Biography of Captain Allen Apsley 1616-1683

On 23rd October 1615 [his father] Allen Apsley [aged 48] and [his mother] Lucy St John [aged 22] were married at St Ann Blackfriars Church. The difference in their ages was 26 years.

In 1616 Captain Allen Apsley was born to Allen Apsley [aged 49] and Lucy St John [aged 23].

On 24th May 1630 [his father] Allen Apsley [aged 63] died.

John Evelyn's Diary. 31st May 1641. Now, according to the compliment, I was received a volunteer in the company of Captain Apsley [aged 25], of whose Captain-lieutenant, Honywood, (Apsley being absent,) T received many civilities.

In 1645 Captain Allen Apsley [aged 29] and Frances Petre were married.

Around 1655 [his daughter] Frances Apsley was born to Captain Allen Apsley [aged 39] and [his wife] Frances Petre. She married June 1682 Benjamin Bathurst and had issue.

On 11th October 1658 [his mother] Lucy St John [aged 65] died.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 14th March 1666. Thence to walk all alone in the fields behind Grayes Inne, making an end of reading over my dear "Faber fortunae", of my Lord Bacon's, and thence, it growing dark, took two or three wanton turns about the idle places and lanes about Drury Lane, but to no satisfaction, but a great fear of the plague among them, and so anon I walked by invitation to Mrs. Pierce's, where I find much good company, that is to say, Mrs. Pierce, my wife, Mrs. Worshipp and her daughter, and Harris [aged 32] the player, and Knipp, and Mercer, and Mrs. Barbary Sheldon, who is come this day to spend a weeke with my wife; and here with musique we danced, and sung and supped, and then to sing and dance till past one in the morning; and much mirthe with Sir Anthony Apsley [aged 50] and one Colonell Sidney [aged 40], who lodge in the house; and above all, they are mightily taken with Mrs. Knipp. Hence weary and sleepy we broke up, and I and my company homeward by coach and to bed.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 19th December 1666. I sat long talking with them; and, among other things, Sir R. Ford [aged 52] did make me understand how the House of Commons is a beast not to be understood, it being impossible to know beforehand the success almost of any small plain thing, there being so many to think and speak to any business, and they of so uncertain minds and interests and passions. He did tell me, and so did Sir W. Batten [aged 65], how Sir Allen Brodericke [aged 43] and Sir Allen Apsly [aged 50] did come drunk the other day into the House, and did both speak for half an hour together, and could not be either laughed, or pulled, or bid to sit down and hold their peace, to the great contempt of the King's servants and cause; which I am grieved at with all my heart. We were full in discourse of the sad state of our times, and the horrid shame brought on the King's service by the just clamours of the poor seamen, and that we must be undone in a little time.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 22nd August 1667. Returning to the office, did ask whether we might visit Commissioner Pett [aged 57], to which, I confess, I have no great mind; and it was answered that he was close prisoner, and we could not; but the Lieutenant of the Tower would send for him to his lodgings, if we would: so we put it off to another time. Returned to the office, where we sat all the morning, and at noon to Captain Cocke's [aged 50] to dinner; where Lord Bruncker [aged 47] and his Lady, Matt. Wren [aged 38], and Bulteale, and Sir Allen Apsly [aged 51]; the last of whom did make good sport, he being already fallen under the retrenchments of the new Committee, as he is Master Falconer¹ which makes him mad, and swears that we are doing that the Parliament would have done-that is, that we are now endeavouring to destroy one another. But it was well observed by some at the table, that they do not think this retrenching of the King's charge will be so acceptable to the Parliament, they having given the King [aged 37] a revenue of so many £100,000's a-year more than his predecessors had, that he might live in pomp, like a king.

Note 1. The post of Master Falconer was afterwards granted to Charles's son by Nell Gwyn [aged 17], and it is still held by the Duke of St. Albans, as an hereditary office. B.

Before 17th September 1672 [his son-in-law] William Wentworth of Northgatehead [aged 45] and [his daughter] Isabella Apsley were married.

In June 1682 [his son-in-law] Benjamin Bathurst [aged 43] and [his daughter] Frances Apsley [aged 27] were married.

In 1683 Captain Allen Apsley [aged 67] died.

In 1698 [his former wife] Frances Petre died.

[his son] Peter Apsley was born to Captain Allen Apsley and Frances Petre.

[his father] Allen Apsley and Anne Carew were married.

[his daughter] Isabella Apsley was born to Captain Allen Apsley and Frances Petre. She married before 17th September 1672 William Wentworth of Northgatehead and had issue.