‘Middle Years’ Tree -  generation 04

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oliver

1508-1588

Full name:

Oliver Birtwistle

 

 

Born:

1508, Huncoat Hall

 

 

 

Married:

Marjorie Grenerodde (of Rochdale)

 

 

back

Occupation:

Farmer / Landowner

 

 

 

Resident in:

Huncoat Hall

 

 

 

Father:

Richard 1485-1543

 

 

 

Additional:

Oliver inherited Huncoat Hall from the trustees of his father in 1543 and, being a more careful and prudent  character soon set about improving the estate.

 

In 1546, the Dunkenhalgh Deeds record that James Ashton (Assheton), late of Chadderton, and his son Edmund of one party, and Oliver Birtwhistle  of hapton ‘Gent’ of ye other party, witness that James and Edmund his son hath sold to the said Oliver and his heirs, all those messuages, lands and Hereditaments called Wormleaves and Whiteriding being at Huncoat. Dated May the 4th in the 37th year of the reign of Henry VIII.

 

In 1547 Oliver is also recorded enclosing more land at Sabfal Green, and a few years later confirming his waine (wagon) right to the corn mill at Accrington and the footright to the King’s Kirk at Church. There is another record where he takes over extra waste at Huncoat and gives permission for the owners of Hillhouse to enclose their land.

 

In 1560, the Dunkenhalgh Deeds record that oliver Birtwistle wrote to William Hervy, Clarencieux King of Arms, concerning his Coats of Arms. In fact, this was the confirmation of an existing Coat of Arms and it is recorded that: ‘Oliver Birtwhistle being aware of his Coat of Arms do request William Hervy, King of Arms to search his office for details of this’.  

 

Subsequently the herald confirmed that William Hervy had found the records and that the Coat of Arms was to say ‘Sables and Cheveron Ermyns between three wessils passant, argent and the Creste upon the Helme a Byrtle (Brill) of his kind, argent’  and that this has been ratified unto the said Oliver Birtwistle and given the seal of mine office at London this 25th day of March in ye second year of the reign of Elizabeth.

 

Oliver recorded his pedigree at the Heralds Visitation in 1567 and was officially granted his Coat of Arms. There are four Visitations of Lancashire recorded, and Birtwistles are mentioned in two of them – Sir William Flowers in 1567 and Sir William Dugdale in 1664.

 

The west wing of Huncoat Hall was probably built during this period. It consisted of a double storey extension with a large parlour downstairs and a bedroom over for the use of the family. Adjoining was a larder or dairy with a stone staircase leading from the rear of the house toa bedroom over for the use of the servants or farmhands. Wills of the time also show that the family possessed joined furniture, cushions, valances, engraved silver and other items only used in the better households of the time.

 

It is also recorded in this period that 3 of Oliver’s sons were sent away for their education. Oxford University records show that Edmund & Anthony, the younger sons of Oliver, were at Brasenose College between 1563 & 1569. Edmund later became a tutor at Buckingham wher details are recorded after 1600.

 

After the reformation, 1535-1550, the Birtwistle family at Huncoat were to remain Catholics, along with the Towneleys and other local families in the district, and as further evidence of the adherence to the ‘old faith’ Oliver sent his second son Oliver to complete his Catholic education at Douay College (in Northern France) in 1575.

 

Oliver died at Huncoat hall in 1588.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Henry

1510-1577

Full name:

Henry Birtwistle

 

 

Born:

1510, Huncoat Hall

 

 

 

Married:

 

 

 

back

Occupation:

Farmer

 

 

 

Resident in:

Pendle (from c.1538)

 

 

 

Father:

Richard 1485-1543

 

 

 

Additional:

Henry settled with his family  at Pendle and Fillyclose in c. 1538. His descendants are first recorded at Burnley when James Birtwhistle, his grandson, is baptized there in 1564. The family are well documented in the Manor Court Rolls and Parish Registers of the time.

