Until he reached the age of 21 and became Lord of the Manor in 1719 William’s mother and her advisers ran the estate. She lived on until 1727, dying on the 3rd April in that year aged 64 years.
She is buried in the sanctuary at Froyle, “late wife of Gauden Draper Esq.”. Two years later William was to marry Anne Hornby, a copy of the marriage certificate is given below, ref.l8M 67/104.

This is to certify to whom it may concern that William Draper Esq. and Mrs Anne Horn by were lawfully married in the parish church of st. Margaret’s Westminster 5th June 1729 as appears by the
Register of Marriages belonging to said Parish 27th June 1729.  Thos. Attwood Curate.

She was the daughter of Joseph Horn by, goldsmith of Lombard Street at the sign of the star, and Judith his wife. At the time of her marriage both her parents were dead. The Marriage Settlement of 1729 gives the names of many tenants and their holdings.

Their first child Mary was born in 1731 and a son and heir was born in 1732 and was named after his father. The circumstances were tragic for the child only survived for three days and William lost his wife and child and they are buried under an armorial ledger stone in the sancurary. She died February 17th 1731/2 aged 35 years.

In 1733 exercising his right as Lord of the Manor, William “having the advowson, donation, free disposition, and right of Patronage and presenltation to the Vicarage of the parish church of Froyle” appointed a relative of his mother’s family Thomas Loggin, A.M. aged 28 who remained Vicar for 39 years, dying on March 6th 1772, being buried in the church at Froyle. His name appears on many documents.

Prior to this appointment some members of the Loggins family came to reside at Froyle and indeed William Draper’s mother and sister are also buried in the church.

In 1742 William married again, his new wife being Lucy Walter, daughter of John Walter Esq. of Hobridge, Old Woking, co. Surrey. Again we have a very interesting marriage settlement. The founder of this very rich and influential family was Richard Walter of Barbadoes, West Indian merchant and planter, flourishing in 1678 and buried at st. James, Barbadoes 17th August 1700.

On the map of the island of Barbadoes, for the History of the West Indies, by Bryan Edwards Esq. Walter’s name is printed in the form expressing plantations or sugar works of greater note.

James Town, now called Hole Town, was founded in 1626-27 by Sir William Courteen’s men, and Bridgetown in 1628 by the Earl of Carlisle’s settlers. In 1694 Govornor Sir William Tufton created six parishes; Christ Church, St. Michael, St. James, St. Thomas, St. Peter and St. Lucy.

In St. James Church, Hole Town are memorials to Richard Walter. South Porch, white marble font:- Dedit Richardus Walter to the church of st. James Anno 1684.

“The Hon. Richard Walter, Merchant and planter was bur. here 17th August 1700.”

He was succeeded by his son John Walter also described as a West Indian Merchant. A man ambitious to achieve a position of eminence and standing in English society, finance and politics. His two principle residences being Hobridge in Old Woking Co. Surrey and Busbridge on the fringes of Godalming. John Walter described as of Barbados purchased this latter property in 1710 from a member of the Eliot family and the WaIters held it until Abel Walter, the son of John, sold it.

Some references to John Walter:-
Answers made to the Visitation Articles of Dr Willis, the Bishop of Winchester, from the Parishes of Surrey, excluding the Peculciars of canterbury, 1724 -25.
Now in the Cathedral Library, Winchester.     

The Lordship of the above Manors in addition to the ownership of Hobridge and the impressive mansion at Busbridge plus the estates in Barbados and South Carolina all indicate a position of wealth and social standing. Latterly in life he seems to have spent most of the time at Hobridge in Old Woking, for he certainly died there and was buried in the Parish Church of st. Peter. The burial entry of the Parish Register is as follows: “May 5th was buried John Walter Esq. of Hobridge 1736.”

His will in which he is described as John Walter Esq. of Woking is dated 30th December 1734. “I appoint my eldest son Abell Walter my sole executor, and his mother my wife guardian to my young children; and to my son Abell I devise all my manors and lands in Great Britain and Isle of Barbados and also all my personal estate …….”

PCC 142 Derby.
Proved 5th June 1736 by Abel Walter Esq.

The marriage settlement between William Draper and Lucy Walter, the sister of Abel and Henry Walter, is dated 7th April 1742 and is a long and comprehensive document and as the actual date and place where the marriage took place is not known (there is no entry for the marriage in the Parish Register of St. Peter’s Old Woking or in those of st. Mary at Froyle) an abstract of the parties involved is given below:-

To all Christian People to whom these presents shall come William Draper of Froyle in the County of Southampton Esq. sendeth greeting whereas a Marriage by Gods permission is intended to be had and “solemnised between the said William Draper and Lucy Walter one of the daughters of John Walter late of Woking in the County of Surrey Esquire deceased and by indenture of Lease and Release the Lease bearing date the next before the date thereof and the Release being quadripartite and bearing even date therewith and made or mentioned to be made between one the said William Draper of the first part the said Lucy walter of the second part and Newsham Peers of Alveston in the County of Warwick and Henry Walter of Hobridge in the County of Surrey Esq. of the third part and Abel walter of the parish of St. James)Westminster Esq. eldest son and he ir of the said John Walter and Francis Loggin of the Middle Temple London gentleman of the fourth part I the said William Draper for and in consideration of the said intended marriage and in consideration of the sum of two thousand and five hundred pounds the portion of the said Lucy Walter to be paid and applied in such manner ……….

A vignette of the background of Francis Loggin is given below:-
M.G.H. Second Series Vol. 3 p.354.

Reverting to the Marriage Settlement of 7th April 1742 it is highly probable that the marriage took place in that year and an examination of the Baptisms in Froyle Parish Registers reveale the following (Drapers).

