Notes for the Myerscough Family History
written by Agnes Myerscough
of Longton nr Preston Lancs
The name MYERSCOUGH is derived from the Danish language and
means boggy wood from myer-bog or muddy ground and scough –wood,
probably only in wet Lancashire do trees grow in such wet conditions.
The surname Myerscough
originates from only one place in England, the Hamlet of Myerscough near
Preston Lancashire
A
second even smaller hamlet near Balderstones was once called Myerscough.
It had Myerscough farm, hotel and smithy.
Now only the public house remains, most probably this was named after some
Myerscough owner or tenants. In
1653 William Myerscough of Balderstones appealed to the Excise men
to return his confiscated goods, perhaps he had been brewing illegal ale!
Today’s spelling only became established
in the last century; over the years it has been spelt at least thirty
different ways from Mascra [The local pronunciation] through to Merscow,
Mascough to name only a few
Early References
The earliest references to the Myerscough
family that I have found are in the thirteenth century. These were
Landowners at Claughton
One, Henry
was murdered in 1247 by a group led by Ralph Cook of Preston, when Henry’s
brother William
accused Ralph of the murder and another brother Walter claimed that Ralph’s companions had
prevented him from helping his brother Henry to withstand the attack the judge fined each
of the brothers a mark and put them in prison. The authorities were said
to feel sorry for the Murderers.
In 1253 William
was declared an outlaw and his land passed to his brother Walter.
In 1323 John
de Marsco held forty acres of land at Billesburgh at a rent of four
pence per year.
In 1324 Agnes
widow of John de Marscough was fined twopence for default of
service at the court of Penwotham
In 1363 John
de Mirescough was granted a third part of the watermill of Preston
and an old watercourse. The rent for the first twenty years was a rose and
twenty shilling thereafter
The Myerscoughs are mentioned in records as owning
land in
Poulton [1292], Lancaster [1323], and Winmarleigh
[1468] amongst other places.
Lawrence
de Myerscough, a chaplain, in 1366 and 1399 leased land at
Claughton.
There were no church registration records at
this time so it is difficult to sort our relationships but it is likely
that these Myerscoughs were of one family.
Sixteen to Eighteenth Centuries
Church registers began in the sixteenth
century and until the eighteenth century the name mainly appears in the
Garstang and Lancaster registers with a few deaths recorded at Salmesbury,
most of them were Catholics and farmed amongst other places in Wyresdale
at Bradfall and Spouthouse and also at Barnacre.
They suffered for their faith and were fined
for non-attendance at church. One Thomas Myerscough in 1646 had his farm sequestered due to his
faith.
Others were Protestants; one Nicholas signed an Oath of Allegiance to the King
and Protestant Church when others refused. Another John, was a witness against Thomas Pulton
and his family who had not been attending church services
In the eighteenth century there were two
different Myerscough families. a Protestant branch is descended from James
Myerscough who married Elizabeth
Bradshaw in 1698 ,at St Michaels on Wyre, they had four sons and
they and their descendants lived in the Fylde area, particularly in the
Preesall, Stalmine and Great Eccleston areas where their descendants still
live today.
The other Myerscoughs were Catholics probably
all descended from John
and Elizabeth Maskowe
of Chaigly later Balshall Eaves. John was the sole executor of the estate of his Uncle
Richard Maskoe of Osbaldeston and most likely to have a Grandson of
the above mentioned William
Myerscough of
Balderstone Although in the 1767 Papist returns [A Catholic census]
Myerscough families were scattered all over Lancashire from Bolton le
Sands to Poulton le Fylde, Bilsborrow and Haighton they were actually
all brothers, sons of John and Ellen of Chaigly and Balshall Eaves in which area two of
the brothers were living. From four of these seven brothers the mainly
Catholic branch of the family can be traced. In 1783 Richard of Over Kellet, one of the seven left a Will
mentioning all of his six brothers. He left a farm to James of Poulton le Fylde, ten pounds
each to his sisters and brother Joseph of Haighton and one shilling each to the other four
brothers.
Nineteenth Century
In the nineteenth century two cousins,
descendants of John
of the original seven brothers with their families emigrated to the New
World Thomas went to Ontario, William to Illinois where many of their
descendants still live.
