The 12th Century Charnock Family

 During the 12^th century the Chernoc’s were one of the important Lancashire families, living in the village of Chernoc to which Richard added his own baptismal name to distinguish it from the nearby Heath Chernoc.  Over the centuries both names changed in spelling to Charnock as until the introduction of Dr Johnson’s dictionary in 1755 spelling was not fixed.  Scribes recording deeds would write them as they heard them, often changes occurred because of local accents.

The Chernoc family later moved to Astley Hall.

The name Richard or Ricardus, as it was written in the Medieval Latin of these documents, derived via Old French from an early Germanic language and is composed of ‘Ric’ meaning ruler, or king and ‘Hardu’ signifying ’strong or brave’ thus ‘strong ruler’.
Several of these documents have been preserved in the Lancashire Archive in Preston and in Oxford’s Bodlieian Library.   One of the most fascinating deeds records the gift of the Chernoc estate ‘in soul alms’ to the Knight Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem.  This was in the hope that they would be granted a speedy passage through Purgatory to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Paper had been invented in China in the second century A.D. and, according to Richard Bischoff in his book ‘Latin Palaeography’,  didn’t appear in the West until the 13^th century so documents like these would have been written on parchment or animal skins soaked in caustic lye, a strong alkaline solution, to remove the fat before being stretched on a frame to dry.
Listed on the Lancashire Archive index as DDTA 1 the document outlines the boundaries of the estate though many of the names are not easy to place in a modern context.

A summary might read, By Richard fil. Ade de Chernoc to the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem and the Brethren of the same of a part of his land within the bounds of Chernoch [in alms for the salvation of his soul], viz. beginning where Frothelesic falls in Yaruhe, ascending Yaruhe to Brocholecloch, and ascending Brocholecloch to Car, and thence in a straight line westward across Le Car to Frothelesic, descending le Sic to Yarue, with his share of the water of Yarue, common of pasture, hawks and woodland bees. 

Witn. Adam Banastre, Warin de Waletun, Alan clericus, Alan de Moles, Robert his son. 

As an important figure in Lancashire society of the time Ricardus  himself, along with other local dignitaries such as Adam de Hocton ( Hoghton ), witnessed deeds and charters granted by Norman Lords, often Companions of the Conqueror, who had accompanied Duke William, William the Conqueror, when he had invaded England in 1066, probably the most famous date in English history.  In one  such document Hugo Bussel, Baron of Penwortham, granted land to Richard, son of Utred of North Meols.  Other witnesses to this document,  written during the reign of King Richard  I, Coer de Lyon, were Cospatric of Samesbury, Ricardo de Vernun who was Sheriff of Lancashire in 1194 and Waltero de Hedelintona ( Adlington ).

Lancashire Archives substantial collection of 1.7 million documents can searched at https://archivecat.lancashire.gov.uk/calmview/

You can support the work of the Friends of Astley Hall by making a donation

from your phone:

Text Astley 1 to 70085 to donate £1

Text Astley 2 to 70085 to donate £2

Text Astley 5 to 70085 to donate £5

or any amount you may choose

Thank you so much for your help

If you get a 'Network Error' message you may have a block on your account to prevent extra charges.  You will get an offer to donate with your bank card.