• General Notes

  In 1334 the three lords of Speke, Sir John de Molyneux, Alan le Norreys and Richard Erneys, made an agreement with Robert de Ireland, lord of Hale, respecting the boundaries between the two vills, as to which there had recently been debate in a plea of novel disseisin at Wigan. (fn. 29) Alan pursued his father's policy, purchasing additional plots of land, making exchanges with Sir John de Molyneux, and renewing the lease of the manor from Richard Erneys.
  Alan died in 1349 or 1350.
  
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  In 1326 Alan le Norreys of Speke acquired land by the Kirkway and abutting on Quindal Moor from Robert the "Lord's son". In 1332 or 1333 Alan Norreys inherited the manor of Speke from his father. In 1334 Alan le Norreys, son of John le Norreys Sr., was granted lands in Breck (or Larbreck?), West Derby hundred. The deed was witnessed by Alan's younger brother William le Norreys. In 1334 Richard Erneys of Speke and Chester, Mayor of Chester (1327-8) granted land in Speke to Alan le Norreys and Ellen his wife. The fact that Robert Erneys and his son Richard Erneys both granted lands to Alan's father John le Norreys and then to Alan, and finally to Alan's sons Alan and Hugh leads me to suspect that Ellen was in fact Ellen Erneys, the daughter of Richard Erneys. Richard son of Gilbert de Speke transferred to Alan le Norreys on 11 Nov 1334 two oxgangs of land in Speke. In 1334 Alan le Norreys made an exchange of lands with Sir John Molyneux for others lying between his own and those of Richard Erneys, described as stretching from the banks of the Mersey River to the highway leading from his, Alan's, manor to the church of Garston. In 1335 Alan le Norreys of Speke was exempted for life from being put on juries unless his oath were necessary pursuant to the statute, and from being mayor, escheator, etc., against his will. This was renewed in 1339. In 1336 Alan le Norreys received a grant of land in Allerton, Lancashire, from John son of John, son of Simon de Garston. He later bought land called "Farthings" in Branderth, near Allerton Brook, and other holdings in the Brooks, securing in 1339 that of Sibota, daughter of John son of Adam de Garston. Other acquisitions followed and his descendants continued the same course until they acquired the manor of Garston and all the Ireland (or Blackburn) lands in the reign of Henry VIII (1509-47). The Ireland family inter-married with the Norreys family considerably. In 1338 Ralph de Beetham made a grant of land in Formby, Lancashire to Alan le Norreys, son of John le Norreys. William the son of Richard Hogson of Formby (Lancashire) also made a grant to Alan son of John le Norreys of Speke. At the end of 1339 Richard Erneys granted to Alan le Norreys, son and successor of John, and to Alan's sons Alan and Hugh for life all his lands in Speke, both in lordship and in demesne, and the rents of the free tenants and tenants at will, by the yearly service of a rose for four years and 40 pounds in silver afterwards. This charter renewed the covenant that Richard Erneys had made with John le Norreys in 1332. In 1344 John the son of Roger de Oglet granted to Alan le Norreys an acre of land at Oglet near Speke extending from the sea to the moor.
  
  Alan Norreys of Speke was married to Ellen, who was living in 1334. They had six sons: his heir Henry, Sir John, Richard, William, Alan, and Hugh. In addition they had a daughter, Agnes. Alan le Norreys of Speke almost certainly was a victim of the great Black Death which killed one-third of the people from Europe through the Middle East and all of Asia in 1348-50. His estate was executed by his son Henry, his son John, and John Grelley.
  
  

Details of Alan's family with Ellen Erneys