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Richard Stones 1606 house hold summary

Pedigree

1. de Twiste, William Stone
   1. Bradley, Elizabeth
      1. Stone, Richard de Croston
         1. Girdler, Isabelle
            1. Stone, Henry
            2. Stone, John
            3. Stones, Thomas
            4. Stones, Matthew
            5. Stone, Andrew
            6. Stone, Mary
            7. Stone, Jennet
            8. Stone, James
            9. Stone, Robert
            10. Stone, Margery
      2. Stone, John
      3. de Twiste, Robert Stone
      4. Stone, Henery
      5. Stone, Thomas
      6. Stone, Andrew
      7. Stones, Jenet
      8. Stone, William

Ancestors

Stone, Richard de Croston *1540 +1605

de Twiste, William Stone
*about 1510
+1568-01-00

Stone, John
*1488
+1547-07-28

Stone, Richard
*about 1450
+1501

Cobb, Katherine
*about 1470
+...

Cornwell, Margaret
*1486
+1536

Bradley, Elizabeth
*about 1518
+1560-06-24

Bradley, John
*about 1505
+1567

Bradley, Thomas *1477 +...

Sherburne, Grace *about 1488 +about 1544

Brathwaite, Ann
*1503
+1580

Source References

1. LVG2-27M FamilySearch.org
   1. • Source text:

        Rychard (de Croston) Stone(s) Richard resided in the Parish of Croston in Lancashire, England. He was the son of William and Elizabeth (Bradley) Stone. Richard is believed to have been born, in about the year 1540 according to Charles H. Stone (C. H. Stone 14). I, however, would suggest that his birth occurred closer to 1550 which would have Richard marrying in his twenties rather than when he was some 32 years old. ‖The marriage of Richard Stone and Isabelle Girdler is recorded in Latin on ancient parchment register in the Parish of Croston and is dated 12 January 1572. ‖ 38 The transcibed marriage records for the Parish of Croston, available online, read as follows: 12 Jan 1572 Ric‘ Stotnes Isabel Girdler 39 Richard Stone married Isabelle Girdler of Carr House, Parish West Riding Doncaster Yorkshire England. Isabel was the daughter of John Gyrdler. John Gyrdler‘s death was recorded in the Parish of Croston 1 Aug. 1558‖. 40 ―Richard Stones of Carr House", married to "Isabel, daughter of John Girdler (spelled Gyrdler)of Carr House. This statement is verified both by referring to the printed records of the Parish Church of Croston, January 12, 1572.

        THE CHILDREN OF RICHARD STONE AND ISABEL GIRDLER WERE:45 1. John Stones born about 1575 2. Robert Stones born about 1577 3. Henry Stones born about 1579 4. Thomas Stones Christening occurred on November 12, 1580 Croston Parish, Bretherton, Lancashire 5. Matthew Stones Christening occurred on April 28, 1583 Croston Parish, Bretherton, Lancashire 6. Margaret Stones Christening occurred on March 24, 1584 Croston ― ― ― 7. Andrew Stones born about 1585 8. Mary Stones Christened on March 8, 1587/8 Croston Parish, Bretherton, Lancashire 9. Catherine Stones? (date unknown) -------------The child christened 4 Aug. 1595 was the dr.[daughter] of John Stones

        It is clear by the land records that I have found that Richard Stones inherits of purchases his house and land from his father in Law John Gyrdler. The Carr house was in Croston Lancashire and although a famous Carr house exists in Doncaster any actual tie to that region and house is unproved at this time.

        By the year 1603, Richard Stones son, Thomas Stone, was likely already in London as either a merchant apprentice or working as a merchant. News from London that could have been sent to Rychard Stones by his son Thomas was that, London was being victimized by the plague wherin some 30,000 people died. Londoners were hence encouraged to smoke tobacco and burn incense in order to help clear the air and vapors of the disease. 43
        
        It is apparent that Richard Stone clearly understood something of merchant shipping. How much he passed on to his children and how much Richard was learning from his eldest sons is not presently known. Evidence of Richard shipping goods is seen in his will and even before that in 1604 as seen in the quote below.
        
        ―Richard Stone imported Irish panel boards and timber in 1604 for the Shuttleworth family, who where then building Gawthorpe Hall with 1,000 pieces, storing them till needed in Hoole's tithe barn.‖ 44

        At least two of Richard and Isabel‘s children would extend themselves and there business interests abroad to many nations via Thomas and Andrew Stone. Andrew sailed for Amsterdam where he marketed tobacco and did much business as a merchant. Thomas would become a great London merchant and influence business in the Americas in the colony of Virginia with his nephew William Stone. That many of this family were merchants, mariners and adventurer/ explorers is evident by historical record. 46
        
        There is strong evidence that one of the brothers of Rychard Stone came to the Croston parish area. That brother appears to make his home in Mawdsley. Stones children from Mawdsley begin showing up in Croston parish records on 31 Jan. 1588. There is strong evidence of two Stones families living within this parish. One is noted to be of Croston the other of Mawdsley. There are also a lot of Stones represented in christening registers in the Bolton Parish.
        
        Yorkshire County may have been the county of origin for the Girdler family. The Visitation of London does, however, state that the Gyrdler family was from county Lancashire. If the Girdler family did originally come from Yorkshire, than there is a recorded error that is found in the 1633 Visitation of London. However, if the Girdler‘s originated from Yorkshire and then moved to Lancashire, it could have implications. Yorkshire is bordered on the SW, by Cheshire and on the W, by Lancashire.

