Biography of Richard Evelyn 1622-1670

Paternal Family Tree: Evelyn

On 27 Jan 1614 [his father] Richard Evelyn of Wotton (age 27) and [his mother] Eleanor Stansfield (age 15) were married.

On 09 Nov 1622 Richard Evelyn was born to Richard Evelyn of Wotton (age 35) and Eleanor Stansfield (age 23).

Evelyn's Diary. 1623. The very first thing that I can call to memory, and from which time forward I began to observe, was this year (1623) my youngest brother, being in his nurse's arms, who, being then two days and nine months younger than myself, was the last child of my dear parents.

Evelyn's Diary. 1635. But my dear [his mother] mother (age 36) being now dangerously sick, I was, on the 3d of September following, sent for to Wotton, Surrey [Map]. Whom I found so far spent, that, all human assistance failing, she in a most heavenly manner departed this life upon the 29th of the same month, about eight in the evening of Michaelmas-day. It was a malignant fever which took her away, about the 37th of her age, and 22d of her marriage, to our irreparable loss and the regret of all that knew her. Certain it is, that the visible cause of her indisposition proceeded from grief upon the loss of her daughter, and the infant that followed it; and it is as certain, that when she perceived the peril whereto its excess had engaged her, she strove to compose herself and allay it; but it was too late, and she was forced to succumb. Therefore summoning all her children then living (I shall never forget it), she expressed herself in a manner so heavenly, with instructions so pious and Christian, as made us strangely sensible of the extraordinary loss then imminent; after which, embracing every one of us she gave to each a ring with her blessing and dismissed us. Then, taking my [his father] father (age 48) by the hand, she recommended us to his care; and, because she was extremely zealous for the education of my younger brother (age 12), she requested my father (age 48) that he might be sent with me to Lewes [Map]; and so having importuned him that what he designed to bestow on her funeral, he would rather dispose among the poor, she labored to compose herself for the blessed change which she now expected. There was not a servant in the house whom she did not expressly send for, advise, and infinitely affect with her counsel. Thus she continued to employ her intervals, either instructing her relations, or preparing of herself.

On 29 Sep 1635 [his mother] Eleanor Stansfield (age 36) died. On 03 Oct 1635 she was buried at St John's Church, Wotton.

Evelyn's Diary. 03 Nov 1635. It was the 3d of the ensuing November, after my brother [his brother] George (age 18) was gone back to Oxford, ere I returned to Lewes [Map], when I made way, according to instructions received of my [his father] father (age 48), for my brother Richard (age 13), who was sent the 12th after.

Evelyn's Diary. 21 Jan 1640. Came my brother, Richard (age 17), from school, to be my chamber-fellow at the University. He was admitted the next day and matriculated the 31st.

Evelyn's Diary. 10 Jun 1640. I repaired with my brother (age 17) to the term, to go into our new lodgings (that were formerly in Essex-court), being a very handsome apartment just over against the Hall-court, but four pair of stairs high, which gave us the advantage of the fairer prospect; but did not much contribute to the love of that impolished study, to which (I suppose) my [his father] father (age 53) had designed me, when he paid £145 to purchase our present lives, and assignments afterward.

On 24 Dec 1640 [his father] Richard Evelyn of Wotton (age 53) died.

Evelyn's Diary. 14 Jan 1648. From London I went to Wotton, Surrey [Map] to see my young nephew; and thence to Baynards [in Ewhurst], to visit my brother Richard (age 25).

On 16 Aug 1648 Richard Evelyn (age 25) and Elizabeth Mynne (age 19) were married.

Evelyn's Diary. 16 Aug 1648. I went to Woodcote (in Epsom) to the wedding of my brother, Richard (age 25), who married the daughter (age 19) and coheir of Esquire Minn (age 67), lately deceased; by which he had a great estate both in land and money on the death of a brother. The coach in which the bride and bridegroom were, was overturned in coming home; but no harm was done.

Evelyn's Diary. 01 Jan 1655. Having with my family performed the public offices of the day, and begged a blessing on the year I was now entering, I went to keep the rest of Christmas at my brother's, R. Evelyn (age 32), at Woodcot.

