Crombleholmes of Fairsnape in Bleasdale

The Bleasdale area is to the north of Goosnargh and Crombleholme Fold. Bleasdale derives from the old Norse "a bare spot on a hillside" whilst  Fairsnape is from the Old Norse snape - "scanty grass for sheep grazing in snow covered fields"   

1620 - 29th March : Robert Parkinson of Fairsnapp - made High Constable of Amourdereness Hundred (Source : LCRS Vol 121) 

Note : On the same day as Richard Crombleholme [Cro0064] of Dutton was made High Constable of Blackburn Hundred.

1621 - Richard Parkinson and his wife Margaret lived in the homestead at Higher Fairsnape. He was the younger son of Edmund Parkinson of Blindhurst (in Bleasdale). Richard Parkinson's son was Thomas Parkinson of Fairsnape. 

John Parkinson in his will dated 2nd August 1706 mentions no son but he had two daughters. He mentions his son in law William Crombleholme [Cro0109] and two grandsons John Crombleholme [Cro0505] and  William Wilson. He granted 60 acres of land at Fairsnape to James Parkinson and Richard Sherborne. John Parkinson's widow Elizabeth of Fairsnape made her will on 20th January 1708 and also mentions her son in law and grandsons (as above). 

In the C19th, Henry Parkinson Sharpe had acquired one of the homesteads at Higher Fairsnape and later the other homesteads were purchased by William Garnett of Salford. (Source : History of Parkinson family of Lancashire  by Richard Ainsworth FSA p43)

Richard Crumbleholme [Cro0103] (1625-1689) of Crumbleholme Fold, Goosnargh (a couple of miles south west of Fairsnape) had four children. He had married Elizabeth (nee Clitherall) [Cro0104] on 22nd December 1655 in Preston. 

They had four children :

Sherburn C [105] (1657-1727); Richard C [106] (c    -1691); William C [109] (c     - 1729) and Ellin C [110] (b after1663 -      ).

His third son,  William Crombleholme [Cro0109] born c     , prior to 1694 had married Margaret (nee Parkinson) [Cro0173]  the daughter of John Parkinson of Fairsnape who in his will of August 22nd 1706, states that his lands, 60 acres in extent, were then in possession of William Crombleholme [Cro0109], whom he makes one of his executors .  (Source : History of Chipping p 244-245)   

William Crombleholme [Cro0109] & Margaret (nee Parkinson) [Cro0173] had four children : 

i) Richard Crombleholme [Cro0123] : (my line) He was baptised at Garstang in 1694, (date unknown - found via ancestry MM). He married twice - firstly to Elizabeth (nee Cross) [Cro0124] at Garstang on 28th November 1719 and secondly to Elizabeth (nee Kerthwaite) [Cro0125] on 20th April 1747;  He is noted in the 1730 assignment. In 1761, he moved to nearby Inglewhite and is noted in the Return of Papist in 1767 before he died there in 1770 aged 76. His three sons were made legatees of their grandfather John Cross in 1766.

ii) John Crombleholme  [Cro0505]  : born c 1705. Moved to London area; an apprentice  sadler in 1744. London tax records for various years 1734-1769 for property in Hyde Park Road – still being paid after his death in 1766.

Three Marriages : 

1727 to Mary Fleet [Cro0794] ; 

1745 to unknown [Cro  ??] – index only on Findmypast), 

1752 to Katrin Grnar (sic; prob. Garner) [Cro0796], widow; clandestine –both were widowed; 

His Will  made 1765, probate 1766; He died in 1766; sons James C [795] (1732-1760), John Hermon C [803] (1730 -1772)  and John C [1113] (b & d 1728) ; 

In the late 1770's, Joseph C [1312] and William C [1314] are both living in Hanover Square, London and appear to be related to John C [505]

iii) Elizabeth C [Cro0127] : She married Richard Singleton in 1720; involved in 1730 Assignment.

iv) Tabitha C [Cro0128]  :  She was noted as under 21 years old in her father’s will of 1683. 

1723 - She was married on 27th November 1723 : Robert Bennet, husbandsman and Tabitha Crumbleholme [Cro0128] spr. both of West cum Plumptons p Kirkham. Bondsmen : Robert Clarkson of Kirkham, shoemaker. At Westby cum Plumptons parsih of Kirkham. Wtn Ann Sharples , Wm Dickson. (Source : LCRS Marriage Bonds Pt III 1723-1728 p24 pub 1932)

1725 - 8th August : Tabitha Crumbleholme daughter of William Crumbleholme buried in Chipping

 Note : Her burial record uses her maiden name and  “daughter of” implying that she was quite young, not considered to be a spinster and unmarried.

