Sir Thomas Crosse & family

Politician and Philanthropist

In the central aisle of St Margaret's church Westminster is a large black marble gravestone to members of the Crosse family. The inscription reads:

The remains of Sr Thomas Crosse, Bart. M. Anne Crosse his sister, Mr Robert Crosse his brother and Mary his wife, Ms Ann Crosse the daughter of the said Robert and Mary Crosse were removed from ye family vault at ye west end of the church and were deposited in this place which was assigned by ye Vestry to Sr John Crosse, Bart., only surviving son and heir of ye above mentioned Sr Thomas Crosse as a vault for that family in lieu of the former one it being necessary to destroy ye same when this church was repaired by the bounty of Parliament in the 32nd year of the reign of King George the Second and in the year of Our Lord 1758. This stone which was removed at the same time from the west end of the church formerly covered the burial place of Thomas, the father and Mary the mother, Thomas the eldest son and Jane the wife, Henry the brother and Diana the sister of the above mentioned Sr Thomas Crosse.

The large burial vault down the centre aisle of the church was constructed in 1757.

On the north wall of the church is a monument with an urn and coat of arms for Sir Thomas Crosse, 1st Baronet of Millbank, Westminster and Rainham, Essex, Member of Parliament for Westminster and a director of the South Sea Company. He was son of Thomas Crosse, brewer of Westminster who died in 1682, and his wife Mary (Lockwood) and was educated at Westminster School. In 1713 he was created a Baronet. Brother Robert married Mary Feild and Henry and his sister Anne died unmarried. The inscription reads:

Within this church lye interr'd the remains of Sr Thomas Crosse, Bart. eldest son of Thomas Crosse of this Parish, Esqr. He was educated under Dr Busby and in five general Parliaments had the honour of being chosen a representative of the City and Liberty of Westminster. Publick charities of every kind he cheerfully promoted and as liberally contributed to: but his heart was never more open than when he privately convey'd his affluence to a sick and necessitous neighbour, preferring the silent testimony of his own conscience to the thanks and good wishes of a multitude. He married Jane, daughter of Patrick Lambe of Stoke Poges in the county of Bucks, Esqr. by whom he had issue two sons, Thomas who died an infant, and John who succeeds him in honour and estate; and who in dutiful commemoration of his dear father, and of the mutual affection and happy friendship that subsisted between them, hath caused this monument to be erected in the place which the Vestry of this Parish unanimously desir'd his acceptance of, as a mark of their esteem also for the memory of the deceased and the many good offices he had done them. He was born November XXIX, MDCLXIII and died May XXVII, MDCCXXXVIII [1738] in the seventy fourth year of his age

Nearby is a large monument in coloured marbles to Sir John Crosse, attributed to sculptor Sir Henry Cheere. He was also educated at Westminster School and was a Member of Parliament. He married Mary Godfrey and succeeded his father as 2nd Baronet. But he had no son and the baronetcy became extinct on his death. The inscription reads:

Near this place lie interr'd the remains of Sir John Crosse Baronet who served in four Parliaments for Wotton Basset, Lestwithiel [Lostwithiel] and this important City of Westminster. His benevolent disposition and many exemplary virtues, his country, his afflicted friends, his disconsolate widow, his many publick and private charities, do abundantly demonstrate. He died 12th March 1762 in the 62nd year of his age in hopes of a glorious Resurrection