The Duel in Knot Lane and Samuel Crooke’s Grave
The chancel in The Church of Saint Leonard’s in Walton-le-Dale contains the remarkable grave of Samuel Crooke, who was killed in a fight-cum-duel with Mr. William Buckley at Knot Lane in 1722.
Between 8am and 9am on August 9th 1722 Samuel Crooke and his servant Joseph Clough made their way down the steep and narrow lane, as by chance ‘Mr. Buckley’ and his man were coming up. The two were old enemies having fallen-out years previously in 1696. After some words during which it was claimed that Crooke hit Buckley’s servant, Crooke hit Buckley with his whip. The two dismounted and moved to a more open space and began to fight with swords. After six or seven minutes of fighting Buckley killed Crooke, saluted him with his sword, kissed him, and fled.
Buckley was described as ‘A blackish ruddy complexioned man, tall and bulky, and in black cloths and a cap on his head under his hett‘. The following day he surrendered himself in Yorkshire. Samuel Crooke was duly buried by the altar in the chancel of St. Leonards.
His fine black gravestone can still be seen, and is remarkable for its statement that his killer was ‘Mr. Buckley’.
The inscription reads as follows:
Here Lies the Body of
SAMUEL CROOKE ESQR
He was killed going to ye Assize’s
By M WILLIAM BUCKLEY
To the great Griefe of
His Family & Friends Augt 9th 1722
He was an Affectioned
Husband a usefull Magistrate
And a faithfull Subject
To the best of KINGS
He Marry’d ANNA Daughter of
Sr CHARLES HOGHTON BART
And left issue a Son Born
Two Months after his Death
~
Buckley Hall
Buckley Hall was a venerable stone building with gables, of the time of Henry VIII. with additions made in 1698, and formerly surrounded by a moat, which was visible in 1830, claimed an affinity with a very numerous progeny in this parish. Geoffrey de Buckley, who fell in the battle of Evesham, 49 Henry III. (1265), gave lands in Newbold to Adam de Holden, his nephew, by deed without date. This Geoffrey was grandson of John de Buckley, of Buckley, in the parish of Rochdale. Rafe, the sixth from Geoffrey, lived in the reign of Henry V., and glazed the great east window in the Cathedral Church of Worcester, and another window in Lichfield Cathedral, where were to be read Latin inscriptions: “Pray for the souls of Ralph de Buckley, Esq., and Katherine his wife, who caused this window to be made, and for the souls of Geoffrey de Buckley and Alice his wife.” Robert Buckley had this reputed manor with lands in Hundersfield and Spotland in 41 Elizabeth (1599). Edward Buckley, Esq., buried in Trinity Chapel, within the Church of Rochdale in 1 687, was the last heir-male in lineal descent of this family.
William Buckley, of Buckley and Little Haworth Hall, in Rochdale, Esq., succeeded his brother. Dr. Thomas Buckley, in the male representation of the family in 1702, and having had some dispute about the right of way in a narrow lane near Preston, on the 9th August, 1722, with Major Crooke, the late high sheriff of the county, a duel immediately ensued, in which the major was killed, and Captain Buckley was tried and found guilty of manslaughter.
Taken from
THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY PALATINE AND DUCHY OF LANCASTER.
BY THE LATE EDWAED BAINES, ESQ.
~
Samuel Crooke
NOTES ON THE EARLY CROOKS OF CROOK, WHITTLE-LE-WOODS.
By Frederic Crooks. Read 4th March, 1926.
Samuel Crook of Crook, esquire. Named in his father’s will as his eldest son and to whom his father willed his ” ancient lands.” He was high sheriff of Lancashire in 1717, and was killed near Preston, in a duel with Captain Buckley of Buckley (Rochdale parish), 9 August 1722. The dispute arose about the right of way in a narrow lane near Preston and a duel immediately ensued. Captain Buckley was tried and found guilty of manslaughter.
Whilst, at the time, it is apparent the the name Crooke was used, later references use the then contemporary spelling of Crook.