Christopher Maire who was thus described by Alban Butler was the son of Christopher of Hartbushes near Hartlepool, County Durham, of a younger branch of the Maires of Hardwick likewise not far from Hartlepool. Christopher senior had married Frances Ingleby of Lawkland in Yorkshire and they had ten children—eight sons and two daughters. The daughters, Mary Euphrasia and Catherine Eugenia entered the convent of English Poor Clares at Dunkirk. Of the eight sons six were to become priests—two, Henry and William seculars, and four, Christopher, James, Peter and Thomas, Jesuits. The other two, George and John remained laymen and George married. Two sons of George and his wife Mary (Hussey) were also to become Jesuits—Edward and George.