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List of minor off screen characters/Crawley relatives

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James Crawley[]

Mr James Crawley (d. 15 April, 1912) was Robert Crawley's first cousin and the original heir to the Earldom and family fortune, but he perished in the sinking of the RMS Titanic[1] along with his only son, Patrick. The family has a memorial for him and his son in London and then in Downton. His aunt Violet Crawley was not fond of him, finding him too similar to his mother with whom she also had negative relationship.

James's body was recovered from the sea and he was buried in Canada[2].

Appearances
Mentions
Violet: "I'm very sorry about poor Patrick, of course. He was a nice boy."
Cora: "We were all so fond of him."
Violet: "But I never cared for James. He was too like his mother and a nastier woman never drew breath."
— Violet telling Cora about her grief.[src]

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James Crawley's Mother[]

(The Honourable) James Crawley's mother was the sister-in-law of Violet Crawley and Patrick Crawley, Earl of Grantham, the wife of Robert's uncle and the mother to James Crawley, the future heir to the Earldom of Grantham and the grandmother of Patrick Crawley.

Violet Crawley did not get along with her, claiming that "a nastier woman never drew breath"; Violet's dislike also spread to her son, as Violet later stated that she "never cared for James." because "he was too much like his mother".

Notes

  • In 1912 Violet refers to her in the past tense, suggesting that she died sometime earlier.
  • As Robert's father succeeded his father as Earl of Grantham, this woman had the title of "The Honourable" by marriage[3]

Appearances

Mention

Violet Crawley: "I'm very sorry about poor Patrick, of course. He was a nice boy."
Cora Crawley: "We were all so fond of him."
Violet Crawley: "But I never cared for James. He was too like his mother and a nastier woman never drew breath."
— Violet describes James Crawley's mother while telling Cora about her grief.[src]

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Mr Patrick Crawley[]

See Patrick Crawley.

Reginald Crawley[]

Dr Reginald Crawley, Matthew's father, was mentioned twice in Series 1. He died between 1909 and 1912 and was a doctor in Manchester until his death. As he predeceased his cousins James and Patrick Crawley, his son Matthew became heir to the Earldom of Grantham until his own untimely death. Reginald's great grandfather was a younger son of the 3rd Earl of Grantham.

He studied medicine with his brother-in-law under the tutelage of his father-in-law. Dr Clarkson admitted in 1912 that he was familiar with Reginald's work on the symptoms of infection in children. He also treated dropsy of the heart, a process witnessed by his wife, who later encouraged Dr Clarkson to use the same treatment for John Drake despite Violet's protests.

Isobel later described to Mary and Tom how "sick" with love she was when she got engaged to Reginald. When they described their own romances with Sybil and Matthew respectively, Isobel remarked "Aren't we the lucky ones?!"

Appearances
Mentions
Murray: "His mother is alive and he lives with her. His father, obviously, is not. He was a doctor."
Robert: "I know. It does seem odd that my third cousin should be a doctor."
Murray: "There are worse professions."
— Murray and Robert discussing the new heir Matthew[src]
Matthew Crawley: "Mother, Lord Grantham has made the unwelcome discovery that his heir is a middle class lawyer and the son of a middle class doctor."
Isobel Crawley: "Upper middle class."
— Matthew on why they will want to change him.[src]
Isobel Crawley: "You know my late husband was a doctor."
Dr. Clarkson: "I do. I'm familiar with Dr. Crawley's work on the symptoms of infection in children."
— Isobel visits the hospital for the first time.[src]

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Mr Gordon[]

Mr Gordon is the husband of Robert's great-aunt Anne. The twosome married in 1860 and had at least one son together[4].