Initially they were farmers [as some still are}.
Others became bricklayers, painters and decorators, clerks, teachers and
salesmen following a similar profession to their English cousins. The
Illinois branch has produced a priest, a Baptist minister and three nuns.
In the USA there are also more recent twentieth century migrants. One
George was an important mining union official. In 1931 his father Thomas,
a pioneer Union official had a frightening experience in Kentucky when the
Authorities arrested him for his activities. In the night they took him
and a companion up into the mountains where they were released only to be
shot at several times as they ran away. Thomas fortunately escaped with
only a graze.
Twentieth Century
In the twentieth century Myerscoughs had
varied jobs from Doctors [several in Australia], one being consultant gynecologist
to the Sultanate of Oman, an Illinois female Judge dental
technician, quantity surveyor, helicopter pilot, income tax inspector, an
undertaker in Latham to bus and train driver.
Martin Myerscough of London
has invented a new type of household washing machine.
Veterinary surgeon
Nick Myerscough hit the headlines as the first in England to offer ultra
sound scans for pregnant pets.
Myerscough Authors
There have been several Myerscough authors.
In the
nineteen thirties William Myerscough, a naval captain wrote textbooks on
navigation and meteorology for airmen.
Sister Angelina of Illinois, using
original Italian texts has written a biography of the founder of her
order, Maria de Matthias and also other works of a religious nature.
Jesuit
priest Father J A Myerscough of the Preston Butchers family is the author
of “A Procession of Lancashire Martyrs and
Confessors”
The above-mentioned coal mining officials Thomas and George
wrote about mining affairs.
American Rodney P Myerscough wrote a
dissertation on “ The
combined effects of alcohol and sleep deprivation on human aggression”
Myerscough's and the Arts Media and Sports
Some have made their marks in other fields of the Arts.
Betty Myerscough
designs Christmas cards.
One unknown has illustrated a North West Pub
Guide
Isabel Myerscough, a twenty six year old has won the 1995 BP
Portrait Award of Young Artist of the year for her painting of a very
large nude negress reclining on a skin rug!
Isabel's father and
uncle were two distinguished members of the Fidelio string quartet which
performed on BBC radio and made several records. Their father, also a professional
violinist, used to entertain passengers on the Queen Mary.
His father was a comedy artist.
Valerie Myerscough who died in 1980,
besides being a distinguished Mathematician and University Lecturer was
also secretary of the Royal Astronomical Society and member of the
Philarmonia Chorus.
In 1930, Mabel Myerscough of Ainsdale, Southport married the well known
actor and broadcaster, Wilfred Pickles.
Damien Myerscough has appeared on TV in Peak Practice.
A young Myerscough prodigy is 6ft 9in shot putter Carl Myerscough of
Poulton Le Fylde, a pupil then instructor at Millfield public school. A UK
record holder, he was a very good 2000 Olympics prospect until unfortunately
he failed a drugs test.
Myerscough Wills
Some of the clan's wills have proved interesting tit bits.
In 1815 John of Chaigley's grandson, another John, only child of Thomas
Myerscough of Bashall Eaves left all his large estate of property in
Waddington (including Mascar Row cottages which he built and which still
exist today) and fifty acres of land in the Forest of Bowland to his dear
wife Margaret (of only a few months). His cousins and half cousins were to
receive one shilling each to be claimed one year after his death. The
sorrowful widow quickly remarried in 1816. Her new husband in 1843 left
all the property to his relations.
In 1728, John of Out Rawcliffe left 'the use of the lower chamber' to his
second wife Mary. She must have free liberty of coming to the fire in
the house both to cook her meat and to sit by to warm herself
without paying for any fuel.
Canon Thomas Myerscough
in 1870 inherited a silver watch from his great uncle, another Thomas, who
paid in turn for each of his great nephews to study for the priesthood.
The two older gave up their studies. The elder , Richard as previously
mentioned was a successful butcher and Alderman of Preston. Robert became
a coal merchant. Obviously the uncle was most pleased with Thomas who had
fulfilled his wishes. Canon Myerscough was at St Joseph's in Preston for
many years.
