Events
Date of Birth: probably about 1553.
Place of Birth: unknown.
The estimated date is given by Ormerod (p. 31).
Date of Burial: 13 March 1611/12.
Place of Burial: Bolton, Lancashire.
The burial is recorded in the parish register. The burial date is one day before his will is dated, which suggests an error somewhere. (Another John Crompton of Darcy Lever was buried in 1614, a month after the probate.)
Relationships
Father: Richard Crompton.
This relationship is given by Ormerod (p. 31). Richard left a 1598 will which no longer exists.
Mother: unknown.
Spouse: unknown.
John's brother-in-law lived in London, and John ordered cotton and cochineal through him. Booker (p. 234) states that John was married twice.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project. The wills of John and John's son Thomas make several identifications below possible.)
Ellis Crompton (buried 31 August 1632 in Bolton)
Thomas Crompton (buried 21 January 1627/8 in Bolton)
(possibly) Margaret Crompton (possibly baptized 1592/3 in Bolton - buried 14 November 1662 in Bolton) married Ralph Whittell 31 May 1614 in Bolton.
Robert Crompton (buried 19 December 1648 in Bolton) married Ellen Cleaton 17 August 1612 in Bolton.
Joan Crompton married Adam Roscow 9 February 1611/12 in Prestwich, licence 5 February.
Katherine Crompton married Edmund Key 25 September 1604 in Bolton.
Ellen Crompton married William Crompton 17 December 1604 in Bolton.
Gertrude Crompton
Alice Crompton married Edmund Shippobothome, licence 15 October 1610 at Turton, Lancashire.
Evidence
from the Bolton parish register:
Baptisms 1592
Margrett crompton daughter of John de Darcey Leaver [...]
Burials 1611
John Crompton of Darsie Leaver 13 [March]
Burials 1614
John Crompton of Darsie Leaver intra eccl: 16 [of September]
from Ormerod (pp. 31-2):
By the custom of the manor of Darcy Lever (as laid down in the pleadings before cited), it was the practice to grant leases for successive lives, and on the determination of the last, to renew the eldest son of the tenant for three lives, at a proportionate fine. In the present case, after the death of Richard Crompton, James Crompton (a younger son) entered without demise, and connived at alienations to the Bradshawes, which were continued after the said Ralph Byrom’s death, in the summer of 1598 (a date proved by two Inquisitions), by his widow, as guardian to her son Adam Byrom. This was submitted to until April 29, 1602, when a writ under the duchy seal was prayed against Jane Byrom, the widow, James Bradshaw, and Anne and Richard Crompton (the widow and son of James Crompton, the intruding younger brother), by John Crompton, son and heir of Richard above-mentioned, who recovered possession
The repossession was complete in 1604, as shewn by his initials carved in stone, in various parts of Hacking, and accompanied by religious mottos, devices, and the mullet before-mentioned.
from Ormerod (pp. 30):
...The arms of the auditor’s line are continued on the Hacking seals; and the heraldic “mullet”, the difference marking the third son, applicable to the auditor’s third brother Richard, but to no other known individual, is uniformly displayed among the devices carved in stone within Hacking Hall, with the date of 1604 and the initials of John, eldest son of Richard Crompton, to whom such difference could only apply in right of a predecessor, thus branching from an elder line.
from the Victoria County History of Lancashire (Vol. 5, sub Little and Darcy Lever, fn. 24):
From a pleading of 1602 it appears that Ralph Byrom, lord of Hacking, had demised it to Richard Crompton, and then to Richard's younger son James; on James's death his son Richard took possession, but his right was denied by his uncle John, elder brother of James, a clothworker of London, on the ground that by the custom of the manor the eldest son had a preference; Duchy of Lanc. Plead. Eliz. ccii, C17.
from Wadsworth and Fuller (p. 15) :
...In 1607 John Crompton of Hacking, near Bolton, was dealing in "cotton wool."
footnote: MS. recently found at Hacking Hall, near Bolton, during its demolition. For this important reference we are indebted to Mr. Thomas Midgley. The fragmentary MSS. show Crompton, a small landowner, who was also a dyer, ordering cotton and cochineal through his brother-in-law in London, and dyeing bays for a Rochdale fuller.
