The Mayburys of Lancashire

Richard Maybury (____-1643) settled in Lancashire by 1626

His son, John (1628-1677), settled in Londonderry, Ireland in 1657

  1. Richard Maybury was likely the first of the Maybury family in Lancashire. We have not yet determined the names of his parents. However, it seems likely that he was a son of Nicholas Maybury, one of the hammerman sons of John Maybury of Sussex. On 31 Jan 1626 Richard Maybury, of Churchtowne, Lancashire was married to Anne Wright at Cartmel Priory. Anne was a daughter of John Wright of Churchtowne, who died in 1624. Anne was said to be fourteen years of age when her father died. Presumably, Richard was a few years older.

    Richard Maybury is referred to in a 1634 court document as a "hammerman of Cartmell Forge". His wife, Anne, was buried on 20 Jul 1643 at Cartmel Priory/Parish, Lancashire. Richard was buried less than three weeks later on 8 Aug 1643 also at Cartmel Priory/Parish. His estate was finally settled in 1650 after his son, John, came of age.

    On 25 Feb 1627, a year after the marriage of Richard Maybury and Anne Wright, an Anne Maybury, possibly Richard's sister, married William Barrow of Broughton, also at Cartmel Priory.

    On 4 August 1643, four days before he was buried, Richard Maybury wrote his will:

In the name of God Amen 4th August 1643 I Richard Mayberry of the Churchtowne in Cartmell sick in body ...................... to be buried in the parish church of Cartmell at the discretion of my friends ......................

Item it is my will and I do give and bequeath unto John Mayberry my eldest son and his heirs for ever all that my cappittal messuage and croft with its appurtenances in the Churchtowne aforesaid, also all that my messuage and tenement with its appurtenances called the Farmery which was purchased of John Ashburner, also all that one meadow adjoining to the churchyard and that my Mosse and Turbary which I lately purchased of Thomas Burscough.

Item it is my will and I do give and demise unto my trusty and good friends Henry Barrow, Edward Michelson, Edward Marshall and Thomas Burscough and their heirs and assigns for ever all that my messuage and Backside with its appurtenances which was purchased of James Keene, also all those lands called Brackenrigge, also all that meadow and ground likewise called Brackenrigge which I lately bought of Thomas Burscoughe and the Mosse and Turbarywhich I bought of Robart Wainhouse, nevertheless upon this special trust and confidence that they (as soon as conveniently they can) make sale thereof to such person or persons and his or their heirs as will give the full worth for the same, and the money arising upon the said sale I do limit and appoint the said Henry Barrow, Edward Michelson, Edward Marshall and Thomas Burscoughe to answer and pay unto my younger children; Nicholas, Martine, Richard, Clement and Mary Mayberry whereof every one of them to have their equal part.

Item it is my will that all my messuages lands and tenements with their appurtenances before named bequeathed and demised shall be let by the four men before named to the most profit and advantage to and for the maintenance and bringing up of all my said children until such time as my said son John shall have accomplished the age of one and twenty years; and it is my will that when my said son John hath accomplished the age of one and twenty years as aforesaid, and then be mindful to purchase the said lands before named and demised for the use of my said younger children; or any part thereof; that then he shall have it before any other giving security for the same at my said devisees discretion and paying so much for such lands as he so purchaseth as they can be sold for to another bona fide; and my said devisees to grant such lands as he so purchases to him and his heirs for ever.

Item it is my will that if any of my said younger children do die before they come to lawful years to dispose of their portions, that then the portion of him or her so dying shall be equally divided amongst the rest of my said younger children surviving.

Item it is my will and I do make Nicholas, Martin, Richard and Clement my sons and Mary my daughter my joint executors to whom I give all my goods as well moveable as immoveable they well and truly paying and discharging all my debts, legacies and funeral expenses, and I do give my loving Master Thomas Preston Esq and my good friends Mr Robert Rawlinson and Henry Berry to be supervisors in this my will, and to see the same truly performed so far as they are able as my trust is in them, and for their pains I give unto every one of them six shillings.

