Omerods History of Cheshire

Broxton Hundred

Bickerton

In the time of Edward the Confessor (1042-1066), Bickerton [part of which was subsequently called Cliff Bikerton,] was possessed by three thanes, Dot, Edwin, and Ernuin, all of whom were ejected at the Conquest, to make way for the subtenant of the Norman baron of Malpas.

“Isdem Rotbertus tenet Bicretone, & Drogo de co. Dot, & Eduinus, & Ernuinus, Tres taini, liberi hominess pro III. Maneriis tenuerunt. Ibi III. Hidae geldabiles. Terra est IIII. Carucatae. Ibi sunt II.o villain cum I. carucarta. Silvae dimidia leuva. Tempore Regis Edwardi valeebat XVIII. Solidos. [Modo XI. Solidos.] Wasta fuit, & est ex maxima parte.”

[It next occurs in the Inq. Of John de St. Pierre, 8 Edw. I. (1280) by which he is found to have died seized of a fourth part of the town of Bikerton, in service; and is there said, with other lands, to have been held of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, who was probably a feoffee to uses.]

The Hamptons are the first lords that appear in any regular document, [but it is most probable that the family bearing the local name were really the first mesne lords.] 2 Edw. II. (1309) William de Hampton was sued by Hugh de Bickerton, and Ellen, widow of William de Bickerton, for a reasonable portion of 400 acres of various kinds of land in Bickerton. From the Hamptons the manor passed to the family of Malpas of Hampton, as mentioned in that township, and descending with that manor to the Egertons, is now possessed by [the nephew and present heir of] sir John Grey-Egerton, bart. [viz. sir Philip de Malpas Grey-Egerton, bart. M.P.

The principle landowner is Robert Barbour, esq. of Bolesworth Castle.

No court appears to be held for this manor for a very long period; but most probably the tenants formerly did suit and service to the court of Egertons.]

The Bickertons were settled here as early as the reign of King John (1199-1216), when Kenwec, son of Alexander de Bickerton, grants an assart in Bickerton wood, with a warranty against all men of peace, in a charter witnessed, among others, by William de Malpas, and Philip Goch his brother. The arms of Bickerton, Argent, on a chevron Sable, 3 pheons of the first, were either a badge of affection and dependency, or indicate connection with the barons of Malpas.

[The Bickertons continued here among the lesser, but not very inconsiderable proprietors, for many years, and may be traced down to the seventeenth century, and perhaps later. Considerable land was also obtained in the township by the Bulkleys before 26 Edw. I. (1297) from the Bickertons, and will be found mentioned in the account of Bulkeley. A distinct line of the Bulkleys flourished here until about the close of the fifteenth century, and seems to have branched out of the younger line of Bulkeley, of Bulkeley and Bickerton. This line acquired additional land here by the marriage of Thomas Bulkeley with Alice, the daughter and heir of William Dod. She died before 22 Edw. IV. (1482) at which date Ralph Bulkeley her son passed his lands in Bickerton to William Stanley.

44 Hen. III. (1259) Hugh de Bikirton was sued by Sibyl, widow of Jorvert de Holebag (Holbach?) for dower of a tenement in Bikirton.

10 Edw. I. (1281) Cecily, who was the wife of Hugh de Bikerton, sued John son of Kennereik de Laverketon, and David de Eggerton his guardian, for dower of a messuage and two selions and a half of land; also Richard Parvus and Alice his wife, of a messuage and two selions and a half of land; and Eve who was the wife of Kenewreik de Laverketon, of four selions of land; and William son of Richard de Clifbikerton, of a messuage and eight bovates of lands, and of 23d. and 6d.annual rents; and William, son of Hugh de Bikerton, of a messuage and ten selions of land, all in the vill of Clifbikerton.

31 Edw. I. (1302) Hugh son and heir of William, son of John de Bikerton, granted lands here to David, son of William de Bulkylegh.

35 Edw. III. (1361) Amice who was the wife of William de Bykerton, sued Robert de Bykerton for dower of two messuages and thirty acres of land, and four of meadow on Bykerton. (Plea Rolls.) To this portion of his estate dower appears to have attached; but in any case it must not be supposed that these lands by any means comprise all the estate of this generation of the family. Kenrick de Bykerton held lands here temp. Ric. II. (1377-1399). By Inq.p.m. 4 Hen. IV. (1402) Hugo de Bykerton obit seistus in dnico suo ut de feodo de uno mesuagio & xij acr’ t’re cum ptin in Bykerton, val. p. a. xxs.; also certain goods and chattels. Inq.p.m.35 Eliz. (1594) Hugonis Bickerton gen nup defunct’, was with George Bickerton his father, seized in fee of lands in Townley, Egerton, Bickerton, Tilston, Woodhull, Bridgm’, Blackenhall, Horton, Calveley, and Bunbury; and the said George, 34 Eliz. (1593) vested the same Richard Masterson, of Wich Malbank gen and others, to the uses of his last will, by which he gave to Margery his wife (who afterwards married Humfry Newton, gen), a messuage in Newhall, with remainder to Richard and Arthur his younger sons. The lands in Egerton and Bickerton were held of John Egerton, esq. val. p. a. xs. All the above lands descended to Hugh Bickerton, as son and heir, who died issueless 10 Jan. last, and whose heir was his brother, Roger Bickerton, then aged 21 (1593). By Inq. Per comm.. de mand. 17 Jac. I. (1619) Roger Bickerton. Gen defunct. Reciting that in 42 Eliz. (1601) the said Roger Bickerton demised to Thomas Bickerton then living, land in Wordhull for the lives of the said Thomas, and John, and Richard, his brothers. Also 14 Jac. I. (1616) demised to his natural son, Roger Bickerton, a messuage in the tenure of one Thomas Bickerton, of Bridgemeyre. In 16 Jac. I. (1618) also gave to each of his sons, by Mary his wife, viz. Matthew, Samuel, and William an annual rent of £5 for their lives. Lands in Townley were held of John, earl of Bridgewater; and those in Egerton and Bickerton, of Rowland Egerton, knt. And baronet, in socage, by the render of a red rose, val. p. a. 10s. Roger obit apud Townley (probably on Bickerton), 8 Jan. ult. Georgius Bickerton filius et heres et etatis 15 annor’,7 mens. And married to Elizabeth, daughter of John Cartwright, gent.