Evelyn's Diary. 05 May 1657. I went with my cousin, George Tuke, to see Baynard, in Surrey, a house of my brother Richard's (age 34), which he would have hired. This is a very fair, noble residence, built in a park, and having one of the goodliest avenues of oaks up to it that ever I saw: there is a pond of 60 acres near it; the windows of the chief rooms are of very fine painted glass. The situation is excessively dirty and melancholy.

Evelyn's Diary. 09 Aug 1664. Went with my brother Richard (age 41) to Wotton, Surrey [Map], to visit and comfort my disconsolate [his brother] brother (age 47); and on the 13th saw my friend, Mr. Charles Howard, at Dipden, near Dorking.

Evelyn's Diary. 08 Nov 1668. Being at dinner, my sister Evelyn sent for me to come up to London to my continuing sick brother (age 45).

Evelyn's Diary. 14 Nov 1668. My poor brother (age 46) continuing ill, I went not from him till the 17th, when, dining at the Groom Porters, I heard Sir Edward Sutton play excellently on the Irish harp; he performs genteelly, but not approaching my worthy friend, Mr. Clark, a gentleman of Northumberland, who makes it execute lute, viol, and all the harmony an instrument is capable of; pity it is that it is not more in use; but, indeed, to play well, takes up the whole man, as Mr. Clark has assured me, who, though a gentleman of quality and parts, was yet brought up to that instrument from five years old, as I remember he told me.

Evelyn's Diary. 10 Jun 1669. Came my Lord Cornbury, Sir William Pulteney (age 45), and others to visit me. I went this evening to London, to carry Mr. Pepys (age 36) to my brother Richard (age 46), now exceedingly afflicted with the stone, who had been successfully cut, and carried the stone as big as a tennis ball to show him, and encourage his resolution to go through the operation.

Evelyn's Diary. 26 Oct 1669. My dear brother (age 46) continued extremely full of pain, the Lord be gracious to him!

Evelyn's Diary. 03 Mar 1670. Finding my brother (age 47) in such exceeding torture, and that he now began to fall into convulsion-fits, I solemnly set the next day apart to beg of God to mitigate his sufferings, and prosper the only means which yet remained for his recovery, he being not only much wasted, but exceedingly and all along averse from being cut (for the stone); but, when he at last consented, and it came to the operation, and all things prepared, his spirit and resolution failed.

Evelyn's Diary. 06 Mar 1670. Dr. Patrick preached in Covent Garden Church. I participated of the Blessed Sacrament, recommending to God the deplorable condition of my dear brother (age 47), who was almost in the last agonies of death. I watched late with him this night. It pleased God to deliver him out of this miserable life, toward five o'clock this Monday morning, to my unspeakable grief. He was a brother whom I most dearly loved, for his many virtues; but two years younger than myself, a sober, prudent, worthy gentleman. He had married a great fortune, and left one only daughter, and a noble seat at Woodcot, near Epsom. His body was opened, and a stone taken out of his bladder, not much bigger than a nutmeg. I returned home on the 8th, full of sadness, and to bemoan my loss.

On 07 Mar 1670 Richard Evelyn (age 47) died.

Evelyn's Diary. 21 Mar 1670. We all accompanied the corpse of my dear brother (deceased) to Epsom Church, where he was decently interred in the chapel belonging to Woodcot House. A great number of friends and gentlemen of the country attended, about twenty coaches and six horses, and innumerable people.

Evelyn's Diary. 29 Jun 1670. To London, in order to my niece's marriage, [his daughter] Mary, daughter to my late brother Richard, of Woodcot, with the eldest son of Mr. Attorney Montague, which was celebrated at Southampton-House chapel, after which a magnificent entertainment, feast, and dancing, dinner and supper, in the great room there; but the bride was bedded at my sister's lodging, in Drury-Lane.

On 29 Jan 1692 [his former wife] Elizabeth Mynne (age 63) died.

[his daughter] Mary Evelyn was born to Richard Evelyn and Elizabeth Mynne.

Ancestors of Richard Evelyn 1622-1670

Richard Evelyn

GrandFather: John Stansfield

Mother: Eleanor Stansfield

GrandMother: Eleanor Comber