Sir Anthony CHESTER Bt ²

  Notes:

Anthony was 19 years old when his father died in 1652. The fortunes of the family were at a low ebb, with Chicheley Hall in a state of delapidation from raids of the Parliamentarian garrison at Newport Pagnell. The young baronet had barely £300 a year, but his uncle Henry Chester managed his affairs with success. He did not finish his education due to the confusion of the times. He delayed marriage until the Hall was restored to habitable order in 1657. He received a fortune with his wife Mary Cramner (qv), and resided at Chicheley Hall where their children were born. He had to provide for three dowager Lady Chesters who all lived to a great age, so he did not take full posession of his estates until 1692. He was High Sheriff of Bucks in 1671, but took no part in public affairs during the reign of Charles II. He served in Parliament on the accession of King James, for Bedford. His larger estates were in Bedfordshire - Lidlington Park and Tilsworth. He took no further part in public life after the death of his eldest son in 1685.

Anthony and Mary had 16 children, nine girls and seven boys, only one dying in infancy. Their two eldest daughters Mary and Elizabeth were twins: Mary married Francis Duncombe of Houghton in Buckinghamshire, but died three years later, presumably in childbirth; and Elizabeth married Charles Eyre who was appointed Governor of Harlech Castle in 1692. Their next daughter Diana married Rev Thomas Remington from Yorkshire - their daughter Barbara married Rev John Shan who was Vicar of Chicheley for 60 years. Their next two daughters were Henrietta, who died in infancy, and Katherine who married Sir Henry Cambell of Clay Hall in Barking.

Their eldest son Anthony was educated at Christ Church Oxford, but died unmarried when he was just 22. Their next daughter Judith married Robert Oneby, a barrister who lived in Barwell in Leicestershire. Their next son John (qv) inherited the title. Their next daughter Dorothy married John Wilson of Knight Thorpe in Loughborough. Their next son Henry matriculated at Christ College Oxford, but did not complete his degree, and inherited the estate at East Haddon in Northhamptonshire; he married Theodosia Towers (although her father did not approve), and although their only son Anthony inherited the title in 1766 was the last male Chester. Their next two children Alice and William died when they were 16 and 2 respectively. Their next daughter Penelope married Rev John Alleyne, Rector of Loughborough.

Anthony and Mary lastly had three sons. Thomas was a linendraper in Cheapside, and married Elizabeth Wigfall, the daughter of a wine merchant in the City - two of their three children had clandestine marriages. Little is known about their next son Caesar. Their youngest son Robert was a goldsmith and banker in the City, and married Elizabeth Alleyn, the daughter of a banker in Twickenham.

Anthony married Mary CRANMER, daughter of Samuel CRANMER and Mary WOOD, on 21 May 1657 in St Lawrence, Chicheley, Buckinghamshire.¹ (Mary CRANMER was christened on 20 Apr 1636 in St Gabriel Fenchurch St, London,⁵ died on 21 May 1710 ⁶ and was buried on 26 May 1710 in St Lawrence, Chicheley, Buckinghamshire ¹.)