Mary Cruese

• Birth: abt 1495 - Wicroft Castle, Devon, , England
• Death: - Bradford Peverell, Dorset, England
• Parents: Richard Cruese, Thankful Royston
• Husband: William Churchill

Mary Cruwys, the eldest daughter of Richard Cruwys of Wycroft Castle, Devon, married William Churchill of Muston, Dorset, some time before 1511. They are the ancestors of the prominent Churchill family from Dorset. Their descendants include the Duke of Marlborough, Sir William Churchill and Princess Diana.

From Collin's Peerage

William Churchill, his Heir and Successor, who married Mary, eldest Daughter to Richard Creuse of Wicroft-Castle in the County of Devon, Esq; and by her he had three Sons, Roger of Catherston, William of Corton, and John who was seated at Mom, all in the County of Dorset.

Notes

From Re: Churchill-Bogart Connection 2005

Thomas and Grace (Tylle) Churchill had sons Thomas and William. Thomas was the eldest. He married Ibote [true spelling Iseult] Provedher and in accordance with the custom of the day assumed the whole of the Rockbeare holding upon the death of his father (i.e. through Primogeniture).

William was married off to Mary Creuse the eldest daughter of Richard of Wicroft (Wycroft) Castle in Devonshire. He initially removed to Colyton, Devon (pronounced like “Colliton.”) where he apparently became a minor Copyholder (a renter). He then removed to Catherston Leweston in Dorset where he acquired free tenure (possibly through Richard Creuse or possibly in his own right since he was a Yeoman of Devon). He is the earliest confirmed ancestor of the Dorset Churchills and was the progenitor of the later very prominent Churchills of Colliton and Alderholt Park.

His son John acquired an interest in a manor farm called Muston in Piddlehinton Parish, Dorsetshire initially by copyhold. Muston Manor survives to this day.

Links:

• http://www.multiwords.de/genealogy/churchill1.htm
• http://www.one-name.org/profiles/cruwys.html
• http://genforum.genealogy.com/churchill/messages/1168.html