Biography of Oliver Cromwell 1599-1658

On 25th April 1599 Oliver Cromwell was born to [his father] Robert Cromwell [aged 36] and [his mother] Elizabeth Steward [aged 33] at Huntingdon [Map].

On 24th June 1617 [his father] Robert Cromwell [aged 54] died at Huntingdon [Map].

On 22nd August 1620 Oliver Cromwell [aged 21] and Elizabeth Bourchier [aged 22] were married.

In 1621 [his son] Robert Cromwell was born to Oliver Cromwell [aged 21] and [his wife] Elizabeth Bourchier [aged 23].

In 1622 [his daughter] Oliver Cromwell was born to Oliver Cromwell [aged 22] and [his wife] Elizabeth Bourchier [aged 24].

In 1624 [his daughter] Bridget Cromwell was born to Oliver Cromwell [aged 24] and [his wife] Elizabeth Bourchier [aged 26]. She married (1) 15th June 1646 Henry Ireton (2) 1652 Major General Charles Fleetwood.

On 4th October 1626 [his son] Richard Cromwell Lord Protector was born to Oliver Cromwell [aged 27] and [his wife] Elizabeth Bourchier [aged 28].

On 20th January 1628 [his son] Henry Cromwell was born to Oliver Cromwell [aged 28] and [his wife] Elizabeth Bourchier [aged 30] at Huntingdon [Map]. He married 10th May 1653 Elizabeth Russell, daughter of Francis Russell 2nd Baronet and Catherine Wheatley.

On 2nd July 1629 [his daughter] Elizabeth Cromwell was born to Oliver Cromwell [aged 30] and [his wife] Elizabeth Bourchier [aged 31]. She married 13th January 1646 John Claypole.

In 1632 [his son] James Cromwell was born to Oliver Cromwell [aged 32] and [his wife] Elizabeth Bourchier [aged 34].

In 1637 [his daughter] Mary Cromwell Countess Fauconberg was born to Oliver Cromwell [aged 37] and [his wife] Elizabeth Bourchier [aged 39]. She married 18th November 1657 Thomas Belasyse 1st Earl Fauconberg.

In 1638 [his daughter] Frances Cromwell Baroness Russell was born to Oliver Cromwell [aged 38] and [his wife] Elizabeth Bourchier [aged 40]. She married (1) 11th November 1657 Robert Rich, son of Robert Rich 3rd Earl Warwick and Anne Cavendish Countess Warwick (2) 7th May 1663 John Russell 3rd Baronet, son of Francis Russell 2nd Baronet and Catherine Wheatley, and had issue.

In 1639 [his son] Robert Cromwell [aged 18] died.

In 1644 [his daughter] Oliver Cromwell [aged 22] died of typhoid.

On 13th January 1646 [his son-in-law] John Claypole [aged 20] and Elizabeth Cromwell [aged 16] were married. She the daughter of Oliver Cromwell [aged 46] and Elizabeth Bourchier [aged 48].

On 15th June 1646 [his son-in-law] Henry Ireton [aged 35] and Bridget Cromwell [aged 22] were married. She the daughter of Oliver Cromwell [aged 47] and Elizabeth Bourchier [aged 48].

John Evelyn's Diary. 4th May 1648. Came up the Essex petitioners for an agreement between his Majesty and the rebels. The 16th, the Surrey men addressed the Parliament for the same; of which some of them were slain and murdered by Oliver Cromwell's [aged 49] guards, in the new palace yard [Map]. I now sold the impropriation of South Malling, near Lewes [Map], in Sussex, to Messrs. Kemp and Alcock, for £3,000.

Around 1649. Robert Walker [aged 50]. Oliver Cromwell [aged 49].

In 1652 [his son-in-law] Major General Charles Fleetwood [aged 34] and Bridget Cromwell [aged 28] were married. She the daughter of Oliver Cromwell [aged 52] and Elizabeth Bourchier [aged 54].

