James Anderton (aristocrat)
Encyclopedia
James Anderton was an English Catholic aristocrat.
He belonged to the well-known Catholic Anderton family
who lived at Lostock Hall, Lostock, Bolton
, in Lancashire
, and inherited a large estate from his parents, Christopher and Dorothy Anderton. In 1582 he married Margaret Tyldesley.
Like his father he became a lawyer, and in 1592 succeeded his father as Prohonotary of the Duchy Court
at Lancaster
. Both his mother and his wife were faithful Catholics, but like his father, he temporized. In 1603 he signed a loyal address from all the gentry of Lancaster welcoming James I on his progress to London.
He was credited with the Catholic work "The Protestant's Apologie", "The Lyturgie of the Masse", "The Reformed Protestant" and "Luther's Life". It has been claimed that the real author of these works was his nephew, the Jesuit Lawrence Anderton although this assertion has been proved to be spurious in recent years.
James Anderton was responsible for setting up a Catholic press at his brother's home of Birchley Hall, approximately 13 miles from Lostock. Around 20 works were published from this clandestine press between 1615 and 1621, although it is thought that the press was established as early as 1613.
James Anderton died on the 7th September 1613 having being fully reconciled to the Catholic faith. He left £1500 to the maintenance of the Catholic priesthood in England. A sum of money that the Privy Council and Bishop of Chester became interested in capturing. They never did.
He was widely respected by Catholics of his day. His "Apologie" was translated on the continent into Latin in 1615, and the two editions of the work, published in 1604 and 1608, both got responses from Thomas Morton, the King's chaplain and the man responsible for getting John Donne into holy orders.
He belonged to the well-known Catholic Anderton family
Anderton family
The Anderton Family were a noble family, which was divided into several branches, lived in various places throughout Lancashire, England. After the Reformation they provided a number of prominent Roman Catholics.Prominent members included:...
who lived at Lostock Hall, Lostock, Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
, in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, and inherited a large estate from his parents, Christopher and Dorothy Anderton. In 1582 he married Margaret Tyldesley.
Like his father he became a lawyer, and in 1592 succeeded his father as Prohonotary of the Duchy Court
Duchy of Lancaster
The Duchy of Lancaster is one of the two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Cornwall. It is held in trust for the Sovereign, and is used to provide income for the use of the British monarch...
at Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
. Both his mother and his wife were faithful Catholics, but like his father, he temporized. In 1603 he signed a loyal address from all the gentry of Lancaster welcoming James I on his progress to London.
He was credited with the Catholic work "The Protestant's Apologie", "The Lyturgie of the Masse", "The Reformed Protestant" and "Luther's Life". It has been claimed that the real author of these works was his nephew, the Jesuit Lawrence Anderton although this assertion has been proved to be spurious in recent years.
James Anderton was responsible for setting up a Catholic press at his brother's home of Birchley Hall, approximately 13 miles from Lostock. Around 20 works were published from this clandestine press between 1615 and 1621, although it is thought that the press was established as early as 1613.
James Anderton died on the 7th September 1613 having being fully reconciled to the Catholic faith. He left £1500 to the maintenance of the Catholic priesthood in England. A sum of money that the Privy Council and Bishop of Chester became interested in capturing. They never did.
He was widely respected by Catholics of his day. His "Apologie" was translated on the continent into Latin in 1615, and the two editions of the work, published in 1604 and 1608, both got responses from Thomas Morton, the King's chaplain and the man responsible for getting John Donne into holy orders.