When it is given that the Lancaster family of Milverton, Somerset, bore for their arms Argent, two bars gules, on a canton of the second a lion passant guardant or, some qualification needs to be made, as, as was common, arms were not representative of direct male descent, mostly being the result of a family’s intermarriage with a heiress. So, although these arms are associated with the Lancasters, Barons of Kendall, they stem from such intermarriages.

William Duncombe Pink, Alfred Beaven, The Parliamentary Representation of Lancashire, p. 17, 1889: “John de Lancaster returned also in 1322 and 1330. He was eldest son of John de Lancaster, by Alice dau. of Sir Richard Hoghton.* By his wife Margery, dau. and co-heiress of Sir Richard Molineux of Rainhill, he became possesed of that estate, where his descendants were still seated in the last century”. (The Molineuxs of Rainhill became possessed of that estate (and of the manors of Sutton and Eccleston) by marriage into the family of Norres/Norrys).

John Lancaster (de Lancastr’). Places: Property in Helton Tarn, Lancashire. Shield of arms: two bars, on a canton a lion passant. Size: 20 mm, Shape: round, Colour: brown, Legend: S. JOH’IS DE LANC’STRE. 1324.

In 1242, Adam de Eccleston held of William de Lancaster by knight’s service, having m. one of his daus. (Lancs. Inq. and Extents, i, 154). His successors were probably Roger, and his son, Richard.* Warin Bussel’s dau. m. Hamon le Boteler, he receiving two carucates of land in Heaton in Lonsdale, and in Little Eccleston in Amounderness (Testa ii., f. 816). Hamon’s son, Richard, had issue: Adam, who as “Adam filius Ricardi, filii Hamonis Pincernæ,” granted one moiety of his estate in Heaton to Augustine, son of Ughtred of Ulverston, father of Roger de Heaton of Brune, to hold of Adam by the ninth part of one Knight’s fee (Dodsworth MS., lxxxviii., f. 7). In the Survey of 1212, under the Barony of Penwortham, “Adam de Hocton” is recorded as holding in Heton, one carucate,” i.e., that moiety of Heaton, of which his grandfather had been enfeoffed in the reign of King Stephen. The Adam de Hocton of this concord was probably the son of Adam, son of Richard, son of Hamon le Boteler.

*Sir Richard Hoghton was sheriff of Lancs. in 1298. He settled his manor on his son, Richard, who m. Sybil, dau. of Sir William de Lee, Baron of Kendal, and Clemence, dau. Sir Robert de Banastre. His descendant, Richard Lancaster, died in 30 Henry VIII. (Edward Baines History of the County Palatine and Duchy of Lancaster, vol. 3, p. 715, 1836. His inquest shows that he had held the moiety of the manor of John Eccleston by fealty and a rent of 18d.; a messuage in Rainhill of the king, by a rent of 8d. paid to the bailiff of West Derby; also lands in Buxton and in Appleton; his son and heir, Richard Lancaster, m. Alice dau. of Bartholomew Hesketh, in 1530, was seventeen years of age in 1538; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. vii, n. 11. Licence of entry, without proof of age, was granted to Richard son and heir of Richard Lancaster, Nov. 20, 1543; Dep. Keeper’s Rep. xxxix, App. 555. Lancashire Feet of Fines, m. 118. (March 28, 1552). Between Thomas Eccleston, esq., and Richard Lancastre, gent., plaintiffs, and Roger Colley, gent., deforciant of 8 messuages, 4 cottages, 4 tofts, a wind-mill, 10 gardens, 10 orchards, 200 a. of land, 60 a. of meadow, 100 a. of pasture, 20 a. of wood, 100 a. of moor, 100 a. of marsh, 100 a. of turbary, 100 a. of furze and heath, and 3s. 4d. of rent in Windle, Sutton, and Melling.

It can not be adduced at which juncture the Lancasters of Milverton, Somerset, stemmed from those of Lancashire, nor whether the Lancasters of Bruton, Somerset, were of the same family, yet the latter family intermarrying with a family of Penny may afford a clue.

