Charles Heath was born in 1722 in Hampshire, probably in or near Baughurst which is where generations of his family had lived. He married Mary Smith on 11 August 1755 at St Mary's, North Elmham, in Norfolk. Charles, Mary and their family moved to Stoneleigh sometime after 1760. They lived at Park Farm, Stareton, as Charles had become park keeper to Edward, 5th Lord Leigh. He may have been recommended to the position by the Butler family, some of whom were land agents to the Leighs; Antony Butler worked for Ann Leigh and the Cravens, the Committees of Edward 5th Lord Leigh, and Antony's daughter married Charles' second son, Charles junior.
Charles Heath's eldest son, Ralph, (see
A.10) was to succeed his father in this role, as did one of Charles' grandsons, another Charles, keeping the occupation in the family for around 100 years.
Charles was buried on 4 January 1778.
His death, as recorded in the Stoneleigh Parish Register, refers to him as the Park Keeper to the Rt. Hon. Lord Leigh.
His name on the one side of his gravestone is almost illegible but the following epitaph appears on the other side:
Praises on tombs are trifles vainly spent.
A man's fond name is his best monument