People: Valentine, Thomas
Surname
Valentine (Valentyne/ Volantyne)
Forename
Thomas
Sex
Male
Parish
Eccles
Marital Status
Married
Occupation Status
Gentleman
Remarks
Thomas Valentine was the son of John Valentine and his wife, Joan Langtree. The Valentine family, originally from Flixton, occupied Bentcliffe (also known as Bencliffe or Beancliffe) Hall on the eastern outskirts of Eccles. The property remained in the family until it was sold about 1792.
The hall was demolished at the beginning of the nineteenth century as the area became increasingly industrialised.
In 1536 Thomas granted all his lands in Eccles, Barton and Worsley to his illegitimate sons, John and Richard.
The depositions in the causes referred to below indicate that he had been servant of Sir Richard Brereton but the two men had fallen out.
His will, made in March 1550, left the majority of his estate to his son, Richard, who may have been the illegitimate son who had benefited from the transfer of land in 1536. The will does not refer to any other family members. Although the doctrine of purgatory had been publicly debated since the 1540s, and officially condemned at times, the will bequeathed numerous small sums to servants and tenants to pray for his soul, suggesting that Thomas Valentine had remained a staunch Catholic.
There is no date of probate given, but the inventory is dated 8 April 1550, suggesting that the will was made shortly before he died.
Sources:
John Harland (ed.), Mamecestre, Volume 3 (Chetham Society, old series, 58, 1857), p. 492
Rev. G. J. Piccope, (ed.), Lancashire and Cheshire Wills and Inventories from the Ecclesiastical Court, Chester, 3 volumes (Chetham Society, old series, 51, 1860 (Second Portion), pp. 134-135
‘Townships: Barton’, in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 4, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1911), pp. 363-376. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol4/pp363-376 [accessed 8 December 2022]