Records hereof
John Brook - clerk
Edward Marshall (sworn)
Robte Robinson (sworn) and
Thomas Burscough

Probate granted 14th September 1643 to John Brooke of Cartmell by virtue of a special commission.

The estate was not finally settled until 1650 when Richard Maybury's eldest son, John, reached the age of 21.

  1. Richard Maybury

    1. John Maybury (forgeman) was baptized 8 Jun 1628 at Cartmel Priory, Lancs. When he came of age about 1650 he inherited his father's property in Lancashire but, as we shall see in the court document below, he was "an extravagant man" and contracted debts he was unable to pay. Therefore, about 1657, he "retired out of England" to Ireland where he died in 1677.

      John Maybury is almost certainly the "Mayberry" or "Meybury" who, along with a man named Hodgins, was brought to Londonderry by one of the London companies to establish an iron foundry. This was part of an effort, on the advice of Sir William Petty, to cut down the timber in order to clear out the "wood-kerne" described as "hostile and homeless Irish who lurked in the woods". The forge was established at a place near Kilrea called Forge Lough. The resulting Kilrea iron was known for its excellent quality due, it was said, to the use of holly in the smelting process.

      The local history of Kilrea says that this Mayberry was "one of the brave men who fought at the siege of Derry" in 1689. However, John Mayberry died in 1677. If there was a Mayberry who fought at the siege of Londonderry, it was probably his son, Richard Mayberry. The Mayberry spelling continues to be used among descendants of John Mayberry who still live in Londonderry and Antrim. It is also used by the family of William Mayberry, who emigrated to Massachusetts (now Maine) about 1730.

      1. Richard Mayberry (forgeman) was born in Ireland. In 1708 he gave a deposition (see below) in which he stated that he was living in Lisnagrot in Londonderry County, Ireland. The deposition shows that Richard's father, John Maybury, left Lancashire about the year 1657 and settled in Ireland.

We have not yet determined whether or not John Maybury had children, other than Richard. It likely that Richard or a brother, was the father of William Mayberry, a blacksmith, who was born about 1688 and is said by his descendants to have come from Ballomoney, County Antrim, Ireland to Marblehead, Massachusetts about 1730. This William Mayberry married Bathsheba Dennis in Ireland.

  1. Richard Maybury

    1. John Maybury

      1. Richard Mayberry

    2. Mary Maybury was baptized 16 May 1630 at Cartmel Priory/Parish, Lancs.; m1 Mr. Tompson, as she is named in the will of her brother, Clement Mayberry (1667) as his sister, Mary Tompson; m2 19 Jul 1671 Edward Fell at Cartmel Priory/Parish, Lancs.

    3. Nicolas Maybury was baptized 23 May 1632 at Cartmel Priory/Parish, Lancs.; m 14 Aug 1654 Bridget Collison of Ulverston at Cartmel Priory/Parish, Lancs. In 1675 he was a resident of Lindall in the Parish of Dalton, Lancs. at which time he was the executor of the estate of his brother, Clement. Nicholas was still living in Lindall in the Parish of Dalton, giving his age "70 years" when he gave a deposition in 1699.

    4. Martin Maybury was baptized 7 Mar 1633/34 at Cartmel Priory/Parish, Lancs.

    5. James Maybury was baptized 17 Jan 1635/36 at Cartmel Priory/Parish, Lancs.; bur 6 Apr 1636 at Cartmel Priory/Parish, Lancs.

    6. Richard Maybury was baptized 24 Feb 1636/37 at Cartmel Priory/Parish, Lancs.; bur. 15 Mar 1636/37 Cartmel Priory, Lancs.

    7. Richard Maybury was baptized 27 Mar 1638 at Cartmel Priory/Parish, Lancs.; m Elizabeth _____; bur 24 Jan 1665/66 at Hawkshead, Lancs.

      1. Ann Maybury was baptized 19 Jul 1663 at Hawkshead, Lancs.; bur 10 Oct 1663 at Hawkshead, Lancs.

      2. George Maybury was baptized 9 Oct 1664 at Hawkshead, Lancs.

      3. Jane Maybury m 3 Nov 1689 John Webster at Dalton in Furness, Lancs.

    8. Godfrey Maybury was baptized 15 Mar 1640/41 at Cartmel Priory/Parish, Lancs.; bur. 9 Jul 1641 at Cartmel Priory/Parish, Lancs.