This account of the chief representatives of the family which must be looked upon as the ancient lords of Bickerton, might no doubt be considerably extended; but their estate would scarcely warrant it in a work of this character. It is given here so far, as an example of a numerous class of unrecorded descents in this county which has high claims to recognition. Further evidence concerning this line of the Bickertons will be found in the general notes appended to this account, together with the names of a few other holders of small estates in this township. Among theses was a son of the then lord. William Eggerton, of Bickerton, gent. died 5 and 6 Phil. And Mary, and son, Roger Eggerton was grantee of an annuity from Sir Philip Eggerton.

Bickerton Church was erected many years ago as a chapel of ease to Malpas, and was enlarged in 1876, when a district was assigned to it, consisting of Bickerton, and some adjoining places. The patronage is vested in the rectors of Malpas. The present vicar is the Rev. Wm. Wynne Burton Phillipson, M.A. The value of the living is £150, with a residence. Pop. 1402. A substantial school-house has also been built in this township.

The Broxton range of hills assume their highest elevation in this township, and present a fine range of rocky cliffs and mountainous defiles, over which the naked summit of Raw Head is most conspicuous. On the top of another hill, is the British fortress called Maiden Castle, which has been noticed in the Introduction to this Hundred.

NOTES:

33 Edw. I.(1304) Alice, who was the wife of Richard le Little of Wygelond, sued William son of John son of Kenrick (de Laverketon, referred to in the text), Richard son of Ralph de Pulford, and Alice his wife, for dower of a tenement in Bykerton.

1 Edw. II.(1307) Philip son of William de Bykerton. See Bache, and Upton juxta Chester.

22 Edw. IV.(1482) William Stanley obtained by Fine, from Ralph son and heir of Alice late wife of Thomas Bulkley, and dan. And heir of William Dod, a messuage and 40 acres of land & 2 acres of meadow, in Bikerton.

5 Hen. VIII.(1513) Randle Brereton, knt. Recovered of John White and Joan his wife, 4 mess. 4 gardens, 60 acres of land, 10 of mead. 20 of past. 16 of wood, and 20 of moor, in Bickerton and egge.

14 Hen. VIII.(1522) Ralph Clutton recovered of William Typpet and Ellen his wife a messuage, 40 acres of land, and 40 of pasture, in Bykerton and Teverton.

18 Hen. VIII.(1526) Richard Bykerton, See Sound.

19 Hen. VIII.(1527) Edward Sutton, knt. Lord Dudley, held lands here, which are mentioned in a recovery of Malpas and other manors, from John Elyot, a feoffee to uses.

36 Hen. VIII.(1544) Robert Vaudrey obtained by Fine, of William Belyngham and Margery his wife, 3 mess. 100 acres of land, 10 of mead. 30 of past. One of wood, 2 of moor and marsh, and 20 of heath, in Bykerton, Burlonde, Merbury, and Tussyncham. And in the same year, Thomas Vaudrey and John Brok recovered of Robert Vaudrey the same premises. See also Eaton near Chester.

From the Recognizance Rolls:-

1318-19. Hugh de Bikerton, Will. De Horshale, and Robert de Swanwyk to William de Burstowe, in 6.5 marks.

1326. Kenrick de Bikerton, David son of Madoc, Will. Browe, David le Bird, John de Wareton, and David son of Ugtred le Bird, to Edmund Quarrel, yeoman of the King’s Chamber, in 40s.

1345. Richard de Bikerton and Hugh le Bird to Randle de Oulton, in £10.

1346. Hugh and Kenrick de Bikerton, to the Earl, in £12.

1384. William de Bikerton, Bailiff of the Hundred of Broxton.

1386-7. William de Bulkylegh of Oteworth, Ric. De Spurstowe, Richard de Bikerton, and Matilda who was the wife of William de Bykerton, in 100s. in discharge of William de Bykerton late one of the Bailiffs of Broxton, as of th e charge of Nicholas de Vernon, late Sheriff of Cheshire, recog. &c.

1398. Hugh de Bikerton, grantee of the livery of the Crown, with 6d. a day for life.

1403. Richard de Bikerton, commissioned with others, to collect a subsidy in the Hundred of Broxton.

Notes from other towns:

Upton near Chester

Among the freeholders were the Bykertons, and Pulfords, who occur in the Plea Rolls. In 1 Edw. 11. (1307) William de Donecaster obtained by Fine of Philip son of William de Bykerton, a messuage and 53 acres in Upton and Newton, near Chester.

Sound

Johanna, daughter and heiress of John de Sound, married David Crewe of Pulcroft, and whose co-heiresses (as mentioned in Worleston) married [temp. Hen. VI. John Chetwode, presumed ancestor of] Roger Chetwode, of Oakley, [who with his wife Ellen suffered, 18 Hen. VIII. (1526) a recovery by Richard Bykerton (apparently a trustee), of a messuage, 40 acres of land, and 100 of pasture in Sonde (Pl. Ro. m. 28d.), and] in whose descendants an estate in this township is still vested.