North Yorkshire
This section deals with the Croft Family in North Yorkshire, from their origins during the 16th century in East Witton, and the spread of the family through the county during the following two centuries.
The Croft Family of North Yorkshire is generally recognised as having being descended from the North Lancashire Family which rose to prominence first in Dalton in the Middle Ages, and subsequently in Claughton during the 14th to 17th century. As this family prospered for so many centuries, it is hardly surprising that it spread throughout the area, and of course over the border into Yorkshire.
The Croft Family of North Yorkshire is generally recognised as having being descended from the North Lancashire Family which rose to prominence first in Dalton in the Middle Ages, and subsequently in Claughton during the 14th to 17th century. As this family prospered for so many centuries, it is hardly surprising that it spread throughout the area, and of course over the border into Yorkshire.
The exact nature and timing of the move into North Yorkshire is uncertain, and it is highly likely that the various pockets of Crofts which appeared in the county during the 15th/16th century were as a result of more than one member of the family making the journey across the border to set up home. As very few documents regarding these migrations exist, it may not be possible to accurately link the North Yorkshire family branches to their specific ancestors in Lancashire.
On the map above I have indicated the positions of Claughton in Lancashire and East Witton in Yorkshire. The journey from Claughton to East Witton would have been relatively straight forward - the road (highlighted in red) passing through several market towns (present at the time), and is about 40 miles.
It is worth considering the use of Christian names in the family during the 16th century. The various branches of the family in North Lancashire (Claughton and the Lune Valley) during the 16th and 17th century all used the same Christian names for their male offspring - namely Henry, Gabriel, John, Edward and William (with other additions). Henry and Gabriel were particularly regularly used for the first and second born sons. It is notable that while the name Christopher does not seem to appear in the main line of the family seated at Claughton Hall, (nor in my own branch of the family in Littledale), the Crofts of Heversham who were directly related to the Claughton Crofts (and also regularly used the names Gabriel and Lawrence) were all descended from Christopher Croft (born around 1510, probably a younger son of Claughton, died 1564) and the use of this name then continued down the generations, along with the repeated use of the name Leonard. It's possible of course that this Christopher Croft was not the only use of the name in the Claughton line; generally only the eldest sons are mentioned in documents, as heirs to the title and lands, younger sons often went unnoted. Moving over to East Witton, while there is no use of Gabriel or Lawrence, there is repeated use of the name Christopher (and occasionally Leonard). While this may be purely coincidental, it does seem to suggest a link between the two families. Ralph Croft (gentleman) of Cotescue Park was contemporary with Christopher Croft (gentleman) of Rowell in Heversham; could it be that Ralph named his son Christopher after his cousin in Westmorland?
As the North Yorkshire Croft Family rose to considerable prominence during the 17th to 19th century, sources and publications on the family are fairly numerous. I have included the following as examples. Note - While not agreeing with everything stated in these publications, I have nevertheless included them as written...
From “Notices of the Ancient Family of Croft, of the Counties of Lancaster and York” by Nicholas Carlisle, 1841
The Baronet Family of Croft, in the County of York, is of very great antiquity, and is stated to be descended out of the County Palatine of Lancaster.
The Family of Croft, of East Witton, in the County of York, are stated in the Pedigree which was certified in The College of Arms, on the 16th May 1805, to be descended from Henry Croft out of Lancashire.
