
thirty shillings To Marah fforth fifty shillings and to
Ellin fforth twenty shillings, Item I give & bequeath
unto my twoe sons Edward & Richard Greene all my
woollin weareing apparel to bee devided equally between them
Then itt is my will & mynd that the rest residue &
remainder of my estate bee equally devided in three partes
one parte thereof I reserve unto my selfe, one other parte I
give & bequeath unto Isable my wife And the last third
parte I doe give & bequeath unto Edward Greene &
Richard Greene my sonnes, the children of John fforth,
the children of Robert Hampson, and the children of my
daughter Rebecca now the wife of William Yonnge to bee
equally devided amongst them all Then itt is my mynd and
will to that my ffunerall expences the pbate of my will and
all such necessary charges bee deducted forth out of the
first third parte before by mee reserved to my selfe And
then for the rest residue & remaynder of the sayd third
parte I freely cleerly & absolutely give & bequeath
unto my two sonnes Edward Greene & Richard Greene
to bee equally devided between them And lastly I doe
constitue ordayne make & appoint they the sayd Edward
Greene & Richard Greene my sonnes executors of
this my last will & testament hoping they will pforme
the same according to the playne worde & true meaning
hereof as the same is expressed And I doe intreate Mr
Tildsley Monister of Gods Word att Deane Church and Mr Henry
Mollyneux to bee overseers of the same to setle all things
& pvent all strife if any shall arise aongst any herein
concerned I likewise desire my brother in law Peter
Smith & Richard Asley of the Bankes to see my
goods devided according to this my will herein declared
& expressed In witness whereof to this my last will
& testament I have hereunto putt my hand & seale the
day & yeare first above written.
That before then sealing deciding publishing &
declareing of theise puls within named Gyles Greene did give
& bequeath unto the poore people of Atherton twenty
shillings To the poore of Westhaughton twenty shillings To
the poore of Tildsley & Shakerley five shillings eight
pence To the poore in Asley six shinnings eight pence To the
poore is Bedford six shillings eight pence To the poore in
Penington six shillings eight pence and to the poore in
Westleigh six shillings eight pence To Edward Greene my
sonne I give & bequeath my greate Byble and other
booke of Mr Pickins worke, all which moneys & bookes is
to bee taken upp & deducted forth out of my whole estate
before itt bee devided into three equal parts my mynd &
will is alsoe that Lawrence Rostorne Esqr shall stand
ffeoffee for the improving of the ten pounds herein before
given & bequeathed with Edward Greene my sonne
Roger Rigby Willm Smith Charles Greene John Hindley
and Nicholas Withington until such tyme as Richard Atherton
Esqr my maistre shall & doe accomplish & attayne the
age of one & twenty yeares, and then I humbly intreate
him to stand ffeoffee in stead & roome of the sayd
Lawrence Rostorne And further my mynd & will is that
whereas I have severall goods or household stuffe in the
hands and power custodie & possession of John fford of
Westhaughton yeoman that the sayd goods my wife Isable shall
have & receive over & aboe which I have herein
whereby given & bequeathed unto her, And alsoe my mynd
& will is that Edward Greene my sonne shall have
the three chimneys (to will) that in the house that in the
Parlor & I now lye in& that in ye chamber over itt
without of arising anything for them.
Giles and Isabel had the following children:
*1. Edward, born in about 1633; married Elizabeth
Withington; buried 2 February 1684/5 in Leigh.
2. Richard
3. Rebecca; married William Yonge.
SOURCES: Leigh parish register, www.ancestry.co.uk;
History of Atherton, by John Lunn.