        Whether Richard Stone‘s alliance with Carr House and the Girdler family helped the Stone family‘s social standing and business enterprises, or vice versa, or whether they were of equal social status, remains an unknown factor. That the Stone family, which was heavily involved in the mercantile industry as haberdashers, married into a family, which resided in a region noted for its cloth industry, may possibly suggest a familial and industrial collaboration sprang up at some point and may be relevant in examining this marriage. A potentially economic and industrial marital alliance between families could have occurred via an arranged marriage. Without personal and direct sure knowledge of the Girdler family‘s occupation, this remains purely speculative on my part and cannot be proved. What I do know is that, the Stones family merchant adventurers did ship large amounts of cloth and silk abroad.
        
        Isabel (Girdler) Stone is buried in London at St. Lawrence Jewry February 2, 1615/6 next to her son Thomas Stone. 48 Thomas Stone, her son, resided on Cateaton Street and is often referenced as Thomas Stone the Haberdasher of London of St. Lawrence Jewry. Many of Richard and Isabel Stone‘s children would eventually migrate to London. I have found evidence in many sources that Mathew Thomas, Margaret and their mother Isabel, eventually moved to London. Some evidences indicate their son Robert may have moved to Cheshire. Mathew Stone likely inherited land from Cheshire through marriage.
        
        One might wonder why so many of the Stone children went to London and abroad for their apprenticeships and professions of trade. Certainly London offered the trade opportunities and was where the Haberdasher Company was located and may have been the locale where many of Rychard and Isabelle Stones children were apprenticed.

        Rychard Stone was able to set up his son Thomas with an apprenticeship at the Haberdashers guild in London. Its records indicate that Richard Stone‘s condition was listed, at the time, as a Yoemen land holder of Bretherton “Bretherton Yeomen land holder”. 50 Rychard was successful enough to pay the price for many of his sons to enter into an apprenticeship in the guilds. The haberdasher guild was considered prestigious in its day. As evidence of this assertion I quote Helen Berry in her book.

        ―The Haberdasher Company was one of the most prestigious, with a high percentage of entrants with fathers who styled themselves as ―Gentry‖. Berry also indicates, in her book, that it was typical, in that era, to send the younger sons to the Guilds as tradesmen.

        Richard Stone married into the Girdler family, which was outside of their immediate parish. Carr house, the home that Richard and Isabelle Girdler lived in, appears to have originally existed on the same property that John Stone(s) would later inherit from his father Richard as a timbered structure.

        This Timbered structure was named Carr house after Isabell‘s home in Doncaster which was called Carr house. 52 This information is according to the Stone family association a Mr. Micheal Redshaw, (a current or former owner of Carr House?) stated in an interview that: ―where the current house sits, formerly sat a timbered yeomans home, belonging to William Stones. The house is situated in a secluded area, wedged between the Douglas, MartinMare Rivers to the south and the Ribble on the north‖. Mr. Redshaw also made note that ―400 years ago, access to navigable waterways was certain” from these rivers. 53

        The original Carr house that Richard Stone lived in appears to have been constructed of logs. It was later rebuilt out of stone/brick in 1613.

        Why would Thomas and Andrew Stone build a new House for their brother John that even today is still referred to as Carr House? The house, in Bretherton, was the ancestral home of the Stone family. It may have seemed expedient to Thomas and Andrew, now that they were very wealthy and were climbing or reaccending the social ranks, that their ancestral home, that their brother John had inherited, reflected their new wealth and social status. However, Thomas Stone and Andrew may also have only wanted to elevate the living conditions of their family, as they had been able to do, and gave generously with ―relatively‖ little regard or concern for status and appearance. Isabel Girdler (their mother) moved to London not long after the death of her husband and likely moved in with, or very near to, her son Thomas in London where she spent and enjoyed the remaining years of her life most comfortably.
        
        At this period of time, Richard appears to have sent many of his younger sons to the guilds where they also served apprenticeships for several years. Many of his sons chose to pursue the merchant guild and adventured in the merchant business at home and abroad. Nearly all of Rychards sons eventually pursued a merchant business in London or abroad at one time or another.
        
        Genealogists realize the importance of understanding the geography and lay of the land when researching the past. At times these insights and details provide clues down the road of investigation. Bretherton was the township within the parish of Croston that Richard called home. According to Edward Baines,―Bretherton is a considerable township, see Story for the rest.

      • Citation:

        https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LVG2-27M

2. The Chronicles of William Stone/s Governor of Maryland, 1648-1654 An Early History of the Stones in England and Their Arrival in America
3. Research Document Listing Richard Stone de Croston and his descendents
   1. • Source text:

        Rychard (De Croston) Stone(s) .....our surname was actually recorded in all the parish records as Stones in this time period not Stone.

        Richard resided in the Parish of Croston in Lancashire, England. He was the son of William Stones and Elizabeth (Bradley) Stones. Richard is believed to have been born about 1540 according to Charles H. Stone. I, however, would suggest that his birth occurred closer to 1550 which would have Richard marrying in his twenties rather than when he was some 32 years old. ”The marriage of Richard Stones and Isabelle Girdler is recorded in Latin on ancient parchment register in the Parish of Croston and is dated 12 January 1572. ” (1) The transcribed marriage records for the Parish of Croston, available online also verifies this with a misspelling of our surname which did not involve the pleural S at the end. (2)

        There is evidence of Rychard Stones likely brothers and sisters in Croston parish records. This is what gives us the potential names of William Stones [De Twist} children. However it should be noted that Richard [De Croston] Stones father Wylliam was from Twiston Lancashire and its parish jurisdiction was within the Whalley parish. The Whalley parish, to date, has revealed no christenings for anyone named Stone or Stones during the relevant time period. This is most likely explained by the strong possibility that the published online Whalley parish records are incomplete or those early records have simply not survived.