Appearances

Mentions

Major Gordon: "Did they tell you we're related?"
Edith: "Yes, but I'm afraid I'm not much good at family history. Although Papa's found an aunt in 1860 who married a Gordon. Perhaps that's a clue."
Major Gordon: "No, that isn't it."
— Edith trying to guess at how Major Gordon is related to her.[src]
Notes
  • Despite this character being listed as "Gordon" that is not actually his name; his forename is unknown and his surname is "Gordon." The mysterious person calling himself Patrick Gordon claims to be related to the Crawleys and Edith makes a possible connection between him and this "Gordon" saying that a great aunt discovered by Robert "married a Gordon"; as Patrick Gordon is using the surname as the way that they are related.

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Anne Gordon[]

Robert Crawley's Great-aunt Anne[5] married a Gordon in 1860 and had at least one son with him[6]. Robert briefly considered that this woman was how he and Patrick Gordon could be related. Given her relation to Robert, it is unknown as to whether she is an aunt of Violet or of Robert's father, Patrick. If the latter, then she is an aunt of Maud Bagshaw and sister of the fifth Earl and would have been Lady Anne Crawley before marriage.

Mentions

Robert: "Major Gordon, how do you do? Edith tells me you don't think we're related through my great-aunt Anne?"
Major Gordon: "We're a bit closer than that"
— Downton Abbey: Season 2 Scripts: Page 320

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Marmaduke Painswick[]

Mr Marmaduke Painswick is the late husband of Lady Rosamund Painswick. He was a wealthy banker who acquired a house on Eaton Square where his widow still resides. His fortune made Rosamund a very wealthy woman after they married. The social prominence of his family began with his paternal grandfather, a manufacturer, while his maternal grandfather was a baronet. The non-aristocratic roots of the Painswick family is a never ending source of mockery from his mother-in-law, Violet; however, Violet approved more of Marmaduke than she did of Sir Richard Carlisle.

Appearances

Mentions

Rosamund: "Marmaduke wasn't a rough diamond was he, Mama?"
Violet: "No. He was just cut and polished comparatively recently."
— Rosamund and Violet discussing Marmaduke after Lavinia says that Violet "makes Mr Painswick sound like a rough diamond"[src]
Rosamund: "Sir Richard is powerful and rich, and well on the way to a peerage. Of course, he may not be all that one would wish, but Mary can soon smooth off the rough edges."
Violet: "Well, you should know."
Rosamund: "What do you mean by that? Marmaduke was a gentleman!"
Violet: "Marmaduke was the grandson of a manufacturer."
Rosamund: "His mother was the daughter of a baronet."
Violet: "Maybe, but they were no great threat to the Plantagenets."
— Violet and Rosamund argue over Marmaduke[src]

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Cousin Freddie[]

Cousin Freddie (fl.1913) was a cousin of Sybil, Edith and Mary, who in 1913, was studying to be a lawyer at Lincoln's Inn alongside Vivianne MacDonald. Sybil used him as an example to Mary when saying that he was like Matthew.

Appearance

  • Episode 1.02 (Mentioned only)
Mentions
Sybil: "Cousin Freddie's studying at the bar - and so is Vivian MacDonald"
Mary: "At Lincoln's Inn! Not sitting at a dirty little desk in Ripon."
— Lady Sybil and Lady Mary Crawley on Cousin Freddie in 1913.[src]

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First Earl of Grantham[]

The (The Right Honourable) 1st Earl of Grantham (fl c. 1772 - 1789) was the original holder of the Earldom of Grantham which was created in 1772.[7] He was mentioned by Violet Crawley to the Duke of Crowborough when discussing the Dower House. Both Robert Crawley and Matthew Crawley are direct male-line descendants of the 1st Earl of Grantham.

The First Earl may have died by 1789 as his son, who collected a Della Francesca was said to be on a "grand tour" through at least France at the time of the Bastile; his mother sent a letter, by special messenger, to tell him to come home[8].