Earlier Greens in Atherton: Protestation Oath of 1642
"In May 1641 the House of Commons acted to defend the
Protestant Religion, Parliament, and the Crown against a
perceived threat of 'Popery and Popish Innovations'. They
prepared an oath of loyalty to be taken by all males of 18 years
and over. Duly passed by the Protestant Peers in the House of
Lords, the Protestation Oath was put in force in January 1642
(modern calendar) when the Speaker of the House of Commons
instructed county sheriffs to take action. In February, 217 men
from Atherton assembled at Leigh Parish Church and took the oath
before John Atherton, the High Sheriff of Lancashire. One man
refused the oath. The protestation returns can be used to estimate the
population of Atherton at the time. One formula (W.B. Stephens
'Sources for English Local History') doubles the number to
include adult women, and adds 40% for those under 18. Others
suggest multiplying the number by 4. Thus, Atherton in 1642
would probably have had between 600 and 900 inhabitants. These Greens are listed in Atherton in 1642: Anthony Greene Charles Greene Edward Greene George Greene Gyles Greene Gyles Greene, senr Henry Greene John Greene Peeter Greene Richard Greene Thomas Greene"
Giles Green (born about 1605), Edward's father, was alive in 1642.
The Gyles Greene, senior in the same Protestation list is likely
his father.
SOURCES: Leigh parish register, www.ancestry.co.uk; History of
Atherton, by John Lunn; Protestation Oath of 1642, Atherton.
FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF GYLES GREENE
Gyles Greene was christened 27 June 1567 in Leigh, the son of
Edward Greene and Elizabeth Rycrofte. Gyles was mentioned in a
history of Atherton as an appraiser for the inventory of George
Withington in 1614: "Sober and religious friends Giles Green,
Roger Rigby, John Hatton and Gilbert Aldred by their combined
advice valued his goods". (History of Atherton)
Gyles and his wife had the following children:
*1. Giles; born in about 1605; married Isabel Pendleberie
4 June 1630 in Leigh.
SOURCES: History of Atherton, by John Lunn; Protestation
Oath of 1642, Atherton.
FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF EDWARD
GREENE AND
ELIZABETH RYCROFTE
Edward Greene was born in about 1545 of Leigh. He married
Elizabeth Rycrofte. Elizabeth was the daughter of Roger Rycrofte
of Atherton.
Edward died in about 1591, leaving a will:
Will of
Edward Greene, 1591
In the name of God amen the xiiijth day of Aprell in the
xxxiijth yeare of the raigne of oure most gracious Souveraigne
lady Elizabeth by the grace of God of England Ffrance &
Ireland Queene & defender of the fayth I Edward
Greene of Atherton within the county of Lancaster
husbandman although in body by the Lordes favourable hande of
corrertion by sicknes & psently inposed upon me somewhat
weake nevertheles stronge in my mynde & of pfecte
remembrance blessed by God & ordayne & make my will
contayninge therin my last testamente in manner & fourme
folowinge viz ffirste & principally I freely commend &
committe my soule into the handes of Jesus Christe my onely
Savioure & Redeemer & my body to be buryed at my parishe
church of Leighe in the accustomed place of my predessors
buryall. Item it is my will & mynde that my sonne
Gyles Greene shall have & enjoy oute of my
whole goodes undevided the carte & carte geare plowgh &
ploughgeare harrowes spades axes hangers with all other such
necesaryes in instraments & workeloomes fine for husbandry
together with one iron chimney standinge in the house. Item it
is my will & mynde that all my goodes & cattalls
moveable & unmoveable the above named excepted shalbe
distributed & devided into iij equall ptes & porcons one
pte whereof acordinge to the anciente custome of ye country
to remayne to Elizabeth Greene my wief an
other to ye use & behoof of my childron by equall division
reserving & the third & last pte to my self whereof I
geve & bequeath to every one to whom I am godfather unto
xijd. Item I remitte & forgeve Ellice Ricrofte my
brother in law that money which he oweth me for a calf.
