CROFT, Revd Stephen
Stephen Croft was born at Rowley, Yorkshire on 14 August 1794 and baptised at Rowley, Hull on 16 February 1795, second son of Revd Robert Croft and his wife Elizabeth. After schooling at Eton, was admitted pensioner at Trinity College, Cambridge on 9 December 1812, graduating B.A. in 1815 proceeding M.A. in 1821, being ordained priest at Ely on 12 November 1820. On the presentation of the Dean and Chapter of Ely, in 1820 instituted to the rectory of St Mary Stoke, Ipswich, a position he held until his death and was also Rural Dean. He married on 1 January 1835, Georgiana Croft née Coyler, daughter of Sir Cornelius Cuyler, Bart. He and his wife are listed as art pupils of Henry Bright between 1836-1856. In 1851, Stephen Croft was the 56-year-old rector, living at Rabs Row, St Mary Stoke, Ipswich with his 45-year-old wife Georgiana and their three children, Emily Johnes 13, Henry Herbert Stephen 9 and Mary Louise 6, all born in Ipswich and retained six indoor servants. Robert Croft died at the Rectory, St Mary Stoke, Ipswich on 23 June 1868, aged 73.