218 LANCASTgU OUT-TOWNSHIPS.

The Molyneux Fam1:1y traces its descent from William des Molines, 80 named from Moulins,, a town of Bourbounois, in France, who is mentioned in the Norman Chronicles, prior to the Conquest, as a man of noble origin, held in high esteem by Duke William. His name stands the eighteenth in order in the Roll of Battle Abbey. Soon after the Conquest he acquired, by gift of Roger de Poictou, the lordship of Sefton Thornton and Kerden. By the marriage of his grandson Adam with Annota, the daughter and heiress of Benedict Garnet, lord of Speke, this manor also became the property of the family. Adam de Mulynew gave lands to the Abbey of Cockersand, under the seal of the cross moline. He had two sons, Robert and Gilbert, the eldest of whom marrying Beatrice, daughter and heiress of Robert de Villiers, first lord of Crosby, obtained possession of that lordship. His eldest son, Richard, married Edith, daughter of Almeric Pincerna, of Warrington, and had issue two sons, Adam and Robert. Adam, the eldest son, succeeded at Sefton, and held a forestership in Lancashire, in 1228, and was in commission for the perambulation of forests. He married Lattice de Brinley, and had two sons, William and Roger. The former, Sir William de Molineus, married Margaret, daughter of Sir Alan de Thorneton. His grandson, Sir William, was dubbed a knight banneret in Gascony by Edmund Crouchback, Earl of Lancaster, in 1289. His grandson, Sir William, of Sefton and Little Crosby, married Joan, daughter and heiress of Jordan Ellel, and grand-daughter of Thomas de­ Twenge, forester of Wyresdale. Their son, Sir William, was made a knight banneret by the Black Prince, in 1367, under whom he distinguished himself at the Battle of Navaret. He married Jane, daughter and co-heiress of Sir Robert Holand, and had one son, Sir Richard Molyneux, who succeeded him, and was appointed High Sheriff of Lancashire for life. Sir Richard Molyneux, his son, distinguished himself at the Battle of Agincourt, and obtained the­ , honour of knighthood. .His son, Sir Richard Molyneux, of Sefton, married Elizabeth, sister of Thomas Stanley, Earl of Derby, and had two sons and three­ daughters. The eldest son, Sir Thomas, was in arms for Edward IV., under Richard, Duke of Gloucester, and was created a knight banneret. He married Anne, daughter of Sir Thomas Dutton, of Dutton-in-Cheshire, and died in 1491, leaving two sons and two daughters. Sir William, his son, distinguished himself on Flodden Field in 1513, and took, with his own hands, two standard~ from the Scots. He died in 1546, and was succeeded by his son, Sir Richard, who was knighted at the coronation of Queen Mary, and was sheriff of the­ county in 1566. His son, Sir Richard, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth.. and was the second to be elevated to the dignity of baronet in 1611, when that order was instituted. He married Frances, daughter of Sir Gilbert Garard,. and had issue, Richard, who succeeded him, and five other sons and seven daughters. Sir Richard, the second baronet, was advanced to the peerage of Ireland in 1628, as Viscount Molyneux of Maryborough. He married Mary, daughter and co-heiress of Sir Thomas Caryll, and had four sons and two daughters. Richard, the second Viscount, espoused the cause of Charles I., and with his brother, Caryl, raised two regiments of horse and foot. Richard died without issue, and was succeeded by his brother, Caryl, who was outlawed by Parliament, but at length by interest and the payment of an excessive fine, he was allowed to take possession of his estates. He died in 1698, leaving. three sons and five daughters. William, the fourth Viscount, married Bridget, daughter and heiress of Robert Lucy, Esq., of Charlcote, Warwickshire, and had issue, seven sons and five daughters. He was succeeded by his son, Richard, the fifth Viscount, who was married to Mary, eldest daughter of Francis, Lord Brudenell, and had a son, who died in 1706, and two daughters. Caryl, his brother, succeeded him, and left three sons, who each in turn came­ into the estates. Richard, as seventh Viscount, but who, being a priest, relinquished the estate to his brother, William, the eighth Viscount, who,. dying unmarried, the estates passed to the third brother, Thomas, who ·left a son, Charles William, the ninth Viscount, ten years of age, and later created Earl of Sefton of the peerage of Ireland, 1771, and married Isabella Stanhope,.