Willoughby Molyneux

[suebeth4]

Hi
I don't know if my ancestor came from there either if anybody can help please?

Willoughby Molyneux born about 1770 ish Lancashire
He lived and was buried in Westhoughton St Bartholomew church
But was married at St Aidans in Billinge

A big distance difference
Maybe his wife Betty Gregory was expecting so they went somewhere nobody knew them.
As she was born in Westhoughton, because she was alive for the 1851 census.
But Willoughby was only on the 1841 census, which doesnt really give much info.

The unusual first name makes me wonder if there is some connection with the Willoughby family?
Because some lived at Worsley Hall in Worsley around that time.
Some Molyneus family lived at Westhoughton Hall in Westhoughton.
They later took over Loosley park through marriage.
There must have been some conection to Sefton Molyneux's as they inherited and sold of the Hall and estate.

I've seen a post that somebody has Willoughbys parents as William Molyneus and Ellen Rowstern and him born in Wigan?

Is there any connection to Hawkley Hall?
I just can't get any further back from unusual Willoughby Molyneux.

[suebeth4]

I came across this for Hawkley Hall
Some think that Hawkley hall was only taken over by Molyneux's in the 1500s

But on this paper I came across in Wigan History records.
It says the Hawkley family who lived at the Hall came over with William the conqueror
Their shield over the door was a gold cross on a blue background,
Sound familiar?
I wonder if they were called Hawkleys because they were originally Hawk breeders as royalty had then?
Plus the Molyneux lords of Sefton were very favoured with royalty and Roger of Poitou over the years because of their loyalty.
So different children of Lord Seftons over time would have been given different estates, lots changed their names
As in Thornton for one example.

I read somewhere that Sir Gilbert Gerrard who married his daughter to the young Molyneux who was his ward,
So the land would have been his own inheritance before. not given at the time as some have suggested.
Lots took control of wards, even buying their contracts as they controlled their estates, supposed to be looking after the estate as looking after the boy.
Many as Gerrard did married them off to one of their own children.
In the hope of death it would come to them.

Maybe somebody else has more info?

[MaryA]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I thought your post deserved an entry of it's own so I've split it off from the original you replied to since it didn't really seem to have much connection with it. The original poster didn't reply to our offer of help and appears to no longer frequent our forum.

I don't think Westhoughton and Billinge are too far apart, only being about 11 - 15 miles away from each other,
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Billing ... 2d53.54896

This house is a good site for checking the meaning of surnames, you might find it useful.
https://www.houseofnames.com/hawkley-fa ... isposition.

[suebeth4]

Thank you MaryA
I didn't know how or if I could do that myself?

As for Hawkley hall, I just don't know where our Willoughby comes from?
He's a real mystery, that's my problem, so any help I can get is greatfully recieved.
Its the unusual first name which is so stricking, I love it.

I know that some mothers have used their maiden name as a middle name to continue it.
That's all I have to go on, but no connections to Willoughby family yet?

On St Aidans church
How well known would that have been to somebody living in Westhoughton, or Hindley?
When there are lots of churches much nearer and easier to get to,
I can't imagine they were well off to have a carriage, although he did work and live later on a farm in Hindley, or my next line did.
I know when Willoughby's wife Betty died it was on a farm, so some family members had one?

He was also the grandad of Elijah Molyneux who started the scrap metal business in Wigan, Scholes area.
Elijah was born out of wedlock to Phoebe Pendlebury who later married Samuel Molyneux.
Who I presume was his father, as he took the surname?
Samuel was one of Willoughby's sons.

The name Willoughby was passed down as a middle name to the Williams of the family line.

I love doing my family history, its so exciting, brain stimulating and keeps me out of mischief?
My cousin calls me Miss Marple ha ha

Many Thanks

[MaryA]

St Aidans may have been the church one or other family used previously, have you checked for baptisms earlier to see whether he was born in the area? I admit I can't find a baptism on Lancs OPC. Still looking.

The name is prominent in Westhoughton, as are the childrens names, it might be an idea to investigate Mary Mullinex who had a few children, apparently alone, in Westhoughton, with similar names as your Willoughby had, ie William and Samuel, perhaps make enquiries with the Lancashire Record Office (Bow Lane, Preston) to see if there have been any Filiation Orders (Bastardy Bonds) issued under that surname and variants. You can search their catalogue yourself, but try all variations of name, including first names of mother as well as children. https://archivecat.lancashire.gov.uk/calmview/