        “Richard Stone married Isabelle Girdler of Carr House. The Carr house reference has previously led many to believe that John Girdeler was from the parish of Doncaster in West Riding Yorkshire England. It is known that Isabel Gyrdler was the daughter of John Gyrdler who lived in Bretherton in 1554. They were married in the Croston parish at the Church called St. Michael and All Angels. Below is wonderful evidence of Richard Stones father in law John Gyrdeler [the father of Isabel] living in Bretherton. This record is from early Lancashire land tax records. The Gyrdler family may still have ties to the Doncaster West Riding Yorkshire area but I have not found any proof of that to date.

        On the 27th of January in the year 1554, William Banaster, a farmer, is recorded in a draft agreement, wherin he sells what he proudly calls the “Queen of land” in Bretherton . This tract of land is officially known and recorded however in the same document as Carhousefield and is noted to be within the boundaries of Bretherton [Lancashire]. Why this record is so important is that William Banaster is selling this land to John Gyrdeler of Carhouse Bretherton, Lancashire. (3)

        John Gyrdler’s death was also recorded in the Parish of Croston 5 Aug. 1558”. (4) John Gyrdler was the owner of the Carr House in Bretherton for four years before he died. This is the property that Rychard Stone later inherited because his wife could not own it so long as her husband was alive. It is clear that this property was believed to be among the most fertile and prestigious farms in Bretherton. Thus, Richard Stone's home, "Carr House", was apparently acquired from Isabel's father John Gyrdeler (Girdler) via his marriage to John Gyrdeler’s daughter Isabel. (5)

        A William Banaster is noted in records to be living in nearby Preston some 12 years later. This William Banaster in mentioned as being a Woolen Draper in 1567 in a land lease agreement. (6) The Stone family had close ties with the Banaster family in business and marriage.

        It should be noted also that a Margery Girdler marries a John Ydan on 10 Aug. 1541. Unfortunately John Ydan dies on 7 Sept. 1548 according to Croston parish records. (7) That fact initially seemed to indicate the presence of a Girdler family living within the Croston parish for generations. This assumption was in error, however, as christening records did not show anyone else by the name of Girdler nor with any alternate spelling.

        The Girdler family may still possibly have come from Doncaster Yorkshire as many suggest. Located there is a house which is also called Carr house. The records that I have found in the William Farrer collection, however, show that our John Gyrdeler of Carhouse, at least at that point in his life, lived in Bretherton. This still does not preclude the possibility of the Gyrdeler family having lived and originated from elsewhere prior to 1554.

        The next record I would like to present occurred in 1590 on the 3rd of December. This is again a land lease record, which is what they called the selling of land then because true ownership belonged to the King. In this land purchase Rychard Stones, of Bretherton, is found buying (leasing) land from Peter Legh (Esquire) of Lyme Cheshire. The land was leased for a period of time and in this instance was for what they called three lives. Rychard Stones within this record denotes his social status as that of a yeomen. This land transaction was for a house, then called a messuage. The record notes two of Richard Stones children … Robert and Henry. This messuage was leased for 2 lives. It was also necessary for a service to be rendered on the annual feast of St. Martin which occurred in the winter. This service was specified in the land lease agreement. In this instance it called for the delivery of 3 castrated roosters, called capons and one hen to be given to the Lord of the land. The rent payment was also specified.

        The traditional Services mentioned above had to given due to the bond tenure which existed between the legal occupants, being the Stones, and Sir Peter Legh. Sir Peter Legh leased this land in affect for a number of years/lives which Sir Peter Legh held by bond tenure. Hence the land was burdened with the lease agreement which required the labour services and customary dues mentioned annually. This fact is also briefly recounted or referred to in Richard Stones will. The Legh family owned Lyme Park in Cheshire. Peter Legh is also listed in the nearby town of Preston where their Guild rolls show Peter Legh [knight] was also a foreign Burgess in 1602. A Peter Legh V11 served as high sherrif of Lancashire in 1550. This gives the Stones family a connection to a Knighted family and shows that the stone family did indeed have a land lease with the Legh family which Rychard Stones mentions in his will. The Legh family held the manor for portions of land in Lancashire and, in this case, they dealt directly with our Stone(s) family.

        In 1601 Rychard Stones is again found in these wonderfully preserved and important land lease records for Bretherton and Much Hoole. On the 15th of February Rychard Stones assigns a parcel of land and his house to his wife Isabel for as long as his wife Isabel should live. At the conclusion of her life that house and land, the record stipulates, is to be inherited by his son John Stones.

        By the year 1603, Richard Stone(s) son, Thomas Stone, was likely already in London as either a merchant apprentice or working as a merchant. News from London that could have been sent to Rychard Stones by his son Thomas was that, London was being victimized by the plague wherein some 30,000 people died. Londoners were being encouraged to smoke tobacco and burn incense in order to help clear the air and vapors of the terrible black plague disease. (8)

        It is apparent that Richard Stone clearly understood something of merchant shipping. Richard Stones probably passed on his knowledge and interest in shipping goods to several of his children. Evidence of Richard shipping goods is seen at least by 1604 in the account below.

        “Richard Stone imported Irish panel boards and timber in 1604 for the Shuttleworth family, who were then building Gawthorpe Hall with 1,000 pieces, storing them till needed in Hoole's tithe barn.” (9) This not only refers to our Richard Stone(s) but seems to suggest that Richard was more than a simple yeomen farmer. Richard Stone(s), at least to some degree, had either become or was already familiar with and involved in Shipping.

