The Deathly Hallows of Bolton-le-Moors (Part I)

A Hunt for the Derby Axe

In 1651, the Earl of Derby was executed in Bolton for the part he had played in a massacre of the townspeople during the Storming of Bolton.  He was beheaded at the market cross, outside the Man & Scythe.  The headsman's axe which was used to decapitate him reportedly stayed in the hands of the executioner's family, and before changing hands a number of times over the next two hundred years, was eventually lost.

This blog post is an exploration of historical records relating to the alleged owners of the axe, the intention of which was to shed some light on where it might now be.

The Execution of James, 7th Earl of Derby
(Photo credit: Manx National Heritage)

Taylor Family Slander Dispute in 1648

Minutes of the Manchester Presbyterian Classis

Edited by William A. Shaw
Part I, Chetham Society, 1890

The 17th MEETING at Manchester, March 8, 1847/8

[p79] 3. Samuel Taylor brought an appeale from the elder at Chollerton to the classis, in a difference betwixt him and his brother Nathaniel Taylor, accusing the said Nathaniel to have wrongfully slandered him.  The said Nathaniel to be sumon'd to the next classis.  The sd Samuel to have warrant for witnesses.

Zachariah Taylor (1618-1692)

Bolton Bibliography and Jottings of Book-lore

By Jas. C. Scholes, 1886, Manchester
Chapter 5 - pp36-49
Available on Archive.org

Page 43. In another note in the same book Canon Raines, referring to the Rev. Zachariah Taylor, jun.-"The Lancashire Levite" -says "I think he was a native of Manchester parish, as Zachary Taylor, of Holt Hall, Rusholme, in that parish had several children christened  at the Coll: Church between 1640 and 1650.  The Taylors of Moston were of this family; it had many branches."

Pictures of Moston Bottoms

According to A.A. Gomme (19 J. Pat. Off. Soc'y 256 1937) Samuel Taylor of Moston, patentee of a thread making engine in the 1720s, "built a house in Moston Bottoms and certainly had more than one mill in his possession on the same water-courses in Moston"

Moston Bottoms in 1911

Wills of Zachariah & Samuel Taylor of Moston 1660s

Will of Samuel Taylor of Moston, 1664

Samuel Taylor of Moston, signature in 1664

Samuel Taylor of Moston (references between 1653-1812)

References relating to various Samuel Taylors of Moston.

1703 Marriage of Samuel Taylor & Sarah Gill

23 December 1703 (Manchester Catherdral)
Samuell Taylor hujus [of this] & Sarah Gill of ye Parish of Stockport & Certificate, banns[?] & certificate

1706 Dob Lane Chapel, Failsworth -Trust Deed

Lancashire Nonconformity

by Rev. B. Nightingale, 1893

Longworth Family of Sharrocks Farm, Horwich

I didn't see this monumental inscription when looking in the churchyard, but it's recorded in the MIs book at Bolton Archives (B929.5B).  It must be in one of the blue sections below:-

Plan of Horwich Churchyard

Old Gravestones in Deane Churchyard

A random few photographs of some of the older gravestones in Deane churchyard

Seddon Family of Farnworth, 1619

Three Stones Family Gravestones at Deane

Three adjacent gravestones in Deane churchyard belonging to the Stones family of Heaton and Little Bolton.

1786 Auction of Titus Wood's Propery in Bolton

Manchester Mercury - Tuesday 18 April 1786

To be SOLD, by AUCTION

At the House of Mr. John Moss, the Sign of the Swan, in Bolton in the Moors, in the County of Lancaster, on Friday 28th Day of April 1786, at five o'Clock in the Afternoon, according to such Conditions as will be then and there produced.

Daniel Longworth of Little Lever, Bleacher

Daniel Longworth Family Tree

Also beneficiary and one of the executors of his father's will, John Longworth of Heaton, 1813