Appearances
Mentions
Violet Crawley: "Are you a student of architecture?"
Duke of Crowborough: "Mm, absolutely."
Violet Crawley: "Then I do hope you'll come and inspect my little cottage. It was designed by Wren for the first Earl's sister."
— The Duke of Crowborough and the Dowager Countess of Grantham over dinner in 1912.[src]

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The First Earl of Grantham's Wife[]

According to Carson, this woman, the first (The Right Honourable) Countess of Grantham (b. 12 January; fl. 1789), was born on the twelfth of January and her birthdate became the date that all Servants' balls afterwards were held on.[9]

This woman later heard of the fall of the Bastile, while her son was in France, and sent a special messenger with a letter to get him home.[10]

Appearances
Mentions
"But the Servants' Ball is always held on the twelfth of January, the birthday of the first Countess."
—Charles Carson on the first Countess.

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First Earl of Grantham's sister[]

The 1st Earl of Grantham's sister was mentioned by Violet Crawley to the Duke of Crowborough when discussing the Dower House. The Earl commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to design it so that his sister could live close to Downton Abbey.[11]

It is unknown as to whether she was a widow or whether her brother had the house built just so she could live close to Downton once the house was built.

Appearances

Episode 1.01 (Mentioned only)

Mentions
See above.

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Second Earl of Grantham[]

The (The Right Honourable) 2nd Earl of Grantham (fl. 1789 - 1794) was an ancestor of Robert Crawley. Mary Crawley mentioned to Kemal Pamuk that he brought several paintings to Downton Abbey, including a fifteenth-century picture by Piero della Francesca.

Since the inheritance of the title was restricted to direct male heirs of the original title-holder, he must have been a son of the 1st Earl.

In 1789, he was travelling, on his "grand tour", through France at the time of the fall of the Bastille. His mother sent a letter, by "special messenger", to get him home. According to Cora, the second Earl went back to France after the Reign of Terror and obtained more portraits[12].

Appearances
Mentions
Kemal: "Is this picture really a Della Francesca?"
Mary: "I think so. The second earl brought back several paintings from..."
— Kemal Pamuk and Lady Mary Crawley discuss a painting at Downton Abbey.[src]

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Third Earl of Grantham[]

The (The Right Honourable) 3rd Earl of Grantham is the ancestor of both Robert and Matthew, who almost went bankrupt. He had at least two sons; the elder was the great grandfather of Robert Crawley and his younger son is the great grandfather of Reginald Crawley, Matthew's father.

Appearances
Mentions
"The 3rd Earl nearly went bankrupt..."
—Murray on the 3rd Earl of Grantham.[src]
Martha Levinson: "Do explain again how exactly you are related to all of us, Mr. Crawley."
Matthew Crawley: "Rather distantly, I'm afraid. My great-great grandfather was a younger son of the 3rd Earl."
Martha Levinson: "My, I'm going to have to write that down so I can study it."
— Martha wondering why Matthew is the heir to her late husband's fortune.[src]

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Fourth Earl of Grantham[]

According to George Murray, (The Right Honourable) 4th Earl of Grantham "only saved Downton by dying". He married a woman who inherited Downton Place and passed it into her husband's family on their marriage.

According to Violet, the Fourth Earl "collected horses and women" and assembled the library at Downton as he "loved books".

Appearances
Mentions
"And The Fourth Earl only saved Downton by dying..."
—Murray on the Fourth Earl of Grantham.[src]
"Horses and women."
—Violet on the Fourth Earl of Grantham and what he "collected".[src]

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Fourth Earl of Grantham's wife[]

Little is known about The (The Right Honourable) Countess of Grantham, but Robert states that "Downton Place came with my great grandmother," and as it passed into the hands of the Granthams, we known she was his great grandmother, and was the wife of the Fourth Earl of Grantham[13].

At the time of her son's death she was still alive[14] and died sometime after 1870.

Appearances
Mentions
"Downton Place came with my great grandmother."
—Robert, on this woman's passing of Downton Place to the Grantham Family.[src]

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Fifth Earl of Grantham[]

The (The Right Honourable) Fifth Earl of Grantham (d.1870[15]) was the father of Patrick Crawley, Sixth Earl of Grantham and his younger brother, the father-in-law of Violet Crawley and The Hon Mrs Crawley and the paternal grandfather of Robert, Earl of Grantham, Lady Rosamund Painswick and James Crawley.

