Biography of William Crofts 1st Baron Crofts 1611-1677

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

Around 1611 William Crofts 1st Baron Crofts was born to [his father] Henry Crofts [aged 20] and [his mother] Elizabeth Wortley [aged 21].

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

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

On 21st March 1643 John Craven 1st Baron Craven [aged 32] was created 1st Baron Craven of Ryton in Shropshire. [his future wife] Elizabeth Spencer Baroness Craven [aged 26] by marriage Baroness Craven of Ryton in Shropshire.

On 1st October 1643 [his mother] Elizabeth Wortley [aged 53] died.

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

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

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

In 1658 William Crofts 1st Baron Crofts [aged 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 [aged 8] whose mother Lucy Walter [aged 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 [aged 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 [aged 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 [aged 52] presence-chamber, where she was with our own Queen [aged 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 [aged 21], and, which pleased me most, Mr. Crofts [aged 13], the King's [aged 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 [aged 51], his governor. He was created Duke of Monmouth, February 14th, 1663, and married Lady Anne Scott [aged 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.

In or after 1663 William Crofts 1st Baron Crofts [aged 52] and Elizabeth Spencer Baroness Craven [aged 46] were married. They were fourth cousins.

Before 25th February 1663 William Crofts 1st Baron Crofts [aged 52] and Dorothy Hobart [aged 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 [aged 43] died.

In 1667 William Crofts 1st Baron Crofts [aged 56] inherited Little Saxham Hall, Suffolk following the death of his father.

In March 1667 [his father] Henry Crofts [aged 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 [aged 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 [aged 50] was created 1st Earl Shaftesbury. [his sister-in-law] Margaret Spencer Countess Shaftesbury [aged 47] by marriage Countess Shaftesbury.

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

John Evelyn's Diary. 4th September 1677. I went to visit my Lord Crofts [aged 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 [aged 66] died. Baron Crofts of Saxham extinct.