Transcript:Cokayne, George Edward. Complete Baronetage/England/Oliver Cromwell

Complete Baronetage.

Baronetcies of England.
1611–1707.

[volume 3, page 3]

CREATIONS
By Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector,
1657–1658.

READE, or READ.

“ John Read, of Brocket Hall, Herts, Esq.,” who had been cr. a Baronet by Charles I, 16 March 1641/2, which creation (as were all others after 4 Jan. 1641/2) was disallowed by Act of Parl., 4 Feb. 1651/2,(^3a) was again cr. a Baronet by the Lord Protector Cromwell, 25 June 1657.(^3b) The dignity so created was however, of course, disallowed after the Restoration in May 1660, but, on the other hand, the disallowance of the former Baronetcy of 1642 then ceased, and the Grantee obtained the Royal Pardon in June 1660. See fuller particulars in vol. ii, p. 164, under “ Reade,” cr. 16 March 1641/2 ; ex. 22 Feb. 1711/2.

(^3a) See Memorandum in vol. ii, p. 152 as to the creations of Charles I after 4 Jan. 1641/2 and 22 May 1642.

(^3b) The date is erroneously given in Noble's Cromwell as “ 25 June 1656,” but no hereditary dignity was conferred by the Protector till after the date (25 May 1657) of the Petition and Advice. See Memorandum, pp. 1–2. Why this renegade Royalist was honoured by receiving the first hereditary dignity bestowed by the Protector is difficult to conjecture. He was not even a M.P.

CLAYPOLE, or CLEYPOLE.

“ John Cleypole, Esq., son in law to Oliver, Lord Protector ” was cr. a Baronet, by the said Lord Protector Cromwell, 20 July 1657. He was of Norborough, near Peterborough, co. Northampton, being s. and h. of John Cleypole,(^3c) of the same, by Mary (m. 1622) da. of William Angell, of London ; was b. there 21 Aug. 1625 ; m. 13 Feb. 1645/6, at Trinity Church, Ely, as his 1st wife, Elizabeth, 2d da. of Oliver Cromwell, afterwards (1653–58) Lord Protector of England, by Elizabeth, da. of Sir James Bouchier, of Felstead, Essex ; was admitted to Gray's Inn, 30 June 1651, in which year he was head of a troop of Horse to oppose the march of Charles II into England ; was M.P. for Carmarthenshire, 1654–55, and for Northamptonshire, 1656–58 ; was a Lord of the Bedchamber to the Protector, Master of the Horse, Ranger of Whittlebury Forest, taking a leading part in the ceremonials during the Protectorate ; was Knighted 16 July 1657 and four days afterwards was cr. a Baronet, as abovestated, 20 July 1657. He, five months later, by writ of 10 Dec. 1657, became a member [1657–58] of Cromwell's “ other House or House of Lords,” but all his honours were, of course, disallowed, after the Restoration. His said wife, who was b. and bap. 2 July 1629 at St. John's, [page 4] Huntingdon, and who m. (as abovestated) at the age of 16, d. at her father's residence, Hampton Court, Middlesex, 6 and was bur. 10 Aug. 1658, with great state from Whitehall, in the Chapel of Henry VII in Westm. Abbey,(^4a) aged 29. He retained his offices during the short Protectorate of his brother Richard Cromwell, and, save for the forfeiture of his honours, was unmolested at the Restoration in May 1660. He signed a declaration of allegiance to the King, 5 June 1660. To his wife's mother, the Protector's widow, he gave an asylum at his house at Norborough where she died 19 Nov. 1665. He was, in June 1678, imprisoned on suspicion, but was shortly released.(^4b) He appears however to have fallen into debt and to have alienated his estates. He m. secondly, 21 March 1670, Blanche (the rich), widow of Launcelot Staveley, of London, Merchant. He d. 26 June 1688, being then of the Middle Temple, London, having survived his children (all of whom died unm.) by his 1st wife,(^4c) and leaving by his last wife one da., then aged 14.(^4d) In his will dat. 26 June and pr. 14 Nov. 1688 he styles himself “ John Claypoole, of London, Esq.,” and leaves 10s. each to his wife Blanche(^4e) and his da. Bridget, and the residue to his “ loving friend, Mrs. Anne Ottey, wife or widdowe of Edmund Ottey.”(^4f)

