Edmund Lawrence

Source: http://www.lawrencefamhis.com/ashton-o/p230.htm#i5728

Edmund Lawrence was born say 1310. He married first Alice de Cuerdale, daughter of John de Cuerdale and Dionisia ?.2 He married second Agnes de Washington, daughter of Robert de Washington and Margaret ?, circa 1369.2,3 Edmund died in 1381.2

    In 1534, John Brockholes of Claughton said he heard John Lawrence, a blind man, say that Edmund, his great grandfather married Robert's Washington's daughter and heir. He had married Alice daughter of John de Cuerdale. She died in 1353 and it does not appear that there was any issue.2

Edmund's second wife, Agnes, daughter and heiress of Robert de Washington, Lord of the manor of Scotforth, brought him other lands and also, notably, moities of the manors of Carnforth and Carleton. Edmund had no issue by his first wife, Alice, and the marriage terminated in a divorce.4
Edmund was the second Squire of Ashton. In 1338 he held, with his parents, the Stapleton part of the manor of Ashton for life.5
In 1345, he had been commissioned with his uncle William to investigate wastes in the manor of Wyresdale.4 In 1348, John Franceys dismised certain of this lands, etc., to Edmund for life at the rent of a rose for six years and then 100s. Agnes, the daughter of John Franceys married Lambert de Wyresdale and they quit-claimed to Edmund in 1366.2
In 1350 Edmund held burgages in Pennystreet, Lancaster.5
In 1357 he made a feoffment of lands in Lancaster, Skerton, Ellel, Ashton, and Preeshall2 and in 1373 it was found that he held for life three plough-lands of Thomas de Stapleton by a rent of 20 marks.2 In 1358 he was pardoned, after paying 100 shillings, for acquiring a life interest in the Irish Manors of Baliogary, Lough and Casterling without license.5 Also in 1358 he held land in Preesall.2 In 1361 he was pardoned, for service in France, of taking 200 in silver from John Darcy's house.5
He was Knight of the Shire in 1362 when he and Matthew de Rixton being deputies of the sheriff, concealed the election writ and returned themselves as knights of the shire. This return was later quashed.2
In 1363 was receiver of Queen Philippa's monies in Ireland. In 1367 he was attorney in England for the Prior of St. Mary's, Lancaster. In 1368 he was commissioner of Array to choose 100 archers in Lancashire.5
In 1373 he held for life three plough-lands of Thomas de Stapleton by a rent of 20 marks.2 He was the Stapleton tenant as Scotforth as in Ashton in 1793.2 In 1375 he released his life interest in the Irish Manors and in that of Dunmow.5
In 1376, he held for life fisheries and ridings in Ashton together with a fourth part of the manor, of the heirs of Thomas de Thweng, deceased, by rent of 13s. 4d.2
In 1378 he purchased all the rights of Thomas de Molyneux in the marriage of Richard, son of Sir William de Moylneux of Sefton.2
In 1381/2, evidently shortly before Edmund's death, John de Oxcliffe granted an estate in Overton to Edmund. John de Oxcliffe had held the estate as trustee, given him in 1374, from Adam, son of William de Lancaster, that William held in the right of his wife Blanche.2
Edmund held ten burgages, two messuages, 30 acres of land, etc., by a rent of 6s. 8d. of the duke in free burgage at his death in 1381.2 His son Robert was 10 years old. His will names Agnes his wife, Robert his son and heir, and other children. What holding was retained in Ashton is not clear, but in the reigns of Henry IV and Henry VI certain lands, in later times called 'Lawrence lands,' were demised to the family by the Methams.2 The trustees of Edmund granted to his son John, lands in Skerton and Heysham.2
The Manor of Ashton figures in the Doomsday Book of 1086. However, it is three more centuries beore the first physical evidence of its long history is revealed in the shape of the Pele tower that forms the southern flank of the mondern Lancaster Golf Club Clubhouse. The tower certainly dates from the fourteenth century and was possibly build by Edmund Lawrence who died in 1381. He was a descendant of the first recorded owners of the Manor of Ashton, the family of de Lancastre, barons of Kendal. His wife, Agnes is even more interesting.6
Pele towers were fortified dwellings virtually unique to the Border region with Scotland, intended to protect their occupants against raiding parties moving south in search of booty. They were constructed in a manner to deprive their assailants of any easy means of entry. Their windows were of minimal size, small, rectangular apertures. The original Hall was built according to a standard design, one that was popular with wealthy landowners seeking a secure dwelling place in an insecure world. There were three stories. The ground floor is vaulted to provide stability. It was usually windowless and was used for storage purposes and to shelter the animals. The first floor contained the main hall and kitchen, and the top floor the living and sleeping quarters. The battlemented roof was flat in order to provide a stable lookout form which to launch missiles and fire arrows upon attackers. The four turrets were set diagonally to maximise the chances of scoring direct hits.6 Family Agnes de Washington d. a 1406 Children
Robert Lawrence b. c 1371, d. 8 Sep 1439

   James Lawrence

   William Lawrence

   John Lawrence d. a 1432

http://www.lawrencefamhis.com/ashton-o/p230.htm#i5728

Edmund Lawrence was born say 1310. He married first Alice de Cuerdale, daughter of John de Cuerdale and Dionisia ?. He married second Agnes de Washington, daughter of Robert de Washington and Margaret ?, circa 1369.

Edmund died in 1381.