The Jerningham family were catholics and friends of Nugent Buckingham and his catholic wife, Mary Nugent. 

Like many of their day, the Jerninghams were active letter writers. A selection of their letters was published in 1896 as The Jerningham Letters.  

• Lady Jerningham. Frances Dillon (1747-10 August 1809). Daughter of Henry Dillon and Charlotte Lee. Married Sir William Jerningham in 1767. They lived at Cossy Hall, Norfolk. They had 4 children:
• Charlotte Georgiana ( 1770-1854) married Sir Richard Bedingfeld, of Oxburgh, Norfolk,  in 1794. 8 children. The majority of letters are from Lady Frances to Charlotte. 
• Sir George Jerningham, 8th Baron (1771-1851). He married Frances, daughter and heiress of Edward Sulyard of Haughley, Suffolk. She was "a beautiful girl whom he continued to love and admire till the hour of her death" (Jerningham v1, xliv). 5 children. 
• William Charles (1772-1820). He fought on the Imperial side during the wars of the Revolution; later he became a redcoat. Married Ann Wright in 1803. Six children. 
• Edward (1774-1822). Married Emily Middleton in 1804. 4 children. "The darling of Lady Jermingham's heart, 'Edward the dear,' as she so often calls him, would seem not only a most lovable character, for he was a favourite everywhere, but also a man of considerable attainments, and of singular energy as well" (Jerningham v1, xlv). 

William	Edward
Charlotte age 16	Charlotte: self portrait at Brussels
Charlotte
Sir William Jerningham From Opie	Lady Jerningham From a picture by John Hopper

A view of Cossey Hall, Norfolk. Pen and ink sketch; probably by Lady Bedingfeld