        THE CHILDREN OF RICHARD STONES AND ISABEL GIRDLER WERE: (10)
        1. John Stones born about 1573
        2. Robert Stones born about 1575
        3. Henry Stones born about 1577
        4. Thomas Stones Christening occurred on November 12, 1580 Croston Parish, Bretherton, Lancashire
        5. Matthew Stones Christening occurred on April 28, 1583 Croston Parish, Bretherton, Lancashire
        6. Margaret Stones Christened March 24, 1584 Croston, death Margery Stones at St. Michaels- Croston 19 Jan 1615
        7. Andrew Stones born about 1585
        8. Mary Stones Christened on March 8, 1587/8 Croston Parish, Bretherton, Lancashire
        9. James Stone Christened 14 May 1590 St Michael and All Angels, Croston, Bretherton Lancashire, England
        10. Katherine Stones (date unknown) ---The child christened 4 Aug. 1595 may have been the daughter of John Stones.

        At least two of Richard and Isabel’s children would extend themselves and their business interests abroad to many nations via Thomas and Andrew Stone. Andrew sailed for Amsterdam where he marketed tobacco and helped to accomplish the Stones families international shipping connections as a merchant there. Thomas would eventually become a great London merchant and influence business in the Americas in the colony of Virginia with his nephew William Stone. That many of this family were merchants, mariners and adventurer/ explorers is evident by historical record. (11)

        There is strong evidence that one of the brothers of Rychard Stone came to the Croston parish area. That brother appears to make his home in Mawdsley. Stones children from Mawdsley begin showing up in Croston parish records on 31 Jan. 1588. There is strong evidence of two Stones families living within this parish. One is noted to be of Croston the other of Mawdsley. There are also a lot of Stones represented in christening registers in the Bolton Parish. There naming practices however appear differently than our Stones family inherently used generation after generation.

        Yorkshire County may have been the county of origin for the John Girdler family. The Visitation of London does, however, state that the Gyrdler family was from county Lancashire. It appears that John Gyrdler only moved to Bretherton later in his life. Thus it is possible that the Girdler’s originated from Yorkshire and then simply moved to Lancashire. Geographically, Yorkshire is bordered on the SW, by Cheshire and on the W, by Lancashire.

        David Simpson wrote that “there were three ridings in Yorkshire - the East Riding, West Riding and North Riding. West Riding Yorkshire England”, where the Girdler family is said to have originated from, “is noted for its cloth industry”. (12)

        Whether Richard Stone’s alliance with Carr House and the Girdler family helped the Stone family’s social standing and business enterprises, or vice versa, or whether they were of equal social status, remains an unknown factor. That the Stone family, which was heavily involved in the mercantile industry as haberdashers, married into a family, which resided in a region noted for its cloth industry, may possibly suggest a familial and industrial collaboration evolved at this point and may be relevant in examining this marriage. A potentially economic and industrial marital alliance between families could have occurred via an arranged marriage to benefit both sides of the family. Without personal and direct sure knowledge of the Girdler family’s occupation, this remains purely speculative on my part and cannot be proved. What I do know is that the Stones family who were, or became noted merchants and adventurers, did ship large amounts of cloth and silk abroad and that several convenient marriages of merchant families did occur in our Stones family.

        According to multiple records, Richard Stones belonged to the yeomen class. It is an unknown as to how, when or if our family had, prior to Richard Stones, passed out of the Gentry class to the Yeomen class. It is also unknown whether the Girdler’s were actual Girdlers by trade, or not.

        Isabel (Girdler) Stone is buried in London at St. Lawrence Jewry February 2, 1615/6 next to her son Thomas Stone. (13) Thomas Stone, her son, resided on Cateaton Street and is often referenced as Thomas Stone the Haberdasher of London of St. Lawrence Jewry. Many of Richard and Isabel Stone’s children would eventually migrate to London. I have found evidence in many sources that Mathew Thomas, Margaret and their mother Isabel, eventually moved to London. Some inconclusive and circumstantial evidences indicate their son Robert could possibly have moved to Cheshire.

        One might wonder why so many of the Stone children went to London and abroad for their apprenticeships and professions of trade. Certainly London offered the trade opportunities and was where the Haberdasher Company was located and may have been the locale where many of Rychard and Isabelle Stones children were apprenticed.

        The departure of young apprentices from their homes during the era, I have learned, most generally occurred at the age of 14. (14) Families would most often choose a relative or acquaintance of the family to act as Master and instructor for their still very young son. Doing so generally helped to reassure the family that their son (the apprentice) would receive kind and good treatment during their training. For Rychard Stones, moving his sons out of their home, while they were still very young boys, likely would have placed a large emotional stress and a financial drain on Rychard and Isabel his wife as they sent their young sons off one by one for costly apprenticeships. Who the Stone family used as a contact in London with Thomas and Mathew is an intriguing question that, one day, may lead to solving how our Stone family was related to other Stone families especially those of whom lived in and around London. (15)

        Some evidence that Rychard Stones was not that well off financially at the time of his death is found in his will record where at the bottom of it he kept an accounting of whom he still owed money to and who owed him money. Some of his debts were to his own children.

