William Clopton, Rev was born around 1613 in Boxted Essex, England to Walter Clopton IV and Margery Maydstone. He married Elizabeth Sutcliffe. They had two children:
1. Margaret Clopton
2. William Clopton, VIII
William died around 1671 in Eastwood, Essex, England.
Notes:
- (Rev) William Clopton, Clerke, eldest son of Walter Clopton of Boxted, County Essex, Gent. and his wife Margaret, Daughter of Robert Maydestone; was bon at Boxted, and baptized there April 19, 1613. He matriculated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge 1631; B.A., 1634, M.A., 1637. He obtained the rectorship of Much Horkesley in Essex, but found it necessary to make complaint that he had "officiated ye cure of the said parish church of Much Horkesley, County Essex, for a quarter of a yeare by ye order of ye right honorable Earle of Manchester for which he hath hitherto receased noe satisfaction" (salary) and on 28 Feb 1646, it was ordered "yt such person or persons to whom the said rectory standeth sequestered doe forthwith give satisfaction for ye said services proprocionableyto ye sd living, or doe shew cause to ye contrary before this Committee on ye 12th Day of next May ensueing." The Calendar of the House of Lords for 1647 hearing date of 26 Nov. 1647 saya that "an application for an order of Dr. Aylett to institute and induct William Clopton to the rectory of Markshall, County Essex," was issued with a certificate from the Assembly of Divines and "that William Clopton has been approved for a curate, Nov. tenth." Described as the Bishop's Certificates despite the absolutions of Episcopacy. On 25 Oct. 1654, the Rev. William Clopton was admitted rector at All Saints parish, Rettendon, County Essex, but as the "living" was presented by the Parliament Party, his name is not entered in the History of the Diocese. In records of the Commonwealth, dated 25 Oct., 1654 we find: Presentation of William Clopton, Clerke, of ye rectory of Rettondon, county Essex, made to him by his Highnes Oliver, Lord Protector of the commonwealth of England and the patron thereof under seal manuall with a testimony in behalf of the said William Clopton of his holy and good conversation. Upon perusall and due consideration of the premises and finding him to be a person qualified as in and by the ordinance for which approbacion is required, the Committee above mencioned have adinged and apprroved the said William Clopton to be a fit person to preach the gospel and have granted him admission to the said rectory of Rettendon to be Incumbent thereof and doe thereby signifie that the hereby entitled to the rights belonging to the said Rectory as fully as if he had been inducted accoriding to any such Laws as have in this case been formely used in the Realme. The Seal has been affixed, 25 Oct. 1654 Whitehall Signed in the margin after Presented last September 1654, Wiliam Clopton Certified as aforesaid by: Ralph Josselin, of Earls Clone Francis Chandler, of Kelvedon Samuel Smith, of Sandon Christopher Wragge, of Baddon Magna James Lorie, of Essthamingfield Thomas Honywood John Maidstone Robert Crane Mr. Clopton remained at Rettendon for eight years. He was offered a better Parish but refused it because it was a sequestration. At this time of eccleiastical changes Mr. Nathan Hewson of Burnham, visitina Mr. Clopton before St. Bartholomew's Day, 1662, asked him what he intended to do. Mr. Clopton answered that he did not know what he should do. "Oh!" said Mr. Hewson to him, "never conform." Yet Mr. Hweson did not follow such advice himself, for he afterwards sent Mr. Clopton a letter in which he desired him to have a care what he did, "for Rettendon was a good living." Writing in reply, Mr. Clopton said, "I hope to keep a good conscience." He was ejected "for conscience sake" in 1662, and is on record as a witness against Ecclesiasstical Impositions. Until his death in 1671 he resided in or near Eastwood in County Essex. Calmy, in his "Nonconformists' memorial" (1802) Vol II, page 199, says (under account of Eastwood Vicarage, Essex, where the Rev. Philologus Scheverell had once been incumbent): Mr. Philologus Sacheverell of Oxford University where he was supported by his half-brother, was a neighbour and intimate friend of William Clopton mentioned in this country. They were both ill at the same time but Mr. Clopton died first. Mr. Sacheverell, on hearing some person in his room talking of Mr. Clopton's death said: " then there is a good man gone to heaven," and laying himself down again, died immediately, and he was buried in Mr. Clopton's grave. This reference to the burial of the two men is not clear. It is probable that Calmy means to convey the fact that Mr. Sacheverell was buried in the same grave plot with Mr. Clopton, in the section set aside in some churchyards for the interment of "ejected" ministers. Calmy gives no dates nor places of burials, neither the authority for his statments on the above friendships nor the correspondence between Mr. Clopton and Mr. Hewson. Mr. Mathews (author of the revised edition, 1934, of Calmy) was unable to she any light on the matter. William Clopton was mentioned in his father, Walter Clopton's will in 1622, and the will of Samuel Crane (brother of the half blood) in 1669. In 1666 he was granted administration to his mother's effects. In his will as of "of Eastwood County Essex," dated 24 Oct. 1670, probated 14 June 1671, he devised to his wife Elisabeth; son William; and daughter Margaret, Bellhouse farm and other properties in Eastwood, also property in Great Coggeshall, County Essex, left to him by his brother Samuel Crane. William Clopton married Elizabeth Sutcliffe before 1653, she died at Paglesham County Essex, in 1683; the daughter of the Rev. Izaiah Sutcliffe of Rettendon in Essex, and his wife Elizabeth Lowe, widow of Kenelm Lowe; daughter of Rev. Thomas Jolye. This marriage is shown by Rev. Izaiah's will dated 11 Oct. 1653, proved at London 19 June 1655, in which he names " my sonne-in law William Clopton, Clerke," and again the Elizabeth, his wife," &c, making them heirs in part of the Manor of Eastwodbury after the death of his wife. The Rev. Sutcliffe's will also shows that the Rev. William Clopton his son-in lawwas in no mean financial position, since he was able to lend him 150 pounds.
"Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.2.1/9SZR-73L : accessed 19 June 2012), entry for William Clopton , Rev..