David Carnegie Andrew Agnew

“ De Crespigny, Baronet — The knightly Norman family of Champion, Sieurs dc la Fleurière, acquired, by marriage with an heiress, the estate of Crespigny. Its representative at the epoch of the Revocation was Claude Champion, Sieur de Crespigny, an officer of the French army. His wife was Marie, Comtesse de Vierville, and he had eight children. He fled to England along with his wife and children, two of whom were concealed in baskets, and they were hospitably received by the Pierpoints, to whom his family was allied by marriage. He was enrolled in the British army as a Colonel. ”

“ The first Baronet’s names were borne by the third Baronet, who was the grandson of Sir William, the second Baronet, and son of Captain Augustus James De Crespigny, R.N., a heroic officer, who saved nine men from a watery grave at the risk of his life. ”

“ Philip Crespigny, Esq., King’s Proctor in Doctors Commons, died on 11th February 1765; he was the husband of Anne Fonnereau, [1] and the father of Philip Champion de Crespigny, for some time King’s Proctor, M.P. for Aldborough, who died on 1st January 1803, and of Sir Claude Champion de Crespigny, Baronet, so created on 31st October 1805. The first baronet, who was the elder brother, born 19th December 1734, was a Fellow of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and his name was further adorned by his beautiful and accomplished wife, Mary Clarke, who was a considerable heiress, and who, as Mrs. ”