Holt families in the Manor of Rochdale and Lancashire manorial records
This page includes extracts of Holt individuals explicitly named in the Survey of the Manor of Rochdale (1626) and in other Lancashire manorial records. textThe manor was the basic unit of local administration and land tenure in England from the Norman Conquest until the gradual erosion of the manorial system in the early modern period. In Lancashire, as elsewhere, the manor court regulated landholding, enforced customary obligations, and recorded the transfer of property across generations. For families like the Holts of the Rochdale district, manorial records are among the most continuous documentary sources available before the era of parish registration, offering named individuals, dated transactions, and descriptions of specific land that cannot be found elsewhere. The records on this page draw primarily on the Manor of Rochdale, which encompassed the townships of Hundersfield, Spotland, Butterworth, Castleton, Wardle and Wuerdle, and Whitworth — the core geography of the Lancashire Holt cluster.
What are manorial records
A manor survey is a systematic description of a manor at a particular date. It typically lists tenants, their holdings, the nature and extent of those holdings, and the rents or services owed to the lord. The 1626 Survey of the Manor of Rochdale provides a snapshot of landholding across the townships of the manor, naming individual tenants and describing their messuages, closes, and fields. For Holt research, it offers direct evidence of where named Holt tenants held land and what obligations they owed.
Court rolls are the written records of the manor court, usually the court baron and, where relevant, the court leet. They record admissions and surrenders of copyhold land, fines and amercements, local office appointments, disputes over boundaries and customary rights, and the names of jurors and tenants attending the court. For genealogical purposes, court rolls show Holt individuals in the act of acquiring, holding, or relinquishing land, and in fulfilling their obligations as tenants or freeholders.
Fine rolls and related records (such as feet of fines and certain royal or seignorial enrolments) record agreements and payments made to secure or confirm land transactions. They often name the parties to a conveyance and describe the property concerned. When a Holt appears in a fine roll, it usually marks a significant transaction, such as the purchase, settlement, or reorganisation of an estate, and can anchor a family line to a specific place and date.
Table 1: Holt entries in the 1626 Survey of the Manor of Rochdale
The 1626 Survey of the Manor of Rochdale is the most detailed single source for Holt landholding in the early seventeenth century. Sir Robert Heath had the Survey of 1626 made, and in 1638 sold the manor to the mortgagee, Sir John Byron, for £2,500. The survey was a formal administrative document recording the obligations owed to the lord of the manor and the extent of each tenant's holding. The entries below represent every instance where the surname Holt appears explicitly in the survey text.
| Hundersfield | James Holt | Messuage and lands in Stubley | Customary rent | Principal Holt tenant associated with Stubley. |
| Hundersfield | Heirs of Robert Holt | Tenement in Whitworth (holding of the late Robert Holt of Stubley). | Customary rent | Indicates continuity of a deceased Holt tenant. |
| Hundersfield | Holt of Stubley | Lands adjoining Stubley Hall | Free rent and suit of court | Confirms the Stubley line’s status as free tenants. |
| Hundersfield | Robert Holte of Stubley | Stubley Hall and lands in Hundersfield | 15s. 11d. | Ancient seat of the family; held by free rent. |
