Storeys
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 Old

Mary Greenop, married a man named William Holmes at Grasmere Church on the 23rd March, 1788. Jonathan Greenop, I understand, died at Holme Ground some time between the birth of his two children, and what became of his widow and where she died I cannot say. Jonathan Greenop, when he first left Caldbeck, came to Ulpha in the Duddon Valley, and married a young woman from there. He worked at the mines or quarries. I cannot tell you his wife's spinster name, but I think she was the parson's daughter, and after the marriage with my great-great-grandfather her father disinherited her, and when he died my great-grandfather was his heir; but he cut him off with five pounds. He, my great-grandfather, was too proud to claim it and I suppose they will have it yet. The John Greenop whom you name as Sawyer, of Ambleside, was my father's uncle. The Greenops, who are his descendants, are in America. My father had an uncle, Thomas Greenop. He was a schoolmaster and subsequently removed to London. One of his sons went out to America and died there. As regards the spelling of the *name sometimes it is spelt with e, with i, and with o and u, Our name in Grasmere Church Registers is spelt at times with o and u, but Greenop is what we adhere to. Since I received your letter I wrote to Mr. George Browne, of Townend, Troutbeck, to see if he could give me any information, but I found that you and he had talked it over some time ago.

"I am dear sir,
"Yours truly;
"JOHN GREENOP."

The present Baron Ashton, late Mr. James Williamson, M.P., is descended from John Williamson of Myrehouse, in the parish of Crosthwaite, in the county of Cumberland. This early progenitor, John Williamson, held lands within the manors of Castlerigge and Derwentwater. He was born about 1490, and his remains were laid to rest at Crosthwaite the 20th March, 1569. His wife's name was Anna ..... This John of Myrehouse had a son John of the same place who had also a son John of Myrehouse, and this latter gentleman had issue by his first wife-Thomas Williamson of Keswick. He married Janet, daughter of Thomas Harris of Lowdore. This Thomas had a son John and he was the father of another Thomas, whose son, likewise Thomas, had a son Jacob, whose son Thomas was the father of John Williamson, married to Hannah Ladyman. Their son James, subsequently of Parkfield, Lancaster, married Eleanor, daughter of Mr. Leonard Miller, of Lancaster. He was an alderman of Lancaster and was conspicuous for his philanthropic work in Lancaster and County during what is known as the Cotton Famine. In conjunction with his son James, first Baron Ashton, he opened out a large portion of Lancaster Moor and that portion is known as the Williamson Park, one of the most beautiful parks in the United Kingdom. The Williamson Anns are similar to those of Sir Hedworth Williamson, Bart. The motto is Murus Æneus Conscientia Sana (a sound conscience is, as a wall of brass). Lord Ashton was born in Lancaster on the 31st December, 1842, [For fuller information see Lodge's or Burke's Peerage].

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