Other members of the Fillyclose family are recorded at Burnley for the next 100 years. These were also the ancestors  of the Birtwistle families found later at Padiham, Great Harwood, Trawden, Colne and Keighley.

He  died in 1577.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert

1516-1566

Full name:

Robert Birtwistle

 

 

Born:

1516, Huncoat Hall

 

 

 

Married:

Isobel

 

 

back

Occupation:

Farmer / Landowner

 

 

 

Resident in:

Calton in Craven (Yorks)

 

 

 

Father:

Richard 1485-1543

 

 

 

Additional:

Robert was the first recorded member of the Birtwistle family to be permanently established at Calton. It is very probable that he settled on land at Calton connected with the family of his mother Margaret Lowde – who were from Gisburn and Gargrave. (ref map)

 

In his will dated Nov 22 1566 he mentions his wife Isobel, a son Thomas who inherited his land and grazings in Calton and a daughter Agnes. John Smythe was a witness to the will.

 

Robert and Isobel appear to have had other sons who were probably ‘under age’ at the time of the death of their father. Richard, their second son, married Elizabeth Smythe in 1568 and a younger son, John, married Agnes Brayshaw of Gigglewick in 1571.

 

Robert died in Calton in 1566.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leonard

1522-1592

Full name:

Leonard Birtwistle

 

 

Born:

1522, Huncoat Hall

 

 

 

Married:

?

 

 

back

Occupation:

Farmer

 

 

 

Resident in:

Hapton

 

 

 

Father:

Richard 1485-1543

 

 

 

Additional:

Died 1592

 

 

 

 

Leonard is recorded renting land at Hapton from the Towneley family in 1574 & 1583.  His descendants are recorded at Hapton for three generations but dies out after 1636.  in the late 1600s.

 

 

 

Bartholomew

1524-1570

Full name:

Bartholomew Birtwistle

 

 

Born:

1524, Huncoat Hall

 

 

 

Married:

?

 

 

back

Occupation:

Farmer

 

 

 

Resident in:

Gisburn

 

 

 

Father:

Richard 1485-1543

 

 

 

Additional:

Bartholomew appears to be another son of  Richard & Margaret who settled on land associated with his mother’s family – this time in Gisburn. There is a baptism of  a Thomas, son of Bartholomew, at Gisburn in 1562, and a mention of a William birtwistle who has a daughter baptized at Gisburn in 1574. Details of this family are recorded though to the late 1600s when they appear to die out.

 

Bartholomew died at Gisburn c1570.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helen

Full name:

Helen Birtwistle

 

 

Born:

Huncoat Hall

 

 

 

Married:

 

 

 

back

Occupation:

 

 

 

 

Resident in:

 

 

 

 

Father:

Richard 1485-1543

 

 

 

Additional:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jenet

Full name:

Jenet Birtwistle

 

 

Born:

Huncoat Hall

 

 

 

Married:

 

 

 

back

Occupation:

 

 

 

 

Resident in:

 

 

 

 

Father:

Richard 1485-1543

 

 

 

Additional:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jane

Full name:

Jane Birtwistle

 

 

Born:

Huncoat Hall

 

 

 

Married:

 

 

 

back

Occupation:

 

 

 

 

Resident in:

 

 

 

 

Father:

Richard 1485-1543

 

 

 

Additional:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edward

1516-1585

Full name:

Edward Birtwistle

 

 

Born:

1516 in Huncoat

 

 

 

Married:

Jenet Tunnicliffe (from Sparth)

 

 

back

Occupation:

Farmer

 

 

 

Resident in:

Childers Green

 

 

 

Father:

Richard 1485-1543

 

 

 

Additional:

In 1555 Edward rented a large farm in Childers Green from the Towneleys of Burnely. This farm was then to remain in the Birtwistle family for 150 years. He died c1585.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full name:

 

 

 

Born:

 

 

 

 

Married:

 

 

 

back

Occupation:

 

 

 

 

Resident in:

 

 

 

 

Father:

 

 

 

 

Additional: