Craven Ord (1756-1832)

He was born in London, descended from a family that acquired a third of the Manor of Fishburn, Northumberland, in the 17th Century. As his father had been King's Remembrancer (one of two major roles within the Exchequer), he was made one of the 22-Cursitors in the Court of Chancery, but he was best known as an antiquarian. He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquarians in 1775, serving as Vice-President for several years, and in 1787 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.

He was highly regarded as a brass-rubber and his best-known writings included: An Inventory of the Crown Jewels made in Edward III's Reign; Sir Edward Waldegrave's Accompt for the Funeral of King Edward VI; and, An Account of the Entertainment of King Henry VI at the Abbey of St. Edmunds Bury in 1433. Ord's valuable library that included a Shakespeare First Folio and a 1535 Coverdale Bible was sold off between 1829 and after his death in 1832, almost certainly to pay debts. He married Mary Smith Redman, the only daughter and sole heiress of John Redman. He lived between Bloomsbury Square in London and Greensted Hall, Essex, while it was being maintained in trust for his children. He died at Woolwich Common leaving 5-sons and a daughter.