Roger de Croft

   Another name for Roger was Roger de Wrightington.⁴²⁰

  Noted events in his life were:

• Living. ¹⁵⁷
According to the book A Genalogy of the Southworths (Southards), by Samuel G. Webber he was living 1189-94 & sons, Gilbert & Hugh were living in 1212.

• Background Information. ¹⁵⁷
The family of Croft got their name from the estate of Croft in West Derby Hundred. Roger de Croft is the first to be found using the surname Croft. He was a falconer to John, count of Mortain. The Genealogy of The Southworths says he is likely was also know by the name Roger de Burton. He obtained Burton and Dalton by an alliance with the family of Gillemichel de Whittington. He was the son of Orm de Ashton, who was the son of Roger de Ashton. Roger de Croft gave Dalton to his son, Gilbert de Croft. Gilbert can be found in the srvey of 1212 as holding land in Croft and in Southworth. He was to take the name de Southworth from his estate in Southworth, which grant was confirmed by Thurston Banastre, lord of Makerfield.

The Southworth family held a distinguished position among the landed gentry of Lancashire. Member of this family served their country in both times of war and peace, many as knights banneret or knights of the shire.

~Genealogy of theh Southworths , pp. 404-405

• Background Information. ⁷⁶⁴
"Gilbert de Croft holds ij. carucates of land in Dalton in thanage and renders yearly xs. Roger, his father, gave xl. acres of land in marriage with his daughter; and to Gospatric Prat xl. acres by rendering xijd. yearly."

Gilbert de Croft has been noticed as tenant of Southworth and Croft, in the parish of Winwick. By fine in 1228, his son Henry being his attorney, made an agreement with William, son of Henry de Burton, touching lands in common right in Burton-in-Kendal and Dalton [Final Concords, p. 54] In 1235, William de Praes released to Gilbert de Croft, his claim in 2 carucates of land in Burton and Dalton (ibid, p. 70). From examination of the charters relating to Burton and Dalton, which are preserved in the Cockersand Chartulary, it is difficult to avoid the suggestion that Roger, father of Gilbert de Croft, was identcal with Roger de Burton, younger brother of Orm de Ashton-under-Lyne, and that the said Roger obtained Burton and Dalton by alliance with a member of the family of Gillemichael de Whittington. Roger de Burton appears to have given Dalton to his son Gilbert de Croft, and Burton to another son, Roger de Burton II.

~Lancashire Inquests, Extents and Feudal Aids, A.D. 1205 - A.D. 1307, p. 9