        Rychard Stone was able to set up his son Thomas with an apprenticeship at the Haberdashers guild in London. Its records also indicate that Richard Stone’s condition was, at the time, a Yeomen land holder of Bretherton “Bretherton Yeomen land holder”. (16)

        Rychard was successful enough to pay the apprentice fee required for many of his sons to enter into an apprenticeship in the guilds. The haberdasher guild was considered prestigious in its day. As evidence of this assertion I quote Helen Berry in her book. “The Haberdasher Company was one of the most prestigious, with a high percentage of entrants with fathers who styled themselves as “Gentry”. Berry also indicates, in her book, that it was typical, in that era, to send the younger sons, who were not the eldest in their family, to the guilds as tradesmen. (17)

        Carr house, the home that Richard and Isabelle Girdler lived in, was originally inherited from John Girdler who was Richard Stones father in law. Carr House in Bretherton may have existed originally as a timbered structure. This timbered structure was thought to have been named Carr house after Isabell’s home in Doncaster. The field surrounding or adjacent to Carr House in Bretherton was however, already known by the name Carr House field when William Banaster is seen leasing it to John Gyrdler.

        Why would Thomas and Andrew Stones build a new house for their brother John that even today is still referred to as Carr House? It may have seemed expedient to Thomas and Andrew, now that they were very wealthy and were climbing or re-ascending the social ranks, that their ancestral home which their brother John had inherited should reflect their new wealth and social status. However, Thomas Stone and Andrew may also have only wanted to elevate the living conditions of their family, as they had been able to do, and gave generously with “relatively” little regard or concern for status and appearance. Isabel Girdler (their mother) moved to London not long after the death of her husband and likely moved in with, or very near to, her son Thomas in London where she spent and enjoyed the remaining years of her life most comfortably. Isabel Girdler was buried in London near to her son Thomas Stones eventual resting place.

        At this period of time, Richard appears to have sent many of his younger sons to the guilds where they also served apprenticeships for several years. Many of his sons chose to pursue the merchant guild and adventured in the merchant business at home and abroad. Nearly all of Rychard’s sons eventually pursued a merchant business in London or abroad at one time or another.

        As a genealogist, I have come to realize the importance of understanding the geography and the lay of the land when researching the past. At times these insights and details have provided me with very important clues during the detective portion of my research and investigation. Changing town boundaries and parish delineations over time in Lancashire was common. Bretherton was the township within the parish of Croston that Richard called home. According to Edward Baines, Bretherton was a decent sized town with northern boundaries which reached towards Hoole and on its southern border extended to Croston. The Douglas [aka Asland] River, , formed the western boundary and UlnesWalton formed its Eastern Boundary.

        The Croston, Parish has since the early 1600’s gradually shrunk in size, and has subsequently been subdivided into six additional separate parishes. It is important to note that the parish of Hoole belonged to and was within the Croston parish until 1642. (18)

        Englands’ Semi Flexible Class System during the Tudor &Stewart Era’s

        A man was considered a gentlemen if he was a land owner and possessed the right to bear and show a coat of arms. If a gentleman wanted to challenge another man, he could do so if the other man was a gentlemenof any rank from that of a simple yeomen farmer, such as Rychard Stones, all the way up to that of a duke, to a duel. Traditionally, only gentlemen were allowed the privilege of wearing a rapier which was a type of sword used for dueling.

        Finding entrance into this elite class of citizens was difficult. However, Rychard Stones sons and his family along with other wealthy merchants and yeomen did manage to elevate their social status via commercially driven marital alliances and their subsequent purchases and acquisition of lands.

        The sons of these gentlemen were given certain challenges in life. The eldest sons of gentlemen would traditionally inherit the business end of their fathers’ livelihood. The right of primo geniture, left the younger sons of gentlemen to seek their own way towards making a good living in life. Many of these younger sons found that they could make a good living in trade. After choosing their profession, they would then choose whether or not their futures would or could allow them to continue as a member of the genteel class.(19)

        The fact that ones social condition could change fairly easily from one generation to the next gave the Stone family every reason to work hard and to seek out every economic opportunity. The trades clearly offered the younger sons of Richard De Croston Stone(s); Robert, Henry, Thomas, Mathew, and Andrew, the best opportunity to create a life with the hope of obtaining financial security and maintain or possibly even rise above their fathers’ social and economic yeomen class social status or condition.

        Rychard Stones son’s future and success also depended in part on whether or not they would marry well, or could find a good trade from which they hoped to build new wealth. The lone exception to this was Rychard Stones first born son John who inherited his father’s farming implements and the best land in Bretherton to farm, because of the law of primogeniture. This is evidenced in Rychard Stones will wherin all of his children were given parcels [called closes] of land or considerations such as apprenticeships which were intended to help get them through life. The “Queen of land” in Bretherton called “Carr house field” and Carr House itself, however, was given prior to Richard Stones will making to his eldest son John.

        Richard Stones gives us clues regarding his social class and origins within his will. Did Rychard Stones descend from what was called a vileins? A Vilein was a bondsman whose situation, in the 13th century was virtually that of a slave to the lord of the manor. Because Rychard Stones mentions in his will “Whereas I have one lease and grante of my Right Worship full Sir Peter Legh, Knight of one …..cottage, with the lands belonging and appurtenances lying in Mugh Hoole Co., Lanc., which is in my occupation. ……….I give the said lease, etc., to my wife for life, she to pay all rents for the same”. (20) Because this and other leases are mentioned by Rychard, with their required rent payments to be made, I initially suspected that our social origins in England were derived from copyhold leases. (21) Land to be held by Copyhold was first granted [also known as admittance] or re-granted to the individual. Conveying land from one copyholder to another always required that he first be admitted to it [given the grant] by the Manorial Lord. (22)

