Appletreewick, Yorkshire, England. Further historical information.

APPLETREEWICK

APPLETREEWICK, in the parish of Burnsall, east-division of Staincliffe, liberty of Clifford's-Fee; 8 miles N. of Skipton and Pateley Bridge, 10 from Kettlewell. No Market. Fair, October 25 for horses and horned cattle. Pop. 312, one house and a small parcel of land is in the parish of Linton.

A charter for a fair and free warren was granted 4th of Edward II, at the instance of Piers do Gavestone, to the Prior and Canons of Bolton, who were then owners of the Manor. --Whitaker's Craven.

In this village was born William Craven, of poor parents, who are said to have consigned him to a common carrier, for his conveyance to London, where he entered in the service of a Mercer and Draper. In that situation nothing is known of his history till, by diligence and frugality, the old virtues of a citizen, he had raised himself to wealth and honour. In 1607, he is described by Camden as "equistri dignitate, et senator Londinensis." In 1611, he was chosen Lord Major; the time of his death not known. In him commercial spirit of the family ended as it had begun. William Craven, his eldest son, having been trained in the armies of Gustavus Adolphus, and William, Prince of Orange, became one of the most distinguished soldiers of his time.

He was of the number of those gallant Englishmen who served the unfortunate King of Bohemia, from a spirit of romantic attachment to his beautiful consort; and his services are generally supposed to have been privately rewarded with the hand of that princess, after her return in widowhood to her native country.

Thus the son of a Wharfdale peasant matched with the sister of Charles I. a remarkable instance of that providence which "raiseth the poor out of the dust, and setteth him among princes, even the princes of his people." He was created Baron of Hamstead Marshall, 2nd Charles I. and Earl of Craven, 16th Charles II. --Whitaker's Craven.