Rev Alexander Cromleholme

Nothing known as yet about his school education or early life.

His father Rev William Cromleholme [Cro0121] had been vicar at St Michaels since June 1729

1754 - University : Alexander C [Cro0136] was admitted to Queens College, Oxford on 26th February 1754 aged 17. Obtained his BA on 3rd February 1758 and MA on 19th July 1760. (Source Guildhall London Oxford & Cambridge Registers)

Note : Some books that he owned whilst at Oxford are shown below.*

Marriages

First :

1782 - 12th December - Rev Alexander Cromleholme [Cro0136] Rector of Sherrington Bucks, Vicar of Staines Middx and Chaplain to the Bishop of Lincoln married Miss Martha St John [Cro0137] (daughter of Rev Ellis St John of Wood Court nr Reading Berks) at St James Finchampstead. They had no children. The date of Martha's death is not known at present but prior to 1787.

(Source Gentlemens Magazine 1782 & Berks FH Soc)

Second :

1787 - 25th June to Miss Emma Draper [Cro0138] of Winchester : Lately at St Swithins Over Kingsgate Church, Winchester, Rev Mr Cromleholme [Cro0136] chaplain to the Bishop of Durham, Rector of Sherrington, Bucks and of Staines Middx to Miss Draper of Winchester. (Source Gentlemens Magazine 1787).

Emma (nee Draper) [Cro0136]) died at Leamington, Warwickshire on 1st July 1828 aged 78 years. (Source : Gentlemen's magazine Vol 26 p93)

Will : Emma Cromleholme, [Cro0136]) widow of Leamington Priors, Warwickshire : Ref PROB 11/1752/389 dated 31st March 1829 (not seen)

Children by his second wife :

1788 - 3rd May : Alexander Cromleholme [Cro0259] his son was baptised 3rd May 1788 - Entered Rugby School midsummer 1797 son of Rev A Cromleholme, Sherington, Bucks aged 9 in April. Headmaster Henry Ingles (CFI).

He received a legacy in his father's will in 1810 (page 3). Note : This Alexander to be researched - seems that he had died by 1829 as he is not noted in his mother’s will.

1795 - 26th November : Emma [Cro0139] his daughter was baptised 26th November 1795 but died aged 7 years on 17th July 1803. (CFI)

Livings :

1759 - 23rd September : Alexander [Cro0136] was ordained as a Deacon by John Thomas Bishop of Salisbury in 1759 aged 23 in the Episcopal Chapel in the Bishops Palace at Sarum (near Salisbury in Wiltshire) with a curacy in Finchampstead in Berkshire.

1764 - 23rd December : Alexander Cromleholme [Cro0136] ordained as priest at Park Street Chapel, nr Grosvenor Square Westminster, London by John Thomas Bishop of Salisbury (Source : Devon RO Chanter 713 - Ordination reg)

1765 - Alexander Cromleholme [Cro0136] : Indenture between Margaret and Jane Butler of 1st part and Alexander Crumbleholme [Cro0136] clerk & William Crumbleholme [Cro0141] of Westminster upholder of the 2nd part and Elizabeth Crumbleholme [Cro0 ?? ] of .......... . Fithzerbert - Brockholes of Claughton Settlement relating chiefly to the Brockholes family as to Little Carr etc in Catterall. (Source : Lancashire Archives ref DDFZ 745) Note : William C [141] & Elizabeth C [ ] his uncle & aunt

1778 - 24th December : Alexander Cromleholme [Cro0136] was appointed Vicar of Staines Mddx but ceased on 4th march 1779

1779 - 28th June : Alexander Cromleholme [Cro0136] (vicar of Staines Mddx) appointed domestic Chaplain to Thomas Thurlow, Bishop of Lincoln (Source : LPL, FV/I/XV (Reg of Noblenmen's chaplains)

1781 - 12th October : Dispensation - appointed Rector of Sherrington (living value about £240). (Source LPL VB 1/11 Act Book Cornwallis Frederick Canterbury p300).

In the same year, he was also appointed domestic Chaplain to the Bishop of London and to the Bishop of Durham. His obituary (see below) notes that he could well have been elevated into a high position in the church but his patron died suddenly and it appears that he was happy to settle down to running two country parishes where he soon married the following year.

1794 - Court Case : In Chancery - Coggan v Lord Lonsdale. Alexander Cromleholme [Cro0136] as vicar of Staines appears to have been made defendant in a dispute as to whom tithes of hay and clover in the parish of Laleham (nr Staines) were due.The plaintiff Coggan was rector of Laleham and Lord lonsdale was the owner of the lands involved. (The case seems complex and I must admit to being baffled as to who won the day !) (Source : Vol 3 A collection of Acts & Records of Parliament by Sir Henry Gwillim Pub A Strahan Oxford University 1825)

1796 - The Act of Enclosure took place whilst Alexander Cromleholme [Cro0136] was Rector of Sherrington

1798 - 24th October : Dispensation - appointed Rector of Beachampton Bucks (living value about £210). (Source : LPL Vb 1/13 Act Book Moore, John Canterbury )

He was vicar of Staines in Middlesex, Rector at Beachhampton [1798 - 1811] (in Buckinghamshire), and Rector of Sherrington (for 29 years - 1781 to 1811) . He was an active Justice of the Peace.

