Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 1.djvu/70

 In 4 Hen. IV. when John de Brodeheved, of Wigan, and Emma his wife sued Thomas de Gretherton of Wigan, draper, and Alice his wife for the third part of one messuage and acre of land, with the appurtenances, in Wigan, as the dower of the said Alice, which she had of the dowry of Robert Wade of Wigan, formerly her husband, before the King's Justices of Assize, James de Langton appeared, by his attorney, who produced the letters patent of King Edward III. to John de Winwick, together with the confirmation thereof by the present King, and claimed his right to have cognizance of that plea. The said attorney also stated that, in the King's Court at Lancaster, on the Monday of the 4th week of Lent, he had produced a close writ from the King to his justices at Lancaster, enjoining them to permit the said James de Langton to use and enjoy the liberties contained in the beforementioned charters, bearing date at Lancaster on 6th March, 2 Hen. IV. (1401).

James de Langton, the present Rector, was probably a brother of Ralph de Langton, the Lord of Newton, and patron of the church, though he is not mentioned in the pedigree. He occurs in 1406 as a trustee of the family estates. He obtained another charter