THE AGECROFT COLLECTION F.3.1-11 The original owners of the manor of Pendlebury were succeeded by the Prestwiches, who owned the adjacent manor of Prestwich. Joan, the daughter of Jordan de Tetlow and his wife Alice, daughter and heiress of Adam de Pretwich, married Richard de Longley c 1360, thereby bringing the manors of Pendlebury, Prestwich and Alkrington together. The Longleys (or Langleys) were an important local family throughout the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. When Sir Robert Langley died in 1561 his estates were divided between his four daughters. He left Agecroft and the adjacent lands to his daughter Anne, who married William Dauntesey. The Dauntesey family held the estate into the 20th century. Agecroft Hall was probably built around the end of the reign of Henry VII, or the beginning of that of Henry VIII. In 1925 Agecroft Hall was sold at auction to Thomas C Williams Jr and transported to Richmond, Virginia, USA. It is now an educational trust cared for by the Agecroft Association. JP Earwaker listed the Agecroft charters and deeds in 1885, when they were preserved at Agecroft Hall. When the Hall was sold these documents were removed and deposited in a Manchester bank. They were subsequently deposited in Chetham's Library. However, in 1955-56 a considerable number of documents were removed from Chetham's Library by members of the Dauntesey family. The deeds numbered 1 to 59 and 119 to 138 by Earwaker are no longer in the possession of Chetham’s Library. The deeds numbered by Earwaker 60-88, 104-118, 140-160 and 280-317 are in Chetham’s Library. The following deeds are in the possession of Mrs. Hogg, niece of Vivienne Dauntesey: nos. 5, 7, 8, 10-13, 16-20, 22-34, 36-45, 48-51, 53, 55-57, 57*, 59, 62, 91, 92, 94, 97-102, 107, 113, 119-122, 124, 126-128, 131, 133, 136-139 (in Earwaker’s calendar), and deeds that were numbered in the mid 1930’s, 333-351, 353-358, 366 and 367. In 1977 the family presented a representative selection of deeds to the new Agecroft Hall in America. These were deeds numbered by Earwaker 4, 6, 9, 14, 21, 33, 35, 47, 52, 54, 90, 93, 95, 96, 125, 130, 135, 298 (deed with autograph of Queen Katherine Howard). In addition, the Agecroft Association has recently purchased deed number 3 and deed number 123. Their address is The Agecroft Association, 4305 Sulgrave Road, Richmond, Virginia 23221. [Deeds no.3 and 123 previously in the possession of Mrs. Vivienne Dauntesey of Richmond, Virginia]. Salford Archives Centre, 658-662 Liverpool Road, Irlam M30 5AD has deed no. 46. The whereabouts of deeds numbered 1, 2, 15, 58, 89, 103, 118, 129, 132, 134, 158,284, 252 and 359 is not known. They were possibly sold by Sotheby’s in c. 1958. All the other early deeds up to no. 258, except no. 158 (missing?), are in the possession of Chetham’s Library, with an additional [300?] miscellaneous deeds. All these are listed. Archivist’s note: at a meeting of the the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society dated 10 April 1886, JP Earwaker read a paper concerning his work on the Agecroft deeds and Charters. The report on this meeting states "These deeds when placed in Mr Earwaker's hands were in a state of great confusion. They were unindorsed, and were lying loose in boxes without order or arrangement. They have now been classified in chronological order, and endorsed. Altogether there are 450 documents, and they have been arranged in twelve sections" (Report in Chetham’s Library Cuttings Collection: Salford, Agecroft Hall). The i THE AGECROFT COLLECTION F.3.1-11 sections, or series, used by Earwaker are detailed in his article for the Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society "An Account of the Charters, Deeds, & Other Documents, Now Preserved at Agecroft Hall, co Lancashire", volume IV (1886), pp 199-220. Based on Earwaker's arrangement, but not duplicating it, the Archivist has created 13 series in this catalogue. Although some changes have been made to Earwaker's arrangement, the physical order of the collection has not been altered. A number of documents not catalogued by Earwaker appear in this list. It is hoped that this intellectual arrangement will aid researchers in locating documents. The reference numbers written on the documents have not been altered to reflect this intellectual arrangement, and still follow the bundle and deed number order assigned to the documents by Earwaker and earlier cataloguers. Two reference numbers appear in this catalogue for each item. The second reference number indicates the location of the item. Both reference numbers should be quoted when requesting documents. 