In the Gentlemen's Magazine Vol 84, a Register of 1798, notes the Rev Alexander Cromleholme [Cro0136] as chaplain to Lord Thurlow (Bishop of Lincoln) and is to hold Beachampton and Sherrington both in Co Bucks.

Alexander's CCed Records : (Ref 54056)

1781 : Alexander Cromleholme, [Cro0136] (A.M. of Queen's Coll. Oxon.) Chaplain to the Bishop of Lincoln, was collated about Nov. 1781. He was also Rector of Adstock a village about 3 miles south east of Buckingham.

1798 - 17th October : Presentation Deed for Beachampton Rectory (Buckinghamshire). Letters Testimonial for Alexander Cromleholme MA,[Cro0136] Rector of Sherington (Bucks) 13th October 1798. Certificate of the values of the Rectories of Sherington and Beachampton and the distance between them. Patron : James, Marquess of Salisbury (Gerald Valerian Wellesley) (Source : Lincolnshire Archives (057) Ref DIOC/PD/154/18 - Deeds bundle 154) (Not seen)

The Rectory at Sherrington was built in 1607 by John Martin on a 3 acre plot in the place of an earlier then much decayed timber framed rectory. It is understood that it the house contains early C17th wall panelling, a superb panelled ceiling and a late C17th wooden staircase.

Books owned whilst at Queen's College, Oxford :

Details of a book that he once owned * whilst at Queens College, Oxford (1754 - 1760) :

Theo-phil'-eklektia, ofte Godts besondere liefde tot sijne uyt-vercorene, in de verhandelinge der vermaerde ende hoogwightige quaestie, of Christus voor alle menschen gestorven is

A (poor) Translation from Dutch : Theo-phil'-eklektia, or too Godts besondere love Sijne Uyt-vercorene in the holding ofmarketable vermaerde hoogwightige quaestie income, whether Christ died for all men·

The image of the title page of a copy of this book (published in Dutch) was very kindly sent to me by Mr Eric Lugtigheid of Zeist in the Netherlands in June 2014.

Further information: Door Abraham Pietersz Wilsenius, ...

· Publisher Details: Tot Vlissinge : Gedruckt by Jacob Pick, ...

· Creation Date: Anno 1653

· Format: [72], 120, 72 p. ; 8⁰.

· Language: Dutch

· Author: Abraham Pietersz Wilsenius 1610-1660.

· Jacob Pick printer.

· Subjects: Jesus Christ ; God -- Love

· Source: OLIS

· Type: Book

· Copy-specific Notes:

Notes for Queen's Coll. QUE Tunnel UU.b.5723 Imperfect: Lacking leaf 3*4 (blank?). - Binding: 17th century parchment over pasteboards (with MS inked inscriptions of Cromleholme on boards); evidence of ties on upper and lower boards; gilt text block edges; MS title on spine. - Bookplate: Queen's College bookplate on inside of upper board. - Provenance note: Inscriptions (repeated, expanded) on rectos of second to fourth free end-papers: "Alex Cromleholme Queen's College Oxford 1758" on recto of second free end-paper; "Ex libris Alexander Cromleholme Col. Reg. Oxon ... dono dedit Eduardus Hopkinson[?] ..." on recto of third free end-paper; "Hunc lubrum ..... [?] ... D.D. Alexander Cromleholme ... In Usum Tab. 1759" on recto of fourth free end-paper. - Provenance note: Queen's College Library stamp (round) on recto of title-page, and on verso of final printed leaf. - Provenance name: Cromleholme, Alexander. - Provenance name: Hopkinson, Edward. - Previous shelfmark: F.2.44.Sup.Int. - Previous shelfmark: 325.A.15. - Previous shelfmark: H.2.75.Sup.

Further information : Hopkinson[?] ..." on recto of third free end-paper; "Hunc lubrum ..... [?] ... D.D. AlexanderCromleholme ... In Usum Tab. 1759" on recto of fourth free end-paper. -- Provenance note: Queen's College... ) on rectos of second to fourth free end-papers: "Alex Cromleholme Queen's College Oxford 1758" on recto of second free end-paper; "Ex libris Alexander Cromleholme Col. Reg. Oxon ... dono dedit Eduardus... Library stamp (round) on recto of title-page, and on verso of final printed leaf. -- Provenance name: Cromleholme, Alexander. -- Provenance name: Hopkinson, Edward. -- Previous shelfmark... For Queen's Coll. -- QUE Tunnel -- UU.b.5723 -- Imperfect: Lacking leaf 3*4 (blank?). -- Binding: 17th century parchment over pasteboards (with MS inked inscriptions of Cromleholme on boards (Source : Internet link from search on Rev Alexander Cromleholme)

In March 2021, Tim Underhill very kindly sent me the two references of books owned by Alexander Cromleholme that he found in the University of Oxford online catalogue (Queen's College). The first one appears similar to the book above although descriptions appear to vary.