1744 4 September. Elizabeth dau. of Wm. Draper Esq. and Louisa (sic).
1746 10 June. Anna Maria dau. of Wm. Draper Esq. and Louisa (sic).
1748 15 Aug. Charlotte dau. of Wm. Draper Esq. and Lucy.

Burials, Froyle P.R.
1746/7 23 March Anna Maria dau. of Wm. Draper Esq. and Louisa (sic)

Marriages, Froyle P.R.
(Nicholas)
1748 15 September     Wm. Nicholas Esq. of Basingstoke and Mary Draper.
(The Parish Register states both of Froyle.)

Mary Draper was the only surviving child of William Draper’s first marriage with Anne Hornby and Lucy Rebecca Draper, Charlotte Draper and Emma Draper were the only surviving children of the second “marriage of William Draper with Lucy Walter. It is to be expected the eldest daughter would be named Lucy after her mother and it is possible to slot a daughter in before Charlotte. It is interesting to note that Lucy Draper stated she did not know where her mother’s marriage took place and unusual that the baptisms of Lucy and Emma Draper are not recorded if they were born in Froyle, and that there is no reference to the death of William Draper’s second wife Lucy either in the Parish Register or Monumental Inscription in the Church at Froyle if her death took place in the Parish.

It must be born in mind that William Draper did not occupy Froyle Place because about 1710 this property and the farms of Simbury Hill and Yarnhams and other parts of the Estate had been acquired by Edward Colston, the eminent philanthropist (1636-1721) who spent the last thirty-two years of his life on his estate at Mortlake, Co. Surrey, his known benefactions during his lifetime amounting to £70,695. On his death, Colston’s body was taken with magnificent pomp to the family vault in All Saints Church, Bristol, a week’s journey.

49M 63/170.                On the 15th April 1761 an Exchange of land took place between William Draper and the heirs of Edward Colston.

Mary+ Lady Middleton of Warwick, widow                                                   } To William Draper
Alexander Colston and Sophia+ his wife of Filkins Hall, Oxford                  }
+Sisters and coheiresses.

All that piece or parcel of Land called or known by the name of Whales Gate whereon a Barn stood containing by estimation 20 perches be the same more or less situate bying and being within the Parish of Froyle aforesaid and adjoining to the Streat there with the trees thereon standing to Have and to Hold the said piece or parcel of land called Whales Gate to the said William Draper his heirs and assigns in exchange for all that piece or parcel of ground called or known by the name of the Pound situate lying and being in Froyle aforesaid near adjoining to the Gate now in the possession of James Silvester containing by estimation four roods be the same more or less And also all that piece or parcel of land at common called Yarnhams Farm in Froyle aforesaid containing by  estimation 26 roods and a quarter of a rood be the same more or less. And in consideration thereof William Draper gives in exchange to Mary Lady Middleton and A. Colston and Sophia the said piece or parcel of land called the Pound and also the said piece or parcel of land at common near to Yarnham’s ……………

Note.   Creation: Baron Middleton in the County of Warwick 31 December 1711.
Sir Thomas Willoughby, second Baronet, was created by Queen Anne Baron Middleton of Middleton and had issue: I; Francis, second Lord Middleton, Father of Francis, third Lord Middleton who died 15 December 1774.

Chief Seats: Wollaton in the Co. of Nottingham; Middleton in the Co. of Warwick; and Birdfal in the Co. of York.

Mary Draper on her marriage to William Iiicholas left the Manor House and moved to Park Place, a mansion elose to the Church on the opposite side from Froyle Place. William and his three daughters, all minors, continued at the Manor House.

In 1763 William married for the third time. The marriage took place at st. Paul’s, Covent Garden; a copy of the entry in the Registers there is as follows:-

St. Paul’s Covent Garden, 1763 15 December. William Draper of the Parish of Froyle in the County of Southampton, widower, and Elizabeth Whaley + of the Parish of Covent Garden in the County of Middlesex, widow; witnesses Charlotte Nicholas, William Swanwick.
+She signed Whalley.

l8M67/129.      Elizabeth Draper widow, formerly Elizabeth Whalley widow, formerly Elizabeth Nocholas. Elizabeth Nicholas, Ann Nicholas and Francis Miller were the only daughters of Edward
Nicholas of South Stoneham Park, Co. Hants. who married Anne Rachael, daughter and heir of Clement Newsham of Titchfield, Co. Hants. In an old memorandum book of this Edward formerly in the possession of Mrs Lee (of Coldrey, Froyle, living in 1842, daughter of Joseph warton) the marriage is said to have been solemnised October 16, 1711 atTitchfield Chapel. This Chapel had been desecrated some time before Gough’s publication “Sepulchral Monuments 1786-96”.

William Nicholas who married Mary Draper was the son of Edward Nicholas and Anne Rachael, daughter of Clement Newsham.

William Draper only survived this third marriage by some two years, his death is recorded on an armorial ledger stone in the sanctuary of Froyle Church.

“Here lyeth the body of William Draper Esqr., late Lord of this Manor, who died April ye 29th in the year of our Lord 1765 aged 67 years.” He died intestate and Administration was granted to his widow in Prerogative Court of Canterbury. This was later contested by Mary Nicholas, his daughter.

P.R. Burials. 1765 May 8. Will. Draper Esq. forfeit for not being buried in Woollen.

Although William Draper died intestate it is perfectly clear from the Inventory taken of his effects that he died at the Manor House and not at Froyle Place. Apart from the details of the contents of a building an additional value of an Inventory is its use for identification of a building by the description and order of the rooms, outbuildings etc. The following description can be ascribed to the “Manor House” and rules out “The Place” which with Saintbury Farm and other properties and lands had been acquired by that extraordinary character, the financier Edward Colston.