From Burkes “Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire”, 6th Edition, 1889 (and other editions)
Ralph Croft of East Witton, in Yorkshire, descended out of Lancashire, was father of
Christopher Croft, of Cottescue Park, co.York, in 1611, who married Miss Clapham of Beamsley, and had issue,
Sir Christopher Croft, Knight, of the city of York, sheriff of that city in 1618, and lord mayor in 1629 and 1641, when he entertained in his own house Charles I, and upon that occasion was knighted. He died 5 July 1649, leaving, by his wife Elizabeth Harrison, besides other children, a son,
Thomas Croft, who was seated at Stillington in Yorkshire, and who married Olive, only daughter and heir of John Dunstey of Bramhope Esq. he died 1654, leaving several children, of whom,
Thomas Croft Esq. succeeded to the estate of Stillington, and died 1711 having married Frances, daughter of Sir Stephen Thompson, by whom he had a numerous issue. His son,
Stephen Croft, Esq. was of Stillington. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Edmund Anderson of Broughton, and dying in 1733, left issue: his eldest son, Stephen, married Henrietta, daughter of Henry Thompson Esq. of Kirby Hall, was ancestor of Lieut. Col. Harry Croft, now of Stillington, and the Rev. James Croft, archdeacon of Canterbury. The 2nd son,
Thomas Croft, was of London, and married Lucy, daughter and heir of Henry Thompson Esq. of Kirby Hall, and left a son,
John Croft, who married 14 June 1775, Henrietta-Maria, (sister of the lady of Sir Everard Home, Bart., and of Catherine, lady of Lord Walpole, father of the present Earl of Orford) daughter and co-heir of the Rev. James Tunstall, and was father of,
Sir John Croft, knight commander of the Tower and Sword, DCI, FRS, of Cowling Hall, co. York, and Doddington and Newnham, co. Kent; born 21 March 1778; created a Bart 3 Oct 1818; married 1st 17 Aug 1816 Amelia-Elizabeth daughter of James Warre Esq., by whom he had issue, Henrietta-Maria-Eleanor, and Elizabeth-Anne. He married 2ndly, 24 July 1827, Anne-Knox, daughter of the Rev. John Radcliffe, rector of Limehouse (descended from the ancient and noble family of Radcliffe) and had issue, John -Frederick, born 31 Aug 1828, and Marianne-Radcliffe Sir John was appointed charge d’affaires at Lisbon, in 1815
The Arms of the family are described as being created 3 October 1818, and are identical, including the motto ”Esse Quam Videri”, to the Arms of the Croft Family of Croft Castle, Herefordshire.
From the “Stillington Community Archive”
The earliest record that I can find of the Stillington Crofts is one Ralph Croft (circa 1518-1579) of East Witton, near Middleham, North Yorkshire. He and his wife Anne had a son Christopher (1543-1605) who in June 1564, at Middleham, married Elizabeth, daughter of William Clapham of Beamsley. They had five children, one of whom was Christopher (1583 to 1649). It was this Christopher who was Lord Mayor of York in 1629 and 1641. He was knighted by King Charles I in November 1641.
Sir Christopher Croft married Cecelia Willford in June 1610. She was daughter of Sir John (James) Willford, the Prebendary of Stillington. They had three children Anne, Elizabeth and Sicily. Cecelia died in 1612. Sir James Willford died in 1605 and is buried in the aisle of Stillington church, under a blue stone.
On 21st November 1613, Sir Christopher married a second time to Elizabeth Harrison, daughter of Robert Harrison, Alderman of York. They had three sons, John, Thomas and Christopher and one daughter, Elizabeth. John, Christopher and Elizabeth all died young. Elizabeth, their mother, died in September 1643 and was buried at St. Michael's, Ousebridge, York. Sir Christopher died in 1649 and was also buried at St. Michael's.
Their son Thomas was the first to make Stillington his home. The Crofts held Stillington until 1895 when Harry Croft (1857-1926) sold the Hall and land that went with it.
The Croft family had a singular influence in Oporto, Portugal from the late 1600's to the early 1900's in the Port and Sherry trade.
From “The Three Days of Wensleydale” WGM Barker 1854
Cotescue Park was the residence, at the close of the sixteenth and beginning of the seventeenth centuries, of the Crofts, a junior branch of the ancient Saxon (sic. the Croft family is known to be of Norman origin, not Saxon) house of Croft, of Croft Castle in the county of Hereford. From this branch descend the present Sir John Croft, Bart., KTS, and Colonel Croft of Stillington.
It is a singular circumstance, strongly showing the present dispersion and decadence of ancient houses of gentle blood, that about the time of Charles I, the Croft family appears to have possessed no fewer than seven manor houses in this immediate district, at least within a very few miles. These were, Cotescue Park, the Kings Audit House at Middleham, Agglethorpe Hall, East Appleton, Arrathorne, Coverham, and Croft Wood Hall, as well as mansions at the two Wittons, East and West. Of all of these, not one is in now possession of any of the family.
(Mr Barker goes on to describe the descent of the family in Dalton, North Lancashire, which I have discussed elsewhere. He then goes on to say of the North Yorkshire Crofts.....)