John Evelyn's Diary. 6th March 1652. Saw the magnificent funeral of that arch-rebel, [his former son-in-law] Ireton, carried in pomp from Somerset House [Map] to Westminster [Map], accompanied with divers regiments of soldiers, horse and foot; then marched the mourners, General Cromwell [aged 52] (his father-in-law), his mock-parliament-men, officers, and forty poor men in gowns, three led horses in housings of black cloth, two led in black velvet, and his charging horse, all covered over with embroidery and gold, on crimson velvet; then the guidons, ensigns, four heralds, carrying the arms of the State (as they called it), namely, the red cross and Ireland, with the casque, wreath, sword, spurs, etc.; next, a chariot canopied of black velvet, and six horses, in which was the corpse; the pall held up by the mourners on foot; the mace and sword, with other marks of his charge in Ireland (where he died of the plague), carried before in black scarfs. Thus, in a grave pace, drums covered with cloth, soldiers reversing their arms, they proceeded through the streets in a very solemn manner. This Ireton was a stout rebel, and had been very bloody to the King's [aged 21] party, witness his severity at Colchester, when in cold blood he put to death those gallant gentlemen, Sir Charles Lucas [aged 39] and Sir George Lisle. My cousin, R. Fanshawe [aged 43], came to visit me, and informed me of many considerable affairs. Sir Henry Herbert [aged 57] presented me with his brother, my Lord Cherbury's book, "De Veritate"..

John Evelyn's Diary. 15th March 1652. I saw the "Diamond" and "Ruby" launched in the Dock at Deptford [Map], carrying forty-eight brass cannon each; Cromwell [aged 52] and his grandees present, with great acclamations.

Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society Volume 3 Pages 114-124. Sir, — I am very sorrye my occacion will not permit mee to returne ( i.e. to reply) to you as I would. I have not yett fully spoken with the gentlemen I sent to waite upon you? When I shall doe it, I shall be enabled to bee more particular, beinge unwillinge to detaine your servante any longer. With my service to your lady and family, I take leave, and rest

Your affectionate servante.

O. Cromwell [aged 53].

July 30, 1652.

For my honoured friend, Mr. Hungerford, the elder, at his house, These.

On 10th May 1653 Henry Cromwell [aged 25] and Elizabeth Russell were married. He the son of Oliver Cromwell [aged 54] and Elizabeth Bourchier [aged 55].

In 1654 William Lockhart of Lee [aged 33] and Robina Sewster [aged 24] were married. She being a niece of Oliver Cromwell [aged 54].

John Evelyn's Diary. 8th February 1654. Ash Wednesday. In contradiction to all custom and decency, the usurper, Cromwell [aged 54], feasted at the Lord Mayor's, riding in triumph through the city.

On 30th May 1654 Hugh Wyndham Baron of the Exchequer [aged 52] was appointed Justice of the Common Pleas by Oliver Cromwell [aged 55].

On 18th November 1654 [his mother] Elizabeth Steward [aged 89] died.

John Evelyn's Diary. 9th April 1655. I went to see the great ship newly built by the usurper, Oliver [aged 55], carrying ninety-six brass guns, and 1,000 tons burden. In the prow was Oliver on horseback, trampling six nations under foot, a Scot, Irishman, Dutchman, Frenchman, Spaniard, and English, as was easily made out by their several habits. A Fame held a laurel over his insulting head; the word, God with us.

On 6th June 1655 Geoffrey Palmer 1st Baronet [aged 57] was imprisoned in the Tower of London [Map] on suspicion of raising forces against Oliver Cromwell [aged 56].

John Evelyn's Diary. 27th November 1655. This day, came forth the Protector's [aged 56] Edict, or Proclamation, prohibiting all ministers of the Church of England from preaching or teaching any schools, in which he imitated the apostate, Julian; with the decimation of all the royal party's revenues throughout England.

John Evelyn's Diary. 25th December 1655. I went to London, where Dr. Wild preached the funeral sermon of Preaching, this being the last day; after which Cromwell's [aged 56] proclamation was to take place, that none of the Church of England should dare either to preach, or administer Sacraments, teach schools, etc., on pain of imprisonment, or exile. So this was the most mournful day that in my life I had seen, or the Church of England herself, since the Reformation; to the great rejoicing of both Papist and Presbyter.54 So pathetic was his discourse, that it drew many tears from the auditory. Myself, wife [aged 20], and some of our family, received the Communion, God make me thankful, who hath hitherto provided for us the food of our souls as well as bodies! The Lord Jesus pity our distressed Church, and bring back the captivity of Zion!

John Evelyn's Diary. 10th February 1656. I heard Dr. Wilkins [aged 41] preach before the Lord Mayor in St. Paul's [Map], showing how obedience was preferable to sacrifice. He was a most obliging person, who had married the Protector's [aged 56] sister, and took great pains to preserve the Universities from the ignorant, sacrilegious commanders and soldiers, who would fain have demolished all places and persons that pretended to learning.