John’s will:
In the name of god Amen the xiiijth day of March in the yeare of our Lord God euerlasting 1611: John Crompton of Darsey Leauer beinge sicke and feeble in my body but of perfecte remembrance, god be thanked for it, doe constitute ordaine and make this my last will and testamt in manner and forme folowinge: First I bequeath my soule into the hands of almightie god my maker sanctifyer and redeemer trustinge by the merits of his death & passion to be one of the members of his elect children and my body to the earth & to be burial [sic] at the Church of Bolton in my usuall burying place First it is my will and mynde that all my goods shalbee diuided into three equall parts wherof one part of the said goods I giue to my selfe and an other part unto my wife, and the other last part unto my six Children, vzt Thomas Crompton, Jone ['Crompton' struck through], Katherin, Ellin, and Garthrude Crompton, and Alice Sheepobothome second[?] wife of Edmund Sheepobothome Itm it is my will & mynde that my sonne Thomas Crompton doe accompte for xiijli vj.s viijd as receuied in part of his porc[i]on/ And my said daughter Alice Shippobothome doe likewise accompt for that viij li which I lent her husband Itm it is my will and mynde that all my debts bee paid upon the whole goods. Itm it is my will and mynde that after my funerall expences beinge discharged out of my owne part of goods then the remainder I giue and bequeath unto my six foresaid Children menc[i]oned in this will Itm it is my will and mynde my sonne Robte shall haue all the husbandrye Implem[en]ts exeptinge his mothers porc[i]on / Itm I giue and bequeath to any childe that I am grandfather unto ij.s And to my godson William Crompton sonne of John Crompton of Little Boulton j.s And unto this my last will and testam:te I doe no[m]i[n]ate and appointe my executors my welbeloued wife and Robte Crompton my sonne hopinge that they will see it truly performed, And I desire my welbeloued frends Mr Richard Fogge my Landlord and Thomas Bruers to be my overseers./
Debts oweng unto me John Crompton the testator
Imprimis James Rigby -- xiiij s
Adam Crompton --- xis.
And the said Adam Crompton oweth mee --- iij .li
which hee is to pay mee or else I am to haue [...] [...ds] for one whole yeare after my lease now in beinge/
In witnes wherof I doe putt my hand and seale the day and yeare
An Inventorie of all the goods and Chattells of John Crompton late of Darcie leaver deceased apraysed the xixth day of August 1614 by Richard Ferneside Thomas Fernwhath willm Crompton and Willm Roscroe
Imprymis in kyne and Calves -- xxxij li
Item one horse -- iij li xiij s iiij d
Item in [...]oyne --- xxxs
Item in Corne upon the earthe --- xiijli vis viij d
Item in hay --- vli
Item in fustian woolle --- lxviij li ix s
Item in fustian Clouthe and yearne --- xixli vs iiijd
Item in woollen linen and beddinge --- ixli xiijli [sic]
Item in bedstocks Aucks[?] & Coffers --- ij li xixs
Item in bords formes Cheares & stooles --- ij li vs
Item in pewder and brasse --- iij li xis
Item one byble --- viij s
Item in Treeme[?] ware --- xxiiij s
Item in Earthen potts --- iij s
Item in Iron ware --- xxxvij s
Item in plowes harrowes, Carts wheeles & Cart heare[?] --- xxxvs
Item in sives and wisbets --- iij s
Item in stocke[?] and window esheets --- xij s
Item in lomes with their furniture & wheeles --- xxs
Item in mealie malt barly and salt --- iiij li ij s
Item in fuell --- xviij s vj d
Item in stone trenshes[?] -- iij s vjd
Item in butter and cheeses -- ijli vs
Item in tucks of grounds[?] --- xiij li xiij s iiij d
Item in detts --- xxxiiij li xxs
Item in money --- vij li vij s viij d
Item for the Reverson of a Certayne tack[?] of ground strawe and a shepp --- [blank]
Item his apparell --- iij li xs
[Probate 24 August 1614]
The will of John's son Thomas:
In the name of god Amen the two and twentieth day of December in the thirde yeare of the Raigne of our Soveraigne lord Charles by the grace of god kinge of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the faith &c Anno dni 1627: I Thomas Crompton of Breightmet in the p[ar]ish of Bolton in the Mores in the Countie of Lancaster yeoman sicke in bodie but of goodand p[er]fect memory praised bee god doe make publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner and forme followinge that is to say first and principally I comitt my soule into the hands of Almightie god my maker & redeemer and my bodie to Christian buriall when and where it shall please god and concerninge my mesuage lands tenemts and hereditamts scituate lying and being in darcie leaver in the said countie of lanc: heretofore purchased of Richard Fogge gent my will is and I doe hereby devise give and grant all that mesuage dwelling house or Cottag and garden fould & lane with thappurtenances heretofore in the occupacon of Lawrence Fogge gent unto John Greenhalgh and Lydia Holme my servants To have and to hould to the said John Greenhalgh and Lydia Holme their heires for ever: and for and concerninge the rest and residue of my said lands it is my will and I do give and grant the same unto my Executors hereafter named for and during the full end and terme of sixteene yeares next ensuing the day of my decease towards the mayntenance and educacon of all the children of Lawrence Crompton my nephew lawfully begotten and to bee begotten during the said terme, and after the end of the said terme of sixteene yeares then I doe devise give and grant the same land unto the issue male of the said Lawrence Crompton lawfully begotten and to be begotten and his heires for ever: and for want of such issue it is my will that my Executors shall & do sell the same lands and that the money for which the same lands shalbee soe sould bee equally devided amongest all the daughters of the said Lawrence Crompton lawfully begotten and to bee begotten or before the end of the said term of sixteene yeares: and for and concerninge the rest of my temporall goods it is my will and I doe give p[ar]t to the minister or Stipendarie preacher at Bolton to bee paid by my Executors by xs a yeare for & during the full end & terme of twentie yeares after my decease toward the maintenance of such minister or stipendarie preacher as shall be continued at Bolton aforesaid for the tyme being during the said terme: and I doe lykewyse give iij li vj s viij d to Richard Dickinson and John Allenys to be imployed as they in discretion thinke fitest towards the manteynance of a minister at Cockey Chapell: Itm I give and bequeath unto my brother Ellice Crompton v li sterling Itm I give to Raffe Whittell wyffe iiij li Itm I give to the wyffe of Robte Crompton iiij li Itm I give to the wyffe of Willm Crompton iiij li Itm I give to the wyffe of Edmund Key iiij li Itm I give unto Ellice Crompton my nephew vj li Itm I give unto John Crompton my nephew iiij li Itm I give unto Adam Roscow of Deane p[ar]ish iiij li Itm I give to the wyffe of Ellice Holden iiij li itm I give unto Thomas Carlell xl s together with all such money as hee shall owe me at the tyme of my decease. Itm I give unto the wyffe of John Carlell vj s viij d: Itm to every one of the children of the said John Carlell vj s viij d a peece Itm I give to Lawrence Carlell children vj s viiij d a peece Itm I give to henry morris of leigh p[ar]ish iij s iiij d Itm I give to my nephew Lawrence Crompton iiij li, Itm I give to my servant John Greenhalgh v li together with the bed hee lyeth on and all the bedinge and clothes belonginge to the same lykewyse I doe give all my app[ar]ell to the said John Greenhalgh Itm I doe give to my servant Lydia Holme v li together with the bed shee lyeth on and all the bedinge and clothes belonginge to the same and the halffe of all wooden vessell in the house, the ahlffe of all earthen potts, allsoe I give unto he the Chimney in the howse, and I doe give unto the said Lydia my red heffer. Itm I give unto all those which I am godfather unto xij d a peece Itm whereas my neighbour James Crompton hath a noate in his custodie of certain goods given by my wyffe it is my will that the same goods bee bestowed according to the contents of that noate Itm I give unto my nephew Lawrence Crompton his wyffe all the Cheares and stooles in my howse the other halffe of all wooden vessell and earthen potts Itm I give to my said nephew Lawrence