Of the junior branches, one has become seated in the adjacent North Riding of York. William Croft, of East Witton, died in 1563, leaving A son William who died in 1590. His son, Henry Croft Esq. of East Witton, died in 1613, leaving several sons. From him derive in lineal succession The Crofts of East Witton, who still reside there, like their more immediate ancestors, as substantial yeomen. Christopher Croft of Cotescue Park was father of Sir Christopher Croft, who being Lord Mayor of York, had the high honour of loyally and dutifully receiving King Charles I during the rebellion, and was by him knighted for his services. He was progenitor of the Crofts of Stillington, now represented by Lieut. Col. Harry Croft, and of the present Sir John Croft, Bart. KTS of Cowling Hall. Of the East Appleton branch, was Captain Edward Croft, another Cavalier, who defended Knaresborough Castle for the King, and lies buried at Catterick, together with his wife, a Stanley, of Cumberland. Into this line also married Capt. Richard Braithwaite, better known as “Drunken Barnabee”, a gallant Royalist and witty poet. From the Croft Wood Hall family descend the present Christopher Croft Esq., who has thrice filled the honourable municipal post of Mayor of the ancient city of Richmond, and the Rev. John Croft, Vicar of Catterick. Sir James Croft was Governor of Berwick in the reign of Queen Elizabeth (1558-1603) and, in conjunction with the celebrated Sir Ralph Sadler, took a very active part in border affairs. In the same reign (Elizabeth I), Roger Croft of Appleton was bow-bearer of the Royal Forest of Wensleydale. In 1593, in an indenture between the Earl of Essex, Master of the Horse, and others, respecting a grant of Cotescue, (or rather Cottersboro’) Park, there is a reservation of summer and winter pasturage and pasture gates of the said park for “all deer and wild beasts”, kept by Christopher, Thomas and Ralph Croft, at the yearly rent of 66s. 8d according to their letters patent, dated 26th May 1585.
The ancient arms are; Lozengy (sometimes fusilly) argent and sable, as they once appeared in the Croft Chapel of Claughton Church, and in Warton Church, both in Lancashire; and likewise in Catterick Church. The Crofts of Stillington have, however, since the time of Charles II adopted; quarterly, indented, erminois and gules, in the first quarter a lion rampant, sable. (like the arms of Croft Castle, Herefordshire, though there is no proven link between the Yorkshire and Herefordshire families).
On the map above I have indicated the positions of Claughton in Lancashire and East Witton in Yorkshire. The journey from Claughton to East Witton would have been relatively straight forward - the road (highlighted in red) passing through several market towns (present at the time), and is about 40 miles.
It is worth considering the use of Christian names in the family during the 16th century. The various branches of the family in North Lancashire (Claughton and the Lune Valley) during the 16th and 17th century all used the same Christian names for their male offspring - namely Henry, Gabriel, John, Edward and William (with other additions). Henry and Gabriel were particularly regularly used for the first and second born sons. It is notable that while the name Christopher does not seem to appear in the main line of the family seated at Claughton Hall, (nor in my own branch of the family in Littledale), the Crofts of Heversham who were directly related to the Claughton Crofts (and also regularly used the names Gabriel and Lawrence) were all descended from Christopher Croft (born around 1510, probably a younger son of Claughton, died 1564) and the use of this name then continued down the generations, along with the repeated use of the name Leonard. It's possible of course that this Christopher Croft was not the only use of the name in the Claughton line; generally only the eldest sons are mentioned in documents, as heirs to the title and lands, younger sons often went unnoted. Moving over to East Witton, while there is no use of Gabriel or Lawrence, there is repeated use of the name Christopher (and occasionally Leonard). While this may be purely coincidental, it does seem to suggest a link between the two families. Ralph Croft (gentleman) of Cotescue Park was contemporary with Christopher Croft (gentleman) of Rowell in Heversham; could it be that Ralph named his son Christopher after his cousin in Westmorland?
As the North Yorkshire Croft Family rose to considerable prominence during the 17th to 19th century, sources and publications on the family are fairly numerous. I have included the following as examples. Note - While not agreeing with everything stated in these publications, I have nevertheless included them as written...
From “Notices of the Ancient Family of Croft, of the Counties of Lancaster and York” by Nicholas Carlisle, 1841
The Baronet Family of Croft, in the County of York, is of very great antiquity, and is stated to be descended out of the County Palatine of Lancaster.
The Family of Croft, of East Witton, in the County of York, are stated in the Pedigree which was certified in The College of Arms, on the 16th May 1805, to be descended from Henry Croft out of Lancashire.