1727 - 31st August : Robert Bennet (her husband) buried at Kirkham (Source Kirkham PR )

Records in date order :

prior to 1694 : William Crombleholme [Cro0109] married Margaret (nee Parkinson) [Cro0173] the daughter of John Parkinson of Fairsnape. (Source :          )

1694 - .... ?  : Richard Crombleholme [Cro0123]  baptised in Garstang Parish  (d 1770 in Garstang)  (Source : Ancestry search for Crombleholme) 

Note s/o William C [109]; m 1 - Elis Cross; m 2 - Elis Kertwaite; in 1730 assignment  

1695 - 28th August : William Crombleholme [Cro0109] of  Fayresnape   

Settlement of the Fayresnape Estate between (1) & (2)

(1) John Parkinson of Fayresnape in Bleasdale, yeoman;  (2) Sir Richard Sherburne of Bayley and James Parkinson of Blindhurst, gents.

In consideration of 5s paid by (2) to (1) and for providing a competent maintenance and livelihood for Elizabeth, wife of John Parkinson and in consideration of a marriage between William Crombleholme [Cro0109] Fayresnape and Margarett (nee Parkinson) [Cro0173] (sic) daughter of John Parkinson.    (Source Lancs CRO DDX 1695/9) not seen as yet ^ Note : see also 1725 when deed is recited.

1702 - 14th May : Richard Crumbleholme [Cro0123] -  a witness to assignment of lease from Lawrence Newsam of Bleasdale, milner to Robert Parkinson of Goosnargh husbandman (Source : Lancashire Record Office - misc legal docs ref DDP 41)

1706 - 22nd August : John Parkinson of Fairsnape, yeoman, by will refers to an indenture of 28th August 1695 (see above) by which he granted his lands at Fairsnape, 80 acres in extent , to Richard Sherburne and James Parkinson. His bequests also included £40 to his son in law William Crombleholme [Cro0109]; 5s to his son in law John Wilson: £20 to his grandson John Crombleholme  [Cro0505];  and £10 to his wife Elizabeth. Will was proved 26th June 1707. 

1708 : His widow Elizabeth Parkinson's will of 20th January 1708/9 names Mr Richard and Mr John Sherburne of Bayley Hall; her daughter and son in law William[Cro0109] & Margaret Crombleholme [Cro173] and their children John [Cro0505] Elizabeth[Cro0127] and Tabitha [Cro0128]. She also mentions another grandson, Richard Crombleholme [Cro0123 ??] whose name appears in the enrolment of "Bargains and sales of Roman Catholics in Lancashire"    

1712 - 3rd June : William Crombleholme [Cro0109]- Letter of John Mayfield at Lytham to Richard Bye at Fayresnape concerning Pye's privileges on the "fell" and the trespass of William Crombleholme. [Cro0109] (Source : Lancashire Record Office Cat ref : DDX 1695/13) - not seen

1715 : The 1715 Jacobite Rebellion The Rising of 1715 met with a good deal of support in Ribchester, principally from the Sherbirnes, Hothersalls and other Catholic families ................ "Ric Sherburn, late of Preston, gent, on the evidence of Thomas Rishton, of Born Gore, gent, was said to have been outlawed for high treason, and making his escape "from Preston, after the battle there", is said to have conveyed his estate called Bayley Hall to one William Crombleholme, [Cro0109 ??]*to prevent its forfeiture"    (Source :History of Ribchester pp65-66)   (*Note : see 1708 Bayley Hall reference above - this appears to make the conveyance to William C [Cro0109] very likely. It is uncertain what happened afterwards ??) 

