Lawrence s/o Rychard Fairclough was christened at Upholland, Lancashire on 1 MAR 1608.
The paper trail leads to Leigh, six miles south of Wigan. There is a possibility that there is actually a gao in the record and we are actually descended for one of the Fairclough families that stayed in Upholland parish. However by the time of Richard's grandson Lorence the trail returns to Upholland.
This whole area was caught up in the Civil War from 1642 - 51.
FIRST ENGLISH CIVIL WAR
James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, made Wigan his headquarters when he attempted to conquer Lancaster for the King. He was not able to take Manchester, was defeated at Chowbent and Lowton Moor, and in 1643 after gaining Preston failed to take Bolton and Lancaster Castle. Finally, after successfully beating off the first Parliamentary attack on Warrington, he was defeated at Whalley and withdrew to York.
Derby was not present when Parliamentary forces attacked Wigan on 1 April 1643. The town's defences were overrun in two hours and Wigan pillaged.
On 28 May, 1644, the earl of Derby returned to the area as part of an 8,000 man army commanded by Prince Rupert. Their first attack on the Parliamentary forces entrenched in Bolton failed. Lord Derby led the second attack, which broke through the enemy lines and into the streets. A thousand parliamentary troops are said to have fallen in the "Bolton massacre."
Derby followed Prince Rupert to the battle of Marston Moor on 2 July 1644. Refusing to accept defeat, he transformed the Isle of Man into a Royalist bastion until the Third English Civil War.
SECOND ENGLISH CIVIL WAR
Meanwhile the war returned to Wigan in 1648. After his defeat at Preston, the Duke of Hamilton briefly occupied the town. They looted Wigan before retreating to Warrington. Hot in oursuit, Oliver Cromwell described Wigan as "a great and poor town, and very malignant"
THIRD ENGLISH CIVIL WAR
The war returned one last time in August 1651, when Derby led 1,500 men towards a rendezvous with Charles II at Worcester. Intercepted by 3,000 troops of the New Model Army, the royalists took refuge within the town's narrow streets. When the parliamentary forces failed to attack, Derby went on the offensive. They made several charges during the brisk two hour engagement, but failed to break the enemy line and were overwhelmed by superior numbers. Derby managed to find refuge in the town. His remaining followers were "hunted to their death through the countryside".
LATER YEARS
We do not know if Lawrence Fairclough participated in any of these actions, but even as a spectator they would have touched upon his life.
He may be the Lawrence Fairclough who was buried at the church of St Wilfrid, Standish, on 14 Dec 1669.
CHILDREN:
Lorance s/o Lawrence Fairclough chrs Leigh Lancashire on 19 Jan 1640