Biography of Arthur Slingsby 1st Baronet 1623-1666

In 1623 Arthur Slingsby 1st Baronet was born to Guildford Slingsby Controller of the Navy (age 58).

In 1631 [his father] Guildford Slingsby Controller of the Navy (age 66) died.

John Evelyn's Diary. 12 Jul 1649. It was about three in the afternoon, I took oars for Gravesend, Kent [Map]., accompanied by my cousin, Stephens, and sister, Glanville, who there supped with me and returned; whence I took post immediately to Dover, Kent [Map], where I arrived by nine in the morning; and, about eleven that night, went on board a barque guarded by a pinnace of eight guns; this being the first time the Packet-boat had obtained a convoy, having several times before been pillaged. We had a good passage, though chased for some hours by a pirate, but he dared not attack our frigate, and we then chased him till he got under the protection of the castle at Calais. It was a small privateer belonging to the Prince of Wales. I carried over with me my servant, Richard Hoare, an incomparable writer of several hands, whom I afterward preferred in the Prerogative Office, at the return of his Majesty. Lady Catherine Scott, daughter of the Earl of Norwich (age 64), followed us in a shallop, with Mr. Arthur Slingsby (age 26), who left England incognito. At the entrance of the town, the Lieutenant Governor, being on his horse with the guards, let us pass courteously. I visited Sir Richard Lloyd, an English gentleman, and walked in the church, where the ornament about the high altar of black marble is very fine, and there is a good picture of the Assumption. The citadel seems to be impregnable, and the whole country about it to be laid under water by sluices for many miles.

In 1657 Arthur Slingsby 1st Baronet (age 34) was created 1st Baronet Slingsby of Bifrons in Kent.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 13 Aug 1663. Thence to Mrs. Hunt's, where I left my wife, and I to walk a little in St. James's Park, while Mrs. Harper might come home, with whom we came to speak about her kinswoman Jane Gentleman to come and live with us as a chamber mayde, and there met with Mr. Hoole my old acquaintance of Magdalen, and walked with him an hour in the Parke, discoursing chiefly of Sir Samuel Morland (age 38), whose lady is gone into France. It seems he buys ground and a farm in the country, and lays out money upon building, and God knows what! so that most of the money he sold his pension of £500 per annum for, to Sir Arthur Slingsby (age 40), is believed is gone. It seems he hath very great promises from the King (age 33), and Hoole hath seen some of the King's letters, under his own hand, to Morland, promising him great things (and among others, the order of the Garter, as Sir Samuel says); but his lady thought it below her to ask any thing at the King's first coming, believing the King would do it of himself, when as Hoole do really think if he had asked to be Secretary of State at the King's first coming, he might have had it. And the other day at her going into France, she did speak largely to the King herself, how her husband hath failed of what his Majesty had promised, and she was sure intended him; and the King did promise still, as he is a King and a gentleman, to be as good as his word in a little time, to a tittle: but I never believe it.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 28 Dec 1663. Up and by coach to my Lord's lodgings, but he was gone abroad, so I lost my pains, but, however, walking through White Hall I heard the King (age 33) was gone to play at Tennis, so I down to the new Tennis Court; and saw him and Sir Arthur Slingsby (age 40) play against my Lord of Suffolke (age 44) and my Lord Chesterfield (age 29). The King beat three, and lost two sets, they all, and he particularly playing well, I thought.

Around 1664 [his daughter] Anna Charlotte Slingsby was born to Arthur Slingsby 1st Baronet (age 41).

John Evelyn's Diary. 07 Jul 1664. To Court, where I subscribed to Sir Arthur Slingsby's (age 41) lottery, a desperate debt owing me long since in Paris.

John Evelyn's Diary. 19 Jul 1664. To London, to see the event of the lottery which his Majesty (age 34) had permitted Sir Arthur Slingsby (age 41) to set up for one day in the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map], at Whitehall; I gaining only a trifle, as well as did the King, Queen-Consort (age 25), and Queen-Mother (age 54), for near thirty lots; which was thought to be contrived very unhandsomely by the master of it, who was, in truth, a mere shark.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 20 Jul 1664. Up, and a while to my office, and then home with Deane (age 30) till dinner, discoursing upon the business of my Chancellor's (age 55) timber in Clarendon Parke [Map], and how to make a report therein without offending him; which at last I drew up, and hope it will please him. But I would to God neither I nor he ever had had any thing to have done with it! Dined together with a good pig, and then out by coach to White Hall, to the Committee for Fishing; but nothing done, it being a great day to-day there upon drawing at the Lottery of Sir Arthur Slingsby (age 41). I got in and stood by the two Queenes [Note. Catherine of Braganza Queen Consort England (age 25) and Henrietta Maria Bourbon Queen Consort England (age 54) ] and the Duchesse of Yorke (age 27), and just behind my Baroness Castlemayne (age 23), whom I do heartily adore; and good sport it was to see how most that did give their ten pounds did go away with a pair of globes only for their lot, and one gentlewoman, one Mrs. Fish, with the only blanke. And one I staid to see drew a suit of hangings valued at £430, and they say are well worth the money, or near it. One other suit there is better than that; but very many lots of three and fourscore pounds. I observed the King (age 34) and Queenes did get but as poor lots as any else. But the wisest man I met with was Mr. Cholmley (age 31), who insured as many as would, from drawing of the one blank for 12d.; in which case there was the whole number of persons to one, which I think was three or four hundred. And so he insured about 200 for 200 shillings, so that he could not have lost if one of them had drawn it, for there was enough to pay the £10; but it happened another drew it, and so he got all the money he took.

In 1666 Arthur Slingsby 1st Baronet (age 43) died. His son [his son] Charles succeeded 2nd Baronet Slingsby of Bifrons in Kent.

[his son] Charles Slingsby 2nd Baronet was born to Arthur Slingsby 1st Baronet.