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So far I do not know the origins of this family, but their arms imply a connection to the Lancasters of Rainhill in Lancashire. Below I simply cite some raw materials...
First, I can mention an intriguing snippets on google books:
The Bishops of Bath and Wells, 1540-1640: Social and Economic Problems, by Phyllis May Hembry. Page 136...
If we should understand from this that he was a Catholic, this would be another indication of a probable connection to the Lancasters of Rainhill. But the mention of Basingstoke is striking, because this would imply that William was a relative of his contemporary Sir James Lancaster, who had Puritan inclinations and who is associated with arms which appear based on those of the Lancasters of Sockbridge.
It also seems likely that we should connect him to the cleric Justinian Lancaster (Langcaster), of the same period, also from Hants,, and also in Somerset...
...at Corpus Christi Coll. 1541, from Hants, fellow 1545, B.A. sup. July 1546, rector of Enmore, Somerset, 1558, archdeacon of Taunton 1560, rector of Huish Champflower, Somerset, 1560, of Chawton, Hants, 1568, and of Donyatt, Somerset, 1568, vicar of Yatton, Somerset, 1573, rector of Church Stanton, DEvon, 1576, prebendary of WEll 1584. See Lansdowne MS. 982, f.46; Fasti, i.123; & Foster's Index Eccl.
This Justinian was excommunicated 3 January 1591/2. Indeed further research shows that the must be a connection, because the Lancaster's of Milverton later got into dispute with the Archdeacon of Taunton concerning land Justinian had possesssed when he had the same position in Elizabethan times.
See http://books.google.com/books?id=oP9mwNe9zhoC&pg=PA141
The visitation of Somershire made in the year 1623 by Henry St. George and Sampson Lennard under Camden's taken from Harl. ms. 1141. Page 66.
There was some kind of dispute between William Lancaster and his father in law. The Richards had been in Milverton longer, and indeed William may have just arrived. See C 1/1023/4-5...
William LANCASTER of Milverton v. Edward RICHARDES of the same.: Money promised to complainant on his marriage with defendant's daughter.: SOMERSET.
Covering dates: 1538-1544
In the 1550s he was involved in various cases and seems to have been part of the community. Concerning his sons, it appears that Roger became a fugitive. See E 178/1979...
SOMERSET: Wiveliscombe Inquisition as to a tenement and land, late of Roger Lancaster, a fugitive.
Covering dates: 38 Elizabeth (1595-6)
The Particular Description of the County of Somerset, by Thomas Gerard, Edward Harbin Bates, Edward Harbin Bates Harbin. Page 41.
Proceedings of the Somersetshire Archaeological and Natural History Society. v.49-50 (1903-04). Page 81.
Notes & Queries for Somerset and Dorset. Vol IV, 1895. Page 227.
