Or this family, denominated from the town of Marsham, ia Norfolk, was a THOMAS de Marsham, who died anno 1103. RICHARD, his only son, was father to a daughter, Margaret, who died unmarried, and a son,

RICHARD, who died 1190, leaving issue,

FERDINANDO, who survived till the year 1231, and had issue by Ann his wife, a daughter, Ann, who died young, and two

sons,

1. Andrew, who died without issue.

2. JOHN de Marsham, of Marsham, who dying 1292, was succeeded by his only son,

to

THOMAS, who was living at Norwich in 1350, and was father

ROBERT, seated at Stratton, in Norfolk, and had issue four sons, John, Andrew, Robert, and Richard, a monk in the priory of Norwich, and Almoner in that monastery.

JOHN, the eldest son, died 1515, and had several children, of whom,

JOHN, the eldest son, was sheriff of Norwich 1510, and mayor of that city 1518. He died May 13th, 1525, leaving issue by his wife,, daughter of Hammond Claxton, of Great Livermere, in Suffolk, Esq. two sons,

1. Robert, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Downes, Esq. and had three sons.b

a Baronagium Genealogicum, published by Mr. Edmondson.

b The descendant of the elder branch, I presume, was the late Mr. Marsham, of Stratton, in Norfolk, well known as a Member of the Royal Society; and for his public spirit in planting, &c.

2. Thomas, of the parish of St. Bartholomew, in London, and Alderman of the said city, who had issue by Magdalen, daughter of Richard Springham, merchant, of London, six sons, and four daughters; and was buried on March 12th, 1624, in Islington church.

Of which sons, JOHN, the second, born in the said parish of St. Bartholomew, on August 23d, 1602, was put to Westminster school, and from thence sent to St. John's college in Oxford, where he was entered a commoner in 1619. He took the degree of Master of Arts, A. D. 1625, in which year he went into France, and staid the winter at Paris. The two following years he travelled into most parts of that kingdom, visited Italy, and some parts of Germany, and then returned to London, where he studied the common law in the Middle Temple. In 1629, he went through Holland and Guelderland to the siege of Bois-le-duc; and, leaving that place, took his route by Flushing to Boulogne and Paris, to attend Sir Thomas Edmunds, Ambassador Extraordinary to the Court at Fontainbleau, to swear the French King to the peace. After his return home, he took to his former studies, and, in the beginning of the year 1637-8, was sworn one of the Six clerks in Chancery. On the breaking out of the civil wars, he followed his Majesty and the great seal to Oxford, and therefore was put out of his place by the usurping party, and was plundered in his estate, and lost to an incredible value.

His brother, Ferdinando, also espoused his Majesty's cause, and was one of those loyalists created A.M. at Oxford, in November, 1642; he was also Esquire for the body to King Charles I. and II. and dying on November 7th, 1681, aged seventy-one, was buried at Cuxton.

On the declension of the royal cause, John Marsham retired to his studies in London, and compounded for his estate at the sum of 3561. 16s. 2d. In 1660, he was returned to parliament for the city of Rochester, restored to his former post of Master in Chancery, and had the honour of knighthood conferred on him, being then written of Whorn's-place, in Cuxton, Kent, which he purchased; and, three years after, was created a Baronet. He was an accomplished gentleman, and excellent historian; for which reason father Simon, in his writings, called him the great Marsham of England. And Ant. Wood, in his History of the

• Monument in Cuxton (alias Cookstone), church.
d List of Lords, &c. Compounders, Edit. 2d, p. 71.

Oxford Writers, observes, that Monsieur Carcaoy, the King of France's library-keeper, and all the great and learned men of Europe, his contemporaries, acknowledged him to be one of the greatest antiquaries, and most accurate and learned writer of his time; as appears by their testimonies under their hands and seals, in their letters to him, which would make a volume in folio.

He hath written, 1. Diatriba Chronologica, Lond. 1649. 2. Chronicus Canon Ægyptiacus, Ebraicus, Græcus & Disquisitiones, Lond. 1672. fol. 3. The preface to the second volume of the Monasticon Anglican. which he called ПPOПOTAAION Johannis Marsham. And at his death he left other works unfinished; 1. Imperium Persicum. 2. De Provinciis & Legionibus Romanis. 3. De Re Nummaria; and other works.

e

He died at Bushy-hall, in Hertfordshire, on May 26th, 1685, aged eighty-three, and his body was buried at Cuxton, near Rochester, in Kent.

He left issue, by Elizabeth his wife (who died September 24th, 1689, aged seventy-seven, and was buried at Cuxton), daughter of Sir William Hammond, of St. Alban's Court, in Nonington, in East Kent, two sons, Sir John Marsham, of Cuxton, Bart. and Sir Robert Marsham, of Bushy-hall, in Hertfordshire; ancestor to the present Earl of Romney. Also a daughter, Elizabeth, who married, first, Stephen Penkhurst, Esq. of Buxted-Place, Sussex; and, secondly, her cousin, William Hammond, Esq. of St. Alban's Court beforementioned. She died 1675.

