Events
Date of Birth: unknown.
Place of Birth: unknown.
James was probably born about 1640 in Ashton in Makerfield, Lancashire.
Date of Buried: 4 August 1708.
Place of Buried: Winwick, Lancashire.
The burial is recorded in the parish register.
Relationships
Father: Roger Naylor.
Mother: Ellen Lowe.
See the Commentary section.
Spouse: Ann Barrow. Married 20 June 1666 in Winwick, Lancashire.
The marriage is recorded in parish register. Roger Lowe’s diary makes clear that the James who married Ann Barrow was Roger Naylor’s son.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
Margery Naylor (baptized 9 December 1666 in Winwick)
James Naylor (baptized 11 August 1672 in Winwick - buried 7 May 1749 in Winwick) married Mary Richardson in 1695.
Peter Naylor (baptized 18 April 1675 in Winwick - buried 16 August 1675 in Winwick)
Joseph Naylor (baptized 13 November 1677 in Winwick)
Evidence
Roger Lowe’s diary:
Roger Lowe was an Ashton apprentice and shopkeeper who kept a diary in the 1660s and 1670s, remarkable for its survival for someone of his social class. Roger was in love with James Naylor’s sister Mary, and helped James woo Ann Barrow, whom Roger had previously had a crush on. He assisted James in dealing with a rival for Ann’s hand, Richard Naylor. James and Roger had a falling out when James showed Anne letters that Roger had written to Mary, but they appear to have made up, although James’ and Anne’s wedding is not mentioned in the diary. Roger eventually married Emme Potter. Here are a few of the entries related to James:
Januery 1663
1. – Friday. Ann Barrow sent for me this morneinge. I went and stayd all day. I was some thinge sickly, yet all day I was feareing the exceptance of love, and att last she vouchsafed a time for consideracion….
July 1663
16. – Thursday. Att night James Naylor came and asked me to goe with him to Neawton, which I did. He wood Anne Barrow, and she sent for us to Stirrop’s, where we came and get into chamber where she was, and after a while parted.
22. – Wednesday. Richard Naylor came over and sent for me, so I went, and we went to Leeche’s. I spent 6d. Att night James Naylor asked me to goe with him to Neawton, as formerly, so I went, and we ware sent for to goe to Mr. Collier’s, so we went and stayd awhile. Anon Mr. Collier comes in drunke and falls in discoarse with James, and James being not able to defend hime selfe, I tooke hold and answered to the well likeinge of James.
September
17. Thursday. I went bowleing Alley and lost 12d., att which I was sore greeved, came home, and this evening I went with James Naylor to Neawton awooing Ann Barrowe. She had sent for me to come speake with her. I went to Mr. Collier’s to fetch her to us into widow Heapy’s, for there we resided. I put of my one hatt and put on another, and made also my[selfe] as if I ware John Naylor’s man and was sent to towne upon an occasion, and so had something to speake to Anne from her sister. Get her out, and she, with much requesting, promisd to come to us after supper, which shee did; desird me to meete her att Winwick, Lord’s day after.
24. – Thursday …. This afternoone I went downe to Roger Naylor’s, and Mary and I talked together. After she and I ware parted James and I went to Leashe, …
29. – James Naylor envited me to their house. I went and found Mary alone and very pleasant. This night I sange in shopp by a candle the cheife verses of the 71 psalme with alacritie and heart chearfullnes.
October
3. — … I went this eveninge with James Naylor to Neawton to Ann Barrow wooing. She had beene sicke.
25. – Lord’s day. Ann Barrow came to Ashton and gave me a letter to answer for her into Yorkeshire to Richard Naylor…
27. – … I went with James Naylor into Goleborne awooing to Ann Barrowe. I was att this time very sad in spirit, for I had not seene Mary of a good while.
November
7. – Saturday. Att night I went with Thomas Rosbotham, James Lee, James Naylor a foomert hunteinge, but we catched a hedge hogge, but nothing else.
9. – Munday night. I went with James Naylor to old Barrowe’s in Goleborne to woo Ann. It was very darke and stormy and late in night ere we came home.
