I. WILLIAM FLEMING, of Rydal, Esq. who, in 1695, on Sir John Lowther's being made a lord, was chosen to represent the county of Westmorland in At the same time, Sir John Lowther of Whitehaven, writ to Sir Daniel by the same messenger as followeth : SIR, I cannot leave the country without returning you my acknowledgments for your great civilities to both me and my son at the assizes, and for the continued testimonies of your friendship upon all occasions; and if our whole family have not had of late the same advantages thereof that I have enjoyed, it is not unknown how great a trouble it has been to me, nor how often I have wished to be the happy instrument of restoring the good correspondence betwixt so near relations. This, Sir, not I alone, but the whole country, I find, and all good men, have equally desired, and I doubt not to see the wished success; since I can assure you, the same friendship that ever was on our side we do desire may be renewed, and continue as long as the families; which, by the freedom wherewith you were pleased to declare yourself to me at Carlisle upon this subject, is, I hope, what will be most welcome to you. The inclosed, from Sir John himself, will spare me the adding any more, and, I hope, bring you over whilst I stay, which will be till Monday next ; and I pray bring your son with you, that the young men may fix their acquaintance. I am, Sir, Your most affectionate Kinsman, and humble Servant, Lowther, Aug. 24, 1687, JOHN LOWTHER. These letters arriving late in the evening, and Sir Daniel's two sons being gone two days before to visit their sisters in Lancashire; and Sir Daniel thinking it necesaary to speak with Sir Christopher Musgrave, who was lately come into the country from London, and had writ to Sir Daniel to meet him at Carlisle the week following, he returned the following answers: SIR, Rydal, Aug. 24, 1687. I thank you for your very obliging letter, which I have this evening received, and for your kind invitation unto Lowther; and I should now have waited upon you and Sir John Lowther according to your desires, had not my two sons, William and Daniel, been gone to Lancashire with my servants and horses. I do concur with you, that whatever misunderstanding was betwixt us, happened rather by mistake than for any thing else; for I ever had a friendship for yourself and family; and without taking any further notice of what is past, upon my part shall be performed the same mutual good offices as formerly. My humble service unto my good lady and all my cousins. I am, Sir, Your very affectionate Kinsman, and most humble Servant, DANIEL FLEMING.. In answer to Sir John Lowther's, of Whitehaven, he writ as follows: SIR, Rydal, Aug. 24, 1687. I have even now received yours, with one from Sir John Lowther, and I have made him such a return as I hope will be satisfactory unto you both. I am troubled that I cannot wait on you before you leave this country, and that my son is no better acquainted with my cousin Lowther. I shall ever acknowledge my great obligation unto you for your constant friendship, and for the many favours which I have received from you; and if I may be any way serviceable unto you here in the country, I hope you will favour me with your commands. My humble service unto yourself and my cousin, your son, heartily wishing you both a safe return unto London. My son William and his brother Daniel are now in Lancashire, which hinders me from telling you in person, that I am, Sir, Your very affectionate Kinsman, DANIEL FLEMING. parliament, and again in 1698, 1702, 1705, and 1707. In 1705, he was created a Baronet, with remainder, for want of issue male of his body, to the issue male In the mean time, Sir Daniel Fleming had an interview with Sir Christopher Musgrave, who had been displaced some time before from the office of lieutenant of the ordnance, for refusing, as it was said, to promise the king to give his vote for taking away the test and penal laws. About the same time, the king had removed the Earl of Derby from being lord-lieutenant of the county of Lancaster, and put into his place the Lord Molineux; and also removed the Earl of Thanet from being lord-lieutenant of the counties of Westmorland and Cumberland, and put in his place Lord Preston; and that the king's declaration for liberty of conscience might the more easily pass into a law, the council agreed on the three questions following: 1. If in case you shall be chosen knight of a shire, or burgess of a town, when the king shall think fit to call a parliament, whether will you be for taking off the penal laws? 2. Whether you will assist and contribute to the election of such members as shall be for taking off the penal laws and tests? 