William was Catherine's second husband, after the death of her first (Thomas Wright of Kilverstone, Norfolk).

Sir Charles had bought Stanninghall from the Waldegraves in 1648 and left it to his only son John Harbord, who also acquired Gunton.

Harbord Cropley was educated in Drinkstone and Bury St Edmunds before attending Caius College, Cambridge from 9 May 1694.

This enabled a minor political career - he was elected for Norfolk in a by-election in 1728, voted for the Excise Bill in 1733, but did not stand for re-election in 1734.

Harbord did not have issue by either wife and so passed his Norfolk properties to William Morden, son of his sister Judith.