(^3c) According to Noble's Cromwell this John and not his son was the person who was cr. a Baronet in 1657. He was bap. at Maxey, 13 April 1595 ; admitted to Gray's Inn 7 May 1619 ; was prosecuted for non-payment of the Ship money in 1637 ; M.P. for Northamptonshire 1654–55 ; became a widower 10 April 1661, his wife being bur. at Norborough. He was living 1664 (having then given up the estate of Norborough to his son John) and is supposed to have died in London and to have been bur. there not long afterwards. It is perhaps some confirmation of Noble's view that “ the son is spoken of as Lord Cleypole ” all through the Commons Journal and also in the Acts and Ordnances. Inasmuch as “ the other House ” only began in 1657 it is not clear why he is thus early spoken of as “ Lord,” but several of Cromwell's chief officers (Lambert, Desborough, etc.) are so styled before the creation of “ the other House.” [Ex. inform. W. D. Pink].

(^4a) Kennet's statement that she was exhumed at the Restoration is false. Her coffin was seen in 1725 in its place in the Abbey. See N. & Q., 7th S. xi, 172.

(^4b) As to the supposed plot which led to his arrest see N. & Q., 7th S. xi, 172.

(^4c) Of these children, Cromwell Claypoole, to whom his father had resigned the manor of Norborough, was the eldest son and the survivor. He d. v.p. and was bur. 28 May 1678 at Norborough.

(^4d) Bridget, who m. Charles Price, Col. in the Guards, and d. his widow in Oct. 1738.

(^4e) “ Mrs. Claypole ” was bur. 26 Feb. 1709/10, at North Luffenham, Rutland. Possibly she was widow of this “ Lord Cleypole.”

(^4f) See N. & Q., 7th S. xi, 172.

CHAMBERLAYNE, or CHAMBERLYNE.

“ Thomas Chamberlayne, of Wickham [Oxon], Esq.,” was s. and h. of Sir Thomas Chamberlayne, 1st Baronet [1643], of Wickham, aforesaid, who had been cr. a Baronet by Charles I, 4 Feb. 1642/3. He, a few months later, by his father's death, 6 Oct. 1643, suc. to the Baronetcy, which title, however (as was the case with all creations after 22 May 1642) was disallowed by Act of Parl., 11 Nov. 1643,(^4g) and he accordingly was cr. a Baronet, 6 Oct. 1657, by the Lord Protector Cromwell, to whose Attorney-General, Edmond Prideaux, he was son-in-law. That dignity, however, was, of course, disallowed after the Restoration in May 1660, but on the other hand the disallowment of the former Baronetcy of 1643 then ceased. See fuller particulars in vol. ii, p. 206, under Chamberlayne, cr. 4 Feb. 1642/3 ; ex. 25 Jan. 1776.

(^4g) See p. 3, note “ a,” under “ Reade.”

BEAUMONT.

“ Thomas Beaumont, of Stoughton Grange, co. Leicester, Esq.,” was cr. a Baronet by the Lord Protector Cromwell, 5 March 1657/8. That dignity, however, was of course disallowed after the Restoration in May 1660, but he was shortly afterwards cr. a Baronet by Charles II. See fuller particulars, further on, under “ Beaumont,” cr. 21 Feb. 1660/1.

[page 5]

INGOLDSBY.

“ Henry Ingoldsby, Esq.,” a Colonel in the Army, was cr. a Baronet by the Lord Protector Cromwell, 10 April or 31 March 1658, which dignity, however, was, of course, disallowed after the Restoration in May 1660, but he was shortly afterwards cr. a Baronet by Charles II. See fuller particulars further on, under “ Ingoldsby,” cr. 30 Aug. 1661 ; ex. 25 April 1726.

TWISLETON.