3. Whether you will support the king's declaration for liberty of conscience, by living friendly with those of all persuasions, as subjects of the same prince and good christians ought to do? The several lords-lieutenants were ordered to desire the answers of all deputy-lieutenants, to each of the aforesaid questions in particular; but not meeting with the expected success, the following declaration was printed: WHITEHALL, Dec. 11, 1687. His Majesty having, by his gracious declaration of the 4th of April last, granted a liberty of conscience to all his subjects: and resolving not only to maintain the same, but to use his utmost endeavours that it may pass into a law, and become an established security to after ages, hath thought fit to renew the lists of the deputy-lieutenants and justices of the peace in the several counties, that those may be continued who shall be ready to contribute, what in them lies, towards the accomplishment of so good and necessary a work, and such others added to them, from whom his Majesty may reasonably expect the like concurrence and assist ance. The Lord Preston's occasions would not give him leave to make such haste into the country as many other lord-lieutenants did; but, in January following, he writ letters to every deputy-lieutenant and justice of the peace within the counties of Westmorland and Cumberland, as followeth : SIR, I desire you will meet me at Penrith upon Tuesday, the 24th of this month, about ten of the clock in the morning, having some matters to impart to you by his Majesty's command. I am, Sir, Your humble Servant, PRESTON. To the letter sent to Sir Daniel Fleming, his lordship added this postscript: I should be very glad to see you at Hutton, before the meeting at Penrith. I hope to be there on Thursday come se'nnight. My humble service to Mr. Fleming, and believe me to be, Sir, Your most affectionate and humble Servant, PRESTON. Sir Daniel Fleming having not visited Lowther since Sir John Lowther and he were made friends, he thought it right to take Lowther in his way to Penrith, which he did on Jan. 21, being accompanied by his sons, William and Daniel, and his cousin John Brougham, where they were all kindly entertained, and where Sir John and Sir Daniel agreed on their answers to the aforesaid questions. On the 23d, Sir Daniel Fleming went early to Hutton, and on the day following attended his lordship to Penrith, when they were met by Sir John Lowther in his coach and six, attended by most of the deputylieutenants and justices of the peace for Westmorland and Cumberland. After Lord Preston had acquaint of Sir Daniel Fleming, his father. He married Dorothy, daughter of Thomas Rowlandson, of Kendal, by whom he had three daughters, 1, Dorothy, wife of Edward Wilson, of Dolham-Tower, Esq.; 2, Barbara, of Edward Parker, of Brodsholm, Esq.; 3, Catharine, of Sir Peter Leicester, of Tabley, Bart. Sir William died at Rydal-Hall, Aug. 29, 1756, was buried at Gresmere, and was succeeded by his brother, II. Sir GEORGE FLEMING, Bart. the fifth son of Sir Daniel Fleming, Knt. he was entered commoner of Edmund-Hall, Oxford, June 1688. In 1690, he, amongst others of the university, printed congratulatory verses upon his Majes- ed them with the reasons of their being called together, he desired them either to deliver their answers in writing, or that they would permit his lordship to call in his secretary to write them. Upon which Sir John Lowther replied, that he conceived it would be more for his lordship's ease to permit every gentleman to write his own answer, which was seconded by Sir Daniel Fleming; adding, that if his lordship would give leave to the gentlemen to withdraw, they would return with their several answers in writing. The Protestants went into one room, and the Papists into another. On their return, Sir John Lowther read his answer as follows: 1. If I be chosen a member of parliament, I think myself obliged to refer my opinion concerning the taking away the penal laws and tests, to the reasons that shall arise from the debate of the house. 2. If I give my interest for any to serve in the next parliament, it shall be for such as I shall think loyal and well-affected to the king and the established government. 3. I will live friendly with those of several persuasions, as a loyal subject and a good christian ought to do. After which, Sir Daniel Fleming and many others gave in the same answers. The papists, with a few. others, were for taking away the tests. Lady Barbara Fleming died before her husband, and on an oblong piece of brass fixed in the wall, at the east end of Gresmere church, he caused the following inscription to be engraved:. Barbara Fleming, Henrici Fletcher, de Hutton, in comitatu Cumbria, Baronetti, et Catherinæ, uxoris ejus, (Filiæ primogenitæ Georgii Dalston, de Dalston, in eodem comitatu, equitis Aurati) Filiæ natu maximæ, et Danielis Fleming, de Rydal, in comitatu Westmerlandiæ, Armigeri, amantissimæ, amabilissimæ, fidelissimæque conjugi, in ipso ætatis Flore Morte immaturâ præreptæ; Quæ ob felicissimam Indolem, insignem Pietatem, magnum sui apud omnes Desiderium relinquens ; Monumentum hoc, amoris et moeroris perpetuum testem, Nata est apud Hutton, 25 Julii, A. D. 1634. Confirmata apud Witherslack, 22 Junii, A. D. 1671. Si lugere nescias, (quod præstat) æmulare. ty's happy return from Ireland; and, in the beginning of March, 1694, took his master's degree. In 1699, he was made chaplain to Dr. Smith, bishop of Carlisle. March 12, 1700, he was installed prebendary of Carlisle; and April 12, 1705, archdeacon of the said diocese. He was created doctor of laws, by diploma, at Lambeth, March 10, 1726, and installed dean of Carlisle, April 27, 1727. On the 30th of October, 1734, he was nominated to the