Facebook Group For
Pilkington Family and Descendants
https://www.facebook.com/groups/107874203136/
Crest of 'The Rivington Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth I' founded byRoyal charter in 1566.
Depicting James Pilkington, first protestant Bishop of England.
Rivington Unitarian Chapel, The Green, Rivington, Lancashire, England.
The Chapel Register in HTML Transcript is located at this link or you may download the Register in Acrobat file The history of Rivington Unitarian Chapel has close links to the nearby Lee Chapel sadly the Chapel at Horwich closed in 2005 and was bought by developers who aims is to clear the graveyard to build a car park
The information here is a collective work of Julie Hill (Nee Goodman) Paul Lacey and Audrey Foster. Julie, Audrey and Paul can all be contacted at https://www.facebook.com/groups/107874203136/?fref=ts.
The Early Pilkington Branch of Rivington and Anglezarke.
It is obvious the family here are one and the same as the family in occupation from 1336 at Fernely (New Hall) Rivington and linked to the family of Hugh Pilkington of Anglezarke living will dated 1596. Details of the Unitarian Pilkington land holding by way of lease covered the area of the map available to download here as an acrobat file. Richard Pilkington who through his petitions to the Bishop of Chester gained the rights of a Parish for the Anglican Church. One of the family, James Pikington became first protestant Bishop of Durham and was founder of nearby Rivington Free School of Queen Elizabeth I The original school is still located in the village, however an amalgamated school was created in the reign of Victoria and is known as the Rivington and Blackrod High School, controlled by the LEA. The Rivington and Blackrod High School Badge shows the arms of the Pilkingtons. The name of the village according to Royal Charter is Rivington alias Rivyngton, the family had land holdings in Rivington, Anglezarke, Heath Charnock, Adlington and elsewhere. The position of anglezarke in relation to Rivington can be seen from the map at this link.
The Anglezarke BranchThe family of the Pilkingtons can find their roots at Rivington from at least 1066 and early records show large land holding in surrounding areas from the very earliest records. The original land holdings were once held of The Burscough Priory, an Augustinian Canon that was in turn protected by The Hospitaller Knights. This page focuses on the Pilkington family of Thomas Pilkington who was in occupation of Foggs Farm, Anglezarke, he died in 1824.
The Whittle Connection
John Whittle of Longworth. The village of Longworth is located near to Belmont in 1830 this was in Bolton, Lancashire. There are close connections between the Whittle family and the Pilkingtons that date back to the time of the Civil war through a marriage of Eleanor Whittle daughter of Hugh Whittle of Horwich to Sir Thomas Willoughby, Baron Willoughby of Parham Lord Willoughby, the parliamentary leader, with close links to Horwich and Rivington. The Willoughby and Whittle families were Unitarian. In 1717 Horwich Chapel (Anglican) had provided funds for a non-conformist teacher and to build a meeting house. (Hampson 1893)
The Pilkington, Shaw, Willoughby Connection
The Shaw family and the Pilkington family have connections that can be traced from the earliest records, this branch includes that of James Pilkington, Bishop of Durham. A family chart showing the early Shaw and Pilkington links is located here in acrobat format. The Pilkington family occupied Stones House after the Shaws. You will need adobe acrobat viewer to read the file. The Willoughby, Shaw and Pilkingtons are again connected through the marriage 6th October 1729 at Bury of John Shaw of Stones House, Anglezarke born 1702 died 1762 to Hon. Elizabeth Willoughby Ob. 1787, sister of The Lord 15th Willoughby of Parham both of whom had close connections to Rivington Unitarian Chapel. The Willoughby Pew is the main pew in the chapel and there is also a large monument to the family located inside. The connections here also meet connections with the Willoughby family from the English Civil war as the then Lord Willoughby of Parham was a Civil war Leader and prominent solider in that cause.
The Horwich Pilkington's
The Willoughby family were Presbyterian and prior to the formation of the Chapel at Riivngton were greatly influential in exerting Presbyterian rights over the parish church of Horwich and also of Rivington Anglican Chapel. It is in Horwich that we then also find another family called Pilkington, that of Richard Pilkington an influential local family who's descendants founded Pilkington Glass PLC. There is a ghost story connected to the Horwich Forest and is connected to the Lord of Horwich who's family were murdered. The Pilkington's of Horwich, Rivington, Anglezarke and the surronding areas all trace their roots back to Leonard Pilkington living 1066. The areas of land owned were once either held in fee simple subject to the goodwill of the King or in many other cases were held of the Knights Templar.
