Biography of Samuel Tuke 1st Baronet 1615-1674

Around 1615 Samuel Tuke 1st Baronet was born.

Evelyn's Diary. 01 Oct 1649. Went with my cousin Tuke (age 34) (afterward Sir Samuel), to see the fountains of St. Cloud and Ruel; and, after dinner, to talk with the poor ignorant and superstitious anchorite at Mount Calvary, and so to Paris.

Before 1659 Samuel Tuke 1st Baronet (age 44) had converted to Catholcism.

Evelyn's Diary. 09 May 1660. I was desired and designed to accompany my Lord Berkeley (age 32) with the public address of the Parliament, General, etc., to the King (age 29), and invite him to come over and assume his Kingly Government, he being now at Breda [Map]; but I was yet so weak, I could not make that journey by sea, which was not a little to my detriment, so I went to London to excuse myself, returning the 10th, having yet received a gracious message from his Majesty (age 29) by Major Scot and Colonel Tuke (age 45).

Evelyn's Diary. 04 Jul 1660. I heard Sir Samuel Tuke (age 45) harangue to the House of Lords, in behalf of the Roman Catholics, and his account of the transaction at Colchester in murdering Lord Capel, and the rest of those brave men, that suffered in cold blood, after articles of rendition.

Pepy's Diary. 08 Jan 1663. Dined at home; and there being the famous new play acted the first time to-day, which is called "The Adventures of Five Hours", at the Duke's house, being, they say, made or translated by Colonel Tuke (age 48), I did long to see it; and so made my wife to get her ready, though we were forced to send for a smith, to break open her trunk, her mayde Jane being gone forth with the keys, and so we went; and though early, were forced to sit almost out of sight, at the end of one of the lower forms, so full was the house. And the play, in one word, is the best, for the variety and the most excellent continuance of the plot to the very end, that ever I saw, or think ever shall, and all possible, not only to be done in the time, but in most other respects very admittable, and without one word of ribaldry; and the house, by its frequent plaudits, did show their sufficient approbation.

In 1664 Samuel Tuke 1st Baronet (age 49) was created 1st Baronet Tuke of Cressing Temple.

In 1664 Samuel Tuke 1st Baronet (age 49) and Mary Guldeford were married.

In 1664 Samuel Tuke 1st Baronet (age 49) was knighted by King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 33).

Evelyn's Diary. 24 Feb 1664. My Lord George Berkeley (age 36), of Durdans, and Sir Samuel Tuke (age 49) came to visit me. We went on board Sir William Petty's (age 40) double-bottomed vessel, and so to London.

Evelyn's Diary. 09 Jun 1664. Sir Samuel Tuke (age 49) being this morning married to a lady, kinswoman to my Lord Arundel of Wardour (age 56), by the Queen's Lord Almoner, L. Aubigny (age 44) in St. James's chapel, solemnized his wedding night at my house with much company.

In 1666 [his wife] Mary Guldeford died.

John Evelyn to Samuel Tuke 27 Sep 166. 27 Sep 1666. John Evelyn (age 45) to Samuel Tuke 1st Baronet (age 51).

It was some foure dayes before the most fatal Conflagration of the (quondam) Cltty of London yt I addressed a few lines to you; little thinking I should so soone have had two such dissolutions to deplore: The burning of the best Towne in the World: and the discease of the best fFriend in ye World, your excellent Lady. Sr, you know they are but small afflictions that are loquacious - greate ones are silent: & if ever greate ones there were, mine eyes have beheld, & mine eares heard them, with an heart so possess'd with sorrow, that it Is not easily expressed; because ye instances have ben altogether stupendous & unparallel'd. But it were in vaine to entertaine you with those formal topics, wh are wont to be apply'd to persons of lesse fortitude & Christian resignation, though I cannot but exhort you to what, I know, you do - looke upon all things in this World as transitory & perishiug; sent us upon condition of quitting them cherefully, when God pleases to take them from us. This consideration alone, (wth the rest of those Graces wh God has furnish'd you wth all will be able to alevlate yr passion, & to preserve you from succumbing under yr pressures, wh I confesse are weighty: but not insupportable: Live therefore, I conjure you, & helpe to restore yr deare Country, & to consolate yt ffriends: There is none alive wishes you more sincere happlnesse than my poore family.

