Foljambe came from a well-established Derbyshire family whose residence was at
Walton Hall, Chesterfield in
Derbyshire. His father was
Francis Foljambe, Esq. of Aldwarke. The family were Lords of the Manor of
Tideswell from the fourteenth century, and also had estates at
Bakewell and
Darley Dale. One of his earliest recorded ancestors was
Godfrey de Foljambe,
Lord Chief Justice of Ireland (died 1376), whose elaborate tomb can still be seen in
All Saints Church, Bakewell. Sir Francis was created a baronet on 24 July 1622 by James I. He was known for reducing the family estates by his over-indulgence and extravagance. The family chronicler Dr Nathaniel Johnston said that he "was a person of great generousness, but of so profuse a temper, and hospitality to excess, that what by reason of the great jointure of the three... ladies, and the contentions about the estate and the less regarding of his interest by reason of his having no issue male, he sold Walton and most of his Derbyshire lands, and much of his Yorkshire lands, and entangled others, that reduced that estate which was so great... to £1000 per annum." He became
High Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1633, but he had to sell the family residence in the same year. He died at Bath on 17 December 1640. What was left of his estates was passed on to Peter Foljambe of Steveton (1599–1669), a distant cousin. ==Family==