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Fifth Earl of Grantham's Wife[]

The (The Right Honourable) Countess of Grantham was the mother of Patrick Crawley, Sixth Earl of Grantham and his younger brother, the mother-in-law of Violet Crawley and The Hon Mrs Crawley and the paternal grandmother of Robert, Earl of Grantham, Lady Rosamund Painswick and James Crawley.

After her husband's death she lived in Crawley House. It was mentioned that Crawley House seemed very dark when Violet's mother-in-law lived there, but Violet remarks that her mother-in-law made everything rather dark. In 1921, Violet later stated that somewhere being "filthy and dirty, with awful food" and "no-one to talk to for a hundred square miles" was like a week with her mother-in-law.

Appearances
Mentions
"It always seemed so dark when my mother-in-law lived here, but then again, she made everything dark!"
—Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham on her mother-in-law [src]
Susan, Marchioness of Flintshire: "No, but it'll be filthy and dirty, and the food'll be awful and there'll be no-one to talk to for a hundred square miles."
Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham: "That sounds like a week with my mother-in-law."
— Violet and Susan at Duneagle Castle.[src]

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Fifth Earl of Grantham's Brother[]

Robert Crawley's "great-uncle" was the brother of the fifth Earl of Grantham and the father of Maud Bagshaw[16][17] He died before 1912[18] and left the "Brampton Estate" to Maud. He would have been styled as The Honourable.

Mention
"My father is gone, my husband is gone - I see no reason not to do what I want."
—Maud Bagshaw about her father and husband to Violet Crawley.[src]

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Fifth Earl of Grantham's Sister-In-Law[]

Maud Bagshaw had a mother, who was the great-aunt by marriage of Robert Crawley. Though her husband had died by 1912, it is unknown whether she was still alive as her daughter, Maud, made no mention of her.

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Patrick Crawley, Sixth Earl of Grantham[]

Patrick Crawley[19], the Sixth Earl of Grantham[20], (d. 1900[21]) was the late husband of Violet Crawley and father of Rosamund Painswick as well as Robert. Between October 1853 and February 1856, Patrick fought in the Crimean War with Anne de Vere Cole's father. According to his wife, Violet, the Earl was a great traveller and as a result she "spent many happy evenings without understanding a word."[22] He had a younger brother, who was the father of James Crawley. James's son might have been named after him. When Robert and Cora married, he pressured Cora to sign an agreement, that tied her dowry to the estate, in order to protect, with the expectations that the couple would have a son ton inherit it all.

He was the godfather of Anne de Vere Cole, who would come to marry Neville Chamberlain.[23]

Edith mentioned that he left a trust fund for his grandchildren[24]. He had red hair and blue eyes.[25]

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Banning[]

Banning is a cousin of Violet Crawley and Roberta[26] and a cousin - who may have been a second cousin or a more distantly related cousin - of Robert Crawley, Lady Rosamund Painswick and Susan MacClare, Marchioness of Flintshire, who was mentioned by Robert in 1920.

Notes

  • Banning is a cousin of Violet. Whether Banning is a first or second cousin - as some people call their second cousins just "cousins" - is unknown.
  • It is unknown if Banning is the forename or surname of Violet's cousin.
Appearances
Mentions
"This is Banning: He was a cousin of Granny's"
—Robert as the Crawley Family head to Downton Place in 1920.[src]

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Roberta[]

Roberta was mentioned by Violet to her granddaughters as being their great aunt and having loaded the guns in the Siege of Lucknow in 1857.

Appearances
Mention
Violet: "But war deals out strange tasks. Remember your great-aunt Roberta."
Mary: "What about her?"
Violet: "She loaded the guns at Lucknow."
— Violet talks about Great Aunt Roberta, in 1914.

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Violet's Aunt[]

Violet's Aunt (fl. 1860s[27]) is an aunt of Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham. When Violet married her husband, Patrick, her aunt, described as "frightful" by Violet, gave her a vase that she hated for half a century until, to the relief of Violet, the vase was destroyed by Matthew Crawley and Richard Carlisle when they were fighting.

