Other Events:

• Education: 15 Jul 1712, Matric. Balliol College, Oxford (aged 15)
• Occupation: Mar 1718/19 - 1720, Secretary to Lord Carteret in Sweden
• Subscription: 1723, A. De La Mortray's Travels Through Europe, Asia, and into Part of Africa
• Appointment: May 1729, Auditor to HRH the Prince of Wales
• Occupation: 1722 - May 1729, Commissioner of Excise
• Residence: 29 Jan 1732/33, Molenick (Listed as Richard Eliot, esq., of Molinick)
• Political: c. 1737-1738, Enters Opposition with HRH Prince of Wales
• Occupation: 1730 - 1738, Surveyor General of the Duchy of Cornwall
• Elected: 1741, Mayor of Liskeard
• Elected: May 1741, M.P. for Liskeard, Cornwall
• Elected: 29 Jan 1732/33 - 1743, M.P. for St. Germans
• Elected: 1746, Mayor of Liskeard
• Elected: 1743 - 1747, M.P. for Liskeard
• Occupation: Mar 1737/38 - 19 Nov 1748, Receiver General of the Duchy of Cornwall
• Elected: Jul 1747 - 19 Nov 1748, M.P. for St. Germans

Notes:

--- "The Beauties of England and Wales" by John Britton, 1801, page 381:
Gives date of portrait in PE Dining Room of Richard Eliot as 1742.

--- "Journal of the Ex Libris Society" Vol 6, 1897, page 149:
No. 191.--- Eliot impaling Craggs. Arms, Azure, a fesse between four cotises wavy gules, for Eliot; quarterly, engrailed or and azure, in the first quarter an escallop shell gules, for Craggs. This is the book-plate of Richard Elliot, of Port Elliot, co. Cornwall, father of the first Baron Eliot and ancestor of the Earls of St. Germans, ob. 1748. He married Harriot, natural daughter of the Rt. Hon. James Craggs, Secretary of State to George I., ob. 1769; she had the arms impaled in the plate granted to her in 1726.

--- "Oxford University Alumni, 1500-1886" (1500-1714, Volume II, E, 18 of 40):
Eliot, Richard, s. William, of St. Germans, Cornwall, gent. Balliol Coll., matric. 15 July, 1712, aged 18; B.A. 1716, auditor and receiver-general to Prince of Wales; M.P. St. Germans Jan., 1733, Liskeard 1734-47, and St. Germans 1747, until his death 19 Nov., 1748; brother of Edward 1703.

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--- "Newcastle Courant" Friday, 18 Mar 1720, page 7:
From the Evening-Post, London, March 11.
Mr. Eliot, Brother to Mr. Eliot, one of the Commissioners of the Victualling Office, is appointed Secretary to the Embassy at Paris, he was in that Station last Year in Sweden under the Lord Carteret.

--- "Stamford Mercury" 23 Mar 1721, page 8:
'Tis said, that Mr. Elliot, who was last Year Secretary to the Lord Careteret in Sweden, is appointed Secretary to the English Ambassy at Paris.

--- "Stamford Mercury" 28 May 1724, page 8:
His Majesty has been pleased to appoint George Townshend, Christopher Montagu, James Vernon, John Whetham, Roger Gale, Benjamin Mildmay, Richard Elliot, George Ducket, and Patrick Haldane, Esqrs; to be Commissioners for the Management and Receipt of the Revenues of the Excise, and other Duties, and of the Inland Duties upon Coffee, Tea and Chocolate.

--- Parker's Penny Post, Monday, 18 Nov 1726, page 3:
Last Wednesday Noon was finish'd the drawing of the State Lottery at Guildhall. No. 13,733 was the last drawn Ticket & entitled to a prize of a 1,000l. which fell to Richard Eliot, Esq; one of the Commissioners of the Excise. By the Account kept of the drawing of the Tickets, there were but four left in the Wheel.

