In 1622 John Duncombe Chancellor was born.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 8th November 1664. At noon, I and Sir J. Minnes [aged 65] and Lord Barkeley [aged 62] (who with Sir J. Duncum [aged 42], and Mr. Chichly [aged 50], are made Masters of the Ordnance), to the office of the Ordnance, to discourse about wadding for guns.
John Evelyn's Diary. 2nd July 1666. Came Sir John Duncomb [aged 44] and Mr. Thomas Chicheley [aged 52], both Privy Councillors and Commissioners of His Majesty's [aged 36] Ordnance, to visit me, and let me know that his Majesty had in Council, nominated me to be one of the Commissioners for regulating the farming and making of saltpetre through the whole kingdom, and that we were to sit in the Tower [Map] the next day. When they were gone, came to see me Sir John Cotton [aged 45], heir to the famous antiquary, Sir Robert Cotton: a pretended great Grecian, but had by no means the parts, or genius of his grandfather.
John Evelyn's Diary. 14th July 1666. Sat at the Tower [Map] with J. Duncomb [aged 44] and Lord Berkeley [aged 38], to sign deputations for undertakers to furnish their proportions of saltpetre.
John Evelyn's Diary. 25th July 1666. The fleets engaged. I dined at Lord Berkeley's [aged 38], at St. James's, where dined my Lady Harrietta Hyde [aged 20], Lord Arlington [aged 48], and Sir John Duncomb [aged 44].
John Evelyn's Diary. 26th May 1671. The Earl of Bristol's [aged 58] house in Queen's Street was taken for the Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, and furnished with rich hangings of the King's [aged 40]. It consisted of seven rooms on a floor, with a long gallery, gardens, etc. This day we met the Duke of Buckingham [aged 43], Earl of Lauderdale [aged 55], Lord Culpeper, Sir George Carteret [aged 61], Vice-Chamberlain, and myself, had the oaths given us by the Earl of Sandwich [aged 45], our President. It was to advise and counsel his Majesty, to the best of our abilities, for the well-governing of his Foreign Plantations, etc., the form very little differing from that given to the Privy Council. We then took our places at the Board in the Council-Chamber, a very large room furnished with atlases, maps, charts, globes, etc. Then came the Lord Keeper, Sir Orlando Bridgeman [aged 65], Earl of Arlington [aged 53], Secretary of State, Lord Ashley, Mr. Treasurer [aged 40], Sir John Trevor [aged 34], the other Secretary, Sir John Duncomb [aged 49], Lord Allington [aged 31], Mr. Grey, son to the Lord Grey, Mr. Henry Broncher, Sir Humphrey Winch [aged 49], Sir John Finch, Mr. Waller [aged 65], and Colonel Titus [aged 48], of the bedchamber, with Mr. Slingsby, Secretary to the Council, and two Clerks of the Council, who had all been sworn some days before. Being all set, our Patent was read, and then the additional Patent, in which was recited this new establishment; then, was delivered to each a copy of the Patent, and of instructions: after which, we proceeded to business.
In 1672 John Duncombe Chancellor [aged 50] was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer.
John Evelyn's Diary. 14th January 1682. Dined at the Bishop of Rochester's [aged 57], at the Abbey [Map], it being his marriage day, after twenty-four years. He related to me how he had been treated by Sir William Temple, foreseeing that he might be a delegate in the concern of my Baroness Ogle [aged 14] now likely come in controversy upon her marriage with Mr. Thynn [aged 34]; also how earnestly the late Earl of Danby [aged 49] [NOTE. The word 'late' suggest the Earl being dead but may refer to his downfall around 1678], Lord Treasurer, sought his friendship, and what plain and sincere advice he gave him from time to time about his miscarriages and partialities; particularly his outing Sir John Duncomb [aged 60] from being Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Sir Stephen Fox [aged 54], above all, from being Paymaster of the Army. The Treasurer's excuse and reason was, that Fox's credit was so over great with the bankers and monied men, that he could procure none but by his means, "for that reason", replied the Bishop, "I would have made him my friend, Sir Stephen being a person both honest and of credit". He told him likewise of his stateliness and difficulty of access, and several other miscarriages, and which indeed made him hated.
On 4th March 1687 John Duncombe Chancellor [aged 65] died.