The Rivington Unitarian Chapel Grave Site
Thomas Pilkington above is interred at Rivington Unitarian Chapel and the grave is located nearest the footpath on the right, second row from the main gate and is the first grave near the footpath, the next grave is that of his son Samuel, then follows the graves of his other sons and descendants. The grave of Jane Sim is located to the left side of the graveyard opposite that of Thomas under the farm date stone reading B. 17WMI13 and A. TAR 1695. The graves of Isaac and Ann Pilkington are the foot of the grave of Robert Andrews on the right of the Chapel entrance. The grave of Ann is under the farm date stone marked I.R 1698 and I. A 1732. The grave of Abel, Daniel and Susanna are visible to the left of this photo of the Chapel Yard. There are three grave slabs of the family located to the right of the entrance. One of the largest monuments in the cemetery is that of the Pilkington and Calderbanks monument located nearby the grave of the Crompton family of Rivington Hall. A grave plan is kept within the family and there are further records in at Lancashire Records Office, Bow Lane, Preston, Lancashire, England Accession 9809 file ref. DDX 2522 and Accession 9886 file ref. DDX 2522. Three family charts have been produced that outline the details of three of the brothers, Samuel Pilkington, Thomas Pilkington and William Pilkington with details of local history. Included with these charts are notes on the local history of the location. A discovery after the above three charts has been family line from Daniel Pilkington. His descendants are the Jolly Family. The details of the descendants from Daniel came about after a discovery of a maintenance document at the national archives, ref QSP/2837/89 1824 13 Jul.adobe acrobat viewer for to view the files.
Lancashire Records Office. Bow Lane, Preston. Lancashire. England. Chester Wills. Pilkington, Thomas, Wheelton, husbandman. W Apr 1824. Will made 19 October 1823 whilst his daughter Ann cared for him.
In the name of God Amen, I Thomas Pilkington of Wheelton in the county of Lancaster, husbandman being advanced in years and weak and infirm in body, but of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding (Praised be almighty God for the same) Do for the settling of my temporal affairs make publish and declare this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following this is to say, first I order and direct that all my just debts funeral expenses the charge of probate hereof and all other incident charges and expenses paid and discharged out of my personal estate by my executors herein - after named, and I give and bequeath to Daniel Pilkington my son the sum of one shilling to be paid to him by my executor and executes in one month next after my decease he having had from me considerable sums of money more than I have for any of my other children, and I also give to Ann my daughter for her care and trouble she had had , with me living with me during the remainder of my life the sum of twenty pounds and also one pair of Looms, and a bed and Bedding & Dresser over and above her share with my other children and I further order and direct that the remainder of my household furniture be equally divided among my three daughters, Viz Jane Sim Margaret Pilkington and Ann Pilkington - and all the residue and remainder of my personal estate and effects of what kind or nature whatsoever the same maybe whether money at interest or otherwise to be divided equally among these my children namely - Adam Pilkington my son, Samuel Pilkington my son Thomas Pilkington, my son Euan (Possibly Evan) Pilkington my son William Pilkington my son, Jane Sim my daughter, Margaret Pilkington my daughter, and Ann Pilkington my daughter, share and share alike, - Subject nevertheless as to my son Samuel Pilkington to deduct out of his share seven pounds ten shillings - also my son Thomas Pilkington to deduct out of his share the sum of five pounds - and also as to my William Pilkington to deduct out of his share the sum of eight pounds fourteen shillings - and also my daughter Jane Sim to deduct out of her share the sum of three pounds - There my said children having received these sums from me and the aforesaid sums deducted out of their respective shares as before stated and added to and divided as before directed - And I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint John Whittle of Longworth to be executor - Jane Sim and Ann Pilkington to be executrix jointly of this my last will and testament hoping they will faithfully perform the same as my trust is in them reposed and that they shall retain all their reasonable costs charges damages and expenses out of my effects and lastly I do hereby revoke all former wills by me made and declare this to be my last will and testament in witness thereof I the said Thomas Pilkington have here unto set my hand and seal the nineteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty three.
(19 Oct 1823)
Signed and sealed published and declared by the said Thomas Pilkington as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his sight and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnessed thereto. (A standard lawyers seal is attached) The will is signed in a shaky hand but fully legible, the main body of the will is in another persons hand. Thomas Pilkington was educated. His signature indicates that he was of very old age. The witnesses are Brian Pitfield and Ralph Marsden. The 2nd April 1824 John Whittle executor in will named was sworn in common form (However being reserved unto Jane Sim and Ann Pilkington executrixes in this will also named to take upon them the executor thereafter they shall lawfully request the same) The father made executor that the personal estate effects of the said at the time of his death which with effects were under the value of £100.
The testator died 28th Feb. 1824. Probate dated 2nd April 1824. JSade. Surrogate
Located here is a summary of descendants
