The de Crespigny and Wellington Connections

The parish registers for Draycot Cerne show three intriguing Baptisms in the 1790s for children of somebody called William Champion de Crespigny and his wife Sarah. Who were this family, why were they in Draycot Cerne, and where were they living? The following image shows the baptism of son Heaton, born on 22 April 1796, baptised on 23 May.

It turns out that Sarah was the sister of Lady Catherine Tylney Long, so they were possibly living at Draycot House. The two sisters were daughters of the Earl of Plymouth (whose first name actually was ‘Other’). Sarah’s husband was Sir William, the 2nd Baronet Champion de Crespigny; his forename was ‘William’ and his surname was ‘Champion de Crespigny’. He became MP for Southampton from 1818 to 1826, and his family can be traced back to Norman times. There are still members of the de Crespigny extended family in London, Melbourne and elsewhere around the world.

Of course, that is not the only connection from Tylney Long family to the nobility. Catherine Tylney Long (also known as ‘The Heiress’) married William Wellesley-Pole (also known as ‘The Cad’.) He was a nephew of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. Which is why we have a pub called The Wellesley Arms in Sutton Benger.

The following Family Tree charts show the various connections.

For more about the family connections of the Tylney-Longs, see Hand of Fate by Tim Couzens.