WHITGREAVE, OF MOSELEY COURT.

WHITGREAVE, GEORGE-THOMAS, esq. of Moseley Court, in the county of Stafford, b. 3rd August, 1787; m. 22nd July, 1814, Amelia, sister of the Countess Mazzinghi, and daughter of the late Benjamin Hodges, esq. of London, by Catharine, his wife, daughter of William Reeve, esq. of Harts, in Gloucestershire, by whom he has had issue,

HENRY-BENJAMIN-GEORGE, b. 25th October, 1816.
Francis, b. 27th September, 1819.

Alfred-Richard, b. 13th June, 1821, d. 26th May, 1837,
and was interred in the private chapel at Moseley
Court.

Joseph-Robert, b. 19th March, 1823.

Amelia-Catherine-Frances.
Mary-Constantia-Josephine.

Maria-Theresa.
Julia-Cecilia.

Georgiana-Catherine, died in 1835, and was interred in the private chapel at Moseley Court.

Mr. Whitgreave, who is a magistrate and deputy lieutenant for Staffordshire, succeeded his father 19th January, 1816, and served the office of high sheriff in 1837.*

Lineage.

"It is a reverend thing," says Bacon, "to see an ancient castle or building not in decay, or to see a fair timber tree sound and perfect, how much more to behold an ancient family which hath stood against the waves and weathers of time!"

In that of Whitgreave precisely such a family as the philosopher contemplates and so beautifully describes is brought immediately before us; it has endured six hundred years at least in the uninterrupted possession of a fair estate, and the unsullied enjoyment of a fair name, full of honour as of years, and immortalized by the noble deed of preserving from his ruthless pursuers the royal refugee, after the disastrous issue of the battle of Worcester. The original abode of the Whitgreaves was at Burton, near Stafford, and they possessed in early times a village in the vicinity of their seat, from which they derived, or to which they gave, the name of Whitgreave. The representative of the family, temp. HENRY VI. was

ROBERT WHITGREVE, of Burton in Staffordshire, who died 27th of that reign, leaving two sons, HUMPHREY, his heir, and Thomas, of Shropshire. The elder,

HUMPHREY WHITGREVE, esq. of Burton, living 1 HENRY VII. m. the daughter of Egerton, of Wrynhill, in the county of Chester, and was s. by his son,

ROBERT WHITGREVE, esq. of Burton, who wedded Margery, daughter of Thomas Staunford, esq. of Rowley, near Stafford, and had issue,

J. HUMPHREY, of Burton, living in 1583,
who was seized of the manor of Great
Bridgeford, and other estates in
Bradley, Ronton, and Gnosall. He
m. Joyce, daughter of Anthony Ast-
ley, esq. of Oslow, in Staffordshire,
and had, with a daughter, Elizabeth,
wife of Walter Colman, esq. of Can-
nock, a son Robert, of Burton, living
in 1614, who m. first, a daughter of
Skrymshire, of Aqualate, and secondly
Jane, dau. of John Erdeswicke, esq.
By the latter he left several children.
II. THOMAS, of whom presently.
III. George.

1. Ellen, m. to John Babinton, esq.
11. Margaret, d. unm.

III. Elizabeth, m. to Ralph Bagnall, esq.
of Barlaston, in Staffordshire.

* Mr. Whitgreave was the second Catholic sheriff of Staffordshire since the repeal of the penal laws. It is worthy of notice, that the clergyman who officiated as his chaplain during the shrievalty, was the Rev. Edward Huddleston, the collateral descendant of the loyal Father Huddleston, who with Mr. Whitgreave's ancestor, proved so instrumental in preserving the defeated and fugitive king (CHARLES II.) after the fatal battle of Worcester.

In 1656 Sir Thomas Whitgreave, knt. was chosen, with Sir Charles Wolseley, bart. knight of the shire forStafford.

IV. Alice, m. to Henry Grosvenor, esq. of Busbury, in Staffordshire.

Robert Whitgreve, of Burton, died 3rd December, 5 EDWARD VI. His second son,

THOMAS WHITGREVE, esq. of Bridge ford, m. Dorothy, daughter of Robert Noel, esq. of Hilcott, in Staffordshire, great-grandson of Thomas Noel, esq. of Newbold, by Jane, his second wife, daughter of Roger Draycott, esq. of Paynsley, and lineal descendant of Robert Noel, who founded the monastery of Ronton. By this lady, Mr. Whitgreave left, at his decease, in September, 1590, five sons, Henry, Edward, Humphrey, THOMAS, and Walter; of whom, the fourth,

THOMAS WHITGREAVE, esq. was of Moseley, in the county of Stafford. He m. Alice, daughter and co-heir of Henry Pitt, esq. of Bushbury, in the same shire, and had issue, THOMAS, his heir.