--- "Caledonian Mercury" 22 Nov 1726, page 3:
'Tis discoursed that several Indictments will be lodged next Sessions against the Stockjobbers, for base and pernicious Practices in the Lottery, the Drawing whereof ended Yesterday Forenoon, the last drawn Ticket was No. 13733, and as such a Prize of 1000 l. which fell to Richard Elliot, Esq; one of the Commissioners of Excise.

--- "Caledonian Mercury" 22 May 1729, page 1:
London, May 15. Robert Eyre, Esq; is made a Commissioner of the Excise, in the Room of Richard Elliot, Esq; who is made Auditor to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales for the Dutchy of Cornwall, worth 500 l. per annum.

--- "Newcastle Courant" 24 May 1729, page 1:
A new commission is preparing to pass the Seals, appointing the following Gentlemen Commissioners of the Excise, . . . the last in the room of Robert [sic] Eliot, Esq; who is made Auditor to his Royal Highness the the Prince of Wales for the Dutchy of Cornwall, a Patent Place worth about 500 l. per Annum.

---Daily Post, London, Tuesday, 17 Apr 1731, page 1:
Some Days since Richard Eliot of Port Eliot, Esq.; Surveyor-General to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, was overturned in his Coach near Dorchester, as he was going down to Cornwall, by which Misfortune his Arm was broke; but soon after it was set by Mr. Cheselden, an Eminent Surgeon, who was then in those parts.

--- Daily Post, London, Sunday, 22 Apr 1731, page 1:
Richard Eliot of Port Eliot, Esq.; Surveyor-General to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, who had his Arm broke by the overturning of his Coach, as he was going down to Cornwall, is pretty well recover'd.

--- "History of the Borough of Liskeard", John Allen, 1856:
1745: "A hogshead of cider at the bonfire, and other expenses October 9th, being thanksgiving day, this paid by Mr Eliot and Mr Trelawny."
(N.B. Richard, in 1741, was the first member of the Eliot family to be appointed Mayor of Liskeard.)

--- "Derby Mercury" 18 Nov 1748, page 4:
Last Saturday died Richard Elliot, Esq; of Port Elliot in the County of Cornwall, and Member for St. German's in that County, which Borough and Leskeard he represented in four Parliaments; he was Receiver-General of the Duchy of Cornwall to the Prince of Wales.

Richard married Harriot Craggs on 10 Mar 1725/26 in Lincoln's Inn Chapel, London. Harriot (daughter of James Craggs and Hester Santlow) was born in Feb 1712/13; died on 01 Feb 1769; was buried on 01 Feb 1769 in Outside Chancel Window (Looking in Port Eliot Garden), St. German's Church, St. Germans, Cornwall, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
• "London Parker Penny Post" 21 Mar 1726, page 4:
On Thursday Morning last, Richard Elliot, Esq; one of the Commissioners of the Excise, was married to Mrs. Smith, a Lady of a very considerable Fortune.

• "London Journal" 19 Mar 1726:
Marriages. On the 10th, Richard Elliot, Esq; one of the Commissioners of the Excise, was married to Mrs. Smith, a Lady of a considerable Fortune.

• "The Records of the Honorable Society of Lincoln's Inn", 1896, Vol. 2, page 568:
Richard Eliot, Esq., of St. George's, Hanover Square, Middlesex, and Harriot Smith, of the same Parish, were married March 10th, 1725
(Old Style Date)

• FMP Parish Records Collection Marriages:
License date: 04 Mar 1726
License date year: 1726
Bride's last name: SMITH
Bride's first name: Harriot
Dual date: 04 Mar 1725/26
Groom's last name: ELLIOT
Groom's first name: Richard
Record source: Faculty Office Marriage Licence Allegations 1701-1850