From Burkes “Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire”, 6th Edition, 1889 (and other editions)
Ralph Croft of East Witton, in Yorkshire, descended out of Lancashire, was father of
Christopher Croft, of Cottescue Park, co.York, in 1611, who married Miss Clapham of Beamsley, and had issue,
Sir Christopher Croft, Knight, of the city of York, sheriff of that city in 1618, and lord mayor in 1629 and 1641, when he entertained in his own house Charles I, and upon that occasion was knighted. He died 5 July 1649, leaving, by his wife Elizabeth Harrison, besides other children, a son,
Thomas Croft, who was seated at Stillington in Yorkshire, and who married Olive, only daughter and heir of John Dunstey of Bramhope Esq. he died 1654, leaving several children, of whom,
Thomas Croft Esq. succeeded to the estate of Stillington, and died 1711 having married Frances, daughter of Sir Stephen Thompson, by whom he had a numerous issue. His son,
Stephen Croft, Esq. was of Stillington. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Edmund Anderson of Broughton, and dying in 1733, left issue: his eldest son, Stephen, married Henrietta, daughter of Henry Thompson Esq. of Kirby Hall, was ancestor of Lieut. Col. Harry Croft, now of Stillington, and the Rev. James Croft, archdeacon of Canterbury. The 2nd son,
Thomas Croft, was of London, and married Lucy, daughter and heir of Henry Thompson Esq. of Kirby Hall, and left a son,
John Croft, who married 14 June 1775, Henrietta-Maria, (sister of the lady of Sir Everard Home, Bart., and of Catherine, lady of Lord Walpole, father of the present Earl of Orford) daughter and co-heir of the Rev. James Tunstall, and was father of,
Sir John Croft, knight commander of the Tower and Sword, DCI, FRS, of Cowling Hall, co. York, and Doddington and Newnham, co. Kent; born 21 March 1778; created a Bart 3 Oct 1818; married 1st 17 Aug 1816 Amelia-Elizabeth daughter of James Warre Esq., by whom he had issue, Henrietta-Maria-Eleanor, and Elizabeth-Anne. He married 2ndly, 24 July 1827, Anne-Knox, daughter of the Rev. John Radcliffe, rector of Limehouse (descended from the ancient and noble family of Radcliffe) and had issue, John -Frederick, born 31 Aug 1828, and Marianne-Radcliffe Sir John was appointed charge d’affaires at Lisbon, in 1815
The Arms of the family are described as being created 3 October 1818, and are identical, including the motto ”Esse Quam Videri”, to the Arms of the Croft Family of Croft Castle, Herefordshire.
From the “Stillington Community Archive”
The earliest record that I can find of the Stillington Crofts is one Ralph Croft (circa 1518-1579) of East Witton, near Middleham, North Yorkshire. He and his wife Anne had a son Christopher (1543-1605) who in June 1564, at Middleham, married Elizabeth, daughter of William Clapham of Beamsley. They had five children, one of whom was Christopher (1583 to 1649). It was this Christopher who was Lord Mayor of York in 1629 and 1641. He was knighted by King Charles I in November 1641.
Sir Christopher Croft married Cecelia Willford in June 1610. She was daughter of Sir John (James) Willford, the Prebendary of Stillington. They had three children Anne, Elizabeth and Sicily. Cecelia died in 1612. Sir James Willford died in 1605 and is buried in the aisle of Stillington church, under a blue stone.
On 21st November 1613, Sir Christopher married a second time to Elizabeth Harrison, daughter of Robert Harrison, Alderman of York. They had three sons, John, Thomas and Christopher and one daughter, Elizabeth. John, Christopher and Elizabeth all died young. Elizabeth, their mother, died in September 1643 and was buried at St. Michael's, Ousebridge, York. Sir Christopher died in 1649 and was also buried at St. Michael's.
Their son Thomas was the first to make Stillington his home. The Crofts held Stillington until 1895 when Harry Croft (1857-1926) sold the Hall and land that went with it.
The Croft family had a singular influence in Oporto, Portugal from the late 1600's to the early 1900's in the Port and Sherry trade.
From “The Three Days of Wensleydale” WGM Barker 1854
Cotescue Park was the residence, at the close of the sixteenth and beginning of the seventeenth centuries, of the Crofts, a junior branch of the ancient Saxon (sic. the Croft family is known to be of Norman origin, not Saxon) house of Croft, of Croft Castle in the county of Hereford. From this branch descend the present Sir John Croft, Bart., KTS, and Colonel Croft of Stillington.
It is a singular circumstance, strongly showing the present dispersion and decadence of ancient houses of gentle blood, that about the time of Charles I, the Croft family appears to have possessed no fewer than seven manor houses in this immediate district, at least within a very few miles. These were, Cotescue Park, the Kings Audit House at Middleham, Agglethorpe Hall, East Appleton, Arrathorne, Coverham, and Croft Wood Hall, as well as mansions at the two Wittons, East and West. Of all of these, not one is in now possession of any of the family.
(Mr Barker goes on to describe the descent of the family in Dalton, North Lancashire, which I have discussed elsewhere. He then goes on to say of the North Yorkshire Crofts.....)