Joyce, m. to Richard Paylin, esq. of
Dernsdale, and had issue.
Dorothy, m. to John Spencer, of Lon-
don.

Alice, m. to William Reynolds, esq. of
Oxfordshire, and had issue.
Margaret.

Frances, m. to Jeremiah Harrison, M.D.
Elizabeth, m. to Sampson Erdeswick,
esq. of Hartley.

Sarah, m.to James Richardson, of Stagsend, Bedfordshire. Mr. Whitgreave d. in February, 1643, was buried at St. Mary's, Stafford, and s. by his only son,

THOMAS WHITGREAVE, esq. of Moseley, barrister-at-law, through whose devoted loyalty and careful contrivance, the life of King CHARLES II. was saved after the disastrous battle of Worcester: an authentic and most interesting memorial of his majesty's escape, and his concealment at Moseley. in the handwriting of the gentleman himself, is still preserved, and vividly characterizes those troubled times. The following is an exact transcript of the original manuscript:

66

King Charles the Second comeing from Worcester fight, being Wednesday, Sept. 3, 1651, about sun-rising next morning, being Thursday, by the conduct of Mr. Charles Giffard, and his man Yates, arrived att White Ladyes, where, as soon as might bee, he was divested of his apparell, his hayr cutt of, and habited like a country fellow; which being done, haveing taken leave of the Lords who attended him, was committed to the charge of the Pendrells. The Lords, &c. then most of them fled after the flying armye towards Newport, and so Northwards. The Lord Willmott was resolved to fly counter towards London, and by the guidance of John Pendrell gott to Mr. Huntbaches, of Brinsford; from whence he sent the said Pendrell to Wolverhampton, and all his acquaintance thereabouts, to gett some Azilum

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| for him; but not prevayling, as he was returning back, hee mett with Mr. Hudeleston (whom hee had seen formerly att White Ladyes), with young Sir John Preston, to whose custody hee was committed by Mrs. Morgan, of Weston, grand mother to him, and sent to my mother's to table, for fear Pym should seize him going here, by the name of Jackson; for whose companions Mr. Huddleston was pleased to admitt Mr. Francis Raynolds and Mr. Tho. Palin, both nephews of mine, and to teach them with him, and asked him what news hee heard, who answeared none but very good; which was, the King had gott the day att Worcester. But Pendrell answeared, 'tis clean contrarie; and then related to him the sad news of his Majesties defeat att Worcester the day before : and how, that morning earlie, the King came to White Ladyes, and was with some of his brothers in disguise, and that my Lord of Cleveland; but indeed Willmott hee left att the said Huntbaches, and was by him sent to Hampton, and to all his acquaintance thereabout, to gett some secrett place to secure him which not being able to do, he asked Mr. Huddleston whether his landlord, being myself, would do him the favour to secure him; who replyed, I will take you to him, and you shall see. Upon their arrivall, Mr. Huddleston told me all the sad news, and his busines with me; whereupon I said I would with speed wait on his Lordship; which I did accordingly: and when there, Mr. Huntbach brought mee to his chamber, whom, after I had condoled his Majesties and all his friends sad misfortunes, I told him I feared not to secure his Lordship if I could gett him privately to my house, which I thought the best way was for mee to wish Mr. Huntbach to bring him a by way to a close of mine, called The Moore, about midnight, where att thatt tyme I would wait for him, and take him to a friend's house not far of, wheare I feard not his securitie (to conceal from Mr. Huntbach my taking him home), where accordingly I wayted for their comeing 2 or 3 howers; and then, supposing they had steared some other course, I returned home, where I found my Lord Willmott arrived, being conducted by the said Huntbach an other way along the publick ways and lanes, which when my Lord understood, he was much troubled. The next morning I sent a messenger well known to Col. Lane, to acquaint him that my Lord was with mee, but I had no conveniency for his horses, my howse lying to the open roade, and an howse over against itt, and therefore I desired him to entertain them (they being that night att one Evans house, a poor man nigh Mr. Huntbach), myself being better able to secure my Lord then them, who seemed very willing, and bidd the messenger bring them, and that att

