| 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.
21 July 2025
Christopher Croft, alderman of the City of York, later Sir Christopher Croft, is named in the will of Ann Metcalfe of the City of York spinster (dated 8 March 1633/34, proved in the Prerogative Court of York 21 August 1634) as a cousin of the testatrix. The testatrix named her father Richard Metcalfe of Bishopthorpe gentleman, her uncle Ralph Metcalfe of Durham, and her grandparents Hillary Beverley of Crambe and Ann his wife. The latter subscribed as recusants, 1 November 1638 (https://archive.org/details/YASRS061/page/148/mode/2up?view=theater).
Christopher Croft, possibly the father of Sir Christopher Croft, is also named in the will of Ann's father Richard Metcalfe of Bishopthorpe gentleman (dated 5 July 1623, proved in the Prerogative Court of York 19 July 1623) as a cousin of the testator. He refers to "my daughter Anne Metcalf," "my Nephew Richard Metcalf," "my Coosen John Metcalf" (to whom he gives his house and copyhold land in Cawood), "my sister Alice Winn," "Willm. Turbate of Bishopp Thorpe," "my Coosen Mr. John Hutchinson of ye Cittie of yorke," "my Coosen Mr. Xpofer Croft," "my Coosen John Metcalf," "my half sister Isabell Watson," and "Mathias Watson" (and others probably unrelated to the testator).
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