1. 1st Baron Eliot, Edward Craggs Eliot was born on 08 Jul 1727 in St. George, Hanover Square, London; was christened on 15 Jul 1727 in St. George's, Hanover Square, Westminster, London; died on 17 Feb 1804 in Port Eliot, St. Germans, Cornwall; was buried on 01 Mar 1804 in St. German's Church, St. Germans, Cornwall,.
2. Anne Eliot was born on 17 Nov 1729 in Port Eliot, St. Germans, Cornwall; was christened on 15 Dec 1729 in St. German's Church, St. Germans, Cornwall,; died on 13 Apr 1816 in Grosvenor Street, Westminster, Middlesex; was buried on 20 Apr 1816 in St. George's (Bayswater Rd. Burial Ground), Hanover Square, Westminster, London.
3. Harriot Eliot was born on 15 Dec 1731 in Molenick, St. Germans, Cornwall; was christened on 17 Dec 1731 in St. German's Church, St. Germans, Cornwall,; died on 22 Jan 1776; was buried on 27 Jan 1776 in St. Mary's Church, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire.
4. Richard Eliot was born on 16 Jul 1733 in Molenick, St. Germans, Cornwall; was christened on 20 Jul 1733 in St. German's Church, St. Germans, Cornwall,; died on 28 Apr 1747 in Kinsale, Ireland (In the Navy); was buried on 30 Apr 1747 in St. Multose's (Church of Ireland), Kinsale, Ireland.
5. Hester Eliot was born on 11 Mar 1734/35; was christened on 12 Mar 1734/35 in St. Germans, Cornwall,; died on 12 Apr 1736; was buried on 21 Apr 1736 in Eliot Family Vault, St. German's Church, St. Germans, Cornwall.
6. Augusta Eliot was born on 10 Jun 1737; was christened on 16 Aug 1733 in St. German's Church, St. Germans, Cornwall,; died on 25 Nov 1737; was buried on 27 Nov 1737 in St. German's Church, St. Germans, Cornwall,.
7. Elizabeth Eliot was born on 03 May 1739 in Molenick, St. Germans, Cornwall; was christened on 03 May 1739 in St. German's Church, St. Germans, Cornwall,; died on 01 Jan 1771 in North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire; was buried on 08 Jan 1771 in St. Mary's Church, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire.
8. John Eliot was born on 12 Jun 1741 in Molenick, St. Germans, Cornwall; was christened on 13 Jun 1741 in St. German's Church, St. Germans, Cornwall,; died on 02 May 1769 in Governor's Mansion, Pensacola, Florida; was buried on 03 May 1769 in Burial Ground of Fort at Pensacola.
9. Catherine Eliot was born on 29 Oct 1743 in Port Eliot, St. Germans, Cornwall; was christened on 29 Oct 1743 in St. German's Church, St. Germans, Cornwall,; died on 28 Jul 1798 in Port Eliot, St. Germans, Cornwall; was buried on 03 Aug 1798 in Port Eliot Grounds, St. Germans, Cornwall, England.

Notes:

This is one of the few undocumented Eliots in the line of ancestry connecting the Earls of St. Germans to Sir John Eliot. William's parents were both native to Cornwall, his father from St. Juliot, his mother St. Erth. It's likely that William himself was also born in the area, but many of the local churches have lost their earliest parish registers, so a baptism record for William (and his three siblings) has not turned up.

Based on documents viewed at Port Eliot during the 19th century, William was listed in the 1868 Genealogical Record as an Officer in the Royal Navy, living at Cuddenbeak (a leased house on the Port Eliot estate) by leave of his cousin and owner of the estate, Daniel Eliot. Surviving mortgages and legal documents record his name as "William Eliot, gentleman of Lewannick", Lewannick being a neighboring parish whose tithes were vested in the Eliot family.

