The necessary clearing of the outer walls from trees, roots, and ivy has been done. But the question of an entirely new roof to this building remains; a partial decay of the timbers in the present modern roof over the Scriptorium being apparent. Removal of the blue colouring which now disfigures the interior would be desirable, and the wooden flooring, which is a very recent addition, should be taken away.

A careful and systematic examination of the fragments of original stonework, tombstones, and other objects of interest which have been met with was kindly undertaken by Mr. Henry Taylor of the Chester Archæological Society, and by Mr. J. Paul Rylands, Mr. R. D. Radcliffe, and Mr. W. F. Irvine of this Society; and the larger pieces of stonework have been ranged round the Prior's Hall and in the Crypt, where they are convenient for inspection by archæologists, whilst the smaller objects are stored in a show-case under cover in the Chapter House. A caretaker has been engaged by the Corporation of Birkenhead, and the public can always obtain free access to the Priory. A small handbook or guide, which may be useful to strangers, price twopence, can be obtained from the caretaker.

For the loan of the blocks showing the exterior view of the south-east corner of the Prior's apartments, the interior view of the Prior's Hall, and the Crypt, the Society is indebted to the Editor of The Amateur Photographer. The blocks are from photographs taken by Mr. F. A. Brassey Salt, F.G.C.M. For the view of the west wall of the Prior's Hall the Society is indebted to Mr. W. G. Bevan.

H

WILLIAM THE SON OF ADAM

FIRST RECORDED MAYOR OF LIVERPOOL

By John Elton

Supplementary to a Paper on "Early Recorded Mayors of
Liverpool"

THE

Read 19th November 1903

HE subject of the present paper merely appears in Liverpool history as "a prosperous and well-to-do burgess," "an honest burgher who was Mayor in 1378, and must have been a person of some distinction in the town." This, Picton's discriminating little eulogy, was based upon very scanty information. But extended inquiry fully confirms it, and reveals this ancient worthy as one of the practical founders of mediæval Liverpool, and-as now appears-its first Mayor.

William the son of Adam belonged to what might quite be called, even in those early days, "an old Liverpool family." He was first elected Mayor in 1351, and we may perhaps not be far wrong in assigning, say, the year 1320 as the date of his birth. His forefathers may be traced back for three generations, so that there is every indication of the family having been settled in the town from, at all events, its earliest period of municipal life. But apparently they were here at a still earlier time, for they bore no surname, and the only placedesignation they used was simply "de Liverpool," which no other local family ever adopted.

After

William had risen to eminence in the town, and had passed away at the close of a long and prosperous life, his two sons still remained without a surname; and thus (unless we suppose they adopted the name of Williamson) they became merged in the little general crowd of burgesses, and may now no longer be traced.

The earliest record of the family seems to occur in 1309, when a grant of land was made to "Adam the son of William the son of Ralph." These are the three generations preceding Mayor William. In 1311 occurs a grant to the above "William the son of Ralph." Of Ralph, the great-grandfather, there seems to be no other direct mention.

" 2

William, the grandfather, was the William de Liverpool, clericus, whose name frequently occurs. His wife was named Nicola. He, in 1357, was one of the representative burgesses to whom Duke Henry granted a lease of the town; his grandson, the subject of the present notice, being another. William, clericus, granted lands in 1361, shortly after the dedication of St. Nicholas', in support of the Chantry in the old Chapel of St. Mary del Key. He was presumably buried here in the place which, twenty years after, Mayor William said was his own appointed place of sepulture. The above grant to the Chantry was made subject to the discretion and ordination of the mayor and commonalty, and was attested by the donor's grandson, "William the son of Adam, Mayor of Liverpool." "

Adam, the father, whose name occurs in the above deed of 1309, was very probably the "Adam de Liverpool, clericus," who was a Duchy juror in 1327, and bailiff of Liverpool in 1328. In 1330 certain land was granted to "Adam the son of

1 Moore Deeds, 312 (53).
3 Ibid., 183.

2 Ibid., 312 (55).
4 Crosse Deeds, 11.

William de Liverpool";1 in 1337 the same "Adam the son of William de Liverpool" conceded certain land to Willm. de Grenolph; and in 1343 and 1346 he attested deeds.3

A few other incidental genealogical details may be disposed of here. Adam had a brother, "Robert the son of William the son of Ralph." This Robert had a son, "Adam the son of Robert the son of William de Liverpool," who was living in 1340.5 Robert had also a daughter, "Matilda the daughter of Robert the son of William de Liverpool"; who married "Alan the son of John of Liverpool," and was left a widow in 1334.6 Their daughter, Margery, was living in 1352.

The pedigree of the family so far may be thus shown:

FAMILY OF WILLIAM FIL. ADAM.
Ralph...