see of Carlisle. He married Catharine, daughter of Robert Jefferson, and one of the coheiresses of Thomas Jefferson, of the city of Carlisle, Gent. by whom he had issue, 1, William Fleming, M. A. archdeacon of Carlisle, who married Dorothy, daughter of Daniel Wilson, of Dalham-Tower, Esq. by whom he had one daughter Catharine, wife of Thomas Ascough, Esq. This William died in the lifetime of his father, without other issue, whereby the inheritance became transferred to another collateral male branch; 2, Mary, wife of Humphrey Senhouse, of Nether-Hall, Esq.; 3, Barbara, died young; 4, Catharine, wife of Joseph-Dacre Appleby, of Kirklington, Esq.; 5, Mildred, of Edward Stanley, of Ponsonby, Esq.; 6, Elizabeth, who died in her infancy. The direct male line failing again on the death of George, we have recourse to his next brother Michael, who was major of a regiment of foot, and the tenth child as aforesaid of Sir Daniel. He married Dorothy Benson, of Yorkshire, and dying before his brother George, he left issue a son William, and a daughter Susan, wife of Michael Knott, of Rydal, Gent. Sir George died July 2, 1747, aged 81. III. Sir WILLIAM FLEMING, of Rydal, Bart. succeeded his uncle, and married Elizabeth, daughter of Christopher Petyt, of Skypton, Gent. by whom he had issue, 1, Michael, the present Baronet; 2, Amelia; 3, Barbara, both of whom died unmarried; 4, Elizabeth, wife of Andrew Huddleston, of HuttonJohn, in Cumberland, Esq.; 5, Dorothy, of George-Edward Stanley, of Ponsonby-Hall, in Cumberland, Esq. This Sir William, from his veneration for antiquity, was desirous to restore the primitive orthography of the family name, by inserting the particle le; and in this instance, effectually performed it, by incorporating the particle with his son's christian name at his baptism, who thereby bears the same name with the first founders of the family after the conquest. Sir William was succeeded by his son, IV. Sir MICHAEL LE FLEMING, Bart. who has been knight of the shire for the county of Westmorland ever since 1774. He married Diana, only daughter of Thomas, Earl of Berkshire, by whom he has one daughter Anne-Frederica-Elizabeth le, born about 1785. ARMS-Gules, a fret, argent. CREST-A serpent, nowed, holding in his mouth a garland of olives and vines, all proper. MOTTO-Pax, copia, sapientia, all relating to the crest, as peace to the olive branches, plenty to the vine, and wisdom to the serpent. SEAT-Rydal Hall, Westmorland. 224. MILLER, of CHICHESTER, Sussex. Created Baronet, Oct. 29, 1705. I. THOMAS MILLER, Esq. representative in parliament for the city of Chichester 1688 and 1690, had a large fortune left him by his uncle, was knighted, and advanced to the dignity of a Baronet by Queen Anne, in the fourth year of her reign. He married Hannah, daughter of, by whom he had Sir John, his successor, and other children; for one of his daughters was wife of John Farrington, of Chichester, Esq. eldest son of Sir Richard Farrington, of Chichester, Bart. Sir Thomas died Dec. 2, 1705, aged 70, and his lady Jan. 11, 1706, aged 70. II. Sir JOHN MILLER, Bt. eldest son and successor to his father, represented the city of Chichester in several parliaments, in the reigns of K.William and Q. Anne. He married first, Margaret, daughter of John Peachy, of Chichester, who died Sept. 23, 1701, aged 38, by whom he had one son Thomas, who died young, and a daughter Emblem, who died Jan. 6, 1718, aged 17. He married secondly, Anne, daughter of William Elson, of Groves, in Sussex, Esq. by whom he had two children that died young; thirdly, -, eldest daughter of Sir William Meaux, of Kingston, in the Isle of Wight, Bart. Sir John died Nov. 29, 1721, aged 56, and lies buried in Chichester cathedral, leaving, by his marriage, Sir Thomas, his successor. Besides Sir Thomas, he had other children, for one of his daughters was wife of the Rev. Dr. Gooch, Bishop of Norwich; another, of the Rev. Dr. Manningham; another, of the Rev. Blackshall, one of the residentiaries of Chichester, and fellow of Winchester-College; and another, of Thomas Yates, Esq. member of parliament for Chichester; and another, of Mr. Dutton, near Guildford. III. Sir THOMAS MILLER, Bart. eldest son and successor to Sir John, was likewise representative in parliament for Chichester, in the reigns of Queen Annė and King George I. and married —, daughter of alderman Gother, of Chichester, by whom he left three sons, 1, Sir John; 2, Thomas, who died unmarried, aged about 21; and 3, Henry and one daughter Jane, wife of — Bye. Sir Thomas died at Lavent, near Chichester, Nov. 1733, and was succeeded in dignity and estate by his eldest son, IV. Sir JOHN MILLER, Bart. who married, daughter of Dr. Combes, a physician of Winchester, by whom he had two sons and four daughters, Sir Thomas, his successor, George, Jane, Mary, Susanna, and Anne, who was the wife of George, Earl of Albemarle. Sir John was succeeded by his eldest son, V. Sir THOMAS MILLER, Bart. ARMS-Argent, a fess wavy, azure, between three wolve's heads erased, gules. CREST-On a wreath, a wolf's head erased, argent, gorged with a fess wavy, azure. Not being able to procure any information from this family, I am obliged to give it as it stands in Kim ber and Johnson. |