Record

CodeP/0003
Dates1628-1674
Person NameCromwell; Henry (1628-1674); Lord Lieutenant and Governor General of Ireland (1658-1659)
SurnameCromwell
ForenamesHenry
TitleLord Lieutenant and Governor General of Ireland (1658-1659)
ActivityThe Cromwell family was descended from the sister of Henry VIII's Chief Minister Thomas Cromwell. They were comfortably in the minor gentry but when Richard was born his father was not especially wealthy, as his uncle had inherited most of the family's estates. Being educated at a public school and acquiring a degree of knowledge of the law were fairly typical of the landed gentry, and unlike his brother Richard (1626-1712), Henry did matriculate at Cambridge University though did not study due to the turmoil of the English Civil War. He served in the New Model for several years, securing several promotions before being left as one of the leaders of the Protectorate forces in Ireland in the 1650s. There is evidence of Henry inheriting a difficult position on the island when he was given sole control in 1655, but managing his resources and subordinates passably. He served his father and brother loyally, not seeking to advance himself over his brother. Following the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, most of Henry's English lands were stripped from him but due to the intervention of several notable Royalist Lords he was able to maintain his property in Ireland. Though he was never to rise as high as he did with his family in power, Henry used the pay for his service in Ireland to purchase estates including Spinney Abbey, and despite several attempts to tar his name with the king, Charles II clearly did not see him as a threat and he was allowed to live in obscurity until his death in 1674.
RelationshipsFather: Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658)
Mother: Elizabeth Bourchier (1598-1665)
Spouse: Elizabeth Russell (d. 1687)
Children: Henry Cromwell (d. 1711)
A further four sons and 2 daughters.
Linked entries in the catalogue
RefNoTitle
KAcc731/D/31Bargain and sale between Henry Cromwell and Dr Robert George
KAcc731/H/148Deposition concerning the estate of Henry Cromwell.
KAcc731/N/213Contemporary MS transcript of Charles II's instructions of 13 April 1661, confirming Henry Cromwell's ownership of the lands referred to in 731/211.
KAcc731/H/146Draft petition for the pardon of Henry Cromwell
KAcc731/C/25Rental and accounts of Lord Henry Cromwell at Dalby, Leicestershire
KAcc731/G/77? Henry Cromwell to ? Lord Broghill, asking his favour.
KAcc731/B/15Report by Henry Cromwell to the Proctector
KHP46/30/6/9Henry Cromwell
KAcc731/B/20Lease of lands in Strabane, County Tyrone; with Great Seal of Ireland
KAcc731/B/18Account of the state of the revenue of Ireland, presented to the Lord Deputy
KAcc731/H/151Licence to Henry Cromwell to return to London.
KAcc731/G/76Sir Thomas Chicheley to Col. Mark Trevor, on behalf of Henry Cromwell.
KAcc731/D/37Bargain and Sale between Elizabeth Cromwell and Thomas Lord Culpepper etc
KAcc731/G/70Sir Francis Rusell to his son-in-law Henry Cromwell; family greetings
KAcc731/G/71Henry Cromwell to his brother-in-law Lord Fauconberg; political and religious observations
KAcc731/B/11Account by [Dr] Robert Gorges of moneys disbursed in Ireland between August 1654 and 10 November 1658
KAcc731/H/145Letter from Edward Worth to Henry Cromwell, concerning his position at the Restoration.
KAcc731/H/147Information concerning Henry Cromwell's pardon.
K588/C/8/35Letter from the Earl of Sandwich at Herford Street with an account of Henry Cromwell's residence at Spinney Abbey.
KAcc731/G/68Oliver Cromwell to his son Henry, Lord Deputy of Ireland, concerning a petition from the Chief Baron of the Exchequer in Ireland.
KAcc731/H/149Title of Henry Cromwell to lands of Portumna in Ireland
KAR109/046/34Petition to Privy Council by Commission of Sewers ['Shewers'!] to be excused attending on 17 May as they have a general session of sewers at Wisbech appointed for 20 May to fix rates towards charge of opening of the Nene outfall 'whiche worke in good parte is already begunne by the countrye'
KAcc731/H/152Licence from the Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk to enable Henry Cromwell to visit his family more than five miles from his home.
KAcc731/N/211Copy [?] of a letter from Henry Cromwell to Lord Ormonde concerning his claim to Irish property
KAR109/046/116Abstract of valuation of Spinney [estate in Wicken] including tithe arable 'in the use of Mr Cromwell'
KAcc731/E/50Papers concerning Spinney Abbey and land in Wicken, Cambs
KAcc731/D/36Probate copy of the will of Henry Cromwell of Spinney, Cambs, made 20 September 1673.
KAcc731/G/74Henry Cromwell, Lord Deputy of Ireland, to his wife; personal matters.
KAcc731/B/13Commission appointing Henry Cromwell Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
KAcc731/G/67Sir Francis Russell to his son-in-law Henry Cromwell, in Ireland; promising to send him beagles.
KAcc731/D/32Bargain and sale between Henry Cromwell and Dr Jonathan Goddard
KAcc731/G/69Oliver Cromwell to an unnamed recipient, concerning the above petition
KAcc731/B/19Patent of Richard Cromwell, Lord Protector, appointing his brother Henry Governor General of Ireland; with the Great Seal of the Protectorate.
KAcc731/D/34Draft agreement [?] between Henry Rusell etc and Richard Earl of York
KAcc731/D/33Declaration of trust between Henry Cromwell and John Russell
KAcc731/G/72Lady Francis Russell to her daughter [Elizabeth], wife of Henry Cromwell, on the death of General Reynolds, husband of Mary Russell
KAcc731/B/12Instructions to Henry Cromwell as Lord Deputy and to the Council of Ireland
KAcc731/H/150Copy of grants of Henry Cromwell's estates in Ireland to trustees.
KAcc731/G/75General Monk to Col. Henry Cromwell, now at Sir Francis Russell's in Chippenham; considers it inadvisable that he should come to London for the present.
KAcc731/D/29Marriage settlement, by way of lease and release, for the marriage of Henry Cromwell and Elizabeth Russell
KAcc731/B/21Exemplification by Richard Cromwell of the enrolment of a Commission to enquire into Protectorate lands in County Tyrone, and of an Inquisition taken at Strabane, 25 Feb 1658
KAcc731Bush Collection of Cromwell documents
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