Appearances

Mention

"It was a wedding present from a frightful aunt, I have hated it for half a century."
—Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham on her aunt and horrible vase.[src]

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Violet Crawley's Father[]

Violet Crawley's Father (fl. 1860) was an impoverished baronet.

He was born sometime before the 1840s because by 1842 he was married,[28] and was alive in 1860 to witness Violet's marriage to her husband, Patrick. Due to being impoverished, he was not able to provide Violet with a large dowry to save the also impoverished Earldom of Grantham.

Mention
"As my late father used to say 'If reason fails, try force'."
—Violet quotes her father in December 1925.[src]

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Violet Crawley's Mother[]

Violet Crawley's Mother (fl. 1860) was the wife of an impoverished baronet.

She had at least two children, both girls, Violet and her sister.

According to Violet, "stopping at nothing to [get your own way]" is a trait she shares with "Marlborough, Wellington and my late mother". Violet's mother may have been a woman very like her and Violet says she was "trained in a hard school and I fight accordingly"[29]. She was alive in 1860 to witness Violet's marriage to Patrick Crawley, Sixth Earl of Grantham[30]. She did not bring much money to the marriage between her and her husband and, due to being impoverished, her husband was not able to provide Violet with a large dowry to save the also impoverished Earldom of Grantham.

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Violet's Sister[]

Violet had at least one sister who was the mother of Susan MacClare, Marchioness of Flintshire and who was mentioned by Susan in 1921.

Mention
"You are my mother's sister. You can jolly well be on my side."
—Susan mentions her mother to Violet at Duneagle Castle in September 1921.[src]
Speculation

It is possible that this woman is Roberta, but this has not been confirmed.

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Victoria Rachel Cora Aldridge[]

Daughter of Atticus Aldridge and Rose Aldridge (née MacClare) whose was presumably born in New York after her parents had moved there.

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David Bagshaw, Baron Bagshaw[]

(The Right Honourable) David Bagshaw, Baron Bagshaw (d. 20 December 1880 and 23 March 1881)[31] was the late husband of Maud Bagshaw who died somewhere between 20 December 1880 and 23 March 1881 and was related to the Crawley family - specifically Violet's husband's cousin-in-law - through their marriage. He was "dull" but "kind", according to his widow.

"My father is gone, my husband is gone - I see no reason not to do what I want."
—Maud Bagshaw about her father and husband to Violet Crawley.[src]

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References[]