| Hundersfield | John Holte | One messuage and 20 acres in Wardle | 6s. 8d. | Customary tenant. |
| Hundersfield | Ralph Holte | Certain lands and a tenement in Wuerdle | 2s. 6d. | Secondary tenants. |
| Hundersfield | Edward Holte | One messuage and 12 acres in Whitworth | 4s. 0d. | Whitworth branch of the family. |
| Hundersfield | Peter Holte | Parcel of Copyhold open to the Common of Blackstone Edge (1a. 2r. 30p.) | 5s. a year (plus small rent to the king/Savile) | Small additional copyhold parcel not on the original table. |
| Hundersfield | Late John Holte | Lands in Hundersfield (boundary reference) | n/a | Used to define the boundaries of neighbouring tenant. |
| Hundersfield | Late Thomas Holte | Land called “The Moore” (boundary reference) | n/a | Defines limits of the king’s waste. |
| Spotland | Theophilus Holte, Esq. | Capital messuage called Naden Head + court at the Greave + various closes (Rist hooke, Moor lane & Stoney Hill, Shaw meade, Shelfield on Bagslade, etc.) | Not specified (inheritance claim) | Distinct from Stubley line; multiple detailed claims. |
| Spotland | Richard Holte | One messuage and 15 acres of land (Naden/Greave area) | 5s. 1d. | Customary tenant. |
| Spotland | Francis Holte | Divers parcels of land in Spotland (linked to Grislehurst; surrenders with wife Katherine) | 2s. 4d. | Often missed; held no specific house-name. |
| Spotland | John Holt | Customary tenement | Customary rent | Junior branch, distinct from Stubley. |
| Spotland | James Holte (Bagslade) | House, a bay of a barn & 2a. 0r. 0p. improved on Bagslade (by copy dat. 2 May 1622 from James Scoffeilde) | Statute measure 0a. 1r. 0p.; value £2 10s. 0d. a year | Small improved copyhold. |
| Spotland (Bagslade / Greave) | | Roger Holte (son & heir of Edward Holte of Greave, decd.) | Lands on Bagslade (life interest) | n/a | 17 Apr. 1639 trust note (post-survey); held with sister Margaret Holte and mother Katherine Holte widow (life estate while Katherine lives and does not remarry). |
| Spotland (Bagslade / Greave) | Margaret Holte (daughter of Edward Holte of Greave, decd.) | Lands on Bagslade (remainder interest) | n/a | Same 1639 trust note as above; sister of Roger. |
| Spotland (Bagslade / Greave) | Jane Holte (wife of Roger Holte of Greave) | Co-heir to lands on Bagslade (with Ann, late wife of Henry Hopwood) | n/a | Later inheritance note in the editor’s additions. |
| Spotland | Thomas Holte of Bradhaugh (Broad Halgh, Chadwick) | One messuage + closes totaling ~32a. 3r. 10p. + additional parcels (by deed dat. 18 Dec. 28 Eliz. from John Biron Knt.) | Value ~£18 8s. 8d. | Some closes adjoin Robert Holte Esq.’s land; additional detailed entry. |
| Spotland | Roger Holte | 3½ acres on Shore Moor (by copy dated 19 Apr. 35 Eliz. [1593]) | Approx. 1s. 1d. (worth 10s. Od. a year) | Copyhold mentioned in the survey text; north of Jordan Chadwick’s lane. |
| Castleton | Robert Holte, Esq. | Lower Place and various messuages | 11s. 2d. | Held by gift of his great-grandfather, Thomas Holt. |
| Castleton | Charles Holte | One water corn mill | 6s. 8d. | Part of the extensive Holt mill-holdings. |
| Castleton | Robert Holte, Esq. | 4 score messuages, 3 water mills, 1,000 acres land, 300 acres meadow, 1,000 acres pasture, 40 acres wood | Knight's Service (1/3rd of Manor) | Primary massive freehold estate for the head of the Stubley/Castleton line. |
| Castleton | Francis Holte (Buerdsall Hamlet) | Improved off Buersall Moor (13a. 3r. 10p. statute measure) | 6s. 3/4d. a year | By deed dat. 7 Mar. 4 Jac. from John Biron & others. |
| Castleton | Robert Holt | Cottage or small holding | Customary rent | Minor tenant. |
| Castleton (Ashworth) | Oliver Holte of Ashworth, gent. | | n/a (witness only) | | n/a | Aged 60; signed certificate re: common rights and enclosure of Bewerdsall Moor (not a tenant holding). |
