John Fox (1611–1691) Explained

John Fox (1611–1691) was Clerk of the Acatry to King Charles II,^[1] which below stairs department was responsible for meat destined for the royal tables. In 1660 the department comprised a clerk and a sergeant, appointed by royal warrant, a yeoman of the salt stores, yeomen and grooms, appointed by the Lord Steward's warrant.^[2]

Origins

He was the eldest surviving son of William Fox, of Farley, in Wiltshire, a yeoman farmer, by his wife Margaret (or Elizabeth) Pavey. His younger brother was the politician Sir Stephen Fox (1627–1716), the "richest commoner in the three kingdoms" and ancestor of the Earls of Ilchester and Barons Holland.

Career

His position at court was obtained on the recommendation of the Dean of Salisbury Cathedral in Wiltshire, and it was John who first introduced his younger brother Stephen Fox to the royal court, specifically to the household of the royal children, as "supernumerary servant and play-fellow".^[3]

Marriage and progeny

He married Elizabeth Smart (buried on 2 January 1707), by whom he had progeny including:

• John Fox, whose son was Thomas Fox (1664-1691), Receiver General of Their Majesties Customs, whose gravestone survives in the north cloister of Westminster Abbey displaying the arms of Fox and inscribed: "Here lyeth interrd the body of Thomas Fox Esq. Receiver General of Their Majesties Customes who departed this life the 18th day of August 1691 in the 27th year of his age".
• Margaret Fox (buried on 22 June 1729), who married a member of the Whittle family.
• Elizabeth Fox, who in Westminster Abbey on 18 May 1665 married Thomas Donkley (buried on 8 February 1689), a Yeoman of His Majesty's Vestry and Closet Keeper.

Death and burial

His gravestone survives in the north cloister of Westminster Abbey, inscribed: "Here lyeth interrd the body of John Fox Esq. who departed this life the 19 day of Novemb. 1691 in the 80 year of his age".

References

1. Web site: Fox family of Farley. Westminster Abbey. en. 24 December 2018.
2. 'The household below stairs: Acatry 1660–1761', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660–1837, ed. R O Bucholz (London, 2006), pp. 415–418 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp415-418
3. Ferris, John. P., biography of "Fox, Stephen (1627-1716), of Farley, Wilts. and Whitehall" published in History of Parliament, House of Commons 1660-1690, ed. B.D. Henning, 1983 https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1660-1690/member/fox-stephen-1627-1716