At some point before 1693, William married Ann Williams, the daughter of Lawrence Williams of Ireland; they were blessed with four sons and two daughters. Since records have yet to turn up for their marriage or the births of their first four children, it may be that they were married in Ireland and lived there for a time. As an officer in the Royal Navy, it is very likely that William spent some time in Ireland. Sadly, the Admiralty records were very poor at that time and do not even offer a complete list of officers, let alone any clues as to their times and places of service.

By the summer of 1693, William and his wife were back in Cornwall, their fifth child being baptised at St. Germans in June and buried in September. They were still there, living at Cuddenbeak, when their last child, Richard, was born in September of the following year. Eight years later, in 1702, their oldest son, Edward, inherited the Port Eliot estate from William's cousin, Daniel Eliot. It seems likely that the whole family would have lived at Port Eliot, but if there is any surviving evidence of that, it's hidden in an attic or unmarked trunk.

The date and place of William's death and burial, like his birth and baptism, are a total mystery at this time. The best clues available come from a handful of legal documents, the first pair of which (dated January 1687) shows William Eliot securing the tithes and messuages in "churchtown" in Lewannick for his heirs forever. According to a documented lawsuit dating from January-March 1702/03, William's wife was a widow, and his son's estate was being handled by the trustees appointed in Daniel Eliot's will. This narrows the time of William's death to the years between the writing of Daniel's will in 1694 and the beginning of 1702/03. He was not buried at St. German's, either in the churchyard or the Eliot family vault. His wife was buried there in April 1723, and a large stone slab on the floor of the church is dedicated to "Ann, relict of William Eliot, Esq.". This is the only memorial remaining for this grandfather of Edward, 1st Lord Eliot, through whom all of the Earls of St. Germans descend.

William married Ann Williams. Ann died on 11 Apr 1723; was buried on 20 Apr 1723 in Eliot Family Vault, St. German's Church, St. Germans, Cornwall. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

--- Transcription of St. German's Floor Slab Memorial:
Here lyes the Body of Ann
Relict of William Eliot, Esq.
By whom she had four sons
And Two Daughters
She departed this Life
On the 11 day of April
In the year of our Lord
Lamented by all that knew her.

To her Verteous and Pious memory
This Stone was Laid
By her truely affectionate
And Dutifull Daughter in law
Elizabeth Eliot.

Arms carved on above slab are those of Eliot and Williams. The Williams Arms shown are those of the family of the Williams of Thame (Oxfordshire) and Burfield (Burghfield), Berkshire.

--- Aside from the fact that Ann and her husband lived at Cuddenbeak by 1693, almost nothing is known about this Eliot grandmother. Even though her father is recorded in family records as "Lawrence Williams of Ireland", was he a relative of the Williams family of Thame and Burfield? A connection has yet to be established between the families, but the arms on the floor slab belong, without doubt, to that family.

--- "Heraldic Church Notes from Cornwall", by Arthur Jewers, pub. Mitchell and Hughes, 1889, page 71-72:
"The next to claim our attention is the series of monuments of the St. Germans family, the earliest of which is no earlier than 1723. It is a floor slab in memory of Ann, relict of William Eliot, Esq., by whom she had four sons and two daughters. She died 11th April 1723, and to her memory this stone was placed by her daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Eliot.

This lady was a daughter of Lawrence Williams, of Ireland, her husband being an officer in the Royal Navy, and son of Nicholas, fifth son of Sir John Eliot, of Port Eliot. Their children were --- Edward, who inherited Port Eliot from his cousin Daniel Eliot; Richard, who succeeded his nephew James, and was ancestor of the earls of St. Germans; and two sons, who died young; Catherine, married to Sir Nicholas Trevanion; Elizabeth, married the Rev. Samuel Trewbody, rector of Jacobstowe, at St. Germans 7th of November 1719, and buried there 31st of August 1726."

Other Events:

• Residence: 08 Dec 1659, St. Juliot, Cornwall

Notes:

In a legal document dated 08 Dec 1659, he's listed as "Nicholas Eliot of St. Juliot, co. Cornwall, gentleman." The next mention that's come to light is another legal document dated 21 Sep 1689 - by which time Nicholas is listed as "late of St. Juliot, deceased."