Item I geve and bequeath unto Jennette Greene my daughter
one cowstryke of x yeare ould with a white bleaze in the
foreheade & the kewtion of my sayed pte my debtes payed my
lecasies pformed & the reste funerall expenses dischardged
my will & mynde is shalbe devided equally amonge my sayed
wyef & children. Item I do ordayne & make Elizabeth
Greene my sayed wief & Gyles Astler of Atharton
my newe & lawfull executors of this my last will &
testamente most humbly requestinge my verey freinds in Christ
Simonde Smyth of Atharton Edward Greene of Bedforth Raph Morrice
of Atharton & Arnold Leth of Pinnington to stand as
suprvizours hereof to see all prmises herein contayned
faythfully dischardged acordinge to my true entente &
meaninge & that assured confidence & do repose in them.
Witness hereof Roger Ricrofte Edward
Greene Raphe Morrice William Bradshaugh Imprimis to Simond Smyth of Atharton - xls Item to James Astley of Atharton - xls Item to Roger Rycrofte my father in law
- vis viijd Debtes oweinge to me Imprimis of Roger Ricrofte my father in law
-svs vjd Item of William Bradshaugh of Westhaughton - xviijs viijd Item Edmonde Morrice of Lostocke - xiijs iiijd Item Robte Spakeman of Middlehulton - xl ixs Item Nicholas Cranwike of the keye greene - xiijs iiijd Item Nicholas Larchforth of Pinnington - vjs iiijd Item William Lion of Sutton gent - xijs Item Peter Cranwicke - ijs Item Raphe Himley - viijs Item George Sanderson of Atharton - vis Item John Walkden nealer - xxd Item Thomas Hulton of Atharton Ford cowherd - vjs Item the sume pte of lente money - ixs Item John Nosittell spinner - iiijs Item Edwarde Rowane of Warbuton - xs Item Nicholas Witham - vis ijd Item Thomas Bell - vjs ijd Item Thomas Astley of Tildesley - ssis Item Roger Smyth de Bente - vs ijd Item Thomas Throppe de Harbold - vs ijd Item one bill of demise from Raph Hindley - ls The one closse of grounde called the Barley Crofte for one
whole yeare holden of Alexander Bradshaugh - ixs Item the occapation of a closse holden of the wrest of
William Doson for the yeare - xxxiijs iiijd Item the occupation of the same closse for one other yeare
after this holden of James Doson - xxxiijs iiijd Item iiij iron gates within the demayne of Atharton - xls Item the occupation of a closse holden of Adam Smeworth for
one yeare - xvis Item meadow grownde beinge in the meadowes taken for this
yeare - iijl vs Summa total xxxili xid
An inventory was created for Edward's estate:
Inventory
for Edward Greene
A true inventorie of
all the goods and cattell moveable and unmoveable of Edward
Greene of Athayton within the countie of Lanc husbandman
deceased, praised by fowre xxx xxx men Imprimis fowre oulde horses and three yonge coultes - viij
li Item eighte kyne and three heyffers - xiij li Item sixe other kyne - xi li Item three suckinge calves three weaninge calves and twoe
strykes - iij li vj s viij d Item twoe speaninges - xiij s iiij d Item cartes plowes harrowes with other implemetes
belonginge to husbandrie - iij li vj s viij d Item one iron chymney with a crowe - x s Item one acer of wheate & a rodde landes - iij li vj s
viij d Item three acres & a woode lande of oates and three
woode lande of barlie - vj li xiij s iiij d Item cloven tymber - xx s Item cowrne barlie meale maulte and hempe feede - iiij li Item in cheisse and bacon - xx s Item in pewter and brasse - iiij li Item in beddinge and sackes - vi li Item beddstockes and coffers - xxxiij s iiij d Item one almerie one fonden boarde & other boardes -
xxx s Item all tryne ware - xxxs Item in yearne and linen - xiij s iiij d Item his baclecloathes - iij s iiiij d Summa tot - lxxiiij li xxj s viij d
Edward and Elizabeth had the following children:
*1. Giles, christened 27 June 1567 in Leigh.
2. Jennette
SOURCES: Will of Edward Greene of Atherton, Leigh parish, 1591.
