 By 1779 Isaac had returned to England, his wife Elizabeth having sadly died of smallpox in October 1775 and had been buried in Boston (see previous page). The story now moves to Froyle. Isaac's daughter, Mary, had married a George Erving (thanks to Chris Ralph we now know she married George on 26th January 1775 at Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts) and they owned Shrubbery House, ‘The Shrubbery’ in Upper Froyle. (pictured right in 1912). Between 1772 and 1781 there was an outbreak of smallpox in the village and, sadly, Isaac, who was either visiting his daughter or living with the family, died. He was buried at St Mary’s, Upper Froyle on October 17th 1781. His daughter, Mary McIntosh Erving was buried in the same tomb on November 11th 1786. She was aged 42. Today you can still read the inscription on the tomb, even though it is not as clear as in 1983 when it was recorded by Alan McGowan: In memory of ISAAC ROYALL Esqr, late of Medford in New England, who departed this life October 16th 1781 aged 62. Also in memory of MARY McINTOSH ERVING, daughter of the above ISAAC ROYALL and wife of GEORGE ERVING Esqr, late of Boston in New England and now of this parish. She departed this life November 11th 1786 aged 42.  |
The Royall family left their mark in the new America in the town of Medford, Massachusetts (just North of Boston), where today the Royall House is preserved as a National Historical Landmark. Follow this link to their web site. Sir William Pepperell’s widow built a house in their home town of Kittery Point, Maine, in about 1760 and lived there for some thirty years. Follow this link to the US National Park Services web page describing the house. We hope to find out even more about this fascinating, and at times, confusing, American connection with Froyle. |