  1. ↑ RMS Titanic
  2. ↑ Downton Abbey Series 1 Official Script: Page 29. A discussion between Murray and Robert occurs.
    • Murray: "It was right to bury Mr Crawley in Canada. In fact I hear the Canadians are making quite a thing of the Titanic cemetery."
    • Robert: "It seems strange to have buried James without Patrick."
    • Murray: "They may still find some trace of him."
    • Robert: "After three months? I doubt it. No, I'm afraid Patrick was food for the fishes long ago."
  3. ↑ Debretts, the correct form of address for younger sons of an Earl.
  4. ↑ For Robert to have mistaken how Patrick Gordon claims they're related, Mr Gordon and Anne must have had at least one male child to carry on the Gordon surname.
  5. ↑ Downton Abbey: Season 2 Scripts: Page 320: Robert: Major Gordon, how do you do? Edith tells me you don't think we're related through my great-aunt Anne?
  6. ↑ For Robert to have mistaken how Patrick Gordon claims they're related, Mr Gordon and Anne must have had at least one male child to carry on the Gordon surname.
  7. ↑ Series 1 Press Pack, page 12
  8. ↑ Episode 5.02
  9. ↑ Downton Abbey Scripts (Official): Page 532. A conversation between Carson and Mrs Hughes takes place:
    • Mrs Hughes: I think I'll say goodnight. I've got a long day tomorrow.
    • Carson: I don't envy you.
    • Mrs Hughes: I can't bear to think about it. What can they want from me?
    • Carson: Just do your best, and you'll be home before you know it.
    • Mrs Hughes: And what news will I bring with me? That reminds me. What should we do about the Servants' Ball? It's only five days away. Can we delay it?
    • Carson: But the Servants' Ball is always held on the twelfth of January, the birthday of the first Countess.
    • Mrs Hughes: I don't care if it's the birthday of Chu Chin Chow. This year, should we hold it back?
    • Carson: The verdict will guide us to the appropriate response.
  10. ↑ Episode 5.02
  11. ↑ Violet confirms this in Series 1 Episode 1, when talking to the Duke of Crowborough: "Then I do hope you'll come and inspect my little cottage. It was designed by Wren for the first Earl's sister.".
  12. ↑ Episode 5.02
  13. ↑ This is the only way it would have passed into the hands of the Granthams and for her to be the correction relation to Robert.
  14. ↑ Widows live in the Dower House, unless a former countess is still living there. As the Fifth Earl's wife, Violet's mother-in-law, lived in Crawley House, her mother-in-law, the Fourth Earl's wife, must still have been alive.
  15. ↑ According to Violet in the Downton Abbey she "lived here [at Downton] for forty years". Since she married in 1860, as she herself confirms to Rose in the Season Three Christmas Special - it was the year of her first Gillies Ball as a bride - this would mean her husband died in 1900 and her father-in-law died in 1870 as Violet says "I didn't run Downton for thirty years to see it go, lock, stock and barrel to a stranger from god knows where!" to Cora (1X01)
  16. ↑ Vanity Fair - Downton Abbey Movie: 6 Brand-New Details By Julie Miller July 22, 2019
    “She is a cousin of the Dowager Countess’s late husband.”
  17. ↑ Robert says that "her [Maud] father was my great-uncle".
  18. ↑ The fifth Earl's brother must have died by 1912 as he would have been a closer heir than Matthew at the time of the Titanic sinking if he was still alive.
  19. ↑ Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham in Downton Abbey: The Unofficial Guide to Seasons One and Two: BookCaps Study Guide
  20. ↑ Violet Crawley (Series 6 Episode 6): "Your late Papa, the Sixth Earl of Grantham."
  21. ↑ According to Violet in the Downton Abbey she "lived here [at Downton] for forty years". Since she married in 1860 ("I had not long been married" as Violet confirms to Rose when discussing her first Gillies Ball in 1860) - this would mean her husband died in 1900 and her father-in-law died in 1870 as Violet says "I didn't run Downton for thirty years to see it go, lock, stock and barrel to a stranger from god knows where!" to Cora (1X01)
  22. ↑ Episode 3.08
  23. ↑ Episode 6.05.
  24. ↑ Episode 5.02
  25. ↑ Downton Abbey: A New Era: 55:37: Robert: "But Rosamund is the one who looks like him".
  26. ↑ Series 3: Episode 3: Robert mentions Banning as a "cousin of Granny's" when he and the family are exiting Downton Abbey to go to Downton Place
  27. ↑ Violet married in 1860, meaning her aunt flourished during the 1860s as she was able to give Violet the vase.
  28. ↑ Violet was born in 1842, so he had to be married to her mother by then.
  29. ↑ Episode 6.05
  30. ↑ Violet mentions to Isobel and Denker that her mother's maid gave her a teapot on her marriage; if her mother was dead, she would not need a maid.
  31. ↑ According to Maud, Jack died in the Boer Wars when Lucy was "six"; we can be sure this is correct as Maud gave birth to Lucy and presumably remembers her age correctly. The Second Boer Wars took place between 11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902 and Lucy turned six sometime during these dates, meaning she was born between 1893 and 1896. Maud also states that she and Jack had "ten years" together, meaning that they got together four years before Lucy was born, a period between 1889 and 1892, so Baron Bagshaw had to be dead before then. Maud mentions that David, too, died in the Boer Wars, but for all the years to line up, she has to be referring to the first Boer Wars between 20 December 1880 and 23 March 1881.
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