It seems likely that Nicholas would have been buried at St. Juliot, but burial records there do not survive before 1663 (by which time Nicholas and his wife may already have died).

--- In January 1655/56, Nicholas and Katherine baptised their daughter, Susannah, at St. Martin on Looe, Cornwall. The only other Eliot mentioned in those registers is a burial record on 02 Jul 1658 for Tamysin Eliot (possibly another child of Nicholas and Katherine).

Nicholas married Katherine Prideaux on 18 Apr 1651 in St. Erth, Cornwall. Katherine (daughter of William Prideaux and Johanna Roscarrock) was born before 08 Feb 1626/27; was christened on 08 Feb 1626/27 in St. Erth, Cornwall. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

--- Prideaux Family Tree in Port Eliot Box Z:
Married at St. Erth on 15 Apr 1651

Other Events:

• Knighted: 18 May 1618
• Will: 20 Dec 1630
• Will: 27 Nov 1632, Codicil Added
• Will: 11 Dec 1632, Will Proved

Notes:

--- "Western Morning News" 02 Dec 1942, page 6:
CORNISHMAN'S WARNING
The most famous, or, to speak more correctly, the most fameworth, Cornishman of his day was Sir John Eliot, an ancestor of the Earl of St. Germans.

An outstanding figure in that great struggle with the Crown, his speech, made while his friends Valentine and Holles prevented the Speaker of the House of Commons from leaving the chair, has lost none of its force when applied to the present day. Solemnly he uttered the warning that none had "gone about to break Parliaments but that in the end Parliaments had broken them."

Today the struggle is with a dictatorship outside the country, but Sir John Eliot's words are still a solemn warning.

--- West-country Poets by William HK Wright (as he found it in Worth's "West-Country Garland"), 1896
ON SIR JOHN ELIOT
Heer a musitian lyes whose well tuned tongue
Was great Apollo's harpe, so sweetly strunge
That every cadence was an harmonye.
Noe crotchets in his musicke! Onlye hee
Charmed the attentive burgesses alone,
Ledde by the eares to listen to his songe.
For innocence, sad widdowes' orphans' teares
(The dumbe petitioners of unfeigned feares),
How smoothly could thine eloquence alone
Create a helpinge pittie where was none.

John married Radigund Gedy in Jun 1609. Radigund (daughter of Richard Gedy and Katherine Boscawen) died before 13 Jun 1628; was buried on 13 Jun 1628 in St. Germans, Cornwall. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

--- "Launceston, Past and Present" by Sir Alfred Robbins, 1888, page 143-4:
On June 17 Eliot followed up this exposure by denouncing Mohun to the Lords, but three days later he was forced to abandon the attack by melancholy news from Cornwall, the Commons Journals of the twentieth containing the entry "Sir John Eliot, in respect of the death of his wife, hath leave to go down into the country." Lady Eliot had been failing in health for some time, but the end, which took place at Port Eliot, was sudden. Of her "all that is known to us is the tenderness with which her husband described, as 'a loss never before equalled,' what had befallen him by her death; and that she was said to have been so devoted to her children as never to have willingly consented to be absent from them . . . Care for his younger children appears to have occupied him at first; and some were placed with their mother's father, Mr. Gedie, of Trebursey, to whom Eliot is lavish of grateful expression for his service at this time."

Other Events:

• Will: 05 Jun 1564, Probate in Exeter
• Will: 18 Mar 1620/21, Will Written
• Will: 18 May 1627, Will Proved

Notes:

Will Dated: 18 Mar 1620
Proved at Bodmin: 18 May 1627

William married Johanna Roscarrock on 13 Dec 1624 in St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London. Johanna died before 19 Nov 1659; was buried on 19 Nov 1659 in St. Martin by Looe, Cornwall. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]