1. Richard Lancaster, Margarett Barber, June 22, 1573.
1.1. John Langcaster, m. Susan Mogg, Oct. 30, 1609.
1.1.1. Robert Langcaster, m. Susannah Penny, Oct. 1, 1632; the probable dau. of Robert Penny and Susan Collier m. Oct. 20, 1611. 1652 Surry Co., B. I, p. 4. November 7, 1652: Mr. John Dibdall did at Court held in this place volunteer and made in open court a petition signed by himself, Robert Lancashire and seventy others, and John Collier without timely redress to petition, etc. Penny Family: In the Heralds’ Office it is recorded that a grant of arms was made to Thomas Penny, Doctor of Physic, London, in 1574. In the same office is a pedigree which shows that Dr. Thomas Penny was the son of John Penny or Penne of Gressingham, near Lancaster, Lancashire. The coat in question is Erm. 2 greyhounds courant, per pale gu. and sa. In the present day I find in the counties of Somerset, Dorset, and Devon, four families of the name of Penny — not known to be very nearly related — who use this coat of arms, and have been using it for some generations past. (Notes & Queries for Somerset and Dorset, vol. 2, p. 158, 1891).
1.1.1.1. Robert Lankester, bapt. Jan. 26, 1634. He probably m. (1) a sister of Thomas White, Will proved Sept. 4, 1694 (“Mr. Robert Lancaster to have the care of my son Thomas and daughter Mary and their estate”). (2) Sarah widow of 2nd husband Richard Bennett Sr. (second-cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672). Thomas White’s widow m. (2) Thomas Edwards. A commission of administration is granted William Edwards (as greatest Creditor) of the Estate of Thomas White, deceased (with the Will Annexed) (the said Will being proved in Court by the oath of Mr. John Thompson and ordered to further proved at the next court ye, other evidence to the said Will not being now present) the said Edwards giving security according to law. Robert Lancaster, entering himself in Court security for William Edwards due performance of his Administration on the Estate of Thomas White with annexed is accepted and ordered that they give bond accordingly. It is probable that Thomas White was a headright of William Edwards and Rice Davis in James City, in 1648.

There is some passing connection to the family of Heriz:

1. Geoffrey de Herriz, b. ca. 1110.
1.1. Alice de Heriz., b. ca. 1140, m. Richard, son of Hamon le boteler, b. ca. 1110.
1.1.1. Geoffrey de Eccleston (Heriz), b. ca. 1160, who held Stapleford, and with the consent of his mother, Alice, gifted to Lenton. Galfridus de Eccleston’ debet x li. pro habenda saisina de terra quam Avicia (Geoffrey’s aunt) que fuit uxor Ricardi de Camera. (Pipe Roll, 1224).
1.1.1.1. Richard de Heriz (de Stapleford), b. ca. 1190, held that manor in 1250, his son, Hugh, being aged 25 years.
1.1.1.1.1. Hugh de Heriz, b. 1225, died seized of this fee in 1297.
1.1.1.1.1.1. Richard de Heriz, b. ca. 1270, d. bef. 1316.
1.1.1.1.1.1.1. Richard de Heriz, b. Nov. 7, 1307. The book of Newstede mentions to be granted to Sir John de Mounteney, knight, by the King, and that Sir John sold his Wardship and Marriage to one John de Bugton of Wellum, who married him under age to his daughter Elizabeth, in the time of the Eyre, 3 E. 2. Richard de Heriz, and Elizabeth his wife, by a Fine levied at York the day after St. John Baptist, 11 E. 3. passed two parts of this Mannor, and the third part which Margery, the wife of Thomas Dayvill of Egmanton, had then in Dower, after her decease, to Richard de Bughton, and his heirs, paying them 40l. per annum, during their lives. he Book of Newstede saith, this Richard de Bughton was an Ecclesiastical person, and that the said Richard de Heriz gave this Mannor to Richard, the brother of his wife, who first died, and then his said wife, in the aforesaid Pestilence, and that after their deaths he the said Richard de Heriz enfoeffed William de Wakebrigge, and others, to give to the Priory of Newstede, to make and found Chantries; but having a sister called Idonea, the wife of John del Furmery, who had both sons and daughters, he was by her, and other friends, within three days after persuaded to revoke that, and settle it on Robert del Furmery her son, who was to have married Cecily, the sister of Elizabeth, before named, but he did not; so dying without issue, it remained to the said Idonea, and her heirs, who gave only two bovats to Newstede.

1. Hamon le boteler.
1.1. Richard, m. Alice de Heriz.
1.1.1. “Adam filius Ricardi, filii Hamonis Pincernæ” (“Adam de Hocton”), b, ca, 1160. Held the ploughland in Heaton 1n 1212 (Lancs. Inq. amd Ext., i. 30,1.).
1.1.2.1.1. Adam de Eccleston, b. ca. 1190, held of William de Lancaster by knight’s service, having m. one of his daus.
1.1.2.1.1.1. Roger, b. ca. 1220.
1.1.2.1.1.1.1. Sir Richard Houghton, b. ca. 1250, sheriff of Lancs. in 1298.
1.1.2.1.1.1.1.1. Richard, who m. Sybil, dau. of Sir William de Lee, Baron of Kendal.
1.1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1. Alice de Houghton, m. Richard Stanhope.

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