Nicholas Assheton

Nicholas Assheton

Nicholas Assheton (1590 – 1625), a country squire and writer who lived at Downham, near Clitheroe, Lancashire, is noteworthy on account of a brief diary which he left illustrating the character of the country life of that part of West Lancashire which is associated with the poet Spenser. He belonged to a branch of the Assheton family of Middleton, in the same county, and was the son of Richard Assheton, of Downham.

He probably had his education at Clitheroe grammar school; he married Frances, daughter of Richard Greenacres, of Worston, near Downham; and he died 16 April 1625, leaving issue. His journal, which extends from 2 May 1617 to 13 March 1619, records his intercourse with his tenants and neighbours, with all their 'businesses, sports, bickerings, carousings, and (such as it was) religion.' It includes some interesting notices of James I's visit to Lancashire in August 1617, when the petition which originated the 'Book of Sports' was presented to that king (Nichols's Progresses, iii.396-403). The original journal has been lost. It was first printed by Thomas Dunham Whitaker in his History of Whalley. It was next edited in 1848 by Canon Raines, in vol. xiv of the Chetham Society series, from the third or 1818 edition of 'Whalley,' and was accompanied by some excellent notes and an account of the Assheton family. In 1876 the diary was re-edited in the fourth edition of 'Whalley,' ii.122-142. Harrison Ainsworth introduced Assheton into his novel of the 'Lancashire Witches,' book ii, chap, iii, as 'a type of the Lancashire squire of the day,' but both Whitaker and the novelist were mistaken in considering him a puritan.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Newton-in-Bowland — Coordinates: 53°56′49″N 2°27′40″W / 53.947°N 2.461°W / 53.947; 2.461 …   Wikipedia

  • Royal Households of the United Kingdom — The Royal Households of the United Kingdom are the organised offices and support systems for the British Royal Family, along with their immediate (royal) families. Alongside The Royal Household, which supports the Sovereign, each member of the… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Treasurers to British royal consorts — Below is an incomplete list of those who have served as Treasurer to British royal consorts. =Treasurers to Caroline, Princess of Wales, later Queen Caroline (1714 ndash;1737)= *1727 ndash;1730: Sir William Strickland, 4th Baronet *1730… …   Wikipedia

  • High Sheriff of Lancashire — The High Sheriff of Lancashire is an ancient High Sheriff title which has been in existence for around a thousand years. [cite web |url=http://www.holtancestry.co.uk/pdf/high sheriffs.pdf |publisher= HoltAncestry.co.uk|title= The High Sheriffs of …   Wikipedia

  • Maurice Russell, knight — Sir Maurice Russell, a typecast not a portrait, displays the serious and dignified mien expected of the mediaeval knight, as for example portrayed in Chaucer s Canterbury Tales. Detail from Dyrham brass …   Wikipedia

  • Clitheroe (UK Parliament constituency) — Clitheroe Former County constituency for the House of Commons County Lancashire 1885 (1885) …   Wikipedia

  • City of London (UK Parliament constituency) — City of London Former Borough constituency for the House of Commons 1298 (1298)–1950 (1950) …   Wikipedia

  • Marcus Worsley — Title Worsley Baronet Tenure 4 December 1973 present ( 1000000000000003700000037 years, 10000000000000350000000350 days) Spouse(s) Bridget Assheton Issue …   Wikipedia

  • List of godchildren of members of the British Royal Family — Below is an incomplete list of godchildren of members of the British Royal Family:Queen Sophia in Prussia*Prince George William Frederick of Wales, later George III (1738–1820)Augusta, Princess of Wales*George Augustus Frederick, Prince of Wales …   Wikipedia

  • List of Conservative Party (UK) MPs — This is a list of Conservative Party MPs. It includes all Members of Parliament elected to the British House of Commons representing the Conservative Party from 1834 onwards. Members of the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly or the European… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”