Sir Richard Assheton Knight

   Another name for Richard was Sir Richard Ashton Knight.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Background Information. ⁵³⁵
Sir Richard Assheton, the only son and heir, was a distinguished warrior, and received the honor of knighthood for his valiant bearing on the celebrated Field of Flodden, where he took the Scottish standard-bearer's sword, and made Sir John Foreman, the Scots' monarch's serjeant-porter, prisoner. On his return, he dedicated his standard to St. Leonard of Middleton, having several privileges within the said manor allowed him by the king. He married Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Foulshurst, of Crew, in Cheshire. Their children were:

Richard
Thomas
Edmund, rector of Middleton
Anne, who married George Atherton, of Atherton

~Burke's A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies of England, Ireland, pp. 20-21

• Background Information. ⁹³¹
Sir Richard Ashton, Knight, was age 26 at the death of his father, 24 Henry VII. (1508/09). He lead a band of soldiers to Flodden Field, against the Scots, and brought the King of Scotland's standard bearers sword, Sir John Foreman, the King of Scotland Serjeant Porter, and Alexander Barrat, High Sheriff of Aberdeen, with other prisoners, whom he delivered to the Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marsha. On his return, he dedicated his standard and armour to St. Leonard, of Middleton, and for his service had knighthood bestowed on him by the King at London, with divers infranchisments in his manor of Middleton. He married Ann, the daughter of Sir Robert Foulshurst, of Crew, in Cheshire.

~History and description of the town and parish of Ashton-Under-Lyne, pp. 20-21

• Background Information. ⁸⁶¹
Richard Ashton, his son and heir, then about twenty-five years of age, succeeded. At the battle of Flodden he captured Sir John Forman, serjeantporter to James IV, and Alexander Barrett, high sheriff of Aberdeen, with two others, whom he delivered to the English commander, the Earl of Surrey, afterwards created Duke of Norfolk [Visit, of 1533 (Chet. Soc), 59]. From the king in 1523 he received a perpetual grant of a leet or view of frankpledge in the vill of Middleton, with courts, fines, and amercements belonging; also the park and free warren in his demesne lands in the manor, with all liberties [Duchy of Lanc. Misc. Bks. 22, p. 63]. He was also made a knight. Sir Richard died 11 January 1548\endash 9, and was buried at Middleton [Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. ix, 28].

'Townships: Middleton', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5, pp. 161-169

Richard married Anne Foulshurst, daughter of Sir Robert Foulshurst Knight and Joan de Vernon.⁹³¹ (Anne Foulshurst was born about 1480 ¹⁵⁹.)