Lawrence (1St Squire Of Ashton Hall ), John

  General Notes:

John , son of John and Margaret, married Elisabeth Holt , of Stably, in
Lancashire ; and died, it is said, A.D. 1360, leaving Robert Lawrence , his
son and heir.

John Lawrence was born say 1275. He married Elizabeth Holt.2,3 John died after 1348.

John Lawrence was the first Squire of Ashton and the first to use the surname Lawrence. John was a Member of Parliment in 1301 for Lancaster.4

Richard, son of William the Cook, gave lands to Thomas, son of Richard de Stainall in 1315-16. This same Richard also gave land to John Lawrence and his wife Elizabeth.3 In 1323 John Lawrence held 30 acres in Skerton by a rent of 6s. 8d.3

In 1331, John made a complaint of trespass on his fishery at Ashton. John in conjunction with Elizabeth his wife and Edmund their son held the Stapleton part of Ashton manor in 1338 for life. The family then or a little later obtained, apparently by marriage, the estate of the Gentyl and Washington families in Carleton, Scotforth, and elsewhere.3

Also in 1331, he was holding lands in Lancaster and Lentworth from Robert de Holland.4

Between 1318 and 1325 he was a juror in at least eight inquests.2

In 1337, John Lawrence of Ashton obtained land in Stodday on Netherbaiske Brook from Robert son of Thomas son of Roger de Stodagh.3

In 1338, John Lawrence in conjunction with Elizabeth his wife and Edmund their son held the Stableton part of Ashton for life. The family then or a little later obtained, apparently by marriage,the estate of Gentyl and Washington families in Carleton, Scotforth and elsewhere.3

In 1346 he was a partner in a farm belonging to the Cockersand Abbey Estate4 and at an inquest was holding additional lands in Lancaster from the Earl.2 In 1346 he was paying the Earl 10d. annually for the harrowing, reaping, etc., due from 32 acres in Skerton.3

Also in 1346, he held a half plough-land in Amounderness Hundred by the service of two crossbows. John de Hackinsall held a plough-land and a half and the Abbot of Cockersand held half a plough-land.3

In 1347 John gave to John the Frereson and Joan his wife (who had sons John and Edmund) a burgage in St. Mary-gate upon Caldkeld Bank3 and was master of the manor of Ashton by a yearly fee of £22.4 In 1348 he was holding 5 acres in Skerton and Hackensall from the Duke4 and was a partner with his nephew, John Lawrence of Lancaster, in the milnfield in Lancaster.2

In 1347 John Lawrence held the Coucy moieties of Ashton and Scotforth at a rent of £22.3

In 1348-50, William de Heaton made a claim for messuages, etc., in Lonsdale against Thomas son of Marmaduke de Thweng, John Lawrence of Ashton, William de Washington, and Robert de Haldleghes.3 John was granted in Ashton Hall for life in 1324.2

Ashton Hall, the ancient seat of the Lawrences, is located about three miles to the south of the town of Lancaster, in northern Lancashire. It is picturesquely situated, commanding fine views ofthe estuary of the River Lune, and of Morecambe Bay, an extensive inlet of the Irish Sea. Ashton Hall is noted for the sylvan beauty of its spacious park, which is well diversified with hill and vale.The mansion is a large edifice, with many of the characteristics of an ancient baronial castle, having a square tower at one end, and numerous battlements, turrets, and machiocolations. Successive alterations and additions have been made at different epochs, in harmony with the medieval type of architecture. The oldest portion is probably from the fourteenth century. The interior contains a finebaronial hall.5

In 1066 Ashton was one of three manors of Cliber, Machern and Gillemicheld and appears to have been accessed of two plough-lands. (The other two manors, Ellel and Scotforth, retained their connection to Ashton being held by the Lancaster family.) Afterwards, it was granted to Count Rogers of Poitori and a little later formed part of the lordship held by the Lancaster family, being held by knight's service. In the time of Henry II (1154-1189) William de Lancaster I granted half a plough-land to Gilbert de Ashton to hold by service of half a mark yearly. The second moiety wash shared or inherited by the families of Stableton and Metham, Thweng and Pedwarding, and appears to have been acquired by the Lawrence family of Lancaster.3

In 1226, the Millfield at Ashton rendered 5s. a year to the king. in 1323 it was held by many free tenants, who in all paid 5s. to the earl. This Millfield contained 20 acres. Tenants were William and Randle le Gentyl and John and Alice Lawrence.3

The free tenants in 1301 were Roger de Slene; another who had a messuage and 5 acres for a rent of 20d; Lawrence son of Thomas who rendered 6s. 8d. yearly; John de Ashton who held a messuage and4 oxgangs of land and paid 6s.8d. rent; and Randle who paid 7d. In 1292 Gervase de Ashton claimed land against a Lawrence de Ashton. In a list of free tenants some 40 years later are recorded: Williamson of Lawrence, 2s. 6d; the same William, for Brantbreck, 1d; Alan de Ashton, 17 1/2d; John Ward, 2s. 6d; John, son of William the Clerk, 20d; Gervase del Green, 20d; Henry Alcok 5 1/2d; in all 14s.6d.3

Traces of the Lawrence estate in Ashton appear in inquisitions of some of the heirs, though the tenures are not always recorded. By some agreement, the manor descended through Boteler of Rawcliffe to Radcliff of Winmarleigh, and so my marriage to Gilbert Gerard woh purchase the other moiety from the Crown. Thus the whole became united in him and his descendants, the Gerards of Bromley and the Dukes of Hamilton. (Richard Skillecorne held part of it of the king in cocage in 1534. Thomas Regmaiden in 1520 held the reversion of the fourth part of the manor. John Boteler in 1534 held the manor of the king as duke in socage.) Sir Gilbert died in 1593 holding the manors of Ashton, Stodday, and Scotforth of the queen as of her crown of England in a fee farm by the hundredth part of a knight's fee and a rent of £16.11s. 4d.3

King James I on his way from Scotland to London by Carlisle in 1617 arrived at Hornby, and thence went to Ashton Hall, where he knighted two gentlement on 11 Augus.3 In August 1648, the Duke of Hamilton stayed a night at Ashton Hall which was, in later years, to become inheritance of this family.3

Ashton Hall was probably built by John's son Edmund. See Edmund Lawrence for additonal information.

John married Elizabeth Holt, daughter of Of Stabley Holt and Unknown. (Elizabeth Holt was born in 1290 in Stably, Lancashire, England.)