        Finding our Rychard De Croston Stone

        In one of my many efforts to find our Richard Stone or /Stones/ of Bretherton Lancashire England, in an official document, I came across the following from the United Kingdom’s National Archives Catalogue via the internet. Keep in mind that there were nearly as many individuals named Stone or Stones then as there are now. Many times a William Stone, John Stone or Richard Stone is mentioned in many locations, contexts and documents. I have eliminated virtually all of these either by date, location and or occupation, etc. This document holds particular value in my mind because of who it specifically mentions. Many of its subjects are known to me to be occupants of Bretherton in Lancaster with whom our family interacted. It is a record of a law suit regarding land or property (moiety) near to, or in, Lancaster. The key witness who testified is noted to be of Bretherton (Wylliam Blackhurste) which is in Lancashire. Bretherton is the township which is also adjacent to the village Much Hoole. The home of John Stone was, and is, near the boundary of these two towns and both laid claim to the Stone family. Remember that Richard Stones had made his seat in the parish of Croston and the Bretherton land is the land his eldest son John inherited.

        In the document referenced above, six individuals are listed as witnesses in this law suit in the affidavit. This court Affidavit is dated 28 Feb 1589/90. It gives us the following information. Keep in mind that our Rychard Stone did not die until after March 13 & before June 24th of 1605/06 when his will was proved.

        Affidavit summary: Wylliam Blackhurste, who states he is of Bretherton, and gives his age, which is quite impressive in its length. This Wylliam Blackhurst relates in the document that he was required to testify in this case. He states that his mother was a Genett Blackhurste and that his grandmother was a Katheryn Gaellor. He then, in a very meandering fashion, tells of the ownership of the land in question using genealogy and his recollections. The witnesses in this case were none other than Witn. Henry Bannester, William Bannistre, Henry Banester, Thomas Wildynge, Rychard Stone and James Hey. (23)

        Note that the Wylliam Blackhurste above was 90 years old at the time of this court proceeding. In the affidavit not seen here in this account of mine, the witness Thomas Wilding [Wyldinge] has his marriage recorded in Croston Parish records on 25 July 1546. Banister surname also has multiple spelling variations. Henry Banister has his marriage also recorded in St. Michaels All Angels church within Croston Parish on 20 Jan 1538/39 to an Allison Blackhurst. Allison was, with little doubt closely related to Wylliam Blackhurste. The Wildings and Stones were also intermarried via Andrew Stones and Margaret Wylding since 14 Feb. 1604 according to the same parish records. The two Henry Bannister’s are not a typo. This is most likely a father and son [Sr. and Jr] and shows the spelling variation that seemed to be rampant at the time.

        I am absolutely convinced this is our Richard Stone(s) with the old English spelling because of the location, time frame and names mentioned. Our surname in this instance is recorded without the pleural s. The Bannaster family and Charnocke families both clearly lived in or near Bretherton. The Hey family is mentioned in Richard Stones will. Rychard Stones sister named Jenet Stones married in the Parish of
        Croston on 4 Aug 1577 to a Henry Blackhurst. Of some import are the other witnesses in the above document. The Bannistre or Bannister family and Hey family were some of the wealthiest and noteworthy families in Lancashire. The Stones and the Hey family were close acquaintances at least as evidenced by Richard Stones [De Croston] mentioning them in his will.

        Ninety years of age (William Blackhurste) seems nearly impossible for this time frame but, in a separate document from this era, within the National archives of the U.K., I encountered, during my research, a reference to an old woman who was noted as having passed away at the age of 110 years of age. Apparently, even in the Tudor period a few lived to be what we call very old even in our era.

        Given the name, location, time frame and known associations with our Stone family, I find this affidavit to be extremely compelling evidence that our Rychard Stone participated in this land dispute as a witness on Feb 28 1589/90 when he was about fifty years old. This affidavit gives us a few more names to look for in other potential associated documents that may yet surface with further inquiry.

        Regarding our surname, it appears to not have been absolute as some documents that clearly refer to the same individual, or family, will at times use the pleural Stones and at other times merely reference them as Stone without the pleural S. This variance in spelling is likely due to individual levels of education of the various records keepers, transcriptionists and their attention, or the lack thereof, to detail.

        The marriage records for the parish of Croston however, note no one named Stone being married there. However, there is an extensive list of individuals by the name of Stones. It is immensely important that I show and prove that our surname did undergo a change from Stones to Stone. If I had not seen it in so many various documents and had so much overwhelming proof I would never have known for sure it was the same family.

        It is uncertain what ailment or disease began to overtake Richard Stones. “Richard Stones made his last will on March 13, 1605/6 - Julian Calendar). His actual death occurred sometime between March 13 1605/06 and June 24th 1606 when Richard Stones will was proved 3months and a week after having penned his last will.

        It should be noted that Richard Stones likely brother John is mentioned as passing away only months later within the same Croston parish and church. Richard Stones likely brother was buried on 8 Aug 1606 according to Croston Parish records.

        It is also evident by the will of Rychard Stones and newly discovered Lancashire archival land tax records that Rychard had already given the more part of his land and property to his sons prior to his final will. That Rychard Stones mentions his children and at least some of his grandsons in his will is fortunate.

        In the Index to wills and inventories, Vol. 2, it mentions that Rychard Stones son John Stones served as executor of his estate. Stones, John, of the parish of Croston Admon 1606, the following line reads: Stones, John, of Great Hoole Inv 1606 (24) John Stones was of the parish of Croston and was of the town of Great Hoole/Much Hoole/ or Hoole and the town of Bretherton is seen claiming him in many records as well. His house was on the border of both towns.