John Evelyn's Diary. 10th July 1656. I returned homeward, passing again through Colchester, Essex [Map]; and, by the way, near the ancient town of Chelmsford, Essex [Map], saw New Hall, built in a park by Henry VII. and VIII., and given by Queen Elizabeth to the Earl of Sussex, who sold it to the late great Duke of Buckingham, and since seized on by Oliver Cromwell [aged 57] (pretended Protector). It is a fair old house, built with brick, low, being only of two stories, as the manner then was; the gate-house better; the court, large and pretty; the staircase, of extraordinary wideness, with a piece representing Sir Francis Drake's action in the year 1580, an excellent sea-piece; the galleries are trifling; the hall is noble; the garden a fair plot, and the whole seat well accommodated with water; but, above all, I admired the fair avenue planted with stately lime trees, in four rows, for near a mile in length. It has three descents, which is the only fault, and may be reformed. There is another fair walk of the same at the mall and wilderness, with a tennis-court, and pleasant terrace toward the park, which was well stored with deer and ponds.

John Evelyn's Diary. 20th August 1656. Was a confused election of Parliament called by the Usurper [aged 57].

John Evelyn's Diary. 14th September 1656. Now was old Sir Henry Vane [aged 43] sent to Carisbrook Castle, in Wight, for a foolish book he published; the pretended Protector [aged 57] fortifying himself exceedingly, and sending many to prison.

On 15th September 1656 John Dethick was knighted by Oliver Cromwell [aged 57].

After 1657 Colonel Silius Titus [aged 34] was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber by King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 26] for having published a pamphlet "Killing No Murder" advocating the assassination of Oliver Cromwell [aged 57].

John Evelyn's Diary. 10th February 1657. I went to visit the governor of Havannah, a brave, sober, valiant Spanish gentleman, taken by Captain Young, of Deptford, when, after twenty years being in the Indies, and amassing great wealth, his lady and whole family, except two sons, were burned, destroyed, and taken within sight of Spain, his eldest son, daughter, and wife, perishing with immense treasure. One son, of about seventeen years old, with his brother of one year old, were the only ones saved. The young gentleman, about seventeen, was a well-complexioned youth, not olive-colored; he spoke Latin handsomely, was extremely well-bred, and born in the Caraccas, 1,000 miles south of the equinoctial, near the mountains of Potosi; he had never been in Europe before. The Governor was an ancient gentleman of great courage, of the order of St. Jago, sorely wounded in his arm, and his ribs broken; he lost for his own share £100,000 sterling, which he seemed to bear with exceeding indifference, and nothing dejected. After some discourse, I went with them to Arundel House [Map], where they dined. They were now going back into Spain, having obtained their liberty from Cromwell [aged 57]. An example of human vicissitude!

John Evelyn's Diary. 25th March 1657. The Protector Oliver [aged 57], now affecting kingship, is petitioned to take the title on him by all his newly-made sycophant lords, etc.; but dares not, for fear of the fanatics, not thoroughly purged out of his rebel army.

On 11th November 1657 [his son-in-law] Robert Rich [aged 23] and Frances Cromwell Baroness Russell [aged 19] were married. He died three months later. She the daughter of Oliver Cromwell [aged 58] and Elizabeth Bourchier [aged 59]. He the son of Robert Rich 3rd Earl Warwick [aged 46] and Anne Cavendish Countess Warwick.

On 18th November 1657 [his son-in-law] Thomas Belasyse 1st Earl Fauconberg [aged 30] and Mary Cromwell Countess Fauconberg [aged 20] were married. She by marriage Viscountess Faunconberg. She the daughter of Oliver Cromwell [aged 58] and Elizabeth Bourchier [aged 59].

In 1658 John Marlay [aged 68] offered to sell the Royalists' plans for the restoration of Charles II to Oliver Cromwell [aged 58] for £100 and permission to return home. His reputation never recovered from this act of treason.

On 2nd August 1658 [his daughter] Elizabeth Cromwell [aged 29] died.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 19th September 1660. Office Day. I put on my mourning and went to the office. At noon thinking to have found my wife in hers, I found that the tailor had failed her, at which I was vexed because of an invitation that we have to a dinner this day, but after having waited till past one o'clock I went, and left her to put on some other clothes and come after me to the Mitre tavern in Wood-street (a house of the greatest note in London), where I met W. Symons, and D. Scobell, and their wives, Mr. Samford, Luellin, Chetwind, one Mr. Vivion, and Mr. White¹, formerly chaplin to the Lady Protectresse [aged 62]² (and still so, and one they say that is likely to get my Lady Francess [aged 22] for his wife). Here we were very merry and had a very good dinner, my wife coming after me hither to us.