Richard Myerscough a cabinet maker of Lancaster had other views on
religion. His unmarried daughter Mary would only inherit his estate if she
did not enter a convent. However Mary on her death left all this property
to the Catholic Church.
To the modern eye there were some strange bequests. William Myerscough's
1837 will left 'all the produce of my garden, if any, at the time of my
death to my nephew Thomas' In a less prosperous age this was probably a
very useful inheritance.
The more recent wills written by solicitors are often less interesting but
Clementina Elizabeth in 1932 assigned every piece of furniture in her
house, including the night commode to one or other of her five children.
When farm worker Ernie in 1996 left one hundred and fifty thousand pounds
to his parish church, the vicar decided to use it for new toilet
facilities at the church!
Myerscoughs in the Newspapers
Newspapers have been a good source of information, not only about the
famous and even in one or two cases infamous members of the clan.
Obituaries and wedding accounts can also produce interesting facts.
The 1924 obituary of James Henry Myerscough mentioned his membership of
the local Operatic society including the role of Dobbin in Tom Jones.
In 1907, two Canadian brides each chose a dress of green chiffon. Venetian
cloth and a picture hat for her going away outfit. In contrast, in 1972,
the bride chose a multi coloured hot pant suit for the same occasion. In
2001, a Lancashire Myerscough married his English bride in a Red Indian
style in Preston, both wearing authentic costumes.
Myerscoughs and the Law
Some Myerscoughs have been involved in crime, but mostly as policeman or
prison officers.
In 1858, James Myerscough, a Cockerham butcher was
involved in a double tragedy at Forton when he found the body of a youth
who had shot a young neighbouring girl who had spurned him and then turned
the gun on himself.
In London in 1917, Mrs Charlotte Beatrice Myerscough was the accomplice of
an illegal abortionist and both were indicted for the murder, later
reduced to manslaughter of a young girl. The jury could not reach a
verdict in either of the two trials so the women evaded prison.
One Myerscough found guilty of crime was Robert Myerscough, who in 1848 received
two months hard labour for stealing a hat at Freckleton.! He later married
a prison officer's daughter in Manchester. In 1867, at Liverpool, Robert was
sentenced to fourteen years and transportation for receiving stolen goods.
Two years earlier, according to the Trade Directories, he was a Cotton
Broker. This was during the American Civil War when due to the blockade by
the Unionists, raw cotton was in short supply in England. Perhaps to keep
his business in operation, Robert became involved in crime. After his sentence
was complete he remarried in Australia. Unfortunately his first wife Sarah
did not die until four years later. Robert is one of three bigamists found
so far.
Richard Myerscough of Preston in 1864 was sentenced to six months
imprisonment for maliciously wounding his wife Ellen. They had married the
previous year, three years after the death of Richards first wife. It would
appear that Richard was forgiven, since the two were living in the same
house at the time of the 1871 census.
Myerscough Deaths
Myerscoughs have given their lives in both world wars, in all three
services.
Others have met unnatural deaths in road accidents from William
who fell off his cart at Preesall in 1849 to Uncle Ben being knocked down
on Barton Flats in 1957
At least five have drowned from Simon in
Lancaster in 1804 to Ian in a catamaran accident in the English Channel in
1958.
The previously mentioned Sister Angelita survived the sinking of the liner
Andréa Doria in 1956.
In 1977 Father Dunstan Myerscough SJ of the Preston butchers' family narrowly
escaped a Rhodesian terrorist massacre in which seven of his priest and
nun colleagues were killed.
John Myerscough, serving in the union army in the American Civil War
whilst in camp, shot himself in the foot!
In 1984 John of Great Eccleston was a victim of the Abbeystead explosion.
At least one accident victim seems to have died happy. Elderly widow Betsy
Myerscough of Lytham St Annes who in 1906 was literally found dead drunk
in a ditch after a memorable pub crawl with a lady friend. They had each
partaken of five glasses of whiskey and two of champagne at a total cost
of half a crown which the friend had' found'. They were seen dancing in
the pub by other customers. That same evening one witness had noticed
something wrong about Betsy as she walked along the street 'She was not
wearing a hat!'