Events
Date of Baptism: 14 July 1611.
Place of Baptism: Winwick, Lancashire.
The baptism is recorded in the parish register.
Date of Burial: 2 January 1679/80.
Place of Place: Winwick, Lancashire.
The burial is recorded in the parish register.
Relationships
Father: Thomas Naylor.
Mother: Ellen.
See the Commentary section.
(probable) Spouse: Ellen Lowe. Married 13 October 1637 in Winwick.
The relationship is recorded in the bishop’s transcripts of the parish register. It is corroborated by Roger Lowe’s diary, which records that Mary Naylor’s uncle was John Lowe of “Hoome” (Hulme). However, there is some doubt about this relationship. See the Commentary section.
(possible) Spouse: Margaret.
Elizabeth Eccleston, spinster of Eccleston, left 40 shillings in her 1662 will to Margaret Naylor, wife of Rodger Naylor of Ashton. It is possible that Margaret was instead the wife of Roger’s nephew Roger.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
Joseph Naylor
James Naylor (buried 4 August 1708 in Winwick) married Anne Barrow 20 June 1666 in Winwick.
Mary Naylor
Evidence
from the National Archives catalogue:
QSB/1/230 - Recognizance Roll:Ormskirk, Easter, 1640.
/20
Ashton-in-Makerfield– Thomas Naylor, glazier, to keep the peace to Roger Naylor, glazier, and Ellen his wife
Roger Lowe’s diary:
Roger Lowe was an apprentice in Ashton who kept a diary in the 1660s and early 1670s. (It is extremely rare that a diary kept by a person of that social class has survived.) Roger Lowe was in love with Roger Naylor’s daughter Mary, and so a large number of entries mention them, and Mary’s brother James. Here are a few which deal with Roger:
Februery, 1663
[4] Thursday. Roger Naylor and Richard Twisse came, and would have me goe with them to Alehouse. I went, and very mery we ware. I must not spend a 1d., but yet I did.
June, 1663
8. – Munday. I went to Roger Naylor and Mary cryd to me, said she would have nothinge to doe with me, was highly displeased att me; but in the conclusion she was well pleased, would have me goe with her day after to Banfor longe, and she would goe before; and to signifie she was before, she would in such a place lay a bough in the way, which accordingly she did, and I found it upon
July, 1663
8.--- Wedensday. I was in a sad condition of mind, for Roger Naylor was from home and Mary would not assent to have me come thither, but I went and she was somethinge displeased. She went give Calfe drinke; I followed her and there we speake to either, which was very satisfactory to both, and the other day after she came to shopp, and was glad to see me. Said shee, “Am not I a wise wench to ingage myselfe thus?” Att those times my effections ran out violently after her, so as that I was never contented one day to an end unles I had seene her, and cheefely my effections were sett upon her virtues and womenly quallities.
August, 1663
21. Thursday. I was in Ale house with Roger Naylor when we parted. I was som what effected and betooke my selfe soliterily into Townes Feild, and there kneeld me downe on side of a came butt and prayd.
September, 1663
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…
25. – Friday. I went to Roger Naylor and Roger was gone to Wiggan to a buryinge and poor Mary was sicke in bed. I went to her and hild and stayd awhile. She promisd to send Joseph to tell me how she did. I parted, and…
October 1663
2. – Friday. I went to Roger Naylor and Mary and I sate togather in parlour and discoursed to both our satisfactions.
22. –Thursday. Roger Naylor and Thomas Insworth came up towne to me and envited me to Ale house, and Roger said it should cost me nothinge, soe I went, and when we ware togather we ware discourseing of Esop’s fable. I was spakeing of the fable of dogge and peece of flesh, who, swimminge over River, caught shadow and lost substance. Says Roger, “Take [care] of you doeing so,” which speech did amaze me, for I was troubled att it very sore…
23. – Friday. Roger Naylor went from home, and I went to house and Mary and I sat togather in parlor, and it satisfied me very much.
28. – Wedensday. Mary Naylor went to Warington and stayd all night att her unkle John Lowe’s in Hoome.
November 1663
23.-- Tusday. I went to Roger Naylor’s. He was gone to Chester and I told Mary all above writ [see James’s page] and of all James’ knaverie to me and to her, and she was highly offended and was very respectfull to me…
December, 1663
6. — Lord’s day… so I came to Roger Naylor and stayd supper– Roger forced me to stay. I was very glad to see that respect I had from them.