1) Wilsenius, Abraham Pietersz, and Jacob Pick. Theo-phil'-eklektia, Ofte Godts Besondere Liefde Tot Sijne Uyt-vercorene, in De Verhandelinge Der Vermaerde Ende Hoogwightige Quaestie, of Christus Voor Alle Menschen Gestorven Is. Tot Vlissinge: Gedruckt by Jacob Pick, .., 1653.

Notes for Queen's College Library, Vault: UU.b.5723 Bookplate: Queen's College bookplate on inside of upper board. - Binding: 17th century parchment over pasteboards (with MS inked inscriptions of Cromleholme on boards); evidence of ties on upper and lower boards; gilt text block edges; MS title on spine. - Imperfect: Lacking leaf 3*4 (blank?). - Provenance name: Cromleholme, Alexander. - Provenance name: Hopkinson, Edward. - Provenance note: Inscriptions (repeated, expanded) on rectos of second to fourth free end-papers: "Alex Cromleholme Queen's College Oxford 1758" on recto of second free end-paper; "Ex libris Alexander Cromleholme Col. Reg. Oxon ... dono dedit Eduardus Hopkinson[?] ..." on recto of third free end-paper; "Hunc lubrum ..... [?] ... D.D. Alexander Cromleholme ... In Usum Tab. 1759" on recto of fourth free end-paper. - Provenance note: Queen's College Library stamp (round) on recto of title-page, and on verso of final printed leaf. - Prev. shelfmark: F.2.44.Sup.Int. - Prev. shelfmark: 325.A.15. - Prev. shelfmark: H.2.75.Sup.

The second reference that Tim Underhill found is another book :

(2) Clüver, Buno, Heckel, Reiske, Wolters, Smith, and Walford. Philippi Cluverii Introductio in Universam Geographiam Tam Veterem Quam Novam Tabulis Geographicis XLVI. Ac Notis Olim Ornata. Venduntur Amstelaedami: Apud Joannem Wolters, Bibliopolam Op't Water, 1697.

Notes for Queen's College Library, Upper Library: 44.B.14 Bookplate: Queen's College bookplate on pastedown of upper board. - Binding: Late 17th/early 18th century parchment, laced onto four supports and laced in at head and tail; title handwritten on spine; textblock edges sprinkled red. - Imperfect: Queen's copy has [2] folded leaves of tables, but lacks the 46 plates. - Provenance name: Cromleholme, Alexander, b. 1737. - Provenance note: Oxford library stamp (round) at tail of t.p. - Provenance note: Inscription on t.p.: "Alexander Cromleholme Col. Reg. Oxon. 1754", and similar inscription on second free endpaper dated 1758. - Prev. shelfmark: 152/aa/10 - Prev. shelfmark: 366.G.8 - Prev. shelfmark: 367.C.3

Death & Burial :

1810 - 31st October : Alexander Cromleholme [Cro0136] died on 31st October 1810, aged 74 and was buried at Sherrington.

On a mural monument in the church at Sherrington :

On the north side of this chancel are deposited the remains of the Rev. Alexander Cromleholme, for 29 years Rector of this Parish.

He died Oct. 31st 1810, aged 74.

To soothe our sorrow, and thy worth proclaim,

A trembling hand inscribes thy much-loved name;

And tho' the Preacher's warning voice sincere

No more shall claim thy flock's attentive ear,

Nor longer shall thy blameless life display

The Road which points to Heaven's eternal day;

Yet faithful Memory shall in part supply

The fair example which shall never die;

And, cheer'd by Hope, whilst bending o'er thy Urn,

We hail thy virtues, and forbear to mourn.

In the same vault are interred the remains of Emma, the beloved and only daughter of Alexander and Emma Cromleholme. She died July 17th 1803, aged 7 years and 8 months.

(Source : From The History and Antiquities of the County of Buckingham, Volume IV p 333, edited by George Lipscomb Esq. M.D. London 1831)

An obituary :

Wills :

1784 - 3rd May : Mary or Martha Cromleholme [Cro0137] - PROB 11/1116 (his first wife)

1810 - 13th December : Rev Alexander Cromleholme,[Cro0136] clerk - PROB 11/1517

1829 - Will : Emma Cromleholme, [Cro0136]) widow of Leamington Priors, Warwickshire : Ref PROB 11/1752/389 dated 31st March 1829 (not seen)

General Source : Sherington Fiefs & fields of a Buckingshire village by A C Chibnall, Cambridge Univ Press 1965

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