Person:Samuel Crook (7)

In a survey of St Kitts in 1707-8.  Samuel Crook (I) was aged 52 and had a household of 10 people together with 43 slaves; Clement Crook was aged 23 and had a household of 6 people and 41 slaves.  This seems to be typical for St Kitts with a relatively small number of slaves / per plantation.

As members of the nouveau riche in the 1700s they had a coat of arms.  It was as follows: Samuel Crook of the Middle Temple (Chip.)  Arms:  -argent, on a bend gules three roses [translation:  silver shield with a red diagonal stripe * three white roses on the stripe] quartering the Woodley arms.  Nicholas Crooke had the same coat of arms in 1810 with arms of Jolly on an escutcheon.

At Great Gaddesden church (St John the Baptist) in the chancel floor a brass of William Croke 1506 and his wife Alice daughter of Sir Wiliam Faryngton. Croke arms * argent a bend gules with three roses argent theron.

A likely connection is Samuel Crook (1670-1722) of Crook Hall Nr. Chorley, Lancashire, who was the Sheriff of Lancashire in 1717 has the same coat of arms. The Manor of Leyland, Lancashire, was held by the deCrook /Crook family from 1160 to 1570. This Samuel Crook was killed in a sword fight with William Buckley.

1.   Research borrowed, with thanks, from Vivian John.