The History of the Church and Manor of Wigan/Ivo de Langton

by George Thomas Orlando Bridgeman

Ivo de Langton, clerk, son of John de Langton, was admitted to the Church of Wigan on xvii Kal. July (i.e., 15th June), 1334, and instituted, on the presentation of Robert, son of John de Langton, the patron of the church, on the death of Sir Robert de Clyderhou.^[1] The chantry at the Altar of our Lady within the parish church of Wigan was founded in his time, and with his assent, by Dame Mabel, widow of Sir William Bradshaigh, knight, the daughter and heiress of Hugh le Norreys, Lord of Haigh and Blackrod. It was founded on the morrow of St. James the Apostle, 1338. This Ivo, or John, de Langton (for he is called by both names) had a serious dispute with his brother, Robert de Langton, the patron, respecting the tithes of Hindley. In 17 Edw. III. (1343) Robert de Langton, knight, William de Wystanlegh of Werinton, Robert de Pounale, and John de Boudon, were attached to answer Ivo de Langton, Parson of the Church of Wigan, wherefore they, on the feast of St. Margaret the Virgin, 16 Edw. III. (13th July, 1342) had come and taken by force, that is to say, with swords, and bows, and arrows, and carried away, the tithes of hay and corn of the said Ivo, at Hyndeley, to the value of 40 marks. Robert appeared for himself and the others, and defended their action on the ground that the said Ivo was bound to pay him an annual rent of 20 marks, and £20 in every alternate year, and that the said Ivo had conceded to him the aforesaid tithes in lieu of the aforesaid rents, so that they were taken by his consent: and the jury find a verdict for Robert.^[2] It is not unreasonable to suppose that this was the price which he had to pay to the patron for his presentation to the church. It is probable that the disagreement between the brothers did not end here, for in the same year John de Cravene is indicted for conspiring with others at Walton to procure the presentation of himself to the church of Wigan, which was then filled by Ivo de Langton, by reason whereof he was summoned to answer in the Court of Christianity for the said presentation, whereby the said Ivo lost £300 in divers costs, &c.^[3]

We may conjecture, however, that Ivo was eventually obliged to succumb to those who had conspired to oust him from his benefice, for in 1344 Roger, bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, issued his letters to William, Abbot of St. Werbergh, Chester, to admit

1. Lichfield Diocesan Register, Lib. 1.
2. Assize Rolls Lanc., 17 Edw. III. M. 3. 434.
3. County Pleas, 17 Edw. III., No. 17, Lancashire and Cheshire Records (Record Society, vol. viii. p. 362).