Melbury Sampford, Dorset
Large memorial in the north transept wall:
"in memory of Thomas Strangways of Melbury Sampford in the county of Dorset, armiger, ........... died September 23 An Dom 1726 aged 44;
Erected by his sisters Susanna Strangways Horne & Elizabeth, afterwards Duchess of Hamilton , in memory of their beloved brother and honoured parents Thomas & Susanna and their deserved merits. HMPP
Here also to her very beloved sister Elizabeth, who died not so long ago. Susanna still living, commended her memory to posterity;"
According to Horace Walpole the Latin inscription is by Dr Friend
Thomas was the son of Thomas Strangways, 1713 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/BAUBu2WELo of Melbury, & Susanna Rideout 1719 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/DGH30K5F4a
He was the brother of Elizabeth Strangways wife of James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Hamilton; and Susannah Strangways Horner 1758 wife of Thomas Strangways Horner 1741 +++ , son of Sir George Horner & Elizabeth Fortescue
Thomas Strangways died without issue.
His sister Elizabeth Strangways === (died 1729), his co-heiress died without issue, when her heir became her sister Susanna Strangways Horner.
Susanna === co-heiress www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/CS8kE0S40a of her brother Thomas Strangways and three years later sole heiress of her sister Elizabeth Strangways in 1729 married Thomas Horner (1688-1741), MP, of Mells Manor in Somerset,
In accordance with the terms of his wife's inheritance from her childless brother Thomas Horner adopted for himself and his descendants the surname and arms of Strangways.
Their only surviving child and sole heiress was Elizabeth Strangways (born 1722),
In 1736 Susannah Strangways Horner === arranged a clandestine marriage between their only daughter Elizabeth, then 13 years old, and Stephen Fox 1704 - 1776 aged 31, the eldest surviving son of Sir Stephen Fox 1716, the first Paymaster of the Forces, deemed the "richest commoner in the three kingdoms". who was the brother of her paramour Henry Fox. Thomas Horner objected strongly to the match, not only because of the bride's age, but also because of the bridegroom's politics and possibly his sexuality.
Thomas Horner's 2 sons predeceased him and when he died on 19 November 1742, his Somerset estates passed to his younger brother and his daughter received only the £7,500 to which she was entitled under her parents’ marriage settlement. However, when her mother died in 1758, she inherited the Dorset properties of the Strangways family
In accordance with the marriage Fox also adopted the additional surname of Strangways and the arms of that family, and was later created Earl of Ilchester. The couple had many children.
Melbury Sampford, Dorset
Large memorial in the north transept wall:
"in memory of Thomas Strangways of Melbury Sampford in the county of Dorset, armiger, ........... died September 23 An Dom 1726 aged 44;
Erected by his sisters Susanna Strangways Horne & Elizabeth, afterwards Duchess of Hamilton , in memory of their beloved brother and honoured parents Thomas & Susanna and their deserved merits. HMPP
Here also to her very beloved sister Elizabeth, who died not so long ago. Susanna still living, commended her memory to posterity;"
According to Horace Walpole the Latin inscription is by Dr Friend
Thomas was the son of Thomas Strangways, 1713 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/BAUBu2WELo of Melbury, & Susanna Rideout 1719 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/DGH30K5F4a
He was the brother of Elizabeth Strangways wife of James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Hamilton; and Susannah Strangways Horner 1758 wife of Thomas Strangways Horner 1741 +++ , son of Sir George Horner & Elizabeth Fortescue
Thomas Strangways died without issue.
His sister Elizabeth Strangways === (died 1729), his co-heiress died without issue, when her heir became her sister Susanna Strangways Horner.
Susanna === co-heiress www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/CS8kE0S40a of her brother Thomas Strangways and three years later sole heiress of her sister Elizabeth Strangways in 1729 married Thomas Horner (1688-1741), MP, of Mells Manor in Somerset,
In accordance with the terms of his wife's inheritance from her childless brother Thomas Horner adopted for himself and his descendants the surname and arms of Strangways.
Their only surviving child and sole heiress was Elizabeth Strangways (born 1722),
In 1736 Susannah Strangways Horner === arranged a clandestine marriage between their only daughter Elizabeth, then 13 years old, and Stephen Fox 1704 - 1776 aged 31, the eldest surviving son of Sir Stephen Fox 1716, the first Paymaster of the Forces, deemed the "richest commoner in the three kingdoms". who was the brother of her paramour Henry Fox. Thomas Horner objected strongly to the match, not only because of the bride's age, but also because of the bridegroom's politics and possibly his sexuality.
Thomas Horner's 2 sons predeceased him and when he died on 19 November 1742, his Somerset estates passed to his younger brother and his daughter received only the £7,500 to which she was entitled under her parents’ marriage settlement. However, when her mother died in 1758, she inherited the Dorset properties of the Strangways family
In accordance with the marriage Fox also adopted the additional surname of Strangways and the arms of that family, and was later created Earl of Ilchester. The couple had many children.