| Newbold Hamlett (Castleton Township) | Katherine Holte (Widow) | Listed as “Kathe Holte, widw” among the freeholders / tenant (rent paid) | Freeholder / Tenant (rent paid) | 1626 Survey entry |
| Newbold Hamlett (Castleton Township) | Ro. Holte (Robert Holt) | Freeholder paying rent in Newbold Hamlett rental summary | Freeholder rent | 1626 Survey |
| Butterworth | Robert Holt, Esq. | Divers messuages and lands in Butterworth (part of the 8s. 4d. free rent holding) | 8s. 4d. | Extensive freeholder status. |
| Butterworth | James Holte | One tenement and 8 acres of land | 2s. 8d. | Customary tenant. |
| Wardle and Wuerdle | John Holte | Customary tenement (One messuage and 20 acres in Wardle). | Suit of court | Customary tenant. |
| Whitworth | Edward Holte | Messuage and closes (One messuage and 12 acres in Whitworth). | Customary rent | Likely connected to the Whitworth branch; surname explicit. | Whitworth (area) | Ralph Holte (deceased; heir Thomas Holte noted later) | Acre between the Chappell of Whitworth + new house, Chappell Brough close, Intake close, etc. (by copy dat. 11 Apr. 7 Jac.) | Small rent ~1d. | Separate from Edward Holte; additional minor holding. |
| Broadwood (Hundersfield) | Theophilus Holt | One of the water corn mills in Broadwood, listed among the working mills in the parish at the time of the Survey. | Customary rent | Mill owner. |
| Ashworth / Wolstenholme | Mr Holte of Ashworth (heirs / Richard the heir of Robert Holte of Ashworth Esq.) | Boundary landmark for various closes; moieties in Mill Crofte (with water corn mill), Intake, Black Crofte, Cheesden fold, etc. | Not specified / small rents | Joint occupations or secondary holdings. |
| Spotland, Hundersfield,Butterworth | John Holte | Held more than half of the freehold land in the manor, possessed the massive estates (4 score messuages, 3 water mills, fulling mill with two stocks, 1,000 acres of land, 300 acres of meadow, 1,000 acres of pasture, and 40 acres of wood and underwood.), and claimed the fractional lordship rights of the manor (acquired a sixth portion of the manor of Rochdale about 1353). | Principal Freeholder (fractional lordship rights) | Principal landholder named in the Survey; Major overarching landholder. |
Table 2: Holt entries in other Lancashire manorial records
Beyond the 1626 survey, Holt individuals appear across several centuries of court roll and fine roll material from Lancashire manors. The entries below have been drawn from identified sources and are limited to cases where a named individual can be confirmed. They illustrate the geographic spread of the Holt name across the wider Rochdale and Rossendale districts from the fourteenth century onward.
Hundersfield, Rochdale Manor (including Stubley, Whitworth, Wardle, Wuerdle)
| 1330 | Court Roll | Geoffrey son of John del Holt | Grant of land | Earliest specific grant in Stakehill and Gooden. |
| 1336 | Fine roll | Henry son of Thomas del Holt | Land transaction | Early named Holt associated with the manor. |
| 1336 | Fine roll | John del Holt | Land transaction | Foundational entry for the Stubley lineage. |
| 1353 | Manorial Record | John de Holte | Purchase of Lordship | Purchased 1/6 share of Rochdale Manor (later 1/3). |
| 1395 | Court Roll | John de Holt | Grant of Manors | Holds Ashworth and Rochdale, |
| 1473 | Court roll | John Holt of Stubley | Juror | Indicates gentry status within the manor court. |
| 1485 | Court roll | James Holt | Tenant entry | Pre‑survey evidence of Holt tenure in Hundersfield. |
| 1501 | Court roll | Geoffrey Holt | Turbary dispute | Dispute over rights to cut turf in Hundersfield. |
| 1509 | Court roll | Robert Holt of Stubley | Suit of court | Free tenant fulfilling manorial obligations. |
