In the Civil War James Pennyman was a Royalist and created an army made of his tenants, which was involved in a battle against Oliver Cromwell on Marske beach in 1643.
Cromwell, keen to gain a foothold in this part of the world, tried to land a party of men on the seafront near to the village, and was successfully repelled by Sir James and his army.
[3] For this delinquency he was convicted and fined £1200, a burden which may have contributed to his decision to sell the estate to the Lowther family in 1650.
The latter's son, William, the 3rd baronet, was MP for Cumberland in 1755 and died unmarried in 1756, leaving Marske to four Wilson brothers.
His son Lawrence was a Member of Parliament for Richmond and also served as Lord Lieutenant of Orkney and Shetland.