Wigan at this period : "Wigan pavid, as bigge as Warington' and better buildid. There is one Paroch Chirch amidde the Towne, summe Marchauntes, sum Artificers, sum Fermers. Mr. Bradeshau hath a place caullid Hawe a Myle from Wigan; He hath founde moche Canel like se Coole in his Grounde very profitable to hym; and Gerade of Ynse dwellith in that Paroch,"[1] The Wigan market at that time appears to have occupied a different position to that which it occupied until within the last few years, for he says "Dugles Ryver cumming by Wigan Market goith into the Se by hit self toward Latham."[2] At this time there were but twelve parish churches in Darbyshire (West Derby), but they were large.[3] Richard Kyghley, parson of Wigan, died in the year 1543.[4]
On 8th August, 1543, John Herbert was presented to the parish church of Wigan, vacant by the death of Richard Kyghley,
- ↑ Leland's Itinerary (vol. vii. fol. 56, by Thomas Hearne), 3rd ed. Oxford, 1769, vol. iii. p. 47.
- ↑ Ibid, p. 48.
- ↑ Ibid. In speaking of Liverpool he says "Lyrpole, alias Lyverpoole, a pavid Towne hath but a Chapel. Walton a iiii Miles of not far from the Se is Paroche Chirche"; and he describes Warrington as a better market than Manchester (ib. p. 47).
- ↑ Kyghley's curate at this time was Sir Rauf Scott. The following names were returned at a visitation, shortly before Kyghley's death, as serving in the parish of Wigan: D'ns Rad'us Scotte, cur' conduct per dn'm Ric'um Kyghley, rect'; D'ns Henricus grange, stipendarius Rob'ti longton ; D'ns Hugo Cokson conduct' per Thoma' gerrard armig'um; D'ns gilb'tus aspull. (Piccope's MSS. x. lately altered to xiii.; Raines' MSS. vol. xxii). It will probably have been early in the year 1550 after the death of John Herbert, the next incumbent, that the following names of the Wigan clergy were returned at a visitation held by John [Birde] bishop of Chester; Mr. . . . D'ns Rad'us Stotte (Scotte), D'ns Will'us Astleye, D'ns Hugh Cokson cant', D'ns Joannes Gerrard, D'ns Gilb'tus aspull, Dn's Thomas Barne, D'ns Henricus Grange, D'ns Mattheus Heye (Piccope and Raines' MSS. as before). Bishop John Birde, the first bishop of Chester, made his profession of obedience to the archbishop of York in 1542, and was deprived by Queen Mary in 1554. The omission of a rector's name would seem to imply that the benefice was then vacant. Hugh Cokson paid his first fruits on his institution to the Bradshaw Chapel 10th May, 36 Hen. VIII. (1544), of which chapel he was returned as chantry priest in 37 Henry VIII. (1545-6) when the chantries were suppressed and their revenues granted by parliament to the King. He was living and in receipt of a pension in 1553, but it is not likely that he would be described as chantry priest at that time.
