The Family leaves Crombleholme Fold

The Crombleholme family sold portions of Crombleholme Fold, Goosnargh during the C18th.

The two main sources of information to which more information has been added are :

The History of Goosnargh (Fishwick) pub 1871  Chapter X (page175-179)  & The History of Garstang (Chetham Old series Vol 105 Chapter VII (p259-263)

Both these Victorian Histories were contributed to by John W Bone BA FSA  - mention is made of family documents, letters and wills etc in his possession. Unfortunately, these are now not known to exist - I have carried out extensive searches for his papers and although he was a respected antiquarian he seems to have failed to lodge his papers anywhere. However, at least, he was able to add a lot of material to the above publications. 

Overview :

1625 - 30th March : Richard Crombleholme [Cro0103] was born in Long Preston, his father William Crombleholme [Cro0390] had married (his mother) Katherine (nee Sherburne) [Cro0111] (his second marriage) in 1624. William Crombleholme's [Cro0390] older sister Margaret Crombleholme [Cro0063] had earlier (c1600) married Robert Sherburne. Both these marriages had brought wealth and status to the family.

1630 : Probable date when the above family moved to Goosnargh and settled at Crombleholme Fold. They may well have built the original house on the site as it's construction appears to be of this period.

1633/4 : Younger son Roger Crombleholme [Cro0097] born at Crombleholme Fold; it is not known when daughter Elizabeth Crombleholme [Cro0197] was born but it presumed that she was the youngest (ie born between 1634 & 1639).

1639 : William Crombleholme [Cro0390] died leaving his widow Katherine (nee Sherburne) [Cro0111] with her children Richard [Cro0103] aged 14; Roger [Cro0097] aged 5 and Elizabeth [Cro0197] who is presumed was an infant.

1640 : As a widow, Katherine (nee Sherburne) [Cro0111] marries her near neighbour George Benson, and they may well have stayed at Crombleholme Fold. Sadly, it appears that Elizabeth Crombleholme [Cro0197] died in the same year.

1645 : Katherine (nee Sherburne) Benson [Cro0111] dies having had another 3 children with George Benson.

1655 - 22nd December : Richard Crombleholme [Cro0103] (now 30 years old) marries Elizabeth (nee Clitherall) [Cro0104] the daughter of John Clitherall of Clifton at Preston. They had 3 sons and 1 daughter :

Sherburn Crombleholme [Cro0105] born 1657, married 3 times; His eldest son was  Rev Richard Cromleholme [Cro0116]. He died in 1728.

Richard Crombleholme [Cro0106] born :       , married Ellen (nee Rodes) [Cro0107] in 1690 but he died in February 1691 just before his infant son Richard Crombleholme [Cro0108] died in March of the same year. It is possible that he was stillborn or miscarried as there is no baptism record.

Ellin Crombleholme [Cro0110] born after 1663 (she was under 21 years in father's will NR19 in 1663). Nothing else known as yet.

1663 : Richard Crombleholme [Cro0103] Yeoman of Crombleholme Fold dies. In his will Ref NR19, 

Work in progress !!

It seems unlikely that the Crombleholme family were involved in this silk mill. It appears to have been a pretty specialist process. In the early C17th, King James 1 tried to introduce silk production in England but this was not very successful. The main centre of production in England was around Stockport, Macclesfield and Congleton. Such a mill required a power source which in this case was a water wheel. It is likely that it was a throwing mill - spinning the silk thread from imported raw silk. Other mills waeved silk and produced silk cloth.