Thomas Clifford (1630 - 1673)

Ancestors

Descendants

Thomas Clifford was a member of the aristocracy in British Isles.

Biography

Clifford was created the first Baron Clifford of Chudleigh on 22 April 1672 for his suggestion that the King supply himself with money by stopping, for one year, all payments out of the Exchequer. He was Lord High Treasurer from 28 November 1672 to June 1673, when, as a Roman Catholic, he found himself unable to comply with the Test Act and resigned. He died by his own hand (perhaps "strangled with his cravatt upon the bed-tester") a few months after his retirement.

He married Elizabeth Martin, who died in 1709. She was the daughter of Richard (William) Martin of Lindridge House, Devon. They had fifteen children, eight of which were daughters:

1. Elizabeth, born before 1655, died as infant.
2. Elizabeth, born 1655, died 1677, married in 1673 Henry Carew, 2nd Baronet Carew of Haccombe. They had no issue (?).
3. Mary, born 1658, died 9 October 1715, married in 1673 Sir Simon Leach of Cadeleigh. They had no issue (?).
4. Amy, born 1661, died 1693, married in October 1681 John Courtenay (d.1724) of Molland, Devon. They had numerous issue, as the mural monument in Molland Church attests. No male grandsons resulted and #Molland descended via their daughter Mary who married William Paston of Horton Court, Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire.
5. Anne, born 1662, died 1678.
6. Rhoda, born 1665, died 1689.
7. Isabel Clifford, born between 1665 and 1669, died as infant.
8. Catherine Clifford, born 1670, died 1708.
9. Thomas, born before 1652, died as infant.
10. Thomas, born before 1652, died as infant.
11. Thomas, born on 3 December 1652, died in 1671 in Florence, Italy.
12. George, born between 1653 and 1662, died as infant
13. Hugh, 2nd Baron Clifford of Chudleigh (1663–1730)
14. Simon, born 1666, died ?, acceeded in 1686.
15. Charles, born 1671, baptized on 24 June 1671, died on 4 July 1691, buried in Ugbrooke.

Sources

• http://www.thepeerage.com/p20357.htm#i203566

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Clifford,_1st_Baron_Clifford_of_Chudleigh