Robert de Lathom

   Another name for Robert was Robert Fitz Henry.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Background Information. ⁸²⁴
Robert, son of Henry, is the first known male ancestor of the house of Lathom. Mr. Baines, in his History of Lanchishire, states that this Robert was descended from Orm, who is described "by credible tradition" to have been the Saxon proprietor of Halton, who, driven from Cheshire, established himself in Lancashire, and by his marriage to Alice, daughter of Herveus, obtained large estates in the county. Orm was no doubt the founder of the church of Ormakirk. This is likely more myth than can documented truth.

More weighty evidence of the descent of the Lathoms from that Orm Fitz Ailward who married Emma, daughter of Albert Grelley, is obtained from the Testa de Neville. In folio 822 of that document it is stated "Albertus de Gredle senex dedit feodum unius militis Orm fil' Ailward in martitag. cum filia sua, scil' in Dalton et Parbold et Writington, Heredes predicti Ormi tenent predictam terram." And in folio 791, "Robertus de Lathom tenet unum feodum militis in Childewal, et quartam partem militis in Parbold et tres partes militis in Wrothinton de feodo Thome de Gretley."

Robert de Lathom founded Burscogh priory between 1173 and 1199. He probably married the daughter of Orme Fitz Ailward and the were the parents of Richard de Lathom.

~The Courcher Book, Or Chartulary, of Whalley Abbey, Vol. II, p. 551

• Background Information. ⁸⁶³
Robert Fitz Henry, Lord of Lathom, so describes himself in his Foundation Charter of Burscough Priory, between 1189 and 1199, endowing it with lands in Burscough, Merton, Lathom, St. Leonard's in Knouseley, and the churches of Ormskirk, Huyton, and Flixton, for the souls of Henry II, John, then Earl of Mortune, himself, his wife, parents, ancestors and successors. The charter is witnessed by Richard Fitz Henry, considered to have been his brother, and ancestor of the Torbocks. The Inquisition of 13 John names Richard Fitz Robert as grantee from Albert de Gredlè, and also mentions his lands to the Nuns at Chester, who had land in Lathom at the dissolution. His death was in or before 1201. The name of Robert Fitz Henry's wife does not appear, but it is demostrable from the tenor of Records that she was daughter and coheiress of Orme fitz Ailward, who is named in the Inquisition of 13 John, as having received Estone (Ormestone and Urmston) in marriage with Emma, daughter of of Albert de Gredlè the elders, and having previously and similarly received from hin Dalton, Parbold and Wrightington, which are espressly specified in the Testa de neville to be held by Robert Fitz Henry's descendant Robert de Lathom in one passage, and in another by the heir of Orme, this fixing Robert de Lathom as that heir.

~Parentalia, Genealogical Memoirs, p. 65-66

• Background Information. ⁹²⁰
The lord of Lathom whose name is on record was Siward son of Dunning, who held it in thegnage about the time of Henry II. Siward made a grant of one plough-land here to Gospatrick, probably the lord of Hindley [Lancs. Inquests and Extents (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), 16]. Siward's son Henry received from Albert Grelley the elder a plough-land in Flixton, with the church of the manor, to hold as a member of the barony of Manchester [Lancs. Inq. and Extents (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), 57]. Henry was succeeded by his son Robert, who at Michaelmas, 1169, rendered account of 10 marks due by him to the aid to marry the king's daughter [Farrer, Lancs. Pipe R. 12, 15]. His most notable act was the foundation of the priory of Burscough in or before 1189 [Ibid. 349]. Robert took part in the rebellion of his chief, John, count of Mortain, in 1194, and later in the year paid an instalment of the fine of 20 marks incurred therefor [Ibid. 77, 89]. He received a grant of Anglezark from Albert Grelley the younger [Lancs. Inq. and Extents, 58].

~VCH A History of the County of Lancaster, Vol. III, 247-258

Robert married Lady Fitz Ailward, daughter of Orm Fitz Ailward and Emma Grelley.⁸²⁴ (Lady Fitz Ailward died about 1199 in Lancashire, England.)