We gather from the pleadings in the Duchy Court of 31 Hen. VIII. that Richard Kyghley, being unable to find security for the payment of his first fruits, had been extricated from his difficulties by John Ketchyn, a shrewd and wily lawyer, who made a good living out of church property both at Wigan and elsewhere, and who, jointly with Robert Hatton, a servant of Sir Thomas Langton, became security for him. In consideration of the assistance then rendered Kyghley rashly promised to Ketchyn a lease of his parsonage for as long a time as he should desire, but prevailed upon him in the first instance to accept of a lease for five years.[1] This irregular and foolish engagement not only compromised his own freedom of action but entailed considerable loss upon his successors, and became the source of many subsequent lawsuits; for Ketchyn, being unsatisfied with his five years' lease, insisted upon taking one for thirty-three years; and having found means to satisfy the patron, Sir Thomas Langton, knight, whose consent was necessary to render such a lease valid, he pleaded Kyghley's promise, which he enforced by withholding payment of his rent under the former lease.
His next step was to purchase the first ensuing presentation to the benefice, which he obtained from Sir Thomas Langton on 17th October, 30 Hen. VIII., 1538, being then described as of Hatfield, in the county of Herts, gent.[2] On the termination of the
- ↑ Duchy of Lancaster Pleadings, 31 Hen. VIII., vol ix. K. No. 3.
- ↑ Lichfield Diocesan Regisfer. The ancestors of John Ketchyn (whose name is variously written as Ketchyn, Kechyn, Kychyn, and Kitchen) are believed to have been tenants of the Abbot and Convent of Cokersand. Being trained to the study of the law John Ketchyn became supervisor of the Court of Augmentation, London, during its brief existence, and in 35 Hen. VIII., 1543, he purchased the dissolved Abbey of Cokersand, its site and some of its lands. As John Ketchyn, Esquire, he was nominated, on 13th February, 37 Hen. VIII. (1545-6) one of the Commissioners for the county of Lancaster to enquire into the history and value of the chantries, hospitals, colleges, free chapels, gilds, fraternities and brotherhoods, which had been dissolved by Act of Parliament and given into the King's hands, and to make a return therein to the King; his fellow-commissioners being John (Bird), Bishop of Chester, Sir Thomas Holcroft, knight, John Holcroft, Esq., Robert Tatton, Esq., and James Rokeby, Esq. Ketchyn afterwards settled at Pilling Hall, in the parish of Garstang, and became member of parliament for the county of Lancaster in the first parliament of Edward VI. (History of Chantries in the county palatine of Lancaster, Chetham Tract, lix. pp. I & 2 note).