“ John Twisleton, of Horsman's in Dartford, co. Kent, Esq.,” was cr. a Baronet by the Lord Protector Cromwell, 10 April 1658, “ with rem. in default of issue male of his own body, to Sir Philip Twisleton, Knt., 2d brother of the said John, and his issue male, and, for default to George Twisleton,(^5a) third brother of the said John Twisleton and his heirs male for ever.”(^5b) This dignity was, however, of course, disallowed after the Restoration in May 1660. The grantee was s. and h. of John Twisleton, of Drax and Barley, co. York, and of Horsmans Place in Dartford, aforesaid, by Margaret, da. of William Constable ; was b. about 1614 ; was admitted to Gray's Inn, 3 Aug. 1629, and was cr. a Baronet 24 March 1656/7, as above, and was so designated till May 1660. Sheriff of Kent, 1671–72. He m. firstly (Lic. Lond. 27 April 1636, he 22 and she 19), Elizabeth, da. and h. of Augustine Skinner, of Tolsham, or Tattsham Hall, co. Kent. He m. secondly, Lucy, 5th da. of Samuel Dunch, of Baddesley, Berks. She was bur. at Dartford. He m. thirdly (Lic. Fac. 12 May 1649, she 18), Elizabeth, elder da. and coheir (whose issue, in 1715, became sole heir) of James (Fiennes), 2d Viscount Saye and Sele [1624], Lord Saye and Sele [1447], by Frances, da. and coheir of Edward (Cecil), Viscount Wimbledon. She d. 28 March 1674, and was bur. in Bunhill fields. He m. fourthly, Anne, da. and h. of John Christopher Meyern, a German. He d. s.p.m.s.(^5c) 4 Dec. 1682, in his 69th year, and was bur. (as “ John Twisleton, Esq.”) at Dartford. M.I. His widow m. Sir John Platt.

(^5a) Presumably Col. George Twisleton, M.P. for Anglesey, 1654–55, 1656–58, and 1659.

(^5b) Banks's continuation to Dugdale's Catalogue. It seems probable that the words “ his heirs male ” are a mistake for “ the heirs male of his body.” The orig. patent is said [Parl. Hist., vol. xxi, p. 220] to be in the hands of his descendants at Rawcliffe, co. York.

(^5c) Cecil, his only surv. da. and sole heir, was sole heir also to her mother, and in that capacity was in 1715 entitled to the Barony of Say and Sele (the abeyance of which had at that date terminated), which Barony was accordingly, though not till 1781, allowed to her grandson and heir, Thomas Twisleton.

WRIGHT.

“ Henry Wright, of Dagenham, co. Essex, Esq.,” was, at the age of about 21, cr. a Baronet(^5d) by the Lord Protector Cromwell, 10 April 1658. That dignity, however, was of course disallowed after the Restoration in May 1660, but he was shortly afterwards cr. a Baronet by Charles II. See fuller particulars under “ Wright,” cr. 11 June 1660 ; ex. 1688.

(^5d) The reason of this creation was, presumably, because the grantee's father (then lately deceased) was Physician to the Lord Protector.

[page 6]

WILLIAMS.

“ Griffith Williams, of co. Carnarvon, Esq.,” who was a Commissioner of Assessment for Carnarvonshire in 1656, was cr. a Baronet by the Lord Protector Cromwell, 28 May 1658. That dignity, however, was of course disallowed after the Restoration in May 1660, but he was shortly afterwards cr. a Baronet, as “ of Penrhyn, co. Carnarvon,” by Charles II. See fuller particulars under “ Williams,” cr. 17 June 1661.

PRIDEAUX.(^6a)

