TIME TRIETH TRUTH GENEALOGICAL MEMOIR OF LADY LADY TREVELYAN is the wife of Sir John Trevelyan, baronet, and daughter of the late Sir Thomas Spencer Wilson, baronet, of East Bourne, in the county of Sussex. The house of Wilson, that of her ladyship, is a branch of an ancient Yorkshire family, founded by THOMAS WILSON, ESQ., who was seated at Elton, in the county of York, in the year 1250. From this Thomas lineally descended, JOHN WILSON, Esq., who espoused Maude, daughter and heir of William Smith, Esq., of Dringhouses, near York, and had a son, JOHN WILSON, Esq. This gentleman, being educated for the profession of the law, came to London, and after living there some time, removed into Sussex, where he settled in the latter end of the reign of Elizabeth, at Sheffield House, and held various offices of public trust under that monarch and her successors. On the 9th of May, 1633, he was sworn at Sheffield a justice of the peace for the county of Sussex, an office at that time. more highly esteemed than at present. He was also for many years associated with the chief gentry of the county as one of the King's commissioners for the contribution towards the repair of St. Paul's Cathedral. He married Mary, second daughter of Thomas Gardiner, Esq., of London, master of the Fine Office, and dying in 1640, left, with other issue, a third and eldest surviving son, WILLIAM WILSON, ESQ., a distinguished adherent of the royal cause during the civil wars. In 1639, Mr. Wilson joined the first expedition into the North, to suppress the insurrection, and was with the king at Newcastle and Berwick. On the 18th of April of the same year, he received a warrant from the principal secretary of state, directed to all sheriffs, mayors, &c., setting forth that "he was to make his speedy repair to Berwick, &c., and, on sight thereof, they should furnish him with three able post horses, and sufficient guides to the said town and back again, on peril," &c. After the battle of Worcester, in 1651, when Charles II. made his escape into Sussex, this gentleman's loyalty was so well known, that he received a letter acquainting him with his Majesty's condition, and the intention of the monarch to seek an asylum in his house, should he meet with interruption on his embarkation at Brighthelmstone. In 1653, Mr. Wilson, contrary to his own wish, was elected high sheriff of the county of Sussex. During the Commonwealth, though living much retired, he rendered himself suspected of promoting the interests of the King. At the command of Cromwell, Lieutenant Hopkins was despatched with a detachment of horse to East Bourne Place, to seize and secure his person, doubtless in order to have him prosecuted as a delinquent. Fortunately for himself and family, he was at the time so much weakened by a fit of illness, that a removal would have endangered his life. Having, moreover, notice of their approach, he caused his letters and papers to be secreted, and thus, on finding nothing that might add weight to the accusation, or increase their suspicions, the principal ends of his unwelcome visiters were defeated. His wife, being related to some person at the head of affairs, strenuously and successfully exerted her interest, so that her husband escaped the danger that threatened him, and lived to see the restoration. Shortly after this great event, he was appointed a justice of the peace, and, on the 4th of March, 1660, created a baronet. He died the 9th of December, 1685. Sir Thomas Wilson may be regarded a true specimen of the English country gentleman. At East Bourne he kept a hospitable house, combining the care of an economist, with the munificence that became a baronet. He married Mary, daughter of Francis Haddon, Esq., of East Haddon, in the county of Northampton, by whom he left, with other issue, a son and successor, SIR WILLIAM, second baronet, who wedded Richard, second daughter of Richard Pocock, Esq., of Northend, Middlesex. By her he had, with other issue, a son, William, who died before his father, leaving by his wife, Jane, only daughter and heir of Nicholas Townly, Esq., barrister at law, an only son, SIR WILLIAM, third baronet, who succeeded his grandfather in 1718, and died, unmarried, 23rd June, |