Biography of Colonel John Strode 1627-1686

On 28th December 1627 Colonel John Strode was born to George Strode of Squerryes Court Westerham Kent (age 42).

In 1663 Colonel John Strode (age 35) was appointed Lieutenant Dover Castle.

In 1663 [his father] George Strode of Squerryes Court Westerham Kent (age 78) died.

John Evelyn's Diary. 6th January 1665. To Dover, Kent [Map], where Colonel Stroode (age 37), Lieutenant of the Castle, having received the letter I brought him from the Duke of Albemarle (age 56), made me lodge in it, and I was splendidly treated, assisting me from place to place. Here I settled my first Deputy. The Mayor and officers of the Customs were very civil to me.

John Evelyn's Diary. 29th May 1665. I went with my little boy to my district in Kent, to make up accounts with my officers. Visited the Governor of at Dover Castle (age 37), where were some of my prisoners.

On 27th October 1665 Colonel John Strode (age 37) was elected MP Sandwich.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 4th June 1666. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes (age 67) and Sir W. Pen (age 45) to White Hall in the latter's coach, where, when we come, we find the Duke (age 32) at St. James's, whither he is lately gone to lodge. So walking through the Parke we saw hundreds of people listening at the Gravel-pits, [Kensington] and to and again in the Parke to hear the guns, and I saw a letter, dated last night, from Strowd (age 38), Governor of Dover Castle, which says that the Prince (age 46) come thither the night before with his fleete, but that for the guns which we writ that we heard, it is only a mistake for thunder¹ and so far as to yesterday it is a miraculous thing that we all Friday, and Saturday and yesterday, did hear every where most plainly the guns go off, and yet at Deale [Map] and Dover, Kent [Map] to last night they did not hear one word of a fight, nor think they heard one gun. This, added to what I have set down before the other day about the Katharine, makes room for a great dispute in philosophy, how we should hear it and they not, the same wind that brought it to us being the same that should bring it to them: but so it is. Major Halsey, however (he was sent down on purpose to hear newes), did bring newes this morning that he did see the Prince and his fleete at nine of the clock yesterday morning, four or five leagues to sea behind the Goodwin [Map], so that by the hearing of the guns this morning we conclude he is come to the fleete.

Note 1. Evelyn (age 45) was in his garden when he heard the guns, and be at once set off to Rochester, Kent [Map] and the coast, but he found that nothing had been heard at Deal (see his "Diary", June 1st, 1666).

On 26th November 1668 Colonel John Strode (age 40) and Rebecca Crispe were married.

In or before 1679. John Hayls (age 78). Portrait of Colonel John Strode (age 51).

In 1685 Colonel John Strode (age 57) was elected MP Sandwich.

Before 30th March 1686 Colonel John Strode (age 58) died. He was buried in Westminster Abbey [Map] on 30th March 1686.