1402-1894 The series are as follows: /1 Documents relating to the Langleys of Agecroft, 1412-1550, (41 files) page 1. / Documents relating to the Daunteseys of London and county Wiltshire, 1492-c 1630, (33 files) page 7. /3 Documents relating to the Daunteseys of Agecroft, 1573-1777, (84 files) page 14. /4 Documents relating to Pendlebury, Pendleton, Prestwich etc, 1631-1787, (32 files) page 26. /5 Documents relating to Agecroft Hall and land in Pendlebury, 1756-1821, (14 files) page 32. /6 Documents relating to Poulton, North Lancashire, 1622-1863, (68 files) page 35. /7 Documents relating to Walton in le Dale and the Cooper Family, 1545-1769, (29 files) page 41. /8 Documents relating to Much Hoole co Lancs, 1717-1796, (24 files) page 45. /9 Documents relating to the Manor of Ambleside, 1747-1878, (32 files) page 48. /10 Miscellaneous deeds relating to Manchester, 1318-1760, (15 files) page 51. /11 Documents relating to members of the Buck Family, 1782-1895, (129 files) page 54. /12 Documents relating to members of the Chisenhall Family, 1572-1738, (7 files) page 68. /13 Miscellaneous Documents, 1638 & 1660, (17 files) page 70. Various spellings of Dauntesey occur in the documents (Daunsey, Dauncey, Daunce, Daunsye, Dawntissey, Dauntysey). The spelling has been standardised in the list. Catalogue compiled Nov 2004. ii THE AGECROFT COLLECTION F.3.1-11 A/1/1-41 Documents relating to the Langleys of Agecroft 1412-1550 The manor of Prestwich was sold before 1300 to Adam de Prestwich. Richard de Longley married Joan, granddaughter and heiress of Adam de Prestwich. Their son, Roger de Longley, succeeded to the manors of Prestwich, Pendlebury and Alkrington, and the advowson of Prestwich Church. The manors and advowson remained the property of Roger's descendants until the middle of the sixteenth century. The Radcliffe family and the Holland family both contested the rights of the Longleys, and disputes were not settled until at least 1376. Archivist’s note: variant spellings of Longley and Langley have not been standardised. Variant spellings of Tetlow (Tetlaw) have been standardised in the list. (A/1/1) Marriage Settlement between John de Asshton and 20 Jul 1412 Robert de Longley Box 1 bdl 2 no 60 For the marriage of Thomas, son and heir apparent of the said Robert, to be married to Margaret, daughter of the said John. 13 Hen IV Anglo-Norman French Seal (A/1/2) Grant of the Manor of Tetlow and premises in 22 Jul 1412 Oldham Box 1 bdl 2 no 61 From Robert de Longley to Thomas de Longley, his son, and Margaret, daughter of John de Assheton, kt. 13 Hen IV Seal (A/1/3) Duplicate grant of the Manor of Tetlow and 22 Jul 1412 premises in Oldham Box 1 bdl 2 no 63 From Robert de Longley to Thomas de Longley, 1 THE AGECROFT COLLECTION F.3.1-11 his son, and Margaret, daughter of John de Assheton, kt. 13 Hen IV Seal (A/1/4) Attornment of Edmund de Prestwich and Margaret [25 Apr] 1413 his wife to Thomas de Longley and Margaret his Box 1 bdl 2 no 64 wife for the Manor of Tetlow. Wednesday in the feast of St Mark the Evangelist [25 Apr], 1 Hen V Some insect damage Broken seal (A/1/5) Receipt from Robert de Longley to John de 27 Jul 1413 Assheton and others for 20 marks. Box 1 bdl 2 no 65 Thursday after the feast of St James the Apostle [25 Jul], 1 Hen V Damaged: eaten by insects (A/1/6) Inspeximus of the record of a trial at Lancaster, 20 Jan 1414 between John, Duke of Lancaster, and Robert de Box 1 bdl 2 no 66 Holland, relating to the Manor of Prestwich etc. 1 Hen V Large seal fragment (A/1/7) Receipt from Robert de Longley, esq, to John de 23 Jul 1414 Assheton, kt, for 20 marks. Box 1 bdl 3 no 67 Monday next after the feast of St Margaret the Virgin [20 Jul], 2 Hen V Some insect damage (A/1/8) Writ from the King, commanding certain persons to 20 Aug 1414 answer for having disseised Robert de Longley. Box 1 bdl 3 no 68 2 Hen V (A/1/9) Deed between Robert de Longley and Peres de 1416 Holland for the delivery of all deeds etc relating to Box 1 bdl 3 no 69 the manors of Prestwich and Alkrington. 2 THE AGECROFT COLLECTION F.3.1-11 Monday in the 3rd week in Lent, 3 Hen V Seal (A/1/10) Grant of lands called Le Wetepark de Achecroft in 1416 the vill of Pendlebury Box 1 bdl 3 no 70 From Robert de Longley to Peres de Holland for his life. Monday in the 5th week of Lent, 4 Hen V Seal (A/1/11) Lease of lands called Le Wetepark de Achecroft in 1416 the vill of Pendlebury Box 1 bdl 3 no 71 From Peres de Holland to Robert de Longley.