AN ANCIENT ELM
CHEQUERS AND ITS GLORIES. In 1574 Jane, the widow of Sir William Dormer, married William Hawtrey. ol Chequers, in the parish of . Ellesborogh, Buckinghamshire. This i William Hawtrey, by a former ma.rriage, with Agnes, daughter of AVilliam W 7 aipole, of Norfolk, had a son, ! William, and a daughter, Dorothy, and, strangely enough, his new wile also had a son, Michael, and a daughter, Winifred Dormer. William Hawtrey, junior, married Winifred Dormer, and Michael Dormer married Dorothy Hawtrey, so the two families became trebly Connected. Through Bridget Hawtrey, daughter of AVilliam, Chequers passed to her husband, Sir Henry Croke, Knt., Clerk of the Pipe, a.n_d liis eldest son, Sir Bobert Croke, Knt., aiso Clerk of the Pipe, compounded for liis estates with Parliament in December, 1646. He afterwards succeeded to tho estate of Chequers, and died in 16S0, aged 71 (writes Blinders Barr in the Sydney Morning Herald). The “Clerk of tho Pipe” in tho Exchequer Office, originally kept his accounts on the great Poll of tho Exchequer, shaped like a pipe, and ho entered up all accounts and debts duo to the King, drawn out of the King’s Bemembrancer’s Office. 1 do not know who next inherited Chequers, but Brasses, youngest daughter of Oliver Cromwell, who was born in December, 1638, was twice married, her second husband being Sir John Bussel, Bart., of Chippenham, Oxford. This lady, who had a numerous family, and who died at the ago of 84, in January, 1721, might, if her father’s policy had permitted it, have been tho wife of King Charles 11. Tho Bussels afterwards became possessed of Chequers, and many relics of Oliver Cromwell remain in tho house to-day; for besides the above marriage Sir Francis Russel’s daughter, Elizabeth, married Henry Cromwell, tho Protector’s fourth" son, who was Lord Deputy of Ireland. Sir George Bussel, tho 10th baronet, died without an heir oh April 25, 1804, when this oid family became extinct.
What became of Chequers during the interval till it was bought and restored by Lord Leo of Fareliam 1 do not know, but a picture showing an ancient elm at Chequers was done by John Strutt in 1825. The tree, long since vanished I expect, must liavo been of enormous age when the drawing was made. GIFT TO THE NATION.
In 1917 Lord Leo of Fareham, who lived there, and had spent a great deal of money on the place, possibly in view of the facts that he had no heir, and the increasing burden of taxation, decided to present the ancient and historic dwelling-place to the nation, to be used exclusively as a country residence for the Prime Minister in office. No more appropriate gift than this could have been made, for at Chequers, situated in tho midst of some of tho most beautiful scenery in England, and surrounded by reminders of her wonderful past, Great Britain’s Prime Minister" can surround himself with his family and friends and forget for a while the cares of State. From Chequers, too, only a few weeks ago, Miss Joan MacDonald, the Primo Minister’s daughter, was married to Dr. McKinnon, at the little Congregational Church at Wendover, a couple of miles from Chequers, which is in the Parish of Ellesborougli. Being Nonconformists, the young couple preferred being married by one of their own clergy, in their own manner. It is interesting to know that Miss Joan MacDonald’s wedding dress was specially made in London to harmonise with the magnificent Tudor decorations of Chequers.
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Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 14, 14 December 1932, Page 16
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584AN ANCIENT ELM Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 14, 14 December 1932, Page 16
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