    9. Clement Maybury (blacksmith) was baptized 20 Jun 1642 at Cartmel Priory/Parish, Lancs.; wrote his will 12 Sep 1667, giving his residence as Lindall in the Parish of Dalton, Lancs.; bur 2 Jul 1675 at Dalton in Furness, Lancs.

Deposition of Richard Maybury of Londonderry, Ireland concerning the estate of his father, John Maybury, formerly of Lancashire

1st May 1708
To the Right honourable William Lord Cowper Baron of Wingham, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain

Humbly complaining showeth unto your Lordship your orator Richard Mayberry of Lisnayrell (This may refer to Lisnagrot, an area near Kilrea in Londondery where the Mayburys settled.) in the county of Londonderry and Kingdom of Ireland forgeman son and heir of John Mayberry late of Cartmell in the county of Lancashire forgeman deceased that your orator's late father being in his lifetime viz on or about 1654 seized in fee or of some other good and sufficient estate of inheritance of within a certain messuage and tenement and divers closes of land called the Church End Meadow and the Turnery or Infirmary Meadow and also of an ancient house or building called the infirmary being parcel of the late .... Priory of Cartmell which premises are situate lying and being in or near the town of Cartmell in the said county and having occasion to borrow the sum of £80 did apply himself to one William Ashburner of Cartmell aforesaid ale draper (innkeeper) deceased to borrow the same wherever the said William Ashburner did advance and lend to the said John Mayberry the said sum of £80 and for and for securing the repayment thereof with interest the said John Mayberry did by some deed or writing convey the said messuage tenement and premises to the said William Ashburner and his heirs but under a proviso or condition that upon repayment of the said £80 and interest at a certain day therein prescribed the said deed or writing should be void as by the said deed or writing or a defeasance bearing the same date with the said mortgage deed if your orator had the same to produce might more fully appear. And your orator further shows that the said John Mayberry being an extravagant man and having contracted several debts which he was unable to pay was forced to abscond and in or about the year 1657 he retired out of England into Ireland where in or about 1677 he departed this life upon whose decease your orator as he is advised became entitled to the redemption of the said mortgaged premises but your orator being very young at his father's decease and being born and bred in the North of Ireland far from the mortgaged premises he had never any knowledge or information of his right and title to redeem the same till about a year since. And your orator further shows that the said William Ashburner departed this life several years since and that one George Ashburner of Cartmell aforesaid blacksmith and one James Long of the same place woodmonger are now in the possession of the said mortgaged premises and pretending to be entitled to the same by and under some measure conveyance from the said William Ashburner your orator made application to the said George Ashburner and James Long and well hopes that they the said George Ashburner and James Long would have accepted of the said principal sum of £80 (your orator being willing to allow and discount the measure profits for the interest) and permitted your orator to have redeemed the said mortgaged premises. But now so if it may please your Lordship that the said George Ashburner and James Long combining and confederating themselves together with one Rowland Johnson of Cartmell aforesaid, clerk, and with diverse other persons unknown to your orator who when discovered your orator prays may be made parties to this his bill of complaint with apt charges. They the said George Ashburner and James Long do now pretend and give out that the said conveyance from your orator's said father to the said William Ashburner was absolute and upon a valuable consideration and that if any defeasance was ever made or executed thereupon by the said William Ashburner the same was afterwards cancelled and delivered up by your orator's said father and that your orator's said father gave a release of his equity of redemption in the estate and premises to the said William Ashburner whereas your orator doth charge that the said estate so conveyed to the said William Ashburner by your orator's said father was defeasible and at the time of executing the said conveyance a defeasance was also executed by the said William Ashburner and also a counterpart thereof by your orator's....your orator's said father being forced to retire hastily out of this realm and leaving his writing behind him....whereas they very well know that your orator was born and bred beyond the seas in Ireland and hath lived there all his lifetime so that the said fine on the length of time....

Don Collins

August 2014