Croke Family
The Croke family lived in Marston during the 16th and 17th centuries and lived in the Manor House and produced some prominent persons. Below is a collection of articles on the family, some of whom are buried at St Nicholas Church.
From: The Beauties of England and Wales... J.N. Brewer vol xii, pt ii. 1813 pp262-3
Marston, a small village near Headington, was long a residence of the Croke family, who took an active part on the side of the parliament in the Civil War. Of this family was the careless and eccentric Charles Croke, who, indifferent to all parties, passed the prime of life wandering around the world, with little fortune, and with no pursuit. He published an account of these rambles, under the name of Rodolphus, in a book entitled "Youth's Inconstancy", printed in 1667. The ancient manor house in which his father resided still remains, and is now partly used as a granary. The church is a pleasing Gothic building, constructed at different periods, but with a commendable uniformity of style. Near the porch are the mutilated fragments of a cross; and on the exterior of the yard, at the point where the several approaches to the church unite, are the more perfect remains of a second cross, with three ranges of kneeling places.
The Kingdom's Intelligencer
The Kingdom's Intelligencer (28.6.1660) said of the 17th Horse, "That the soldiery may see affection that his Sacred Majesty hath for the army, he hath been pleased to do them so much honour as to take the regiment that was lately Colonel Unton Croke's, for his own which is now styled the Royal Regiment." It was taken into the King's army as the Royal Regiment of the Horse and is now the Royal Horse Guards (The Blues). [p306, Col. H.C.B. Rogers, Battles and Generals of the Civil Wars 1642-1651.] Seeley Service 1968
Croke Church Monuments
The Chief monument in ye church ov Merston, near Oxon, is yt of Sr Rich. Croke, (son of Unton Croke) where he is characteris'd as being a man of Great Virtues, & belov'd by King Charles I and II, & by all good men, & was universally lamented at his death. Wch is so false, that 'tis well known that for his Breach of ye Articles made to Penrudduck, after he had surrender'd himself up to him, upon the Defeat of his Enterprise in behalf of the king (then in Exile) at Salisbury, as that he should have his Life &c., he, the said Croke, was made a Serjeant by Oliver, and became so universally hated, for yr treacherous Action, & several other most notorious Instances of Knavery, that no one could give him, of his son Unton Croke, who was as bad, a good Worde; tho' 'tis acknowledged yt he was a very fair spoken man, & by his insinuating way of Behaviour got a large Estate, wch however never prosper'd.
[CEDoble ed. Hearne's Collections i (1705-7) OHS (1884), 82
Sarjeant-at-Law
I have said somewhere that Unton Croke of Marston was made Sarjeant-at-Law for the perfidious service his son did at Salisbury against the Caveliers in March 1654-5, which is true for he was made serjieant in June 1655 (22nd). Sir Richard Croke, borther of Colenel Unton Croke also Serjeant-at-Law, 20 years Recorder of Oxford d. 15 Sept. 1683.
Woods comments on Marston Church epitaph
(1) utrique Carolo dilectissimus (1) 'Charles I knew him not'
(2) religione vere Catholicae semper devotissimus (2) 'he alwaies ran with the times and his religion was as venal as his tongue'
(3) toti humano generi amicabilis (3) 'he was hated by many for his smooth, false, and flattering tongue.'
The said Sir Richard Croke, knight, married Elizabeth, daughter of Martin Wright, sometime alderman and goldsmith of Oxon; which Elizabeth, dying 27 March 1683 was buried in St Martin's church, Oxon, near the grave of her father. The had issue-
(1) Wright Croke, sometime of Lync. Coll. and afterwards barrister of the Inner Temple. He lives at Marston and in the later end of 1684 he then being about 26 of age married his maid ???? Croney, daughter of John Croney of St Micheals Parish, Oxon, chandler
(2) Charles Croke, lately of Linc. Coll., now of the Inner Temple.
[Wood: Life and Times, i.196]
Shark and Coward
1684 September 4 Wright Croke or Merston, eldest son to Sir Richard Croke, was posted up for a shark and a coward in Day's coffey house [entered Lincoln College 26 July 1675 age 17. He has a set of Latin Verses ' Landes Lingual Saxonicae' in Theatri Oxon Encaenia, Oxon 1677] [ibid iii 108]
