William Stourton, 11th Baron Stourton facts for kids

Arms of Stourton: The family's coat of arms

William Stourton, 11th Baron Stourton (born around 1594 – died April 25, 1672) was an important English nobleman. He inherited the title of Baron Stourton from his father, Edward Stourton. His mother was Frances Tresham.

William Stourton lived during a very turbulent time in English history, especially during the English Civil War. He was known for his loyalty to the King and his Catholic faith.

Family Life

William Stourton married Frances Moore, who passed away on January 5, 1662. Frances was the daughter of Sir Edward More. William and Frances had five children together:

• William
• Mary (died 1650); she married Sir John Weld
• Frances; she became a nun
• Edward (1617 – died January 1644); he married and had children
• Thomas (died 1684, in Paris); he became a monk

Sadly, William's oldest son, also named William, died young and did not have any children. Because of this, the title of Baron Stourton later passed to William's grandson, William, who was the son of his son Edward.

Life During the English Civil War

William Stourton was a strong supporter of King Charles I during the English Civil War. People who supported the King were called Cavaliers. William was also a Catholic, which was difficult at the time because England was mostly Protestant. Because of his beliefs and loyalty, he faced many challenges and suffered a lot during the war.

His family home, Stourhead, was deeply affected by the conflict. At one point, soldiers loyal to the King used it as a base, which is called being "garrisoned." Later, in September 1644, the house was attacked and badly damaged by General Ludlow, who was fighting for the Parliament.

Succession to the Title

William Stourton held the title of Baron Stourton from 1633 until his death in 1672. After he passed away, his grandson, William Stourton, became the 12th Baron Stourton.