Miscellanea Genealogica de Bolton-le-Moors: Meadowcroft of Smethurst, Huntley and Woolfold

The purpose of this post was to see if a link could be found between the Meadowcroft family from Smethurst and my branch from Woolfold in Tottington, via the branch from Huntley.

Smethurst Hall, Bury
by James Shaw (1836–1915)
Bury Art Museum

Early Meadowcrofts

A History of the County of Lancaster, vol. 5, contains some early records of the family. They are recorded under Birtle-with-Bamford (sometimes spelled Bircle), which was a detached part of Middleton parish. It is 5 miles north-west of Middleton Church, and is separated from the central portion of the parish by the township of Heap. The main part of Bamford is in Heap. The footnotes list various records of the family starting with Thomas de Meadowcroft in 1347, to Francis Meadowcroft of Smethurst in the seventeenth century.

Townships: Birtle-with-Bamford | British History Online (british-history.ac.uk)

Meadowcroft of Smethurst

Smethurst Hall is still there, just off Rochdale Old Road (B222) between Bury and Rochdale. It is a grade II listed building, the earliest parts of which date back to the sixteenth century, although it has been altered over the years. A post on a genealogy forum says that that 'the Meadowcrofts acquired this property around 1540', although no source is cited.

The earliest record I have found of the Meadowcroft family at Smethurst is the will of Richard Meadowcroft of Smethurst, gentleman, in 1581. His wife was Katherine, and his children were Francis, Margaret, Elizabeth, Katherine and Izabell. An inventory of his goods was made on the 24th April 1581 amounting to £168.17.8. He owed various sums of money, including £10 to a Thomas Meadowcroft.

Francis Medowcroft of Smethurst (presumably the son of Richard listed above) married Dorothy, daughter of William Hyde (See Visitation of Lancashire 1613, Hide of Hide in Co. of Chester). Their marriage was at Radcliffe parish church on 4 Mar 1575/6.

Francis Meadowcroft left a will in 1616. It is interesting to note that he describes himself then as 'of Radcliff', although the burial entry records him as 'of Smethurst'. Possibly he had by then given over the hall at Smethurst to his son Richard, and was living with his younger son Francis in Radcliffe (whose children Francis and Eliza are mentioned). He also states that he is owed £40 by his son Richard, payable on the death of Richard's father in law, Gyles Aynesworth. Probably this was part of their marriage settlement. The wills of Gyles Aynsworth of Aynsworth, gentleman (1621) and Cicilie Aynsworth of Aynsworth, widow (1630), give further genealogical information.

Burial of Francis Medowcroft at Middleton

The Meadowcroft's pedigree for the next three generations was recorded by the heralds in 1664, as follows:

Dugdale's Visitation of Lancashire, 1664-5 (Part 2), page 196

The top two generations recorded in the visitation pedigree were resident at Breightmet while their families were young, probably moving to Smethurst Hall when their fathers vacated or died. The baptisms for many of the children in the pedigree above are recorded at Bolton Parish Church, with the father described as 'of Breightmet'. The connection with Breightmet is probably through Gyles Aynsworth, who held property there; his other daughter Katherine married Richard Banastre, and they resided at Oakenbottom in Breightmet (see DDKE/9 Correspondence of Kenyon of Peel)

Gyles Meadowcroft went to London where he was in business as a Free Draper. Towards the end of his life he returned north to Crumpsall. He was evidently fairly successful - in 1653 a document was drawn up detailing the particulars of several properties in the Bury area which were contracted to be purchased by him (Lancashire Archives DDK/1466/1 - 20 pages in roll). His will was proved in 1682, and from this we know he had an interest in a tenement and land called Walkmill.

His brother Robert went to Cambridge University:

Alumni Cantabrigienses, part 1, vol. 3
University of Cambridge

The VCH tells us that, in 1677, Francis Meadowcroft sold or mortgaged the Smethurst estate to Adam Gaskell (Exch. of Pleas, 29 Chas. II, Mich. m. 5, v, m. 17).

Smethurst Hall - early 1900s

Meadowcroft of Huntley

Huntley (Huntley Fold, Huntley Brook) is just under a mile down the road from Smethurst Hall, towards Bury town centre. I think that there is probably a connection between the Meadowcrofts of Smethurst and those from Huntley, although I am yet to discover a primary source that proves it. Below is a list of source documents. Only item (8) gives a hint of a link, and even then it is only circumstantial; the testator leaves £5 for children of Thomas Meadowcroft of Huntley, and is owed the same amount by Mr Richard Meadowcroft of Smethurst.

