Richard Standish of Duxbury, Likely a Relative of Plymouth Leader Myles Standish, Consolidates Control Over His Manor 1645

An unusually ornate and fine content manuscript Document Signed by approximately 74 individuals, mostly with marks, together with vellum strips affixed to the bottom (some adorned with additional manuscript) and many bearing small wax seals, one page, measuring 22.5" x 17" with scallop top, Duxbury, Lancashire, March 13, [1645]. Extremely light toning at expected folds, majority of text quite bright and distinct.

An unusual document in which the approximately seventy named individuals, residents of Duxbury, Chorley, Heath Charnock, collectively sell their lands and homes to Richard Standish for the sum of £1000. The document appears to be part of Standish's consolidation of control over Duxbury Manor which had been in the hands of his father Thomas Standish, who died around 1642. Much is known and has been written concerning the life of Myles Standish (c. 1584 - 1656) after he became associated with the English Separatists (i.e. Pilgrims) who founded the colony of Plymouth in 1620. However, very little is known about Standish's early life including his place of birth, and for nearly two centuries, this question has been the subject of scholarly debate.

The little we know about Standish's origins comes from his will, drafted in 1656, in which he granted to his "son & heire (sic) apparent Alexander Standish all my lands as heire apparent by lawfull decent in Ormskirke Borscouge Wrightington Maudsley Newburrow Crowston and in the Isle of man and given to mee as Right heire by lawfull decent but Surruptuously detained from mee My great Grandfather being a 2cond or younger brother from the house of Standish of Standish." 

Of all the places named, one is on the Isle of Man while the remaining are places in Lancashire where a branch of the Standish family resided, centered at Duxbury Hall. A short passage written by Plymouth Colony's secretary, Nathaniel Morton notes a similar origin for Standish, noting he "...was a gentleman, born in Lancashire, and was heir apparent unto a great estate of lands and livings, surreptitiously detained from him; his great grandfather being a second or younger brother from the house of Standish…" Unfortunately, that is all that is known about his origins. However, the fact that Standish founded the town of Duxbury in Plymouth Colony would suggest that his origins were indeed from Lancashire and not the Isle of Man. It is not known whether Alexander Standish (1626 - 1702) ever pursued these claims.

Richard Standish (1620 - 1662) English politician who sat in the House of Commons for Preston from 1659 - 60. Richard was the son of Thomas Standish (c. 1593 - 1642) who sat in Parliament for Preston during the Short Parliament of 1640 and in the Long Parliament until 1642. Standish, who lived at Duxbury Manor in Lancashire, was very possibly a relative of Myles Standish, one of the founders of Plymouth Colony in 1620.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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