Blois family

Until recently the family home was at Cockfield Hall in Yoxford, Suffolk, a Grade 1 listed private house standing in 40 acres (160,000 m2) of historic parkland.

[4] William (died 1621) (a benefactor of the Ipswich Town Preacher Samuel Ward), whose lands in north Suffolk at Sandcroft, Homersfield and Mendham were left to his younger son Francis,[5] sent his elder son William to Pembroke College, Cambridge in 1617, from which he received MA in 1620, having entered Gray's Inn in 1619.

[8] This young William married first Martha (daughter of Sir Robert Brooke of Cockfield Hall), who died in 1657 leaving him with an only son, Charles Blois (1657-1738).

He married secondly Jane, daughter of Sir Nathaniel Barnardiston, of Ketton, Suffolk, the widow of Martha's brother John.

William survived his father by only three years, and died in London in 1676: his widow Jane accepted administration at probate.

[9] The heraldic interest continued, for the remaining part of Grundisburgh Hall retained (at the time of listing, in 1966) a late 17th century mural painting of 70 coats of arms of East Anglian families.

He did, however, sell the manor of Grundisburgh to Brampton Gurdon Dillingham of Letton, Norfolk, from whom it became vested in the Lords Cranworth.

[17] The 8th Baronet was Sir John Ralph Blois (1830-1888), whose memorial is in Blythburgh church, and whose great-granddaughter is actress Celia Imrie.

The 9th Baronet was Sir Ralph Barrett MacNaghten Blois, who married Winifred Grace Hegan Kennard.