Of the junior branches, one has become seated in the adjacent North Riding of York. William Croft, of East Witton, died in 1563, leaving A son William who died in 1590. His son, Henry Croft Esq. of East Witton, died in 1613, leaving several sons. From him derive in lineal succession The Crofts of East Witton, who still reside there, like their more immediate ancestors, as substantial yeomen. Christopher Croft of Cotescue Park was father of Sir Christopher Croft, who being Lord Mayor of York, had the high honour of loyally and dutifully receiving King Charles I during the rebellion, and was by him knighted for his services. He was progenitor of the Crofts of Stillington, now represented by Lieut. Col. Harry Croft, and of the present Sir John Croft, Bart. KTS of Cowling Hall. Of the East Appleton branch, was Captain Edward Croft, another Cavalier, who defended Knaresborough Castle for the King, and lies buried at Catterick, together with his wife, a Stanley, of Cumberland. Into this line also married Capt. Richard Braithwaite, better known as “Drunken Barnabee”, a gallant Royalist and witty poet. From the Croft Wood Hall family descend the present Christopher Croft Esq., who has thrice filled the honourable municipal post of Mayor of the ancient city of Richmond, and the Rev. John Croft, Vicar of Catterick. Sir James Croft was Governor of Berwick in the reign of Queen Elizabeth (1558-1603) and, in conjunction with the celebrated Sir Ralph Sadler, took a very active part in border affairs. In the same reign (Elizabeth I), Roger Croft of Appleton was bow-bearer of the Royal Forest of Wensleydale. In 1593, in an indenture between the Earl of Essex, Master of the Horse, and others, respecting a grant of Cotescue, (or rather Cottersboro’) Park, there is a reservation of summer and winter pasturage and pasture gates of the said park for “all deer and wild beasts”, kept by Christopher, Thomas and Ralph Croft, at the yearly rent of 66s. 8d according to their letters patent, dated 26th May 1585.
The ancient arms are; Lozengy (sometimes fusilly) argent and sable, as they once appeared in the Croft Chapel of Claughton Church, and in Warton Church, both in Lancashire; and likewise in Catterick Church. The Crofts of Stillington have, however, since the time of Charles II adopted; quarterly, indented, erminois and gules, in the first quarter a lion rampant, sable. (like the arms of Croft Castle, Herefordshire, though there is no proven link between the Yorkshire and Herefordshire families).
As can be seen from the above publication extracts, although the most celebrated branch of the family is that of Sir Christopher Croft and the Stillington line, by the 1600’s the family had spread throughout the area and was represented by several notable lines.
It is generally accepted that East Witton is the place of origin for all the Croft family lines within the North Yorkshire area, and Ralph Croft, father of Christopher Croft of Cotescue Park and ancestor of the Stillington branch of the family, is often cited as the first member of the family to reside in the area. I believe this is incorrect however, as there is plenty of evidence which shows that Ralph was only one of several members of the Croft family living in East Witton and the surrounding area during his lifetime.
In the will of Thomas Croft of East Witton (1579), he names Ralph and Henry as his sons and asks to be buried in the church yard as near as possible to his father and mother and his children. This suggests that the Croft family had been in East Witton for at least two generations previously, possibly longer. The exact relationship between Thomas of East Witton and Ralph of Cotescue Park is unclear. As they both died in 1579, it does seem quite possible that these two were brothers (note - Cotescue is only 3 miles from East Witton, so it is certain that the Crofts living in the two places were closely related, so if not brothers, then at least cousins). Again, when Thomas’ son Henry died in 1613, he asks in his will to be buried as near to his “ancestors” as possible. This again suggests that several generations of the family were already buried there.
Other documents of the time refer also to Crofts. For example, in 1569, a Thomas Croft (perhaps the one who died in 1579) and a John Croft were pardoned for their part in a rebellion and disturbances at East Witton. I have no evidence as to the identity of this John Croft - perhaps a brother?
In his book ‘The Three Days of Wensleydale’, Barker talks of William Croft of East Witton who died in 1563, and his son, also William, who died in 1590. These individuals certainly existed, as their wills survive and are on record. Again though, the exact identity is of the elder William is unclear - possibly again a brother/cousin of the elder Ralph? (William again is a name regularly used by the Claughton family.)
So, as we can see, the picture is not straight forward, and it may be impossible to accurately assign all the various Croft family members in the lineage. It does seem to me though, that while the first (known) Ralph Croft of East Witton/Cotescue was not born in Lancashire, he and his family in East Witton are certainly descended from the Claughton family, and are probably only two or three generations removed. Perhaps more evidence will come to light in the future which will enable the precise link between the East Witton family and the Claughton family to be made.
Follow the East Witton link for more detail on this family line