22. – Lord’s day. I went to Leigh and cald of Ann Barrow, and shee tooke me into parlour and gave me spiced beere and we conferred awhile. I spoke much for my selfe by way of motive that shee would except of me, and after awhile parted, being enjoined by her to come att noone backe againe. … I sat forward for home and by the way cald on Ann Barrow accordinge to promise, but she was sent for to goe into Pemberton; but she left word I must stay till shee came, but I would not. Elizebeth Hart told me that shee said that if shee thought her father would dye soone she would waite for me, because I had presented my effections to her, and this shee said upon better motive to her for me. But yet, the greefe of all was behind, for Bett told me how perfidiously and knavishly James Naylor had dealt with me, for he wooing Ann would allwayes have me with hime, and I had some effections to his sister, and had sent her seaverall litle notes, which shee putt in her box, and this one eveninge, the 9th of this presant November, and he cald for a band and Mary bid hime go take one out of her box, so he rifled her box up and tooke all my letters, which I had sent her att seaverall occasions, and tooke them in his pockett, and when we came in Goleborne to Barowe’s I went into parlor to John Hart and he followed Ann into another chamber and let her see my sacrets to Mary, and I had writt inone that I wishd Mary would be as faithfull to me as Ann was to hime, and this stinkeing Raskell betrayed his one sister and me, who I went allwayes with and spent my monys for his sake and advised hime the best I could. Nay, and above all he backebitt me, and said it would doe well if I could gett monys against my comeing out, and said I durst never come in his father’s sight, which was a lye. He said as soone as his sister angerd hime he would tell his father of all– and this is the actinge of a seemeing pretended freind to me as can be, when in truth is no better then a deivelish, malicious, dissembleing, knavish rascall. Butt Ann was displeased att me att first, tho caryd nobly and loveingly to my face, but Bett Hart told me this that I might know my freinds from my foes….
23. – Tusday. I went to Roger Naylor’s. He was gone to Chester and I told Mary all above writt and of all James’ knaverie to me and to her, and she was highly offended and was very respectfull to me. Att night she sent for me; James would have me be all night with hime, and she told me what she had said. I did not stay all night, but came to shop to injoy bed…
25. – Thursday. I kept shopp all day, onely Ann Barrow and her sister came to go to Peter Kenion’s, and I brought Ann towards that place and spoke my mind to her concerneing James’ fact against me. I was very much displeased concerneing it. …
December
6.-- Lord’s day. … and cald att Henry Barrow’s in Goleborne, but Ann Barrow was gone frome home, so I came forward to Roger Naylor and stayd supper – Roger forced me to stay. I was very glad to see that respect I had from them.
21. –Lord’s day. … and as I was comeinge near Barrowe’s Ann Barrow cald of me, for we had beene out one against the other; so I went to see her. Shee tooke me in to parlor and we rectifide all buisinesses, so I came away.
November 1664
27. – Lord’s day. Henry Low, Dr. Naylor, James Naylor, and I had a 12d. sent from Yorke from Henry Gyles to be drunke amongst us, and this night we ware togather to spend this 12d…
July 1665
6.-- Friday. Anne Barrow sent for me. She livd with her sister, Margret Naylor, on Edg Greene, and there I repeated Mr. Henmar’s sermons.
from the Winwick parish register:
June [1666]
20 James: Naylor
Anne: Barrow
December [1666]
9 Margery dt of James: Naylor
May [1667]
1 James Sn of James: Naylor
August [1672]
11 James sn of James: Naylor
Aprill 1675
18 Peter son of James Naylor
August [1675 burials]
16 Peter son: of James Naylor
November [1677]
13 Joseph son of James” Naylor
Burials August 1708
4 James Naylor of Ashton senior.--
Marriage licence:
1666 June 20
James Naylor, of Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancs., and Anne Barrowe, of Golborne, Lancs.