Edmond Prideaux, Attorney General, was cr. a Baronet(^6a) by the Lord Protector, 13 Aug. 1658, for “ his voluntary offer for the mainteyning of 34 Foot souldiers in his Highnes' army in Ireland.”(^6b) He was 2d surv. s. of Sir Edmund Prideaux, 1st Baronet [1622] of Netherton, co. Devon, by his 2d wife Katharine, da. of Piers Edgcombe, of Mount Edgcombe, and was bap. 27 Feb. 1601 at Farway ; ed. at Sydney Sussex Coll., Cambridge, and was incorp. at Oxford, as M.A., 6 July 1625 ; Barrister (Inner Temple) 23 Nov. 1623 and subsequently (1642) Bencher. Recorder of Exeter, and subsequently (1649) of Bristol ; was M.P. for Lyme Regis (five Parls.) 1640–59, being throughout a staunch Presbyterian ; was one of the Lay members of the Westm. Assembly, 1643 ; Master of the Posts and Couriers, 7 Sep. 1644 ; was a Commissioner of the Great Seal, 1643–46 ; Solicitor General, 12 Oct. 1648, but resigned office shortly afterwards when the King's trial was imminent ; was Attorney General, April 1649, till his death in 1659, being cr. a Baronet(^6b) as abovestated, 31 May 1658. He was on the Council of State Feb. to Nov. 1651, and, again, Dec. 1652 to April 1653. He acquired a large fortune and bought the estate of Ford Abbey, at Thornecombe, Devon. He m. firstly, 23 Aug. 1627, Jane, da. and h. of Henry Collins, of Salston in Ottery St. Mary, Devon, by Joan, da. and h. of Humphrey Farant. She, who was aged 10 in 1620, d. s.p.m. and was bur. 16 Nov. 1629, at Ottery aforesaid. He m. secondly, shortly afterwards, Margaret, da. and coheir of William Ivery, of Cotthay, Somerset. He d. 19 Aug. 1659 aged 57, and was bur. in the Chapel at Ford Abbey. Will dat. 1 April, pr. 7 Dec. 1659. His widow d. 25 April 1683 and was bur. with her husband. Will dat. 23 April, pr. 5 July, 1683.

Sir Edmund Prideaux, Baronet(^6c) [1658], 1st and only surv. s. and h. by 2d wife ; bap. 4 Dec. 1634, at Ottery St. Mary aforesaid ; matric. at Oxford (Exeter Coll.) 12 Nov. 1650, and said to be aged 18 ; suc. to the Baronetcy(^6c) 19 Aug. 1659, which dignity, however, was shortly afterwards, viz., after the Restoration, in May 1660, of course, disallowed. He was M.P. for Taunton, Dec. 1680 to 1681 ; took part in the Duke of Monmouth's rebellion and is said to have escaped the consequences thereof by a heavy bribe to the Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys. He m., 19 March 1655/6, at Combe Flory, co. Somerset, Amy, da. and coheir of John Fraunceis, of Combe Flory. He d. s.p.m.s.(^6d) 16 Oct. 1702. Admon. 7 Dec. 1702. His widow d. 8 Jan. 1703/4. Both bur. in the Chapel at Ford Abbey. By his death the male issue of the grantee became extinct.

(^6a) The undoubted Baronetcies of Prideaux, Ellis, and Wyndham are not in Banks's continuation of Dugdale's Catalogue ; the Cromwellian creations given therein (eight in all) being Read, Beaumont, Twisleton, Cleypole, Chamberlayne, Ingoldsby, Wright and Williams. Dunch, Willis and Lenthal (for all three of which Noble's Cromwell seems the only authority) are also (apparently rightly) omitted.

(^6b) Public Records, 5th Rep., App., p. 273, as quoted in Foss's Judges, under “ Prideaux.”

(^6c) According to the Lord Protector Cromwell's Creation, which of course remained valid till the Restoration in May 1660.

(^6d) Francis Prideaux, his only son, matric. at Oxford (Wadham Coll.), 11 May 1676, aged 17 ; admitted to the Inner Temple, 1677 ; d. unm. and v.p. See Vivian's Visitations of Devon as to the female issue of the grantee and his son.

[page 7]

ELLIS.(^7a)

