Peerage Record – 12691

     Henry Crackanthorpe lived at Newbiggen, Cumberland, England^G.¹

     Lt.-Col. Richard Edward Henry Aubrey-Fletcher was born on 5 May 1954.¹ He is the son of Lt.-Col. Edward Henry Lancelot Aubrey-Fletcher and Bridget Mary Floyd.¹ He married Caroline Margaret Jolley Blosse-Lynch in 1980.¹ He married, secondly, Caroline Stapylton-Thorley, daughter of Leonard Brian Stapylton-Thorley, before 18 March 2005.²
     He was educated at Bradfield School, England^G.¹ He was awarded the Sword of Honour, Sandford in 1973.¹ He was educated at Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Berkshire, England^G.¹ He was he was Mentioned in Dispatches in 1988.¹ He gained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Grenadier Guards.¹

     Sir Henry Fletcher, 1st Bt. was the son of Sir Richard Fletcher and Barbara Crackanthorpe.¹ He married Catharine Dalston, daughter of Sir George Dalston and Catharine Thornworth, circa 1638.¹ He died on 24 September 1645 at Rowton Heath, Cheshire, England^G, killed in action.¹ He died on 24 September 1645 at Rowton Heath, Cheshire, England.² He died intestate and his estate was administered to his widow on 27 May 1650.¹
     He lived at Hutton, Cumberland, England^G.³ He held the office of Sheriff of Cumberland between 1641 and 1643.¹ He was created 1st Baronet Fletcher, of Hutton in le Forest, co. Cumberland [England] on 19 February 1640/41.¹ He was commander of the Royal regiment which he raised for the King.¹ He fought in the skirmish at Rowton Heath on 24 September 1645.¹

     Catharine Dalston is the daughter of Sir George Dalston and Catharine Thornworth.¹ She married, firstly, Sir Henry Fletcher, 1st Bt., son of Sir Richard Fletcher and Barbara Crackanthorpe, circa 1638.¹ She married, secondly, Thomas Smith after 1645.¹
     From circa 1638, her married name became Fletcher.¹ She endured sequestration and incarceration from Parliament.¹ From after 1645, her married name became Smith.¹

     Sir George Dalston was born in 1581.² He was the son of Sir John Dalston and Frances Warcop.² He married Catharine Thornworth, daughter of John Thornworth, on 11 February 1605.² He died in September 1657.²
     He was educated at Queens’ College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England.² He lived at Dalston, Cumberland, England^G.¹ He was appointed Knight on 26 June 1607.² He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Cumberland between 1621 and 1628.² He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Cumberland between 1640 and 1644.²

     Catharine Thornworth was the daughter of John Thornworth.¹ She married Sir George Dalston, son of Sir John Dalston and Frances Warcop, on 11 February 1605.² She died in 1614.²
     Her married name became Dalston.¹

     Sir William Dalston, 1st Bt. is the son of Sir George Dalston and Catharine Thornworth.¹ He married Anne Bolles, daughter of Thomas Bolles and Mary Wytham, 1st Bss..²
     He was created 1st Baronet Dalston [England] on 15 February 1641.

     Thomas Smith was born circa 1614.¹ He married Catharine Dalston, daughter of Sir George Dalston and Catharine Thornworth, after 1645.¹ He died on 12 April 1702.¹
     He held the office of Bishop of Carlisle between 1684 and 1702.¹

     Ewan Christian was baptised on 11 March 1650/51 at Heversham Hall, Westmorland, England^G.² He was the son of Deemster Edward Christian and Dorothy Wilson.³ He married Mary Cane, daughter of John Cane, on 12 February 1676/77.⁴ He died on 10 December 1719 at age 68 at Ewanrigg Hall, Dearham, Cumberland, England^G.² He was buried on 13 December 1719 at Dearham, Cumberland, England^G.²
     He matriculated at Trinity College, Dublin University, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland^G, on 26 June 1668. He was admitted to Gray’s Inn in 1677 entitled to practise as a Barrister-at-Law.⁴ In 1680 he purchased the manor and estate of Ewanrigg in the parish of Dearham, acquiring the advowson of the parish at the same time. It is said the sum of 550 Pounds that he paid down on the purchase was won in a card game from Bishop Bridgman of Sodor & Man. He rebuilt and expanded Ewanrigg Hall, an ancient manor house, developed a coal mine, and bought adjacent land when opportunity offered.
Ewan Christian was chosen as Chief of the Deputation sent by the House of Keys to present tha Act of Settlement, the “Manx Magna Carta”, to the Earl of Derby in 1704, the other members of the deputation being his kinsman Ewan Christian of Lewaigue and John Stevenson of Balladoole. Thus the family had the joy and honour of witnessing the accomplishment of what their ancestors had given life and fortunes to obtain, namely liberty and fair treatment of the little nation at the hands of their overlord.
His ten daughters were known as “the Fair Maids of Milntown.”² He was He was prominent in securing the Manx Settlement Act.²