Page last updated 12/01/08
Humfrey Swyndles of Tytherington
Ancestry unknown. Assume born 1510 +/-102
Married ?
Married Isabell5
Children3
Jasper
Humfrey
William
John
Philip
Agnes, (assumed born c.1540) married 1562 in Prestbury, Cheshire
Died 22nd November 15801, buried Macclesfield, Cheshire
Notes
1 Made will 1579. Inventory states died 22nd October 1580.
2 The birth dates of Jasper's children push his father's birth earlier since Jasper is unlikely to have married before the age of 25, and his father the same, giving a Humfrey a likely birthdate of 1510 +/- 10.
3 Humfrey Swyndles is mentioned in a petition to the Court of the Star Chamber in Edward VI's reign (Court of Star Chamber: Proceedings, Edward VI STAC 3/3/44) which I have transcribed. It seems very likely that this is the Humfrey Swyndles who lists Jasper Worth as his landlord in his will of 1579.
Roger Shrygley (Gentleman) and his son Thomas had been granted a 21 year tenancy of three mills in the Forest of Macclesfield - Walley, Patteshrygley and Rannew - on the 17th of October 1546 by the King's councillors in the County Palatinate of Chester, paying 35 shillings for the privilege, plus 5 shillings twice yearly at Easter and Michaelmas. Jasper Worth (Gentleman), supported by Humfrey Swyndles the elder, William Grene, Hugh Bageley, and Thomas Meller, broke into the mill at Rainow and evicted the Shrygleys on the 23rd of February 1548. Roger Shrygley attempted to regain possession two days later but was again opposed by Jasper Worth, this time supported by a larger group of sixteen men now also including Robert Taylor, Raynold Mekyn the elder, Humfrey Swyndles son of James Swyndles, Reynold Mekyn the younger, Thomas Shrygley of the Hurst and Thomas Shrygley son of Geffrey Shrygley. Roger Shrygley was knocked to the ground and injured.
Roger Shrygley asks that Jasper Worth and the others should have to answer personally before the Court of the Star Chamber in Westminster and suffer suitable punishment.
The outcome of the case is not known. Humfrey Swyndles, at least, was a tenant of Jasper Worth and it may be assumed that most, if not all, of the remainder of Jasper Worth's supporters were also his tenants. In support of his peaceful nature Roger Shrygley does not mention having any supporters when he attempted to regain possession of Rainow Mill but it seems unlikely that Jasper gathered a group of 16 men to resist just Roger. Jasper Worth as the Lord of the Manor of Tytherington presumably felt that he had rights to the mill at Rainow which were being infringed by the tenancy granted to Roger Shrygley.
Jasper Worth was probably Jasper Worth, esq, of Tiderington died 1572, married Alice, daughter of sir Philip Draycote of Painsley [co. Staff.] died [at Bache Hall] March 11 1596, buried at Prestbury. (Ormerod "The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester - Macclesfied Hundred" first published 1819, reprinted with additions by Thomas Helsby in 1882, republished in 1980 by EJ Morten, booksellers, ISBN 0859720403 p701)
4 Humfrey in his will asks to be buried next to his deceased wife. I feel she might be the mother of his children.
5 A Humfry Swyndells married Isabell Woorth on the 8th of July 1561 in Prestbury, Cheshire. This could be Humfrey or his son.