1602. Will of Richard Meadowcroft of Elton, yeoman. Holds a lease under the Earl of Derby dated 1585, which is presumably for his property in Elton. Appointed as overseers of his will John Meadowcroft of Huntley, and Francis his brother.
1613. Burial at Bury. John Medocrofte of Huntley, 4 July
1616. Burial at Bury. Alisse vidua of Thom: Medocrofte of Hutl:, 18 April
1625. Inventory of Francis Meadowcroft of Huntley in Bury - appraised by Richard Meadowcroft.
1634. Earl of Derby granted a lease to Thomas Meadowcroft of Huntley of a messuage and tenement on Bury Moor. Term of the lives of Thomas Meadowcroft, Richard Meadowcroft his brother, and Francis son of the said Richard (Ref. DDK Box 216)
1641. Baptism at Bury. Anne dau. of Tho. Medowcroft of Huntley, 28 November
1646. Baptism at Bury. Richard son of Tho. Medowcroft of Huntly, 26 April
1649. Will of Robert Horrobin of Tonge in the parish of Bolton. Left £5 to the children of Thomas Meadowcroft of Huntley, to be delivered to their father. Horrobin was also owed £5 by Mr Richard Meadowcroft of Smethurst.
1657. Burial at Bury. Uxor Tho: Meddowcroft de Huntley died 24 Aug: 1657, buried 26 Aug:
1666. Turton tenants list. Francis Meadowcroft 30 acres in Turton, for his own life, Thomas Meadowcroft junior of Huntley and Frances Davenport of Pilkington. (Ref. DDX1423)
1667. Disputed probate. Thomas Meadowcroft the elder of Huntley, legatee in disputed probate of Elizabeth Holt of Fearngore, Bury, spinster.
1674. Burial at Bury. Thomas Medowcroft Senior Huntley. died 13 January 1674, buried 15 January.
1676. Inventory of Thomas Meadowcroft of Huntley. (Ref. WCW/Supra/C203/54)
1678. Marriage license. Thomas Meadowcroft, of Huntley, and Grace Haworth, of the Parish of Bury, Spinster. 23rd July.
1678. Lease of Huntley granted by the Earl of Derby to Thomas Meadowcroft of Huntley. For the lives of said Thomas Meadowcroft, Grace his wife, and Francis Meadowcroft his brother. (Ref. DDK Box 110)
1686. Quitclaim. Thomas Medowcroft of Huntley, yeoman, to George Haworth of Okenheadwood, yeoman all manner of claims on the goods of Grace Haworth of Horncliffe, deceased, mother of George (Ref. DDX 118/127/8).
1700. Thomas Meadowcroft the Elder of Huntley, yeoman, entered into quadriparite agreement relating to Woolfold, in consideration of the marriage of his son Thomas Meadowcroft to Mary the daughter of William Hulton of Breightmet. Ref DMX10/1 (Bury Archives).
1727. Will of Symon Meadowcroft of Bamford, yeoman. Has interest in tenement called Huntley held by lease under the Earl of Derby, for the lives of himself, his late brother Thomas Meadowcroft, and nephew Thomas Meadowcroft of Tottington.
1806. Will of Robert Meadowcroft of Woolfold in Tottington holds Huntley by lease from the Early of Derby.

Medowcroft of Huntley

Signature of Thomas Meddowcroft of Huntley, 1686

Signature of Thomas Meaddowcroft of Huntley, 1686

Meadowcroft of Woolfold in Tottington

Woolfold was a farm in Tottington Lower End. The farm buildings were situated on what is now Tottington Road (B6213), next to Mill Lane, where the Swan Hotel is. By the early 1800s there was also a mill and a bleach works there. A branch of the Meadowcroft family was resident there from 1700 and possible earlier. A collection of deeds relating to the Woolfold estate is held at Bury Archives (ref. DMX/10).

1700. Quitclaim dated 1736 - cites an indenture of Lease and Release from 1700 relating to Woolfold, prior to the marriage of Thomas Meadowcroft, son of Thomas Meadowcroft of Huntley, and Mary Hulton, daughter of William Hulton of Breightmet. Ref DMX10/1 (Bury Archives).
1707. Quarter Sessions. Thomas Meadowcroft of Woolfould, over-assessment for windows. (QSP/957/6)
1707. Baptism at Bury. Ann Madecroft - daughter of Tho. Madecroft of Woofold
1736. Discharge for exors. of Thomas Meadowcroft the Younger in respect of payment of £200 due under the agreement from 1700. Thos. Bury of Radcliffe, whitster & Elizabeth his wife / Mary Meadowcroft of Tottington, spinster / Thomas Jenkinson of Bury, woollen weaver & Dorothy his wife.
1740. Baptism at Bury. Betty Medowcroft - Daughter of Thos. Medowcroft of Wooefold
1742. Baptism at Bury. Matty Meddowcroft - Daughter of Thos. Meddowcroft of Woofold
1744. Burial at Bury. [unnamed] Medowcroft - a child of Thos. Medowcroft of Woolfold
1778. Will of Thomas Meadowcroft of Woolfold. Leaves Woolfold to his son Robert.
1778. Burial at Bury. Thomas Meadowcroft of Woolfold
1794. In a Survey of the Township of Tottington, Woolfold is divided into two parts, one owned by Robert Meadowcroft, the other by 'Milletts'. Fields named.
1806. Will of Robert Meadowcroft of Woolfold in Tottington. Leaves Woolfold to his son Thomas Meadowcroft. Also holds Huntley in Bury by lease from the Early of Derby.