William Ellis, Solicitor General, was cr. a Baronet,(^7a) by the Lord Proctor Cromwell, 13 Aug. 1658. He was presumably identical with William Ellis, a post-Restoration Judge. That Judge was yr. br. of Thomas Ellis, the father of Sir Thomas Ellis, 1st Baronet [1660], of Wyham, co. Lincoln, both being sons of Sir Thomas Ellis, of Grantham, co. Lincoln (bur. there 7 Sep. 1627), by Jane, da. of (—) Armstrong, of Wissall, Notts. In that case he was bap. at Grantham, 19 July 1607, and admitted to Gray's Inn, 6 Nov. 1627,(^7b) becoming a Barrister 9 Feb. 1634 and an Ancient in 1659 and Reader in 1664.(^7c) William Ellis was M.P. for Boston, April to May 1640, and 1640 till excluded, 1648 ; re-admitted June 1649 to 1653 ; re-elected 1654–55 ; M.P. for Grantham, 1656–58, 1659, and 1660, till void 18 May. William Ellis was made Solicitor General 24 May 1654 which office he continued to hold under Richard Cromwell and was cr. a Baronet,(^7a) as abovestated on or soon after 31 May 1658, but the dignity, however, was, of course, disallowed after the Restoration in May 1660. William Ellis was Serjeant at Law, 26 Aug. 1669 ; King's Serjeant, 10 April 1671, and was Knighted 30 April 1671 ; made a Justice of the Common Pleas, 18 Dec. 1672 ; was removed 1676, being M.P. for Boston, Feb. 1678/9, till re-instated as a Judge, 5 May 1679. He d. unm. at his chambers in Serjeant's Inn, Fleet street, 11, and was bur. 17 Dec. 1680 at Nocton, co. Lincoln. Will, in which he leaves his estate to his nephew [i.e. great nephew] Sir William Ellis, 2d Baronet [1640], pr. 1680. Funeral Certificate in Coll. of Arms.

(^7a) See p. 6, note “ a.”

(^7b) There was, however, another William Ellis admitted to Gray's Inn, 5 March 1628/9 as “ son and heir of George Ellis, of Wiham, co. Lincoln, Gent., and though this William was, apparently, not the Judge who d. in 1680 (whose will shews him to be uncle [i.e. great uncle] of the then Baronet) it is by no means certain that he was not the Solicitor General to the Protector who, in that case would not be identical (as suggested in the text) with the said Judge.

(^7c) The Solicitor General (made identical with the Judge) is erroneously said, in the Dict. Nat. Biogr. and elsewhere, to have been ed. at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, but the William Ellis, who was scholar, fellow and (1639–40) Greek Lecturer there (B.A. 1632 ; M.A. 1636), was a totally different person, and was (son of John Ellis, Cook of King's Coll.) bap. at Cambridge, 14 April 1611. See Venn's History of Gonville and Caius College.

WYNDHAM.(^7d)

William Wyndham, Esq., of Orchard Wyndham, Somerset, having been M.P. 1656–58, was cr. a Baronet by the Lord Protector Cromwell, 28 Aug. 1658, which dignity, of course, was disallowed after the Restoration in May 1660. He was, however, shortly afterwards (before the Parl. of 1661) Knighted by Charles II, and cr. a Baronet by him. See fuller particulars under “ Wyndham,” cr. 9 Dec. 1661 ; ex. (together with the Earldom of Egremont) 2 April 1845.

(^7d) See p. 6, note “ a.” This Baronetcy of Wyndham is also omitted in Noble's Cromwell, but there seems no doubt that it was one of Cromwell's creations. See Memorandum, pp. 1–2.

[Corrigenda et Addenda, page 353]

MASSINGBERD, or MASSINGBEARD.

Henry Massingberd, or Massingbeard, of Bratoft Hall, co. Lincoln, b. 26 Aug. 1609 was cr. a Baronet in 1658 by the Lord Protector, Cromwell, to whom he had “ good affection ” (his brother, Sir Drayner Massingberd, being also a Parliamentarian) which dignity, was of course, disallowed after the Restoration in May 1660. He was, however, shortly afterwards cr. a Baronet, by the King, 22 Aug. 1660. See fuller particulars under that date.

[page 7 (cont.)]

[page 8]

Besides the above creations (which refer to England) there was a
BARONETCY OF IRELAND(^9e)
Conferred by the Lord Protector Cromwell,
viz.

FENTON.

Sir Maurice Fenton, of Mitchelstown, co. Cork, who had been Knighted at Dublin (during the Usurpation) 7 June 1658, was cr. a Baronet [I.] by the Lord Protector Cromwell, by patent 14 July 1658, privy seal dat. 25 May last past. Both these honours were, of course disallowed after the Restoration in May 1660, but the grantee was, however, shortly afterwards again cr. a Baronet [I.], 22 July 1661. See fuller particulars further on, under that date.

(^9e) This apparently is the only Irish Baronetcy created by the Protector, who does not appear to have ever created a Scotch one.