William Cromer (died 1598)

He was the son of James Cromer (died 1541) and Anne, daughter of Sir Edward Wotton.^[2] After his father died, his mother married Robert Rudston, MP for Steyning in 1547, with whom she had further children.^[3] The Cromer (or Crowner) family had held the manor of Tunstall since the early fifteenth century.^[2]

In 1554 he joined Wyatt's rebellion against Mary I of England, which led to his attainder and the forfeiture of his estate.^[2] He was released from the Tower of London and pardoned quite quickly, but the recovery of his lands was expensive and his attainder was not reversed until 1563.^[4] He was appointed a Justice of the Peace early in Elizabeth I's reign and served as sheriff of Kent in 1567.^[4] In 1573 the Queen stayed at Tunstall when traveling between Sittingbourne and Rochester.^[5] He served as sheriff for a second time in 1585.^[4]

He served as MP for Hythe in 1571, being appointed by William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.^[4]

He married:^[2]

• Margaret, daughter of Sir Thomas Kempe of Wye, Kent

Anne married Sir Thomas Bishopp, 1st Baronet

• Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Guildford

James (d. 1613)