Weymouth New England Genealogy

Thomas Southworth, born 1545-1561 in Winwick (now in the borrough of Warrington), county Chester, England; died 30 Nov 1616 there. He married Rosamond Lister who was born abt 1547 and died 1582. She was the daughter of William Lister and Bridget Pigot (Magna Charta; Magna Charta by Crocker ~ Ashley; Webber, 417).

Thomas Southworth, eldest son of Sir John Southworth, born in 1561, was in trouble along with his father in 1575 at the age of 14. "Mr. Southworth, Mistress Ann Southworth, Thomas Southworth" were reported for being present at a Catholic mass held by Friar Edmund Campion during Queen Elizabeth's rein. Thomas Southworth later became a Protestant, causing great distress to his father who threatened to disinherit him. In 1581, Sir John was arrested as a "recusant" from the religion and imprisoned in New Fleet Prison at Manchester. Friar Campion was executed in 1581. Thomas Southworth used his influence, supported by important friends, and the wealth of the Southworth estates to reduce the severity of the imprisonment. Sir John Southworth's past service to the nation helped him receive kindly treatment. In 1584, Sir John Southworth was released under bail to his son Thomas Southworth at their London residence. Sir John Southworth made his will 17 September 1595 and died on 3 November 1595 (Webber, 414-417, 426).
Samlesbury was in the Blackburn Hundred of county Lancaster. When Queen Elizabeth died March 24, 1602/3, ending the Tudor reign of English Sovereigns, James Stuart, King of Scotland was proclaimed James the First of England. On his accession, seventy-nine Lancashire gentry presented a loyal address to the new monarch. Among proprietors in the parish that signed the address was Thomas Southworth, Esq., Lord of Samlesbury. On a subsequent Muster of arms (6th James I (1608), Blackburn Hundred had 1453 men at arms. A 1611 subsidy assessment for the crown assessed Samlesbury at £26 13s 6d., with a levy 37s 8d (Abram, 84-86, 94). A mention is made of Sir John Southworth's son Thomas in his will dated 13 September 1395, and Rosamond, his wife.

Listed as the "sonne and heire" before nine siblings, he would have been designated by the "Inquisition" as the Lord of the Salmlesbury Manor, which would of course include a manor house (Flower, 26--1567 Visitation Chart). The inquisition was an inquiry board appointed by the King or Queen. Thus, he probably would have gained control of the property sometime after November 1595. Webber printed an post mortem inventory of Sir John Southworth's property. Even after the considerable expense for his defense, it was considerable spotted in about 18 locations. The greatest acreage was at Southworth, with the land of varying quality, totaling in all more than 6,400 acres. Messuages (dwelling houses) were listed first, and they totaled 145. With two watermills, some 78 gardens, 29 orchards, and "The Hall at Brockhall," the estate should have had considerable income and require a number of managers (Webber, 417-419).

It is difficult to get a location on Southworth properties from today's maps. Most of them appear to have been in county Lancaster. The properties at Brockhall may have been about 75 miles northwest of London near Northamption in Northampshire. Some land at Gosnor may have been in Hertfordshire about 30 miles north of London. The residence in London has not been identified.

Thomas Southworth and Rosamond Lister had seven sons and four daughters. John died before his father. Thomas was present at Edward's wedding at Leyden in 1613; William, of Holcroft in county Lancaster, was living in 1618; Richard; Michael (Nicholas); Christopher; Edward, in Leyden, married Alice Carpenter; Bridget married Duddel, Esq. of Salwick; Margery married Tomas Osbaldston, Esq.; Ellen m. William Dewhurst; Ann. All these children were living in 1595 when their grandfather made his will, and were all mentioned in his will (Webber, 417, 423, 426).

Melton/Sharp lists seven sons for Thomas de Southworth and Rosamond Lister. All seven sons were alive when their grandfather's will was written. Two sons, Thomas and Edward are believed to have been in Leyden Holland. Crocker ~ Ashley's Magna Charta describes Edward as being involved as a silk worker.

Editorial Board, Webster's Geographical Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam Co., Publishers, Springfield, Mass., 1955, page 336, map; page 592 Lancashire.

A port of Lancaster shown on map as north of Cheshire County. Lańca-shire or Lańcaster . . . NW England . . . industrial centers Liverpool, Manchester, "watering" places Blackpool, Fleetwood, Morecambe, and Heysham, Southport . . . . History: Region part of Anglo-saxon kingdom of Northumbria and of the Danelaw; . . . an important medieval fief which in late 14th cent. became a county palatine; Lancastrian line of English kings the heirs of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster . . .
NOTE: a Webster's dictionary. Palatine -- adj. having royal privileges; a count or Earl palatine or county; or pertaining to, a palace, palatial; noun, a high official of a royal court, a vassal exercising royal privileges in a province . . .
Murray, Jane. The Kings and Queens of England. A Tourist Guide. Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York