April 1664
4.-- Munday. We sett for Ashton and att Latchford Heath we mett with Roger Naylor and Peter Aspinwolle att a litle Alehouse; we went to them. I spend 2d. with them and soe parted to Warington…
from the Winwick parish register:
July 1611
14 Rodger sonne of Thomas Naylier
January [1680]
2 Roger Naylor sanior
from the Bishop’s transcripts for Winwick:
October [1637]
13 Roger Naylior Ellen Lowe
Roger’s will:
In the name of god Amen I Roger Naylor of Ashton in the county of Lancaster the elder glasier long sicke in body yet of good and perfect memorie praise be to god for the same doe constitute ordaine and make this to bee my last will and testament in manner and forme followinge, and first and principally I comend my soule into the hands of Almighty god my onely creator fully trusting it had [?] through the passion and sufferinge of Jesus Christ my alone Sauiour and redeemer I shall receiue full pardon and remission of all my sins and my body I commit to the earth from whence it came to be buried at my parish church of winwicke there to remaine in the bosome of the earth untill it shall please god to raise it up againe a body of immortalitye, And as for and concerninge all such goods debts cattells chattells and utensels as it hath pleased god to bestow on mee in this life it is my mind and will to dispose of in manner and forme followinge And first it is my mind and will that my debts and funerall expences be fullie discharged and paid forth and out of the same Item I give unto Joseph Naylor my sonne 60 pounds which is owing to mee by seuerall persons as will appeare by bonds and whereas James Naylor my sonne is to pay fortye pounds to whom I appoint at my decease. it is my mind and I doe hereby giue unto James Naylor my sonne twenty of the said forty and fiue pounds to the said James children equally to be devided amongest them and Fifteene remainder of the said forty I giue unto Joseph my sonne Item I giue unto James Naylor my sonne the grate in the house the board in the nooke and the bedstockes aboue and all the worke loomes both at home and abroad and all the glasse and lead it is meane betwixt us Item I giue unto Ellin Naylor my granddaughter the virgininalls And the rest and residue of all my said goods and chattells whatsoever (except aboue granted and giuen) ouer and aboue the discharginge of my said debts and funerall expences I wholly giue and bequeath unto Joseph Naylor my sonne And I doe hereby constitute ordaine and make Joseph Naylor my sonne my true and lawfull execut’r to execute and performe this my last will and testament as my whole trust and confidence is in him, And I likewise intreat my loueinge freinds Raph Lowe of Lowbaucke and John Naylor to bee ouerseers of this my said last will and testament that the same be executed performed and kept accordinge to my mind and will herein declared, and for the better strenthninge and corroboratinge hereof I haue hereunto put my hand and seale the Twenty seuenth day of Decemb’r in the yeare of the Raigne of King Charles the second the one and Thirtieth and in the yeare of our Lord 1679/
Roger [seal] Naylor
Sealed and published in the presence of us./
Thomas Lowe
his marke
John Potter./.
[Proved 20 January 1679/80]
true and perfect inventory of the goods cattles chattles debts and utensells of Roger Naylor the elder late of Ashton late deceased appraised and valued by us Raph Lowe John Naylor John Potter and James Lowe the Eight of Januarij in the yeere of our Lord 1679/
Impr’m’s two mylke beasts at – 8-0-0
Item one hefer at – 2-13-4
Item one calfe at – 0-16-0
Item one swyne at – 1-3-4
Item in hay – 4-10-0
Item in windowed corne and mault – 0-13-4
Item in meale – 2-0-0
Item two arkes in the garner – 0-8-0
Item one Arke in James Loft – 0-5-0
Item one turne table in James Loft – 0-5-0
Item one paire of bedstockes in the kitchin chamber – 0-3-4
Item one bedstead and greene hangings and other furniture belonginge to it – 3-0-0
Item one bedstead in the chamber ouer the parlor and the blew hangings at – 0-3-4
Item one featherbed at – 1-6-8
Item one chaffe bed at – 0-2-6
Item one chaffe bed unfilled – 0-2-6
Item one blankit at – 0-3-4
Item one bed fillinge at – 0-8-0