        In Salt Lake City, Utah, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has microfilmed the actual will of Rychard Stones. The microfilm reel# is 089460. The first relevant image captures the words: Stones Richard of Carr Houses Bretherton 1606, which is hand written quite legibly on the spine of a will book.

        Not only have I found the original will of Rychard Stones but I also found his Household inventory. I also was able to significantly enhance the original image using specialized equipment which allowed me to see through many of the darkened and badly stained portions of this will. This technology allows the user to see the original ink writing that is obscured by stains or darkened areas.

        Isabel Girdler, Rychard Stones wife, passed away nearly ten years after her husband died. She was living in London with her son Thomas when she died. Isabel was buried on 2 Feb. 1615/1616. At the St. Lawrence Jewry chancel.

        To see the original will of Richard De Croston Stones and his inventory, See the SLC family history Library. (25) Many copies of the original documents that I have in my personal record I cannot reproduce anywhere on the internet due to copyright concerns. For this reason I am omitting those court affidavit ,wills and other original records which are protected by Crown copyright. For legal reasonable use and to prove a contentious family line I am including parts of what the will states relevant to proving relationships, occupation and religious affiliation to an extent.

        My translation of the Will of Richard Stones (which is incomplete due to legibility of some small portions and to protect copyright reads:

        13 March 1605/06
        "Rychard Stones of Carrhowses within the Lordshippe of Bretherton, Co,, Lac., husbandman. To be buried at the Parish Church of Croston. After my debts and funeral expenses are paid my goods to be divided into three equal parts, whereof I give one part to Isabel! my wife. The second part I give to my children, John, Thomas, Andrew, Matthew, Mary, Margery and Katheryn Stone equally amongst them.

        "The third part of my goods whatsoever I give to John Stone, my said son, and my .................. in my dwelling house, my almery and dishbord, my plough, my harness and other implements belonging to husbandry.

        "I give to Thomas and Andrew Stones, sons of Robert Stones, 12 d. To John Stones, son of the said Robert Stones, 3 sh. To Hugh Stones, son of the said John Stones, 3 (sh)illings.
        "The rest of all my goods whatsoever I give to my daughters Mary, Margaret and Katheryn Stones equally amongst them.

        "Whereas I have one lease and grante of my Right Worship full Sir Peter Legh, Knight, of one messuage or cotage, with the lands belonging and appurtenances lying in Much Hoole Co., Lanc., which is in my occupation. My will is and I give the said lease, etc., to my wife for life, she to pay all rents for the same.
        "I give one close of lande, parcell of the same messuage and commonly called Marshreades, to the said Katheryn my daughter, to have and hold the same from and after my decease, and the decease of Isabell my wife, for the life of the said Katheryn if the term so long continues, she the said Katheryn paying all rents for the same.
        "I give the same lease, messuage, cottage and other premises after the several deceases of me, Isabell my wife and Katheryn my daughter, to Henry Stones my son for the residue of the time of the said lease.
        "I make Isabell my wife and John Stones my son, Exors., and I make Thomas Smith, Supervisor. Teste, James Hey, Hugh Hey, James Smith. (Proved in the C. C. C. the 24th of June, 1606, by Isabell the relict).
        "Debts owing by me: To Robert Jackson surety for my son Robert. To the late wife of Richard Marston surety for the debts of my sons John, Henry and Matthew. " Richard Stones Will was proved on the24th of June 1606. 66

        In the Index to wills and inventories, Vol. 2, it mentions that Rychard Stones son John Stones served as executor of his estate. Stones, John, of the parish of Croston Admon 1606, the following line reads: Stones, John, of Great Hoole Inv 1606 67

        Let it be known however that Rychard Stones of the Croston parish listed his home in his will as Bretherton Lancashire. This was because his home was in Bretherton virtually on the boundary line of Muche Hoole and Bretherton. Both Much Hoole and Bretherton were eager to claim the Stones family.

        The Inventory of Rychard Stones Late of the Car howse within the toynshippe of Bretherton in the County of Lancaster husbandman ______ ____ to my son henry &’d my James _?___ John .............................................
        Catheryn & Henry Sharples and Philip [witnessing] the same.......... the sayde (witn)
        …..year ………. One Thousand six hundred and six……………………….
        Of ………………… the said Rychard Stones

        Items listed were: 10 Blanketes, 23 Sheetes , 4 Chaff balls . 11 Bolsters were inventoried . Pillow’s , 11 metes or shares of Barley . 4 shares or metes of Beans One share or mete of Wheate. Malte 4 Metes or measures were inventoried . 3 Baskettes, Haylofte, 20 flaxen yarn, shyppynge…., 2 pieces of Canvas, 1 table and 1 cupboard inventoried. little bondes, Chairs, Bonde__ , Cushions , Silver spoons, Chest & stuff, 10 Brass pots & pans, Chafinge dishe one [brass] candelstick and 15 painted dishes, and a Brewing Vessel. Bai_ells , 1 Cart & ___. 1 harrow, Pitchforke & forke__. One [spinning wheel , Sorte pooe with Husbandry Imploments & fruite carte, One ( wagon)_, 3 cows, 1 heffare and one calf_, 2 Table cloths _ illegible? 3 Table napkins, To_ets , some additional beans, 3 Stone fromets , 2 Chayf [chaff] Bolsters, One [swine] , Fine ganders (Geese) , Stones, 2 Beef quarte[r]s . One piece of pork_ of bacon, salt Butter Hog grease Suet & tallow______, Illegible… …Illegible..___ Bed __En___moryyes_ & pott hookesCane_____________________Spade, ******* hatchet Wyn uls………………with other Imploments belonging to husbandry .