I suppose I should have heard ere this from you of all y concerntnents; but impute y silence to some possible miscarriage of y"^ Letf^; since the usual place of addresse is w"' the rest reduc'd to ashes & made an heape of ruines. I would give you a more particular relation of this calamitous accident; but I should oppresse you with sad stories, and I. question not but they are come too soone amongst you at Paris with all mlnutenesse, & (were it possible) hyperbolies; There is this yet of lesse deplorable in it: That, as it pleas'd God to order it, little effects of any greate consequence have been lost, besides the houses: - ^That o"^ Merchands at the same instant in w*^ it was permitted y'^ y^ tidings should file over Seas, had so settled all their affaires, as they complying w*'' their forraliie Correspondence as punctualy as if no disaster at all had happen'd; nor do we heare of so much as one that has fail'd. The Exchange is now at Gressham Colledge. Tlie rest of the Qitty (which m.ay consist of neere a 7th part) & suburbs peopl'd with new shopps, the same noyse, bulslnesse & co'merce, not to say vanity. Onely the poore Booke-sellers have ben indede ill treated by Vulcan; so many noble impressions consum'd, hy their trusting them to y* Churches, as the losse is estimated neere two-hundred thousand pounds: w*^^ will he an extraordinary detriment to y^ whole Republiq of Learning. In y* meane time, the King & Parliament are infinitely zealous for the rebuilding of our ruines; & I believe it will universally be the employment of y^ next Spring: They are now busied w'*^ adjusting the claimes of each proprietor, that so they may dispose things for the building after the noblest model: Every body brings in his idea, amongst the rest I P'^sented his Ma^"^ my owne conceptions, w^'' a Discourse annex'd. It was the second that was seene, within 2 dayes after the Conflagration; But Dr. Wren had got the start of me *. Both of us did coincide so frequently, that his Ma^'^ was not displeas'd with it, & it caus'd divers alterations; and truly there was never a more glorious Phoenix upon Earth, if it do at last emerge out of these cinders, & as the designe is layd, with the present fervour of y* undertakers. But these things are as yet im'a- ture; & I pray God we may enjoy peace to encourage those faire dispo- sitions: The miracle is, I have never in my life observ'd a more uni- versal resignation, lesse repining amongst sufferers; which makes me hope, y* God has yet thoughts of mercy towards us: Judgments do not alwayes end where they begin; & therefore let none exult over our calamities: - We know not whose turne it mav be next. But S'", I forbear to entertaine you longer on these sad reflections; but persist to beg of you not to suffer any transportations unbecoming a man of xvirtue; resolve to preserve ye selfe, if it be possible, for better times, the good & restauration of e Country, & the comfort of Friends & Relations, and amongst them of, Sr,

Sayes Court, Deptford [Map].

On 02 Jul 1668 Samuel Tuke 1st Baronet (age 53) and Mary Sheldon were married.

Evelyn's Diary. 02 Jul 1668. Sir Samuel Tuke, Bart (age 53), and the [his wife] lady he had married this day, came and bedded at night at my house, many friends accompanying the bride.

In 1671 [his son] Charles Tuke 2nd Baronet was born to Samuel Tuke 1st Baronet (age 56) and [his wife] Mary Sheldon.

Evelyn's Diary. 19 Aug 1671. I dined at the Hamburg Resident's, and, after dinner, went to the christening of Sir Samuel Tuke's (age 56) son, Charles, at Somerset House, by a Popish priest, and many odd ceremonies. The godfathers were the King (age 41), and Lord Arundel of Wardour (age 63), and godmother, the Countess of Huntingdon (age 58). [Note. This must refer to the Dowager Countess of Huntingdon wife of Ferdinando Hastings 6th Earl Huntingdon since his successor Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon (age 20) didn't marry until 1672.].

Evelyn's Diary. 17 Oct 1671. My Lord Henry Howard (age 43) coming this night to visit my Lord Chamberlain, and staying a day, would needs have me go with him to Norwich, Norfolk [Map], promising to convey me back, after a day or two; this, as I could not refuse, I was not hard to be pursuaded to, having a desire to see that famous scholar and physician, Dr. T. Browne (age 65), author of the Religio Medici and Vulgar Errors, now lately knighted. Thither, then, went my Lord and I alone, in his flying chariot with six horses; and by the way, discoursing with me of several of his concerns, he acquainted me of his going to marry his eldest son (age 43) to one of the King's (age 41) natural daughters [Note. Either Anne Fitzroy Countess Sussex (age 10) or Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 7).], by the Duchess of Cleveland (age 30); by which he reckoned he should come into mighty favor. He also told me that, though he kept that idle creature, Mrs. B-- [Note. Jane Bickerton Duchess Norfolk (age 28)], and would leave £200 a year to the son [Note. Henry Howard and Jane Bickerton had three sons; not clear which is being referred to since the eldest may have died and the reference may be to a surviving son.] he had by her, he would never marry her, and that the King (age 41) himself had cautioned him against it. All the world knows how he kept his promise [Note. meaning he didn't keep his promise since Henry Howard did marry Jane Bickerton - this a case of John Evelyn writing his diary retrospectively?], and I was sorry at heart to hear what now he confessed to me; and that a person and a family which I so much honored for the sake of that noble and illustrious friend of mine, his grandfather, should dishonor and pollute them both with those base and vicious courses he of late had taken since the death of Sir Samuel Tuke (age 56), and that of his own virtuous lady (my Lady Anne Somerset, sister to the Marquis); who, while they lived, preserved this gentleman by their example and advice from those many extravagances that impaired both his fortune and reputation.

Evelyn's Diary. 15 Mar 1673. I heard the speech made to the Lords in their House by Sir Samuel Tuke (age 58), in behalf of the Papists, to take off the penal laws; and then dined with Colonel Norwood (age 59).

On 26 Jan 1674 Samuel Tuke 1st Baronet (age 59) died. His son [his son] Charles Tuke 2nd Baronet (age 3) succeeded 2nd Baronet Tuke of Cressing Temple.

In 1705 [his former wife] Mary Sheldon died in Portugal.

The Affairs of State Volume 3 The Session of the Poets. 14. Nor wou'd he have had, 'tis thought, a Rebuke,

Unless he had done fome notable Folly

Writ Verses unjustly in Praise Sam. Tuke,

Or printed his pitiful Melancholy.