The Anderton family is among the most important Catholic families in English history. Throughout history the many branches of the family have seen their sons and daughters take up the religious life.
Among the most noteworthy members of the Anderton family is Blessed Robert Anderton who was martyred for the faith in 1586.
Robert Anderton was born in 1560 on the Isle of Man. There is some uncertainty regarding his precise antecedents with different histories providing different origins, but there is no doubt that he was closely related to the Andertons of Euxton Hall.
Robert was educated at Rivington Grammar School (his name appearing on the first list of scholars of the school in 1575) before going to Brasenose College, Oxford in 1578, where he met and made friends with William Marsden. Together they went to Douai to study for the priesthood and entered the college at Rheims on 10th July 1580. He was ordained sub-deacon in 1583 and then deacon and priest by the Cardinal of Guise 31st March 1584. After his Ordination he spent two years at Douai assisting other students with their studies.
Robert Anderton was moderate in height and had a “manly countenance but had evidently suffered from sickness when a child…. he had black eyes and a slight beard which would have been brown when fully grown”. He had proved to be a brilliant scholar, was a skilful debator and an excellent preacher and was selected out of the whole college to give a sermon before a “noble and learned assembly of churchmen”.
With William Marsden he set out by ship for England on 4th February 1586. In a storm their ship sought shelter at Cowes, where they were betrayed when they were heard praying for calm weather. They were sent from the Isle of Wight to the assizes at Winchester where they pleaded that they had not violated the law by landing in England, since their landing had been involuntary. They defended their faith and the Pope and acknowledged that they had come to exercise their ministry and reconcile people to God and the Church. This led to their being taken to London, where they were asked to take the Oath of Supremacy, acknowledging Elizabeth as Supreme Governor of the Church of England. They acknowledged the queen as their lawful queen in all secular affairs but refused to swear the Oath. As this was a treasonable offence under the Second Act of Supremacy, they were condemned to death and then committed to Marshalsea Prison on 11th March 1586.
Go here to read the rest.
