Biography of William Crofts 1st Baron Crofts 1611-1677

In or before 1611 [his father] Henry Crofts (age 20) and [his mother] Elizabeth Wortley (age 20) were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Richard Wortley and [his grandmother] Elizabeth Boughton Countess Devonshire (age 42).

Around 1611 William Crofts 1st Baron Crofts was born to Henry Crofts (age 20) and Elizabeth Wortley (age 21).

Between 1634 and 1643 John Craven 1st Baron Craven (age 23) and [his future wife] Elizabeth Spencer Baroness Craven (age 17) were married.

In 1638 Anthony Van Dyck (age 38). Portrait of Thomas Killigrew (age 25) and (probably) William Crofts 1st Baron Crofts (age 27).

On 1st October 1643 [his mother] Elizabeth Wortley (age 53) died.

On 7th July 1648 Henry Howard (age 28) and [his future wife] Elizabeth Spencer Baroness Craven (age 31) were married. He the son of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Berkshire (age 60) and Elizabeth Cecil Countess Berkshire (age 52). They were fourth cousins.

John Evelyn's Diary. 19th August 1649. I went to salute the French King (age 10) and the Queen Dowager (age 47); and, on the 21st, returned in one of the Queen's coaches with my Lord Germain, Duke of Buckingham (age 21), Lord Wentworth (age 37), and Mr. Croftes (age 38), since Lord Croftes.

In 1652 William Crofts 1st Baron Crofts (age 41) was appointed Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to the exiled King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 21).

In 1658 William Crofts 1st Baron Crofts (age 47) was created 1st Baron Crofts of Saxham, probably as a consequence of having been given charge of Charle's illegitimate son James Scott 1st Duke Monmouth 1st Duke Buccleuch (age 8) whose mother Lucy Walter (age 28) had died.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 30th July 1662. Up early, and to my office, where Cooper came to me and begun his lecture upon the body of a ship, which my having of a modell in the office is of great use to me, and very pleasant and useful it is. Then by water to White Hall, and there waited upon my Lord Sandwich (age 37); and joyed him, at his lodgings, of his safe coming home after all his danger, which he confesses to be very great. And his people do tell me how bravely my Lord did carry himself, while my Lord Crofts (age 51) did cry; and I perceive it is all the town talk how poorly he carried himself. But the best was of one Mr. Rawlins, a courtier, that was with my Lord; and in the greatest danger cried, "God damn me, my Lord, I won't give you three-pence for your place now". But all ends in the honour of the pleasure-boats; which, had they not been very good boats, they could never have endured the sea as they did.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 7th September 1662. After I had talked an hour or two with her I went and gave Mr. Hunt a short visit, he being at home alone, and thence walked homewards, and meeting Mr. Pierce, the chyrurgeon, he took me into Somersett House [Map]; and there carried me into the Queen-Mother's (age 52) presence-chamber, where she was with our own Queen (age 23) sitting on her left hand (whom I did never see before); and though she be not very charming, yet she hath a good, modest, and innocent look, which is pleasing. Here I also saw Madam Castlemaine (age 21), and, which pleased me most, Mr. Crofts (age 13), the King's (age 32) bastard, a most pretty spark of about 15 years old, who, I perceive, do hang much upon my Baroness Castlemaine's, and is always with her; and, I hear, the Queens both of them are mighty kind to him¹.

Note 1. James, the son of Charles II by Lucy Walter, daughter of William Walter, of Roch Castle [Map], co. Pembroke. He was born April 9th, 1649, and landed in England with the Queen-Mother, July 28th, 1662, when he bore the name of Crofts, after Lord Crofts (age 51), his governor. He was created Duke of Monmouth, February 14th, 1663, and married Lady Anne Scott (age 11), daughter and heiress of Francis, second Earl of Buccleuch, on April 20th following. In 1673 he took the name of Scott, and was created Duke of Buccleuch.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 27th October 1662. He told me what great faction there is at Court; and above all, what is whispered, that young Crofts (age 13) is lawful son to the King (age 32), the King being married to his mother¹. How true this is, God knows; but I believe the Duke of York (age 29) will not be fooled in this of three crowns.

Note 1. There has been much confusion as to the name and parentage of Charles's mistress. Lucy Walter was the daughter of William Walter of Roch Castle, co. Pembroke, and Mr. S. Steinman, in his "Althorp Memoirs" (privately printed, 1869), sets out her pedigree, which is a good one. Roch Castle was taken and burnt by the Parliamentary forces in 1644, and Lucy was in London in 1648, where she made the acquaintance of Colonel Algernon Sidney (age 25). She then fell into the possession of his brother, Colonel Robert Sidney². In September of this same year she was taken up by Charles, Prince of Wales. Charles terminated his connection with her on October 30th, 1651, and she died in 1658, as appears by a document (administration entry in the Register of the Prerogative Court) met with by the late Colonel Chester. William Erskine, who had served Charles as cupbearer in his wanderings, and was appointed Master of the Charterhouse in December, 1677, had the care of Lucy Walter, and buried her in Paris. He declared that the King never had any intention of marrying her, and she did not deserve it. Thomas Ross, the tutor of her son, put the idea of this claim into his head, and asked Dr. Cosin to certify to a marriage. In consequence of this he was removed from his office, and Lord Crofts (age 37) took his place (Steinman's "Althorp Memoirs"). Lucy Walter took the name of Barlow during her wanderings.

Note 2. Not clear who Colonel Robert Sidney is since Algernon Sidney didn't have a brother called Robert. Algernon's brothers were Philip Sidney 3rd Earl of Leicester (age 43) and Henry Sidney 1st Earl Romney (age 21).

In or after 1663 William Crofts 1st Baron Crofts (age 52) and Elizabeth Spencer Baroness Craven (age 46) were married. They were fourth cousins.

Before 25th February 1663 William Crofts 1st Baron Crofts (age 52) and Dorothy Hobart (age 43) were married. They were fourth cousins. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

Before 25th February 1663 [his wife] Dorothy Hobart (age 43) died.

In 1667 William Crofts 1st Baron Crofts (age 56) inherited Little Saxham Hall, Suffolk following the death of his father.

In March 1667 [his father] Henry Crofts (age 76) died. He was buried on Little Saxham, Suffolk.

October 1668. In this part of the "Diary" no entry occurs for thirteen days, though there are several pages left blank. During the interval Pepys went into the country, as he subsequently mentions his having been at Saxham, in Suffolk, during the King's visit to Lord Crofts (age 57), which took place at this time (see October 23rd, post). He might also probably have gone to Impington to fetch his wife. The pages left blank were never filled up. B.

In 1672 Anthony Ashley-Cooper 1st Earl Shaftesbury (age 50) was created 1st Earl Shaftesbury. [his sister-in-law] Margaret Spencer Countess Shaftesbury (age 47) by marriage Countess Shaftesbury.

On 11th August 1672 [his wife] Elizabeth Spencer Baroness Craven (age 55) died.

John Evelyn's Diary. 4th September 1677. I went to visit my Lord Crofts (age 66), now dying at St. Edmunds Bury [Map], and took the opportunity to see this ancient town, and the remains of that famous monastery and abbey. There is little standing entire, save the gatehouse; it has been a vast and magnificent Gothic structure, and of great extent. The gates are wood, but quite plated over with iron. There are also two stately churches, one especially.

On 11th September 1677 William Crofts 1st Baron Crofts (age 66) died. Baron Crofts of Saxham extinct.