| Notes |
- 23 October 2024
It seems clear, from the litigation in which Ralph Croft and his descendants participated, that Ann, who was apparently a recusant, was somehow related to Simon Conyers, of Danby, the father-in-law of Henry Scrope, of Danby and Spennithorne. The Crofts were variously in litigation with the Conyers, Scrope, and Metcalfe families. The latter probably descend from the re-marriage of Simon's mother Anne, née Mountfort, to James Metcalfe. One of the lawsuits also concerns the estate of Thomas Fulthorpe, Simon's father-in-law. Anne Croft was probably therefore a Metcalfe or a Conyers, or possibly a Carr (from the third marriage of Anne Mountfort). The connection would make the Scropes of Danby cousins of the Crofts. Francis Burgh of Spennithorne in his will dated 1601 refers to Henry Scrope as well as to his cousin Christopher Croft of Cottescue. It is likely that Francis's mother was also related to Anne Mountfort, from whose ancestors the Danby estate was inherited by Conyers and Scrope. We have not yet had opportunity to consult the following Chancery or Exchequer records:
E 321/8/66: Crofte v. Conyers.
E 321/42/92: [unknown] v. Conyers.
C 1/1206/85: Crofte v. Chamber.
C 1/1294/69: Crofte v. Conyers.
[C 1/1206/86: Crofte v. Tomson.
C 1/1185/5-6: Thomson v. Crofte.]
E 321/7/95: Crofte v. Metcalf.
C 1/1204/108-109: Crofte v. Metcalf.
C 9/5/131: Metcalfe v. Crofte.
C 10/45/89: Metcalfe v. Croft.
C 8/55/69: Beverley v. Turbatt.
C 8/38/119: Beverley v. Turbatt.
C 8/77/109: Beverley v. Turbatt.
C 4/9/132: Ralph Croft v. Simon Conyers.
E 134/32and33Eliz/Mich33: Scrope v. Croft.
E 134/17Eliz/East6: Tenants of Midleham v. Toppam.
The final reference is to Topham of Agglethorpe. We note that Edward Topham of Agglethorpe married Anne, daughter of John Scrope and granddaughter of the above-mentioned Henry Scrope by Margaret Conyers. Their daughter Margery Topham married Christopher Croft, of Coverham, who died 20 September 1666, and who was possibly a cousin of Christopher Croft of Cottescue.
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