Person:Robert Worden (1)

Inherited land from his father William about 1574, when he was 40. Not listed in Guild Rolls. Robert is listed in guild Rolls fro 1542 and 1562 with father William. Sons are listed in 1582, but he is not. According to 1574 Manor records, Robert had inherited his father William's lands at age 40, since the previous record written several years before. He was the second son , but his older brother William had died.

The Worden Family in England

The Worden family in the United States cannot go back with certainty beyond Peter I who arrived here in 1623. However, we may assume those listed below are our ancestors. William Werden I of Clayton-le-Woods; Burgess of Preston, 1542 - Had 2 Sons: William Werden II of Clayton-le-Woods; Burgess 1542 Robert Werden of Clayton-le-Woods; Burgess 1542-62 & 1858 - Had 3 Sons: William Werden III of Clayton-le-Woods; Gentleman, Burgess of Preston in 1582-1602-1622 & 1642 James Werden of Clayton; Burgess 1582 & 1602 Peter Werden of Clayton; Burgess 1582 & 1602 - Had a Son: Peter Werden II of Clayton; Burgess 1622 A Burgess was a freeman renting land worth forty shillings anually and entitled to vote and hold office in local government. The law of premogeniture was the law in England and it means that the eldest son always inherits the family property, though the father by Will could leave small farms and leases of other lands to his younger sons. Therefore, William II and William III inherited the family fortune. Robert was the second son and Peter the third. So Peter I was a "yeoman", not a "gentleman" which meant in those days, a man who could live on his income without himself doing any manuel labor. We believe that the name Werden <worden02.htm> came from the fording place on the brook that forms the boundary between Clayton and Leyland. It is definitely a topographical name. There were two Werden Halls in Leyland, but they are named for the land and no Werden family ever lived in them. In Edward Baines' "History of the County Palatine and Duchy of Lancaster," published in 1831, there is a list of the gentry "who have arms but not residences" and Werden is listed among them. There is an armorial window in the Church of St. Andrew in Leyland. Father Sawle does not know when or by whom it was installed, but suspects it was done by Susan Maria Harington around 1875. Susan Maria Harington does not mention the Werden family in her "History of the Haringtons of Farington and Worden," only the Werden property, but she did know there was a family because she put its Coat of Arms in the top left panel of the window. There is also a Worden Arms included in the long gallery of coats of arms in New Worden Hall.

SOURCE: Unknown: Obtained at Worden Hall in East Dennis, Cape Cod, Mass.

Birth: cir __ ___ 1534 1542 Preston, Lancashire, England; appeared as out-Burgess in guild rolls.

1562 Preston; Robert also appeared as out-Burgess. 

Marriage: cir __ ___ 1568 contract to marry is in Flowers Visitation 1567. 1574 Clayton, Lancashire, England; Robertus (age 40,son and heir of William) appeared as a tenant-at -will in Roll of Manor Court of Clayton, Lancashire, England (rolls which contained a lists of the tenants of the manor). Note: __ ___ 1574 Isabel's dowery was paid by her brother Richard in 1574. Land which Robert held in Coppull was part of her dower. Death: 11 Sep 1580 Note: aft 11 Sep 1580 Because Robert died when his son and heir was only 11 years old and the lands in Leyland and Clayton were held by feudal tenure, William during his minority was liable to be treated as a ward of his superior lord. Isobel tried hard to avoid this, and was helped by her eldest brother and John Banaster. Court battles were fought between Isobel and Sir Edmund Huddleston as well as between Isobel and her brother Richard along with John Banaster not only for the control but the actual physical person William. We do not know if there was indeed bad feelings between Isobel and her brother and John Banaster or if this was a plan in the legal moves against the Huddlestons. These numerous court battles argue not only over the rights of William the heir but over those of the younger children. Although not conversant with English laws and customs of the times, I wonder if this has anythingto do with Peter I's statements of rights he might have in England.

03 Sep 1584 "Inquisition Post Mortem of Robert Wearden, gent. taken 3 Sep 1584"-Robert Werden, he of the marriage to Isobel Worthinngton, died on 11 September 1580. At his death, he held "1 messuage, 1 cottage, 7 acres of land, 3 acres of meadow and ___acres of pasture in Clayton" (these were inquiries into land held at the time of death, by what service he held it and who his heirs were.) He also held land in Coppull and Leyland. 

Father: William WORDEN (1514-1574)