These notes were compiled by Lesa Tobin and Andrew Lancaster with the help of Jim Lancaster, and then posted by Andrew Lancaster as a contribution to the Lancaster Surname Project. The basic aim is to summarize what evidence we have so far concerning the origins of this family.
Colonial Maryland Soldiers and Sailors 1634-1734 by Henry C. Peden, Jr., M.A., page 214…
“John Lancaster (St. Mary’s County and Potomac District), captain and master of the brigantine “Planter” in 1693 and master of the ship “Loves Increase” in 1697; listed as “Captain John Lancester” in 1706; John Lancaster and Joseph Lancaster [his brother] owned the schooner “Catherine” (built at the Potomac River) in 1734.”
This John became the founder of the Maryland Lancasters, an important American Catholic family in their time. That they were apparently educated Catholics, said to come from a landed family in Lancashire, led to speculation that they might be linked to the Lancasters of Rainhill in Prescot, Lancashire, many of whom were well-known "recusants". They are the subject of another webpage. The connection seems confirmed by the following references which also mention more close relatives, but still do not explain the exact connection to the best documented Rainhill lines...
Publications of the Catholic Record Society, Vol. IX, Miscellanea VII, p. 181 "The Catholic Registers of Liverpool" by Mrs Seymour SPENCER "Historical Notes about St Mary's, Liverpool", by J. GILLOW…
For some time previous to the establishment of an independent mission in Liverpool, Mr Nicholas BLUNDELL, of Crosby Hall, allowed his chaplain to serve the town ... At length it was decided that the commencement of a separate mission should be made, and on Dec. 2, 1707, Fr. GILLIBRAND, left Crosby and went to lodge in Liverpool with Mr. LANCASTER, who followed the business of a grocer, and Mass was said in one of the rooms of his house. Mr. LANCASTER was a cadet of the ancient Catholic family of LANCASTER of Rainhill, and his brother William was a doctor practising in Ormskirk, whilst another brother was captain of a trading vessel.
Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, Vol. XXXIV, page 5 and 21, Early Notices of Liverpool, From Blundell’s Diary 1702-1728…
Mr. Lancaster of Liverpool. This Mr. Lancaster had a brother, captain of the ship “Planter” and another brother, Dr. Lancaster, practicing at Ormskirk.
Blundell's diary can be found in complete form http://www.archive.org/details/crosbyrecordsblu00blunuoft. They certainly mention Capt. Lancaster, who owned the Planter and was in Liverpool in 1715, as well as Dr Lancaster in Ormskirk, apparently a close friend, and the Doctor's brother in Liverpool. (I do not see any place where Captain Lancaster is named as a brother of the others.) So we seem to have three brothers. If we can trace them, we know their family....
The English Catholic Nonjurors of 1715 ed. by E.E. Estcourt & J.O. Payne, pub by Burns & Oates (1885), p. 110...
WILLIAM LANCASTER, of Ormskirk, gent. - House at West Derby, for lives of self, and Ellen his wife. - £32
The notes remark...
Himself a doctor at Ormskirk, he had two brothers, one a grocer in Liverpool, in whose house, Fr. Gillibrand, S.J., resided, and another, who was captain of a trading vessel.
There is also a transaction in the English National Archives involving this doctor, which seems to indicate an age, and therefore an approximate birth year, ref. DDCL 282 - date: 21 Jul. 1722:-
Lease for 3 lives at £1 rent: for £100; Richard, Viscount Molyneux, to William Lancaster of Ormskirk, gent. -- messuage in West Derby called Ackers Hall and closes called Harrys Hey, Barn Hey, Dove Coat Meadow, Green [...] Heym Nearer and Further Black Lake Hey (20ac.) -- for lives of W.L. (59) David (19), and James (17) sons of Josiah Poole of Leverpoole, esq. Witn. Wm. Crispe, Tho. Gaskarth, Ann Tyrer.
This must surely be the same family, with Ormskirk doctors and Liverpool merchants...
FILE - [no title] - ref. D/D An/Bundle 40/339 - date: 1712
19 Jan. 1712. Indenture tripartite.
Parties, John Lancaster of Liverpool Merchant
& Katherine first part & Thomas
Worthington Son & Francis Worthington both of Wigan, doctors
of physic, second part & Hugh Ashton of Bispham, gent,
third part. A lease for one year to Hugh Ashton in consideration of
5/- to the intent that by virtue thereof & of the statute for
transferring uses into possession the said Hugh Ashton may be enabled
to take a release of the reversion & the inheritance thereof) of
all those closes, buildings etc., called the High Boss containing 14
acres situated in Ince heretofore in the possession of Hulton, Alias
Hulton deceased & late in the possession of the said John
Lancaster also all that parcel of ground in Ince adjoining the
before mentioned premises & formerly a passage between the same
premises & a certain common known as Amersough & all other
ancient ways etc,.
Executed by John
Lancaster, Katherine Lancaster, Thomas Worthington, Francis
Worthington.
Witnesses to the execution by Thomas Worthington,
Hen. Tyrer, Tho Tatlocke, Tho. Grimshaw.
And to the execution by
J. Lancaster & K Lancaster, Francis
Ireland, James Warwick, John Jackson.
Perhaps Catherine was a sister? And this appears to be the same family...
The Record Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, Vol CXVII, The Registers of Estates of Lancashire Papists 1717 - 1788 Vol III 1717, p.56...
THOMAS WORTHINGTON OF WIGAN, DOCTOR IN
PHYSIC
Messuage, garden and outhouse in Standishgate in
Wigan.
Messuage in Standishgate in possession of Mrs
Catherine LANCASTER., Thomas TAYLOR and Hugh HALL, rack rent
£7 yearly.
Croft at back of last mentioned.
All the above
subject to mortgage of £300 to the use of the poor of
Upholland.
Messuage in Standishgate in possession of Mr. SUMNER,
rack rent £5 yearly, Mr. Hugh HOUGHTON £5. 7s. 6d., Mrs.
Avis TURNER, Mrs. Lydia RYECROFT and William SMITH £5
All
held in fee simple.
The following Lancashire wills look very relevant indeed...
Lancaster William of Ormskirk, gentleman
1731. Mentions wife Elizabeth, a nephew John Lancaster esq. and a
niece also named Elizabeth Lancaster.
Lancaster Catherine of
Ormskirk, spinster 1758. Maybe the same Catherine mentioned above
with John Lancaster of Liverpool and the Worthingtons?
Lancaster
Elizabeth of Ormskirk, widow 1733. Mentions amongst others two
Gillibrands as benefactors, a nephew John Bamber "over the
seas". Her own Lancasters were presumably covered by her
husband's will?