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"Record Society for the Publication of Original Documents relating to Lancashire and Cheshire", Volume: 32.
Pleadings and Depositions in the Duchy Court of Lancaster. Time of Henry VII. and Henry VIII. (1879)
"A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 4" edited by William Farrer and J. Brownbill, published by "Victoria County History" (1911)
"A Dictionary of English Surnames" by P.H. Reaney, published by "Oxford University Press" third edition (1997)
English Dialect Dictionary by Joseph Wright, published by Oxford University Press (1898)
The following resources may be accessed from Wigan Library's online services.)
"The Oxford Dictionary of Local and Family History" by David Hey. published by "Oxford University Press" (1997)
"The Oxford English Dictionary"
Tuesday 26th January, 2010
In 1514, Sir Thomas Gerrard of Bryn took a gang of 58 servants and tenants to Ince Moss, and used force to “expulse” Thomas Gerrard of Ince from his land. (The actual date of the altercation is in dispute. If you want to read a discussion on this jump to here.)
The two Thomas Gerrards were distantly related and held adjoining manors. Thomas of Ince was an esquire, not a knight, and held Ince Manor by socage, for a rent of 5s (25p). Sir Thomas Gerrard, lord of neighbouring Bryn, however, was a full blown knight. He inherited his lands from his father, Peter Gerrard, when he was only six years old.
After driving the rightful owner from Ince Moss (also known as Turnesshe Moss), Sir Thomas of Bryn then dug a trench around it.
The question must be asked: why would Sir Thomas of Bryn risk his neighbour's wrath by occupying his land and then digging a trench around it?
The answer concerns money. The inhabitants of Ince, Ashton, Abram and Golborne paid rent to Thomas of Ince for the right of Turbury (“the right to cut turf or peat for fuel on a common or on another person's land”. In the case of Ince Moss it was turf that was cut rather than peat.) Sir Thomas of Bryn wanted this rent and therefore took the land.
He said later that he dug the encircling trench to drain the area to make the cutting of turf easier. It seems likely, however, that the prime motives were to delineate the area and make it more easily defensible.
Thomas of Ince took his case to the Duchy Court of Lancaster stating that he and his ancestors had held this land for “time without mind”. This legal phrase was often used to ascertain land ownership and the rights of incumbant tenants. Thomas was making a strong case saying that Ince Moss was rightfully his and had been in his family for generations – longer than anyone could remember.
Thomas of Ince's land was restored and he filled in the ditch. Several of the trespassers were indicted for riot.
Fight at Ince Moss (1514), part 2
Ince Moss as part of the Wigan Flashes Nature Reserve
In the “Pleadings and Depositions in the Duchy Court of Lancaster. Time of Henry VII. and Henry VIII.” compiled by the R.S.L.C (Volume: 32), the date of Thomas of Ince's plea to the court is given as “year 6 of the reign of Henry VII, ie 1491”.
“The Victoria County History” rightly disputes this, stating that Thomas of Ince's pedigree, which is also given in the document, is inconsistent with the given date.
They say it should read “year 6 of the reign of Henry VIII ie 1514”.
The following words have been spelt differently in the various documents. I have used the modern versions throughout. The following is a list of the alternative spellings used.
Gerrard – Gerrerd or Gerard meaning “spear warrior”
Bryn – Brynn or Brynne
Ince – occasionally Ynse
moss – mosse, meaning “A bog, swamp; a fen, morass; especially a peatbog.” (Oxford English Dictionary)
Ashton – Assheton
Abram – Abraham
Golborne – Goldeburne
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