| 1524 | Court roll | James Holt, gentleman | Amercement for non‑attendance | Routine entry showing continued freeholder status. |
| 1580 | Court roll | Edward Holt of Whitworth | Boundary dispute | Identifies a Whitworth‑based Holt branch. |
| 1598 | Court roll | Theophilus Holt (Minor) | Guardianship | Heir to Stubley/Castleton while under age. |
| 1602 | Court roll | John Holt of Wuerdle | Admission to copyhold | Junior branch acquiring copyhold land. |
| 1651–1652 | Court roll (post‑Survey admissions) | Richard Holt; Robert Holt (son of Robert Holt) | Richard Holt admitted by mort fide on 8 May 1651 to John Allen, his guardian, to ten acres in Castleton Moor. After Richard’s death, Robert son of Robert Holt admitted to the same holding on 7 October 1652. | Later manorial admissions showing continuity of Holt tenancy in Castleton. |
Naden and Spotland
| 1459 | Court roll | Richard Holt | Tenant entry | Early Holt presence in Spotland township. |
| 1462 | Court roll | James Holt | Admission to lands | Establishes the Grizlehurst/Spotland line. |
| 1473 | Court roll | John Holt of Stubley | Juror | Indicates gentry status in the manor court. |
| 1511 | Court roll | John Holt | Amercement | Customary tenant recorded for non‑attendance or minor offence. |
| 1541 | Court roll | Thomas Holt of Grizlehurst | Grant of Spotland | Acquisition of Spotland Manor after the Dissolution. |
| 1572 | Court roll | William Holt of Naden | Debt proceedings | Identifies the Naden valley branch. |
| 1589 | Court roll | Francis Holt | Boundary dispute | Involved in dispute regarding the Greave of Spotland. |
| 1594 | Court roll | Thomas Holt | Dispute over pasture | General land‑use dispute. |
Castleton
| 1542 | Court roll | Robert Holt | Admission to cottage | Small customary holding; distinct from Stubley line. |
| 1610 | Court roll | George Holt | Surrender of tenement | Routine copyhold transaction in Castleton. |
Butterworth
| 1578 | Court roll | John Holt | Tenant entry | Only clearly named Holt in the surviving Butterworth material. |
| 1608 | Court roll | Oliver Holt | Admission to copyhold | Junior branch, likely Butterworth. |
Whitworth
| 1556 | Court roll | Edward Holt | Tenure confirmation | Aligns with later survey evidence for Whitworth Holts. |
| 1580 | Court roll | Edward Holt of Whitworth | Boundary dispute | Identifies Whitworth-based Holt branch. |
| 1603 | Court roll | James Holt | Copyhold admission | Continuity of the Whitworth branch into the 17th century. |
Haslingden, Ribchester and Rossendale (Honour of Clitheroe)
| 1527 | Court roll | Henry Holt | Tenant entry | Early Rossendale‑area Holt in the Honour of Clitheroe. |
| 1618 | Court roll | Richard Holt | Dispute over encroachment | Typical upland manor dispute over land use or boundaries. |
Ribchester and the Honour of Clitheroe
| 1609 | Court roll | Thomas Holt | Copyhold admission | Corresponds with Holt families known from Ribchester parish records. |
| 1712 | Court roll | William Holt | Surrender of land | Later continuation of the Holt name in the manor. |
Middleton
| 1370 | Court roll | Hugh, Robert, & John Holt | Grant of lands | Lands in Bury and Middleton granted to Hugh’s sons. |
Bury
| 1351 | Court roll | John, Geoffrey, & Roger Holt | Defence of Manor | Defendants in a claim regarding the Manor of Bury. |
| 1370 | Court roll | Hugh, Robert, & John Holt | Grant of lands | Lands in Bury and Middleton granted to Hugh’s sons. |
Ashworth
| 1349 | Marriage Record | Hugh del Holt | Acquisition of Ashworth | Acquired Ashworth Manor via marriage to Maud Ashworth. |
| 1382 | Court roll | Maud de Holt (Widow) | Dower claim | Widow of Hugh de Holt of Ashworth. |
| 1395 | Court roll | John de Holt | Grant of Manors | Confirmed as holding the manors of Ashworth and Rochdale. |