night he would himself wait on his Lord-
ship, and that I should, about midnight ex-
pect his comeing into a close called All-
port's Leasow, wherein was a great drie
pitt, covered with many trees, where the
Colonel accordingly came; and having tied
his horse in the said pitt, I brought him
through my back side to my Lord's chamber,
who, when they saw each other, they re-
newed their former acquaintance, the Colonel
formerly having served in my Lord's brigade.
The Colonel then invited my Lord to his
house, as far more safe, my self, as hee stiled
mee, a Papist, and more liable to searches;
besides, his sister, the Lady Jane, had new-
lie gott a pass from Capt. Stone, governor of
Stafford, for her self and man to go into the
West, which might bee a convenient oppor-
tunity for his passage away. But the day
before, I haveing shewn his Lordship a pri-
vacie in my house, formerly made in tymes
of persecution, and in which, after the late
unfortunate warre, I secured my self against
the violent strict search of Capt. Stone's
troop, his Lordship so approved of itt, for
his securitie, that bee wisht hee had given
100,000 friends of his were with him; gave
the Colonel many thanks for his kind offer,
but for the present said hee was well pleased
and satisfied with his present quarters, but
desired him to keep the opportunity of his
sister's pass, and his horses, till hee heard
from him again, and so took leave of him,
and I conducted back to his horses. This
morning, being Friday, Jo. Pendrell came
to my Lord, and staid all day with him,
who att night sent him to White Ladyes, to
enquire what was become of the King; who
returned, and said he went from thence the
night before to Madeley in Shropshire, with
a design to gett over Severn, and so to steere
for Wales (but Severn was so guarded hee
could not pass, but was forct to stay there
all that night and next day in a barn of Mr.
Woolfs); of whose removeall as soon as my
Lord heard, hee resolved speedily to remove
to Col. Lane's, and wisht me to send to him
to have his horses sent for him that night,
which I did, and they came accordingly;
and so, after many thanks for all my care
and kind entertainment, haveing dismissed
Jo. Pendrell, hee went, and safelie arrived
att the Colonel's the next morning.
Huddleston and my self were walking in the
long walk, and concluding in the afternoon
to go to White Ladyes, to receave a perfect
relation of all the transactions there, where
unexpectedly wee saw Jo. Pendrell comeing
to us, and asking us where my Lord was,
wee telling him he was gone from hence;
hee replyed, wee then are all undone, for
att my return yesterday, there being no
passage over Severn, the King was forct, on
Friday night, to come back to Boscobell,
and there mett with Col. Carelos, and that

Mr.

they had no entertainment for him, neither knew they how to dispose of him, who grew very melancholly upon itt: but hearing by mee that I left my Lord here, hee sent mee to his Lordship, to gett a place for his security with him here. Whereupon Mr. Huddleston and myself went with Pendrell to the Colonel, hee being a stranger to him, and wee durst not write by him; where I being arrived, acquainted the Colonel that Pendrell came to us from some person of eminent qualitie, whose name he was not to discover, to bring him to my Lord; and therefore I came with him my self, that hee should not bee afraid to give admittance: whereupon the Colonel immediatlie took him to my Lord, who, after some private conference and direccions for Mr. Huddleston and myself, hee sent him to us, to return with speed, and in the way homewards to acquaint us the person hee came from was the King, which his Lordship till then never discovered; and that hee desired myself to attend his comeing that night, about an eleaven of clock, att his usuall pitt in Alport's Leasow; and that Mr. Huddleston and self should appoint a place in my ground, whither hee and his brothers should bring the King, about 12 or one of clock that night: which wee accordingly did, and Pendrell speedily sent away to acquaint his Majestie. Att night, Mr. Huddleston and self, as soon as all the familie was gone to bedd, went to our severall stands, hee to a close called The Moor, and my self to the usuall drie pitt. My Lord came punctually according to his howre, whom I brought up to his chamber, and after the time prefixed, hee wisht mee to go to Mr. Huddleston, to see if they were come with his friend, as hee called him ; but I returning, and telling him they were not, hee seemed much troubled, and apprehensive of his miscarriage; then, after a little while, he wished mee to go again, and to stay in the orchard expecting them, where, after a while, I saw them comeing up the long walke, which I speedily acquainted his Lordship with, who wished mee to stay att the orchard door, and to shew him the way to the stayrs, where my Lord expected him with a light. When hee came to the door, with the Pendrells guarding him, he so habitted like one of them, that I could not tell which was hee, only I knew all the rest. I could scarce putt of my hatt to him, but hee discovering by the light the stayrs, ymediatlie went to them, where his Lordship expected him, and took him up to his chamber: then I took the Pendrells into the buttery, to eate and drink, that I might dispatch them away, and secure the house; but ere they had done, my Lord sent Mr. Huddleston down to mee, desireing mee to come up, which accordingly I did, and coming att the chamber door, his Majestie and my Lord

