Early Years – c1160 to 1300

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ralph

1160-

Full name:

Ralph de Bridtwisell

 

 

Born:

c1160

 

 

 

Married:

 

 

 

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Occupation:

Farmer

 

 

 

Resident in:

Bridtwisell in Hapton (between Burnley & Accrington)

 

 

 

Father:

 

 

 

 

Additional:

Bridtwisell was a clearing between two steams, meaning, it has been said, “where birds gathered”. It was situated adjacent to Hapton and probably referred to the sheltered valley leading to the steep ravine  known as ‘The Clough’ which in early days would certainly have been where birds and other wild life could find shelter from the the windswept and exposed landscape of the surrounding hillsides.

 

(Note: the Clough lies halfway between Huncote and Hapton on the old Burnley Rd. – ref map1 and map2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reyner

1185-

Full name:

Reyner

 

 

Born:

c1185

 

 

 

Married:

 

 

 

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Occupation:

Farmer

 

 

 

Resident in:

Bridtwisell in Hapton

 

 

 

Father:

Ralph 1160-

 

 

 

Additional:

Claimed 4 oxgangs of land at Bridtwisell from Eudo de Longville in 1209. He was allowed 3 oxgangs on the east side of the village and 20 acres, only, on the west side (ref deed at Kanaresborough April 30, 1209)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adam

1195

Full name:

Adam

 

 

Born:

c1195

 

 

 

Married:

 

 

 

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Occupation:

Famer

 

 

 

Resident in:

Bridtwisell in Hapton

 

 

 

Father:

Ralph 1160-

 

 

 

Additional:

Also granted land at Bridtwisell at about the same time as his brother Reyner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John

1215-

Full name:

John

 

 

Born:

c1215

 

 

 

Married:

 

 

 

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Occupation:

Farmer

 

 

 

Resident in:

Bridtwisell in Hapton

 

 

 

Father:

Reyner 1185-

 

 

 

Additional:

Land transaction (fine) of his father Reyner with Eudo de Longville in 1209 confirmed with son John de Longville in 1253.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gilbert

1220-

Full name:

Gilbert

 

 

Born:

c1220

 

 

 

Married:

 

 

 

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Occupation:

Farmer

 

 

 

Resident in:

Bridtwisell in Hapton

 

 

 

Father:

Adam 1195-

 

 

 

Additional:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Henry

1225-

Full name:

Henry

 

 

Born:

c1225

 

 

 

Married:

 

 

 

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Occupation:

Farmer

 

 

 

Resident in:

Bridtwisell in Hapton

 

 

 

Father:

Adam 1195-

 

 

 

Additional:

No children. Recorded as taking over more land at Bridtwisell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John

1240-

Full name:

John

 

 

Born:

c1240

 

 

 

Married:

 

 

 

back

Occupation:

Farmer

 

 

 

Resident in:

Bridtwisell in Hapton

 

 

 

Father:

John 1215-

 

 

 

Additional:

In 1293 held land at Bridtwisell and Habergham.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gilbert

1245-

Full name:

Gilbert

 

 

Born:

c1245

 

 

 

Married:

Marjorie

 

 

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Occupation:

Farmer

 

 

 

Resident in:

Bridtwisell in Hapton

 

 

 

Father:

Gilbert 1220

 

 

 

Additional:

In 1292 (ref Towneley Records) Gilbert and wife Marjorie recorded renting extra land from the Towneley family at Worsthorne in Cliviger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Henry

1270-

Full name:

Henry

 

 

Born:

c1270

 

 

 

Married:

 

 

 

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Occupation:

Farmer

 

 

 

Resident in:

Bridtwisell in Hapton

 

 

 

Father:

John 1240-

 

 

 

Additional:

Recorded in 1311 as having 2 oxgang of land at Habergham, as well as his holding in Bridtwisell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William

1275-1330

Full name:

William

 

 

Born:

c1275

 

 

 

Married:

Alice

 

 

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Occupation:

Farmer

 

 

 

Resident in:

Bridtwisell, Bradley, Huncote

 

 

 

Father:

John 1240-

 

 

 

Additional:

In 1306 was granted land at Bradley in Hapton.

 

In 1316 John, son of William de Huncote, agreed to exchange his house and land for those belonging to William de Bridtwisell – hence beginning the association between the Birtwistle family and Huncote for the next 450 years. (ref map)

 

After 1316 and until his death in 1330, William Bridtwisell of Huncote started to attend the Halmote Court in Accrington and became firmly established in Huncote with John de Towneley & Gibert de Legh as neighbours in Hapton.

 

Note: In 1334 Alice (now widow of William) is recorded as giving her dower lands in Bradley to Thomas de Symonstone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gilbert

1275-1331

Full name:

Gilbert

 

 

Born:

c1275

 

 

 

Married:

 

 

 

back

Occupation:

Farmer

 

 

 

Resident in:

Bridtwisell in Hapton

 

 

 

Father:

Gilbert 1245-

 

 

 

Additional:

On his death in 1331, his land at Bridtwisell (originally passed to him from Henry (c.1225-??) was passed on to his brother Adam (1280-1354).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adam

1280-1354

Full name:

Adam

 

 

Born:

c1280

 

 

 

Married:

 

 

 

back

Occupation:

Farmer

 

 

 

Resident in:

Bridtwisell in Hapton

 

 

 

Father:

Gilbert 1245-

 

 

 

Additional:

Held land at Bridtwisell & Worsthorne.

 

In 1329 is recorded in the Croucher Book of Kirkstall Abbey on a jury representing Lancashire at a Court of Enquiry set up to look into the right of the Abbott of Kirkstall to have control of such large areas of the best land around Pendle in Lancashire.

 

In 1331 Inherited more land in Bridtwisell from his bother Gilbert (c1275-1331) – Note: from the records it would appear that at about this time Adam and his family were the dominant landowners at Bridtwisell.

 

In 1354 Adam is recorded on his death as making a settlement on his younger son Nicholas and also on  Nicholas de Kighley (his son-in-law) for the benefit of his daughter Joan.