James’s will:
In the name of God Amen I James Naylor the elder of Ashton beneath Mackerfield in the County of Lanc’ Glasier being weak of body, but of perfect mind & memory praise be therefore given to Allmighty God, do make and ordain this my present last will & Testament in manner & form following (that is to say); first & principally, I com[m]end my Soul into the hands of Allmighty God, hoping through the merits, death, & passion of my Saviour Jesus Christ, to have full & free pardon & forgiveness of all my Sinns, and to inherit everlasting life; and my body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named; and as touching the disposal of such temporal Estate as it hath pleased Allmighty God to bestow upon me, I give & dispose thereof, as followeth First, I will, that my debts paid & discharged. I give and bequeath unto my Son James Naylor all my reall Estates, Lands and Tenements lying and situate in Ashton aforesaid, paying to my Son Joseph Naylor Sixty five pounds of current money of Great Britain but if my Son James Naylor shall refuse & be not willing to pay the said Sum of sixty five pounds to my son Joseph Naylor, then I give to my son Joseph Naylor for ever my little Barly field, & little Rough field, Item I give to my Son Joseph Naylor my Tenement called by the name of Harts Tenement with the Issues & proffitts therof, during the time and space of six years & no longer, if the life or lifes in the said Indenture of Lease so long shall live, Item I give to my Son James Naylor all the money that he is indebted to me, paying the aforesaid Sum of Sixty five pounds. Itm I give to my Sonns James Naylor and Joseph Naylor all my Linn equally to be divided between them, one pair of flaxen sheets excepted, being marked for my Son Joseph Naylor, which I give to him, also my Wifes wearing Linn excepted, which I give to my grandaughter Ellen Naylor: Itm I give & bequeath unto my Son Joseph Naylor all the rest and residue of my personal Estate, goods, money, Bonds, Bills whatsoever these goods hereafter named being excepted & deducted. Itm I give unto my grandson John Naylor my great Cubbard in the house, Itm I give to my grandson Jonathan Naylor my Desk standing in the flagged Chamber, & also give Shillings, Itm I give to my grandson James Naylor ten Shillings, Itm I give to my grandson Joseph Naylor ten Shillings, Itm I give to my grandaughter Ellen Naylor my Bedstead and the hangings, & Covering of the Same of the hangins, belonging to the same Bedstead, which stands in the porch Closet. Itm my will & mind is that my Son James Naylor shall pay & discharge all be funerall Expences & charges. Itm my will & mind is, that their shall be no drinking for me at Winwick, but what is to be allowed, Shall be at my house which I leave to be ordered according to the discretion of my Son James Naylor And I do hereby make, constitute, & appoint my Brother Joseph Naylor my Son James Naylor Executors of this my last will & Testament, hoping they will in all parts duly performe the same, & I do revoke & make void all former Wills and Testaments by me heretofore made. In wittness whereof I the said James Naylor the elder to this my last will and Testament have set my hand, and Seal onthe eleventh day of May, in the Seventh year of the Reign of Anne Queene of great Britain
Anoq Domi 1708
James [seal] Naylor
Sealed Signed published & declared to be my last Will & Testament In the presence & wittness of us
Samuel Sutton
William Houghton
Samuel Jenkinson
[Proved 23 July 1709]
A true Inventory of the goods chattels & utensiles of James Naylor the Elder of Ashton within Mackerfield in the County of Lancr Glasier Deceased, valued by Jo.n Wallis William Newton, & John Naylor of the Towne & County afores.d on the seventh day of August ano Domi 1708.
Imprimis In the flagged Chamber one feather bed, one feather bolster, & feather pillow – 1-2-6
Itm two little blanketts – 0:4.0
Itm two large blanketts – 0:10:0
Itm one Covering for a feather bed – 0:2.0
Itm one green Covering for a bed – 0:2.6
Itm onebrowne Covering for a bed – 0:4:6
Itm six back sieled stoolls – 1.0.0
Itm one Deske – 0:2.0
Itm one sielded Chest – 0:16:6
Itm in the porch Closet one little bed with hangings, & Vallans – 1.0:0
Itm one feather bed one bolster two pillows & one Quilt – 1.0.0
Itm one writing table – 0:5.0
Itm one Chest – 0:6.0
Itm one little Trunk – 0:2.0
Itm one ovill Table – 0:8.0
Itm in Brass & Pewter – 1:17.6
Itm in White Metall & Glass bottels – 0:8.0
Itm in Money & Debts due to the testator – 40:0.0
Itm in Linnen – 3.0:0
Itm the wearing Apparel of the deceased - 3.0.0
Itm a few goods of Small value in & about the house – 0:4:0
Totall 55:14.6
Attested by us the Valuers
John Wallis
William Newton
John Naylor
Commentary
James’s parentage:
James was a glazier who living in Ashton in Makerfield. In his 1679 will, Roger Naylor of Ashton, glazier, names his son James Naylor. In his diary, Roger Lowe, who was close to James and romantically interested in James’s sister Mary, makes clear that James and Mary were children of Roger Naylor.
See the Commentary section on Roger Naylor’s page for an explanation of the evidence for James’s mother.
See the Commentary section.
References
The Diary of Roger Lowe of Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire 1663-73 (ed. William L. Sachse) (Yale University Press, 1938). (Available on HathiTrust.org)
Marriage Licences granted within The Archdeaconry of Chester in the Diocese of Chester, v. 5, 1661 - 1667. (Wm. Fergusson Irvine, ed.) (The Record Society for the Publication of Original Documents relating to Lancashire and Cheshire, v. 65; 1912)
Parish registers of Winwick, Lancashire. Digital images on FamilySearch.org.
Will of Harry Barrow of Golborne. Proved 1665 in the Consistory Court of Chester.
Will of James Naylor the elder, glasier of Ashton in Makerfield. Proved 1709 in the Consistory Court of Chester.