Garrison Roll - People Mentioned therein

Note that the Part numbers referred to are my own subdivision into components.

At the period of these enquests surnames had not fully settled into the modern form - most of the names mentioned are of English soldiers or officers sent over by the Stanley's - most names are geographic (of 'xxx') where the place referred to is almost always within the south west part of Lancashire (West Derby Hundred) dominated by the Stanleys. The Lord from 1405 to 1414 was Sir John Stanley, who never visited the Island, he was succeeded by his son, John (Lord 1414-1437) who is reported as having visited the Island in 1417 and 1422.

Thomas Litherland orders the earlier enquests; - in later impeachments a Thomas Litherland is described as ' Constable and Steward of the Peel' (his counterpart at Castle Rushen was Rys), as such he was in charge of the Military force at the Peel and as Steward reponsible for the good running of what appears to be a fairly extensive household. However he would be junior to John Fasakerly etc and it seems strange that he is named as ordering the enquest - possibly the Thomas of Litherland who made the order was another member of the same family as John Litherland ? Litherland is some 5 miles west of Knowsley and thus intimately linked to the Stanley's. John Litherland is noted in 1405 as one of those ordered to proceed to the Island to take possession for the Stanleys, a John Litherland is noted as Lieutanant of Mann (= Governor) in 1417. Though by 1422 John Walton is described as Lieutenant in the indictment of Howlac Mackissacke.

Those taking the earlier enquests were: John of Fasakerley, Roger of Aughton and Roger of Hulton. In 1428 John Cote states that John Fasakerley and Roger Aughton were sent over together with others - Cote being at that time Controller.

John Fazackerly (or Fasakerley) is noted as Lieutenant in 1418 - though there seems some doubt about the date -given in a later transcription as 1518 which is obviously incorrect - Feltham assumed 1418 presumeably based on Quayle's MS to which he appears to have access, as does Moore in his note on Sir John Stanley though in his list of Governors within his 1900 History. Fasakerly is given uncritically as 1518. In Quayles book of precedents based on a now lost Court Roll of 1417/8 a John Fasakerly is noted as Lieutenant. Taking John Cote's words as having some truth, John Fasakerly came over, thought that the governance had not been good, instituted some reforms but soon fell into the old ways of bribe taking etc which may have led to the 1422 problems. This date is partly confirmed by a statement in the earlier enquest at Castle Rushen in which it is admitted that women were allowed into Castle Rushen 'since the time that you came into the Country' - thus the earlier enquest may date between 1418-1422 unless John Fasakerly returned prior to 1428. By September1428 Henry of Byrom was Lieutenant (not Byron which I think is a misreading that has propagated through the literature - Byrom is in the South East of the West Derby Hundred; a, presumably later, Henry Byrom presented a James Stanley to Winwick.).

Roger Aghton and Roger Hulton would appear to have been the Captains (deputy Lieutenants) under John Fasakerley, they would appear to have brought men of 'their owne affynite' with them. Also, if there is any truth in the accusations laid against them by several witnesses at the 1428 enquest, they appeared to take full advantage of their situation keeping hawks and greyhounds for sport as well as having an undue livery (allowance of food, ale and fuel) but by 1428 were back in England.

John Cote was Controller or Comptroller - he was in charge of the Lord's revenue, auditing accounts of the receiver and waterbaliff and rendering such accounts, annually, to the Lord. Had a joint responsibilty with the Receiver to ensure that garrisons were properly victualled, castles kept in good repair etc. His deputy was Ranlyn of Bolton, Clerk of the Rolls The Receiver Henry Storreys was responsible for the collection of the Lord's revenue as well as being paymaster, producing quarterly accounts for scrutiny by the comptroller. Most of the actual collection was done by the Mooars and the receiver had considerable powers of oversight over them. For much of the Stanley period until 1610 there were two receivers - that for the Northside based at Peel Castle and that for Southside at Castle Rushen. Cote is very critical of the Receiver even to the point of raising official complaints - "I went to my lord to complayn me and this I put to my lord and here my lordes letters" - these complaints would appear to predate the arrival of Fasakerley and Aghton, the latter even suggesting that Coke go to Sir John Stanley. However it appears that the Lieutenant and his Captains 'fell of one affinity' and Cote accuses their followers (and by implication them) of accepting bribes etc in the country - he openly accuses the Captains of being more concerned to line their own pockets than to look after the Lord's affairs. It would also appear that these Captains considerably deputed for the Lieutenant - Cote also states that the Bishop and the Abbot of Rushen played a significant part in the governance of the Island. The other witnesses all vouched as to the bad relationship between the Constables, the Controller, the Receiver and the Clerk of the Rolls.

Those mentioned in the Inventory or First Peel enquest (parts 1 & 2)

Sir John - the 'Sir' is almost certainly honoric and thus he was a priest, no John, other than the Bishop, is mentioned in the 1408 declaration.

Donold of the Bakehouse - occupation obvious!
Gibon Clerk, - Clerk is most likely his occupation
Gibon Hoper
Jankyn Sandall - appears to have been friendly with Litherland as several complaints that he was lent items from the Peel stores.
John Bykerstath, porter - Bickerstaffe is in West Derby Hundred, also gave evidence in 1428
John Don
John of Mereclogh
John of Morecroft - both Johns are mentioned within the same paragraph thus would appear as distinct.
Masty
Mathew Hawelson -
Nicholas Altkarre - Alcar is near Liverpool, a Nicholar Alcar is noted as a Miller and Brewer (at Holmtown Mill) in Patrick and noted as previous renter of a chamber in Peel in 1515, (see Gill's comments)
Nicholas of Ines - Ince is in the West Derby Hundred
Ranlyn of Bolton - Clerk of the Rolls
Richard of Hulme - Hulme is near Manchester
Richard Stephenson
Richard Wilkynson,
Robin Rede
Stephen Porter - Porter (gate keeper) is most likely his occupation
Thomas Baret
Thomas Kyrkby - Kirkby is near Liverpool
Thomas of Aghton, - Aughton is in West Derby Hundred
Thomas Ughtryngton - ? Oughtrington in Cheshire
— Whityngton -
William Blackburne - Gill notes the Blackburnes as a Liverpool family with strong Stanley links.

William Mc A.Yex' - William McAlex' (McAlexander) is noted in the affair over the would-be stowaway servant boy, probably his servant.Willm MacAlexander is also noted as one of the Keys in the 1429 Court Roll.
— McGilcist - McGilchrist (modern Mylchreest), this would appear to be oldest record of this name
— McKewryalt
Germot McKerron - name McKerron found in several parishes in 1511/1515 though a few in Patrick.

[tbc]