was

being both att a cupboard's head nigh to it, some of his own regiment, which he knew, talking, his Lordship said to mee, this gen- come up to the doors, some for provisions, tleman under disguize, whom I have hitherto and others for plaisters for their wounds. concealed, is both your maister, mine, and There he told us of the Scotts usage, and of the maister of us all, to whom wee all owe his march from thence to Worcester, and of our duty and allegiance; and so, kneeling the fight there, and inquired of us how this down, he gave me his hand to kiss, and bidd country and the gentry stood affected, and me arise, and said hee had receaved from who were against him: then looking upon my Lord such a character of my loyaltie severall books, hee saw Mr. Turbervill's and readiness in these dangers to assist him Catechisme, and read a little of itt, said itt and his friends, that hee would never bee was a pretty book, and that hee would take unmindful of mee or mine; and the next itt with him. In the afternoon, reposing word after was, where is the private place himself on his bed in the parlour chamber, my Lord tells me of? which being already and inclineing to sleep, as I was watching prepared and shewed him, hee went into itt, att the window, one of the neighbours Isaw and when come forth, said itt was the best come running in, who told the maid, solplace he was ever in. Then hee returning | diers were comeing to search, who thereto his chamber, sitting down by the fier side, upon presentlie came running to the staires wee pulled off his shoes and stockings, and head, and cried, soldiers, soldiers are comewashed his feet, which were most sadly ing; which his Majestie hearing, presentlie galled, and then pulled of likewaies his ap-started out of his bedd, and runn to his priparell and shirt, which was of hurden cloth, and put him one of Mr. Huddleston's, and other apparell of ours; then, after he had refreshed himself a little, by eating some biskett, and drinking a glass of wine, hee grew very chearfull, and said, if itt would please Almighty God to send him once more an army of 10,000 good and loyall soldiers and subjects, he feared not to expell all those rogues forth of his kingdom: then, after an howres discourse or more, he was desirous to repose himself on a bedd that night. The next day, the servants were sent all forth to work, only the cook maid, a Catholike, kept within to gett provision, as pretended, for a relation of Mr. Huddleston's, who fled to him from Worcester fight: neither shee nor Mr. Huddleston's schollars admitted to his sight, nor having the least suspect who hee was, the boys having, during his stay, liberty to play, and to watch who were comeing: whereupon Sir Jo. Preston one night att supper with the other boys said, eate hard, boys, for wee have been on the life guard and hard dutie this day (more trulie spoke then hee was aware). In the morning, my Lord took my mother to his Majestie, and acquainted him who shee was, who, kneeling down to kiss hand, hee most gratiously saluted, and when she had brought up dinner, would have had her sitt down with him, Mr. Huddleston and myself wayting. In the afternoon I was sent to Hampton, to enquire after news, and att my return wisht by my Lord to send for his horses that night from Col. Lane's, which I did accordingly, and he returned with them. All that night his Majestie lay on his bed, Mr. Huddleston watching within, and myself without doors. The next morning, my studie-door being open, his Majestie was pleased, with Mr. Huddleston and self, to go into itt, and for diversion to look forth of it into the court and com'on roade, where he saw many of his soldiers, and

vacie, where I secured him the best I could, and then leaving him, went forth into the street to meet the soldiers, who were comeing to search, whom, as soon as they saw, and knew who I was, were readie to pull mee in peeces, and take mee away with them, saying, I was come from Worcester fight; but after much dispute with them, and by the neighbours being informed of their false information, that I was not there, being very ill a great while, they lett mee goe; but till I saw them clearly all gone forth of the town, I returned not; but as soon as they were, I returned to release him, and did acquaint him with my stay, which hee thought long, and then hee began to bee very chearfull again. In the interim, whilst I was disputing with soldiers, one of them, called Southall, came into the fould, and asked a smith, as hee was shooing horses there, if he could tell where the King was, and hee should have a thowsand pounds for his payns, as the smith, called Holbeard, since several times hath told mee and others. This Sowthall was the great priest-catcher, and Capt. Lane's and Mr. Vernon's true cavaleer in the plotting time. That afternoon my Lord sent word he would send Col. Lane with an horse for the King about midnight, and that I must expect him att the usuall place. At night his Majestie wisht Mr. Huddleston to shew him our oratory, saying, hee knew hee was a priest, and hee needed not fear to own itt to him, for, if itt pleased God to restore him to his kingdom, wee should never need more privacies; who having seen itt, said itt was a very decent place. Afterwards I went to expect the Colonel, and took a nephew, Mr. Fra. Raynolds, with mee, to hold the horses whilst the Colonel went up to the house with mee: who arriving, I brought him to the orchard stile, where he would stay and expect till we brought his Majestie to him; of which I acquainting his