People: Lever, Elizabeth

Surname

Lever (Leaver)

Forename

Elizabeth

Alternative Surname

Cheetham

Sex

Female

Marital Status

Married

Spouse Name

First husband, Alexander Lever; second husband, Thomas Cheetham

Remarks

Career: Elizabeth’s first husband, Alexander Lever, had held the prebend of Bolton-le-Moors under lease from 1499 until his death. Following his death the lease was the subject of a lawsuit between his executors and the archdeacon of Chester.

The executors of Alexander Lever were Elizabeth, William Bolton (his brother-in-law) and two sons. William Bolton was Elizabeth’s brother.

After his death Elizabeth re-married Thomas Cheetham and in 1542 William Bolton, as a trustee of Alexander Lever, sued Thomas and Elizabeth for the return of tithe corn and the goods and chattels of the deceased which had been left for the benefit of Alexander’s children and Elizabeth, but only for as long as she remained unmarried. There was a commission of enquiry which decided in favour of the trustees.

Elizabeth Lever was the mother of Roger Lever.

Sources:

James Christopher Scholes, History of Bolton: with Memorials of the old Parish Church, (ed. William Pimblett, Bolton, 1892), pp. 101-105

Causes

EDC 5/13/1 – mentioned in the libel

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