Note 1. According to Noble, Jeremiah White married Lady Frances Cromwell's waiting-woman, in Oliver's lifetime, and they lived together fifty years. Lady Frances had two husbands, Mr. Robert Rich and Sir John Russell of Chippenham [aged 20], the last of whom she survived fifty-two years dying 1721-22 The story is, that Oliver found White on his knees to Frances Cromwell, and that, to save himself, he pretended to have been soliciting her interest with her waiting-woman, whom Oliver compelled him to marry. (Noble's "Life of Cromwell", vol. ii. pp. 151, 152.) White was born in 1629 and died 1707.

Note 2. Elizabeth, wife of Oliver Cromwell.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 4th December 1660. From thence I to my Lord's, and dined with him and told him what we had done to-day. Sir Tho. Crew [aged 36] dined with my Lord to-day, and we were very merry with Mrs. Borfett, who dined there still as she has always done lately. After dinner Sir Tho. and my Lady to the Playhouse [Map] to see "The Silent Woman". I home by water, and with Mr. Hater in my chamber all alone he and I did put this morning's design into order, which being done I did carry it to Sir W. Batten [aged 59], where I found some gentlemen with him (Sir W. Pen [aged 39] among the rest pretty merry with drink) playing at cards, and there I staid looking upon them till one o'clock in the morning, and so Sir W. Pen and I went away, and I to bed. This day the Parliament voted that the bodies of Oliver, [his former son-in-law] Ireton, Bradshaw, &c., should be taken up out of their graves in the Abbey, and drawn to the gallows, and there hanged and buried under it: which (methinks) do trouble me that a man of so great courage as he was, should have that dishonour, though otherwise he might deserve it enough.

John Evelyn's Diary. 9th August 1661. I first saw the famous Queen Pine brought from Barbadoes, and presented to his Majesty [aged 31]; but the first that were ever seen in England were those sent to Cromwell four years since.

Note. An excellent print in the line manner, 13 inches by 12, was engraved, in 1823, by Robert Grave, from the picture at Strawberry-Hill, of King Charles II., receiving this species of fruit from Rose, his gardener, who is presenting it on his knees, at Dawney Court, Buckinghamshire, the seat of the celebrated Duchess of Cleveland, See hereafter, under 1668, August.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 3rd September 1662. In our discourse in the boat Mr. Coventry [aged 34] told us how the Fanatiques and the Presbyters, that did intend to rise about this time, did choose this day as the most auspicious to them in their endeavours against monarchy: it being fatal twice to the King [aged 32], and the day of Oliver's death¹. But, blessed be God! all is likely to be quiet, I hope.

Note 1. Cromwell had considered the 3rd of September as the most fortunate day of his life, on account of his victories at Dunbar and Worcester. It was also remarkable for the great storm that occurred at the time of his death; and as being the day on which the Fire of London, in 1666, burnt with the greatest fury. B.

In 1665 [his former wife] Elizabeth Bourchier [aged 67] died.

Grammont. This man, whose ambition had opened him a way to sovereign power by the greatest crimes, maintained himself in it by accomplishments which seemed to render him worthy of it by their lustre. The nation, of all Europe the least submissive, patiently bore a yoke which did not even leave her the shadow of that liberty of which she is so jealous; and Cromwell, master of the Commonwealth, under the title of Lord Protector, feared at home, but yet more dreaded abroad, was at his highest pitch of glory when he was seen by the Chevalier de Grammont; but the Chevalier did not see any appearance of a court. One part of the nobility proscribed, the other removed from employments; an affectation of purity of manners, instead of the luxury which the pomp of courts displays all taken together, presented nothing but sad and serious objects in the finest city in the world; and therefore the Chevalier acquired nothing by this voyage but the idea of some merit in a profligate man, and the admiration of some concealed beauties he had found means to discover.

[his father] Robert Cromwell and [his mother] Elizabeth Steward were married.

Grammont. Curiosity to see a man equally famous for his crimes and his elevation, had once before induced the Chevalier de Grammont to visit England. Reasons of state assume great privileges. Whatever appears advantageous is lawful, and every thing that is necessary is honourable in politics. While the King of England sought the protection of Spain in the Low Countries, and that of the States-General in Holland, other powers sent splendid embassies to Cromwell.