three arkes in the barne: together with all Implements of husbandrie, and all boards in or about the house, one Chist in the chamber where I lye: an other chist in the loft above, & an other in the chamber beneath, as allso all the bedstocks in the house except those before given to my two servants) the Chimney in the kitchen: allso I give him all the fuell for fyre: stone trough at draw well & cheese presse: Itm I give to Mr Horrocks preacher at deane xs to preach at my burial Itm whereas I enioy two closes which I have taken of Mary Crompton I doe hereby give the revercon of the same unto Adam Crompton Itm I give to Myles Bropopp xs. Itm I give to Isabell Abbott xs Item I give to the poore of Breightmett xls to bee distributed at the discretion of James Crompton Itm it is my will that the great arke inthe kitchin continue and remayne at the house as an Earloome for ever Itm I give unto Lawrence Crompton my nephew a cow which is called horrocks xxxxxx all the rest and residue of my goods after my debtes legacies and funerall expences discharged I give unto my said brother Ellice Crompton and my two Executors equally amongest them three and of this my last will & testamt I ordeyne and make my Executors the saide Robt Crompton and Raffe Whittell to execute the same as my trust is in them In witness whereof I the said Thomas Crompton have hereto put my hand and seale the day and yeare first above written
Yt is my will that for the xs a peece I have given to the stypendary minister at Boulton: yf yt here after fale out that there wantt a stipendary minister there then yt ys my will that the xs yerly shalbee given to the poore of Breightmett Darcey Leaver & Tonge the Remainder of the yeres---
Also yt ys my will that ther shall be bestowed for my bringing forth Twelf pounds: and yf aney bee Spaured of that some then yt to bee bestowed on the poore of Dawcey Leaver Tonge and the Haulgh: according to the discretion of my Executors.
this addition ys putt downe before the seallinge herof.
as wittnesseth:
James Crompton
John Greenhalgh his m[ar]ke
Lidia Houlme her m[ar]ke
[proved 2 February 1627/8]
Commentary
Ellis Crompton is not named in John’s will, but Ormerod notes that his name is carved with the date 1614 in the western gable at Hacking. Perhaps there was also an elder brother, John, who died in 1614, and whom Ellis succeeded. However, Ellizeus Crompton was a juror in an inquisition post mortem taken at Bolton 1 March, 1613/14, which suggests that he had probably succeeded to his inheritance by then.
Ormerod considers the 1627 will of Thomas Crompton of Breightmet to be that of the Thomas who is listed as a child of John above. In his will, Thomas mentions that he bought land in Darcy Lever from Richard Fogge (who was the landlord of the John Crompton of this page), and he names his brother Ellis, and his nephews Lawrence and John Crompton. His executor was Robert Crompton. A Thomas Crompton of Darcy Lever was buried in 1612 in St Peter’s church in Bolton.
Ormerod considers the will above to be that of the John Ormerod in the pleadings. This seems right to me, considering the amount of "fustian woolle" and "fustian Clouthe and yearne" mentioned in the probate inventory and evidence from the fragmentary Hacking manuscript that John Crompton of Hacking was a dyer and producer of fustian cloth.
References
Booker, John. Memorials of The Church in Prestwich, being a contribution towards the History of the Parent Church of the Parish. (Manchester, 1852).
A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5. (London, 1911).
Ormerod, George. Parentalia: Genealogical Memoirs. (1851).
Parish registers of Bolton-le-Moors (St Peter). Digital images on Ancestry.com accessed 20 May 2020.
Wadsworth, Alfred P. and Julia de Lacy Mann. The Cotton Trade and Industrial Lancashire, 1600-1780. (Manchester University Press, 1931).
Will of John Crompton of Darcy Leaver. Proved 1614 in the Consistory Court of Chester. Digital images on FamilySearch, accessed 9 January 2021.
Will of Thomas Crompton of Breightmet,yeoman. Proved 1627 in the Consistory Court of Chester. Digital images on FamilySearch, accessed 17 January 2021