Chapter 2 - The Chorleys in the 15th Century

Chapter 2

The Chorleys in the 15^th Century

In 1412, the year but one before the death of Henry IV, the Chorley Survey states that Cecilia the daughter of John del Halle de Wheelton released all her interest in the Foxholes unto Richard Chorley and his heirs for ever. There is no mention of the Chorleys fighting in France under Henry V nor is anything recorded of any part played by them in the subsequent Wars of the Roses.

In 1431 Richard Chorley is recorded as having paid fines for various writs of different dates possible on entering into possession of his father’s estates. We read that Richard Chorley had a daughter Cecilia who married Robert Chorley a distant kinsman. Their daughter Ellen inherited all the possessions.

Up to this time family records are scanty and disconnected yet the little related gives knowledge of the antiquity, the large possessions and the high office held by the members of the family so long ago. From 1432 the documents are fuller.

Roger Walton, Lord of the Manor of Walton-cum-Fazakerly had two daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret and they inherited his estates. Margaret married William Chorley. Henceforth the successors of William and Margaret bore for their arms Chorley and Walton quartered i.e. Walton – sable three swans argent and Chorley – argent à chevon gules between three bluebottles slipped proper.

In pedigrees drawn up by the King of Arms in 1613 the family commences with William Chorley of Chorley whose son married Margaret Walton one of the daughters and co-heiresses of Roger Walton. In 1478 a son William was born.

About this time land known as Shepherds Croft in Chorley was given to William Chorley by his father-in-law Roger Walton.

In 1493 William Chorley brought action against William and Ellen Swansey about inheritance of this land.