1717 - ......? January  : Marriage Settlement to which my kinsmen William Crombleholme  [Cro0116]  of Fairsnape in Bleasdale and the Rev Richard Crombleholme [Cro0116] Vicar of the parish of St Michael's -on-Wyre are parties (Source Notes & Queries 3rd series Vol XII 14/12/1867 - a query by Mr John W Bone relating to Lancashire Recusant Ballads)

Note : One such ballad he refers to : "the manuscript itself comes from the neighbourhood to which they relate and has descended to me through my mother (nee Crombleholme), in a cover formed of a marriage settlement to which my kinsmen .....etc as above).  John W Bone also contributed information to the History of Garstang Chapter VII (p259 -263) where he notes ......."Presumptive evidence of this relationship appears in a mutilated marriage settlement dated January 1717, which exhibits among the parties to it William Crombleholme of Fairsnape, Richard Crombleholme vicar of the parish and parish church of St Michaels, and Richard, son of the said William. This document, which appears to have been in the possession of Thomas Crombleholme of the Cross, has descended, with other family documents, to a grandson of his son Richard.

1719 - 28th November : Richard Crombleholme [Cro0123] marriage (of bonds) Yeoman, to Elizabeth (nee Cross)  [Cro0124] -  both of Garstang . (Source Rec Soc of Lancs & cheshire  Vol 75 1711-1722 - Marriage Bonds)  Note : His 1st marriage (2nd :1747). Three sons were later legatees of John Cross

1725 - 7th January : William Cromleholme [Cro0109] of Fairsnape in Bleasdale yeoman (1); Thomas Singleton of Bleasdale and Richard Pickering of Ribchester , yeoman; Declaration of trust between (1) and (2) for land at Fairsnape reciting deed of 28th August 1695. Consideration 10s.  

(Source : Lancashire Record Office Cat ref : DDX 1695/15) - not seen as yet ^

1728  - 10th March :  Richard Crombleholme [Cro0123] (1) of Fairsnape within Bleasdale, yeoman; (2) Thomas Stark and James Makon both of Preston, gents; (3) Richard Woosey of Preston, gent. Bargain and sale by (1) to (2)  Source Lancs CRO DDX 1695/16)

1729 - William Crombleholme [Cro0109] died before November in 1729. A summary of his will (my Ref NR 16) is below :

WILL  NR 16. : 1729 William Cromleholme [Cro00109] of Fairsnape in Bleasdale, yeoman

                Will made 14th September 1722; Proved 13th November 1729

                    No wife mentioned. (she had died in 1713); Daughter Tabitha £130 [Cro0128]

                    Daughter Elizabeth [Cro0127] now wife of Richard Singleton

                    Son John [Cro0505];   Son Richard [Cro0123] - "heir apparent"  (my line). Younger children noted but not named.

                    Executors : Kinsman Rev Richard Cromleholme* [Cro0116]  and daughter Tabitha [Cro0128]

                    NB His daughter Tabitha died in 1725 and the Rev Richard C [116] died shortly before him in 1729

                    So Rev Richard C's wife Margaret [Cro0117] took over as the executrix.

                    Inventory made on 6th November 1729 amount only £14  9s  0d

* Note : The Rev Richard C [116] was a nephew being the eldest son of William’s eldest brother Sherburn C [105].

1730 - 7th January : ??  Richard Crombleholme [Cro0123] of Bleasdale, yeoman and §Margaret (nee    ) ????  his wife, of the one part, and Robert Parkinson, yeoman of the other part, of lands in Fairsnape". (Source : History of Chipping  T C Smith p210) 

Note : § : Cannot find this Margaret in DDX 1695 records at LRO. Should be his first wife Elizabeth (nee Cross) [Cro0123]  ????

1730 - Richard Crombleholme [Cro0123] (1) of Fairesnape within Bleasdall  yeoman, Robert Parkinson (2) of Blindhurst in Bleasdall, yeoman. Bargain and sale by (1) to (2), of land at Fairesnape, with bill of costs including charge to find out if "Crombleholme was a papist", ???  and a receipt from (2) for money and 71 sheep and an "arke"   Date range: 7th January 1730 - 15th May 1731.   (Source: Lancs CRO Ref DDX 1695/18)

1730 - Assignment of land :  Thomas Singleton (1) of Bleasdale and Richard Pickering of Ribchester, yeomen (2) John Crombleholme [Cro0505]  2) of Croyden, Surrey, sadler and Elizabeth (nee C)[Cro0127] Singleton of Fairsnape within Bleasdale, widow (3) Richard Crombleholme [Cro0123] of Fairsnape, yeoman.  (Source Lancs CRO Ref DDX 1695/17)

1747 - 20th April :  Richard Crumbleholme [Cro0123] married Elizabeth (nee Kerthwaite) [Cro0125]   ;

(Richard’s 2nd marriage, he would have been 53.  Richard died c 1770 & Elizabeth died 1784 ??)