Sir JOHN Marsham, second Baronet, the eldest son, was a studious and learned gentleman, and made a great progress in writing the history of England, in a more exact and correct manner than any extant. He was possessed of his father's library, which, though diminished by the fire that happened in London, A. D. 1666, yet was very considerable, and highly to be valued for the exquisite remarks in the margin of most of the books. He first married Anne, daughter of Danvers; and by her, who died 8 kal. April, 1672, aged thirty, and was buried at Cuxton, had no issue; secondly, Hester, daughter and heir of Sir George Sayer,

• Monument in Cuxton churcb, see Thorpe's Registrum Roffense, p. 769. f Sir William Hammond was knighted at Whitehall, December 20th, 1608. He married a daughter of Sir Anthony Aucher, of Bishopsbourne, near Canterbury, by a daughter of Edwin Sandys, Archbishop of York. From him was descended James Hammond, the Elegiac Poet. See Topographical Miscellanies,

1791.

He died 1685, and was great great grandfather, by her, to the present William Hammond, Esq. of St. Alban's Court.

Knt. grand-daughter of John Sayer, of Bourchiers-hall, in Aldham, Esq. and by her, who was buried at Aldham on October 27th, 1716, had a son,

Sir JOHN Marsham, third Baronet, who succeeded him, but dying unmarried May 13th, 1696, aged sixteen, was buried at Cuxton; whereupon the estate and title of Baronet devolved on his uncle, Sir Robert Marsham, of Bushy-hall before-mentioned.

Sir ROBERT, fourth Baronet, who, by the gift of his father, had his cabinet of Greek medals, more curious than any other private collection; and was also a studious and learned gentleman. He succeeded his father as one of the Six clerks in Chancery; and, in July 1681, received the honour of Knighthood. He served for Maidstone in the three parliaments of King William, and died on July 25th, 1703, and is buried at Cuxton, having had issue by his wife, Margaret, daughter and heir of Thomas Bosvile, of Little Motte Einsford, in Kent, Esq. by Elizabeth his wife, daughter of Sir Francis Wyatt, of Boxley Abbey, in Kent Knt. four daughters.

S

1. Elizabeth, the wife of Sir Thomas Palmer, of Wingham,'in Kent, Bart. 2. Margaretta, married to Sir Brook Bridges, of Goodnestone, in Kent, Bart. 3. Anne, who died young. 4. Mary, the wife of Sir Thomas Hales, of Howletts, in Kent, Bart.

Also three sons; 1. Robert, his successor. 2. John. And, 3. Ferdinando, who both died young.

Sir ROBERT MARSHAM, Bart. the eldest son, FIRST LORD ROMNEY, served in the three last parliaments of Queen Anne, as also in the first year of George I. for the borough of Maidstone, in Kent. He was a great stickler for the Protestant succession, and the House of Commons distinguishing his known zeal, by chusing him one of their managers for looking into the conduct of the ministry, in the four last years in the reign of Queen Anne, he was, by George I. created a Peer of this realm, by the title of LORD ROMNEY, in Kent, by letters patent bearing date June 25th, 1716; and the year after was constituted Governor of Dover-castle.

His Lordship married Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Sir Cloudesly Shovel, Knt. who unfortunately perished among the rocks of Scilly, on October 22d, 1707, when he was Rear-admiral of Great Britain, and Admiral and Commander in Chief of the fleet. His Lordship dying on November 28th, 1724, had issue

h Monuments in Cuxton and Boxley, in Kent.

1 The direct male descendant of Sir Thomas Wyatt, the Poet.
k Monument in Crayford church, Kent.

by her (who, in September, 1732, was married, secondly, to John Lord Carmichael, afterwards third Earl of Hyndford, and died November 28th, 1750), three daughters; Elizabeth, married in May 1741, to Sir Jacob Bouverie, Bart. afterwards Viscount Folkestone. She died 25th September, 1782, at South-Warnborough, in Hants; Margaretta, born March 2d, 1713, who died young; Harriot, unmarried; also four sons,

1. Shovel, born October 15th, 1709, who died young. 2. Robert, the late Lord Romney.

and

3. John, born November 14th, 1715. And, 4. Thomas, born April 5th, 1722, who both died young.

ROBERT, SECOND LORD ROMNEY, was born August 22d, 1712, and being a nobleman of great learning, elegant taste, and excellent judgment, justly stood enrolled among the Fellows of the Royal Society, and was Doctor of Laws. He was likewise President of the Society for the encouragement of arts, manufactures, and commerce, being so elected in place of the first Viscount Folkestone; Colonel of the Western battalion of the Kentish militia; one of the Vice-presidents of the Magdalen-house in St. George's-fields; and a hearty promoter of every useful and charitable institution.

His Lordship died, November 14th, 1793, æt. 82, universally respected and beloved.

His Lordship married, in August, 1742, Priscilla, daughter of Charles Pym, of the Island of St. Christopher, Esq. and by her Ladyship, who died February 26th, 1771, had issue five sons.

1. Robert-Pym, born April 27th, 1743, died November 20th, 1762.

2. Charles, present Peer.

3. John, born August 26th, 1748, died young.

4. Shovel, born October 21st, 1757, died young. And,

5. Jacob, D.D. born February 28th, 1759; Canon of Windsor, and Prebendary of Rochester, married, June 28th, 1784, to Miss Bullock, and has issue.

Also five daughters; 1. Priscilla, born December 20th, 1745; died May 2d, 1804. 2. Elizabeth, born February 9th, 1751. 3. Frances, born April 2d, 1755. 4. Harriot, who died young. And, 5. Charlotte, born November 12th, 1761; married, July 5th, 1792, John Coker, Esq. of Oxfordshire, and died January 14th, 1794.

His Lordship was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

CHARLES, present and FIRST EARL OF ROMNEY, and THIRD