I found this article which hopefully explains how the purchase of pews arose. There are others if you google. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pew Carol -----Original Message----- From: Ruth Wright <atlooncall@hotmail.com> To: lancsgen <lancsgen@rootsweb.com> Sent: Mon, 6 Jan 2014 18:27 Subject: [LAN] pew in Croston Church In the 1832 Will of Thomas WORTHINGTON of Warton (probated in 1835), he leaves his pew in Croston parish church to his daughter Jenny Worthington. Were these pews bought or did he just claim it as his own because he was fairly wealthy? After Jenny's death the pew was to go to a blood relative of hers. How long could this go on? And is there a plan of the church pews anywhere that could show where the Worthington pew was? Thanks, Ruth Ontario,Canada