Background
Creffeild was born in 1687, the second son of Sir Ralph Creffeild, and the only of his children to survive into adulthood, though he did not outlive his father.
Creffeild was born in 1687, the second son of Sir Ralph Creffeild, and the only of his children to survive into adulthood, though he did not outlive his father.
Creffeild"s marriage settlement described him as being of the Inner Temple, and thus it can be surmised that he was at that time already employed as a barrister. In 1717/18 the couple moved to a new house in the centre of Colchester, Hollytrees, which had recently been constructed for Sarah"s aunt. lieutenant was, at that time, known as "Esqr Creffield"s ".
At some point he also purchased Mose Hall in Ardleigh, where his father already had a substantial estate.
Creffeild soon became a justice of the peace for the county of Essex and an Alderman of Colchester. Creffeild died on 12 December 1723 and was buried at Saint James" Church in Colchester.
Sarah married again after his death to Charles Gray, but, since they had no children, the estates reverted back through Ralph"s surviving children, Peter, Hannah (later married to George Wegg, another wealthy landowner at that time), and Sarah. Eight other children had died in infancy, including two Ralphs and a Joseph.