The Marland Family

Henry Merland - Vicar of Rochdale

From Chetham Society new series volume 1

The vicars of Rochdale, by F.R. Raines, ed. Henry H. Howorth, 1883, pp.23-25

1426, xxxi July, apud Heywod , Henry Merland, p'b'r, ad vicar, perpet. de Rachdale p'. libera resign. D'ni R'ici de Twystfeld, ult. vic, Patr. Abbot et Convent, de Whalley. 

31 July 1426 at Heywod, Henry Merland, priest, to perpetual vicar of Rochdale, vacant on the resignation of Dom Richard de Twystfeld the previous vicar. Patron: the Abbot and Convent of Whalley.

[Reg. Heyworth, Lichf.]

[Heywood is near Shugborough, county of Stafford, the old palace of the Bishops of Lichfield - note by J. E. Bailey, Chetham Society Hon. Sec.]

Whitaker calls him Henry de Merland. He was a native of Marland in the parish of which he became Vicar, and his family long continued to hold lands at Marland. His name frequently occurs in connection with trusts and settlements of all the old families in Rochdale Parish, and he was evidently a man who exercised great influence amongst his parishioners, who rejoiced under his spiritual sway. That a learned vicar, connected with an old feudal house, should have lived unambitiously here, and have loved the spot which gave him birth, is not to be wondered at, although his poor " mountain benefice," to use Wordsworth's phrase, had few attractions, and yet for thirty years he presided over the parish, and maintained the dignity of his sacred function. As perpetual vicar he was enjoined to reside constantly on his cure, and it is very clear that he did so. A perpetual Vicar could not be removed by the Patron, and had Letters patent, or a Papal dispensation, to enable him to hold his Benefice. This was also the case with the perpetual Priors.

In one of the notes to the last edition of Whitaker's Whalley, vol. ii. p. 417, 418, communicated by Mr. Raines, we read:

Jacob de Holt dedit Hen. Merland vicario de Rachedale, et Jacobo Browne persone ecclesie de Lullington, omnia mess. terras que fuit Joh. fil. Tho. de Cheteham in Castleton; dat 7 Henry VI. (1428); Test. Robt. Taylloure et Ric. Gartside.

 

James de Holt has given to Henry Merland vicar of Rochdale and to James Browne parson of the church of Lullington, all those messuages and lands which belonged to John son of Thomas de Cheteham in Castleton; dated 7 Henry 6th; witnesses Robert Taylloure and Richard Gartside.

 

(Harleian MSS. 2117, b. 72.)

His seal is engraved in Corry's History of Lancashire (vol. ii. pl. 6) from an impression in brown wax appended to a deed of his among the Healey charters (No. 50) dated 26 July, 1445 ; which, with a deed witnessed by him 14 August, 1445 (No. 51), is printed by Corry.

In the former deed he styles himself Henricus Merlond, Vicarius Ecclesiae de Rachdale, and by it he conveys to Robert de Chadwyk, son of Nicholas de Chadwyk, the messuages, lands, and tenements in Spotland and Hunresfeld which he lately held there under a grant from the said Nicholas and Robert. The seal simply contains his initials H. M., surmounted by a cross. The second deed, in which the same Robert Chadwyk conveys a messuage and other tenements to Henry, son of John Chadwyk, is attested by the Vicar as Henrico Merlond, Vicario, Ecclesiae de Rachdale. (Corry, vol. ii. p. 603-4). In volume xlv. of the Lancashire MSS., we have an abstract of a writ ad quod damnum, for the Abbot and Convent of Whalley respecting lands in Clitheroe and Billington, proposed to be granted by Geoffrey Banastre, vicar of Blackburn, Richard de Ewode, vicar of Eccles, Henry Merland, vicar of Rachdale, Robert Bispham and Richard Dugdale, chaplains to the said Abbot and Convent in part satisfn. of a License to acquire lands granted to them by King Edw. III, 20 Apr, 7 Henry VI, 17 Nov., 8 Henry VI.

He died in 1455/56, and was succeeded by Richard Salley