Item two blankitts – 0-2-6
Item the truckle bedstead at –0-3-4
Item one chaffe bed upon the truckle bed – 0-2-0
Item one chaffe boulster at – 0-0-6
Item one feather pillow at – 0-1-6
Item one bed fillinge at –0-4-0
Item one couerlid at – 0-1-0
Item in linnen in two little chestes – 1-0-0
Item one arke with some woollen and linnen cloathing – 1-0-0
Item fiue paire of sheets at – 0-17-6
Item one chist in the chamber ouer the parlor – 0-3-4
Item one little deske at – 0-2-6
Item one close stoole at – 0-2-6
Item one table in the parlor – 0-16-0
Item the cubboard in the parlor – 0-12-0
Item three seild stooles at – 0-6-0
Item Fiue cheeres at – 0-1-8
Item in Cushions – 0-4-0
Item one clocke in the parlor – 1-0-0
Item in Iron geere – 0-3-4
Item in pewter – 0-10-0
Item one bease tube in the butterie – 0-2-6
Item 3 carnells one dashon and other treene ware – 0-5-0
Item in pott brasse and pan brasse – 0-8-0
Item in shelues formes and butterie board – 0-2-0
Item in Earthen vessells – 0-1-0
Item one cheese presse stone at – 0-2-0
Item the virginalls one table one paire of bedstockes and 4 fire grates at – 2-10-0
Item in debts oweinge to the testator – 10-0-0
Item in pybells forbe and all other odd things in and about the house – 0-2-4
Item the apparrell of the dead – 2-10-0
Sum[m]a tot’ 51-13-2
Raph Lowe
John Naylor
John Potter
James Lowe
praysers as afore said
Commentary
Roger’s parentage:
Roger was a glazier in Ashton in Makerfield. In his 1640 will, Thomas Naylor, glazier of Ashton in Makerfield, names his wife Ellen and son Roger.
Roger’s wife:
There were several contemporary Roger Naylors, and it is difficult to be certain about their wives.
(A) A Roger Naylor, yeoman of Ashton, made his will in 1650 and it was proved in 1654 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. In it, he names his wife, Ellen. He also mentions his daughter Ann Naylor and his “youngest son” Humphry. He does not name other children, although presumably he had other sons. He makes bequests to ten unnamed grandchildren. His executors are his daughter Ann and Bryan Low of Ashton.
(B) The Roger Naylor of this page, who is described in his 1679 will as “Roger Naylor of Ashton in the county of Lancaster the elder glasier.” He does not name a wife in his will. The diarist Roger Lowe was romantically interested in the daughter, Mary, of this Roger Naylor, and he mentions that Mary’s uncle was John Lowe of Hulme. Roger makes his “loving friend” Ralph Lowe of Lowbaucke an overseer of his will.
(C) A nephew of Roger Naylor (B), also named Roger Naylor, was born in 1631 and had children baptized starting in 1668.
In 1637 in Winwick, Roger Naylor married Ellen Lowe. Was this a second marriage for (A) above, and Ellen the Ellen named in his will? Or was this the expected Lowe marriage for (B), given that (B)’s daughter had a Lowe uncle and (B) does not seem to have had a sister married to a Lowe?
An entry in the Recognizance rolls shows that in 1640 in Ashton, Roger Naylor, glazier, was married to Ellen. This could be considered evidence that (B) was Ellen Lowe’s husband, since he is described as a glazier in his will, although it is conceivable that a glazier could also be described as a yeoman in his will, as (A) was.
In her 1662 will, Elizabeth Eccleston of Eccleston left 40 shillings to Margaret Naylor, wife of Rodger Naylor of Ashton. This Roger could be (B) or (C).
On the whole, I think it is most likely that (B) is the husband of Ellen Lowe, but this could easily be wrong.
References
Bishop’s transcripts of the parish registers of Winwick. Digital images on FamilySearch.org.
The Diary of Roger Lowe of Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire 1663-73 (ed. William L. Sachse) (Yale University Press, 1938).
Parish registers of Winwick, Lancashire. Digital images on FamilySearch.org.
Will of Elizabeth Eccleston spinster of Eccleston. Proved 1662 in the Consistory Court of Chester.
Will of Roger Naylor of Ashton, glazier. Proved 1680 in the Consistory Court of Chester.
Will of Thomas Naylor of Ashton. Proved 1642 in the Consistory Court of Chester.
Will of Roger Naylor of Ashton, yeoman. Proved 1654 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.