Sir Thomas Holt — silver armour mentioned in his will.
Sir Thomas Holt of Gristlehurst was a mid‑Tudor Lancashire landowner whose family held long‑established estates in the townships of Bury and Spotland. He was knighted on 11 May 1544, during the reign of Henry VIII. His knighthood coincided with the opening phase of the Anglo‑Scottish campaigns known as the Rough Wooing (1543–1551). Although no surviving record identifies his specific service, the timing places him among the Lancashire gentry active in Tudor military affairs. He was born around 1500 and was the son of Ralph Holt and Anne Langley (the daughter of John Langley of Agecroft). He married Dorothy Longford, daughter of Sir Ralph Longford of Derbyshire.
The Rough Wooing (1543–1551)
The Rough Wooing was a series of campaigns launched by Henry VIII and continued under Edward VI to secure a marriage the infant Mary, Queen of Scots, and Prince Edward. The conflict involved raids and sieges along the Scottish border, including the Edinburgh Raid (1544), Melrose Attack, Jedburgh Raid, and Battle of Ancrum Moor (1545). These events formed the backdrop to Sir Thomas’s knighthood.
Key documented battles
| Battle / Siege | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Haddington | 1548–49 | Long English occupation; many knights served here. |
| Pinkie Cleugh | 1547 | Major English victory under Edward VI; likely site for knighthoods. |
| Kelso | 1545 | English raid; Lancashire contingents recorded. |
| Jedburgh | 1544 | English advance; gentry participation noted. |
| Edinburgh Raid | 1544 | Henry VIII’s initial campaign. |
Campaign Maps & Context
The maps and illustrations below provide historical context for the campaigns active during the period of Sir Thomas Holt’s knighthood. They do not attribute specific participation but show the military landscape of the time.
Campaign routes and battle sites of the Rough Wooing (1543–1551).
Tudor campaign landscape — evoking the military context of Sir Thomas Holt’s knighthood.
Sir Thomas Holt of Gristlehurst, Knight – Will (1562)
12 Februarye 1562 I Thomas Holt off gryselhurst co lanc, Knight, make my last wyll.
I geave to the ornamentes off Burye churche 3/4.
unto eyghts poore ffolke ev'y off theym one gowne whyte or blacke the sayd poore ffolke to be off the poorest off my tenauntes wtin the parishes off burye Mydleton and Rachedale.
unto ffrances Holt my son and heyre one damaske goene a Saten Jaket wt sleeves and my Cheyne off golde.
And also I geve unto ye sayd ffrances and to soche heyres makes as shall hereafter dwell at my house of Gryselhurst all maner off artyllerye or Harneysse as Jacke S Whate harness wt my fflgge and pensyll wth hath my Armes and Badge upon according as yt was appoyntes me off the Kynge off Harawldes.
I geave unto the sayd ffrances Holt my ent and tent polle.
I geave unto the sayd ffraunces Holt one sylver Salt A pounse Bolle of sylver spoones called the apostels &c &c upon condition that Dame Dorothye my wyffe shall occupye the same durying all her lyffe.
I geave unto Dame Dorothye my wyffe my best geldinge.
unto ffrances Holt my Sone my second best geldinge.
unto Raffe Holt my yongr sone my thryd best gelding.
unto Thoms Holt sone off the sayd ffrances Holt my fourth best geldinge.
I wyll that my Executors shall delyver unto my Aunt Awnes yrtlye 40/- durynge her lyffe.
I geave unto Mawde Barlow my Systers dawghter 40/- towards her marriage.
I wyll that the residew off my goodes &c shalbe equallye devyded into 3 partes whereof one part to Dame Dorothye my wyffe the second part to Raffe Holt And the thryd part yt Remeynetht unto me I geave unto ffrances my sone towards the marriage off his children.
Executors Dame Dorthye my wyffe and Raff Holt my sone Witness: Robert Holt
Inventory p Richard chadwicke de Rachedale Richard livesay Hugh Holt John Ashewortht Hugh Ashewortht et Richard Lord
Inventory £170.8.6
Sir Thomas Holt of Gristlehurst, Knight – Will (1562) in modern English
12 February 1562 I Sir Thomas Holt of Gristlehurst in the County of Lancaster, Knight, makes his last will.
I give to the ornaments of Bury Church 3 shillings and 4 pence.
I give to eight poor people, each of them one gown, white or black, the said poor folk to be of the poorest of my tenants within the parishes of Bury, Middleton and Rochdale.
I give to Frances Holt, my son and heir, one damask gown, a satin jacket with sleeves, and my chain of gold.
I also give to the said Frances, and to such heirs as shall hereafter dwell at my house of Gristlehurst, all manner of artillery and armour, including Jack S. Whate’s harness, with my flag and pennon which have my arms and badge upon them, according as they were appointed to me by the King of Heralds.
I give to the said Frances Holt my tent and tent pole.
I give to the said Frances Holt one silver salt, a pounced (engraved) silver bowl, and silver spoons called the Apostles, upon condition that Dame Dorothy, my wife, shall use the same during all her life.
I give to Dame Dorothy, my wife, my best gelding (horse).
I give to Frances Holt, my son, my second-best gelding.
I give to Ralph Holt, my younger son, my third-best gelding.
I give to Thomas Holt, son of the said Frances Holt, my fourth-best gelding.
I will that my executors shall deliver to my aunt Agnes yearly 40 shillings during her life.
I give to Maude Barlow, my sister’s daughter, 40 shillings towards her marriage.
I will that the residue of my goods shall be equally divided into three parts, whereof one part to Dame Dorothy, my wife,
the second part to Ralph Holt, and the third part, which remains to me, I give to Frances, my son, towards the marriage of
children.
Executors: Dame Dorothy, my wife, and Ralph Holt, my son.
Witnesses: Robert Holt.
Inventory taken by: Richard Chadwick of Rochdale, Richard Livesay, Hugh Holt, John Ashworth, Hugh Ashworth, and Richard Lord.
Total value of inventory: £170 8s 6d.
John Holt (1647-1659)
Portrait from the National Portrait Gallery of John Holt (1647-1659), Son of Thomas Holt of Grislehurst by David Loggan. line engraving, published 1660. NPG Number: D29010 Licensed under creative commons.