        Help reading the original Household Inventory doc. was accomplished courtesy of Paul Pixton (Professor of Medievil History) Brigham Young Univ. This document seen here has been significantly altered from that of the original in several ways incl. format and the expressed monetary values have been deleted. Some portions of the inventory have been omitted either due to illegibility or were done in an attempt to protect the copyrights of the original document . Additional changes in spelling to a modern spelling were also made to this document. All this was done to preserve the copyright and integrity of the original document. I believe this to be a fair use of the original document and helps to preserve the important family information and history that no one can own.

        Sources.
        1. STONE, CHARLES H., THE STONES OF SURRY, REVISED EDITION, CHARLOTTE N.C. THE OBSERVER PRINTING HOUSE PRINTERS AND BINDERS, Publ. 1955, p. 14)
        2. Lancashire Online Parish clerk project, Marriages-Church of St Michael and All Angels in the Parish of Croston recorded in Register yrs 1538 – 1599, ********************************************
        3. Papers of Dr. William Farrer, Repository Manchester Archives and Local Studies, Place name index to Duchy of Lancaster fee farm rolls, Scanned list part 1, Record Reference -GB127- Ll/10/77/1-4 page 155[pdf pg#], NRA 17338 Dr Farrer, ManchesterCentral Library, ManchesterArchives and Local Studies, Catalogue digitized by the National Archives of the U.K., Nat. Archives Of the U.K.
        4. VIRGINIA HISTORICAL GENEAOLOGY, by John Bennet Boddie, PACIFIC COAST PUBLISHERS, REDWOOD CITY, CALIFORNIA, 1954, XVi-4,
        5. Repository Manchester Archives and Local Studies, Place name index to Duchy of Lancaster fee farm rolls, Scanned list part 1, , Record Reference -GB127- Ll/10/77/1-4 page 155[pdf pg#], NRA 17338
        6.Dr Farrer, ManchesterCentral Library, Manchester Archives and Local Studies,……….54 NRA Ll/21/16-39 P r e s t o n Ll/21/16 16 March 1567. ******************************************************
        7. Lancashire Online Parish clerk project, Croston Parish records, Marriage and burials records at *******************
        8. Discourses of the plague in early modern London, Epidemic Disease in London, ed. J.A.I. Champion (Centre for Metropolitan History Working Papers Series, No.1, 1993): pp. 19-34
        9. Jessica Lofthouse; Lancashire Villages; Robert Hale, London, 1978, P. 48
        10. Microfilmed image Rychard Stones original will S.L.C. Family History Library, British Films, reel #89460, & parish records,via Lancashire online parish project, Baptisms at St Michael and All Angels in the Parish of Croston, Baptisms recorded in the Register for the years 1543 – 1598, Entered by Lynn Ransom Burton 7 November 2005. http://*******************parish.html
        11. Robert Brenner American Council of Learned Studies, Merchants and Revolution: Commercial Change, Political Conflict and London’s Overseas Traders 1550-1653, publ. by Verso 2003 734 pages, p. 184
        12. David Simpson, The Yorkshire History Pages, *************************************************************
        13. Stone family Association web site @******************************,
        14. Conlin, Joseph R. The American Past: A Survey of American History, NINTH EDITION, VOL. 1: TO 1877 p.81 Publishers: Clark Baxter and Suzanne Jeans
        15. Hanawalt Barbara, Growing Up In Medievel London, The experience of childhood in History, publ. by Oxford University Press, p. 147 US, 1995 ISBN 0195093844, 9780195093841 320 pages
        16, Stone fam. Assoc. web site @******************************,
        17. Helen M. Berry, Gender, Society and Print Culture in Late Stuart England. The Cultural World of the Athenian Mercury, publ Ashgate 2003, p. 93
        18. Baines Esq. M.P., Edward, History of the County Palantine and the duchy of Lancaster, Vol. 3, p.412 Leyland Hundred parish of Croston, London Paris and New York: Fisher, Son, & Co.,,, 1836
        19. G.M. Trevelyan, History of England: Vol. II, the Tudor and the Stuart Era, published 1926, revised 1952 by Double Day Anchor, p. 140-141
        20. excerpt taken from the Image of The Will of Rychard Stones, S.L.C. Family History Library, British Films (section) Reel # 89460
        21. Gregory Stone Genealogy: ancestry & descendants of DEA. Gregory Stone of Cambridge Mass., J Gardner Bartlett p. 10
        22. Manorial Records3Copyhold Tenure, *********************************************************************************************
        23. The National Archives/ Access to the Archives [no Title] A document held by the Lancashire Record office, Ref. DDL 46 Dated 28 Feb 1589/90 English Record Offices. ****************************************************************************************
        24. The Index to will and inventories, now preserved in the court of probate at chester, VOLUME 11.1879.THE RECORD SOCIETY publication Relating to Lancashire and Cheshire, MANCHESTER; IRELAND AND CO., PRINTERS, PALL MALL & compared to the actual will of Richard Stone image viewed at the SLC FHL British Microfilm reel #89460 Salt Lake City Fam History Library).
        25. Will of Richard De Croston Stones, microfilm - SLC Family History Library, reel # 089460. Wills & Admin. Of Lanc

         

      • Citation:

        https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/1913394?cid=mem_copy

4. Mike Reid: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=PED&db=mreid24&id=I13175&style=TABLE REID--McALLISTER Family Tree