Samuel Cromleholme MA (1618-1672)

Contents:

Introduction : 

Samuel Cromleholme lived through a period of great change in England with a background of great social and political insecurity. However, the seventeenth century was a time when talent could transport a man to the height of his profession. As a child, Samuel was fortunate to be taught by a headmaster who would act as a mentor in his later life. He ended his days as the Highmaster of one of England's leading schools having educated some of the most famous men of his time.

1          Samuel's father - Rev Richard Cromleholme (1592-1648) and his family.
2          Samuel (1618-1672) - his life and career
3          Famous pupils taught during his career
4          Samuel's staff at St Paul's School, London
5          Samuel Cromleholme in Pepys Diary
6          Portrait by Mary Beale
7          Samuel's marriage and wife
8          Samuel wife's family - Bury family of Dorchester
9          Children
10        Samuel's Death and Funeral
11        Samuels Burial in the Mercer's Chapel
12        Samuel's Letters of Adminstration and Probate Records
13        Mary Cromleholme - his widow
            Genealogical Notes

1) Samuel’s Father :  Revd Richard Cromleholme (1592-1648)

1.1) Born :  1592  Lancashire (UK) ⁽¹⁾ (from university entry)

1.2) Place : University records – “of County Lancaster” (see note under Samuel’s birthplace below).

1.3) School :  School not known – presumed in Lancashire

1.4) University : 

Brasenose College,  Oxford ⁽²⁾
Entered as commoner 7th May 1609 aged 17
Admitted BA – 8th February 1612/13    

As a Deacon ⁽³⁾ - 18th December 1614

First unknown – presumed in Wiltshire as given on eldest son’s (Samuel) university records.

Rockbourne Church

Recorded in Rockbourne⁽⁴⁾ (just north of Fordingbridge in Hampshire) in 1619 where he was incumbent of St Andrews until 1624.
....Richard Cromlum came to Rockborn the seventeenth of March 1619” The construction of the belfry tower was already underway when Richard arrived but was not completed until after he had left the parish. Although cast by John Wallis of Salisbury in 1617, the two bells were not hung until 1630. An inscription "1630 RC 1630" is recorded on a beam just below the eaves (not visible externally) on the south side of the tower. It has been suggested that the "RC" is Richard Crumlum who may have assisted with funding. He is listed on a modern stone plaque of past clergy in the porch.

St James Church Quedegeley

Recorded in Quedgeley (3 miles SSW of Gloucester) on 4th July 1624 ⁽⁵⁾ – recorded here as minister in 1625.
………”Richard Cromlum came to Quedgeley the 4th July in anno ab. In carnatione supradicto. Anno Regni Jacobi 22” (1624).
He appears to have stayed here for the rest of his life.

The date and location of Richard's first marriage to Samuel's mother Elizabeth (nee  ??) is not known.  Richard was 26 years old when his son Samuel was born in 1618 but appears to have had two elder sisters (see 1.12). A younger sister, Elizabeth was baptized in Rockbourne on 7th September 1620. Sadly Samuel's mother died a year later and was buried there in 18th September 1620. Her name is only known due to her burial record.

However, a (second) marriage of Richard Cromlum to Sybill Guidott ⁽⁶⁾ on 4th February 1621 has been found in Rockbourne. Samuel would have been aged 3 years when his mother died but his father married again within 6 months. Richard’s other children were born to his second wife after his move to Gloucestershire in 1624.

The Guidott’s were originally a Florentine family who settled in the Southampton area in the 1530’s. Sir Antonio Guidotti (b approx 1500) was a wine merchant and confidential messenger to Henry VIII . In 1550, Edward VI knighted him for his part in negotiations with France and also gave him an annual pension of £250.  John Guidott was born approx 1530 the son of Antonio and his wife Anne (nee Huttoft). John was also given 37 pounds by the King and the right to his father’s pension during John’s lifetime.

John’s son William had a family all born in Rockbourne :  daughters - Sybill (27/9/1589); Frannces (11/8/1591); Alice (4/5/1594); and sons - William (27/11/1595); Franncis (18/1/1597); Keylwey (12/5/1600);  and John (… 1603).

Thomas Guidott (1638-1705) “Physician and Chemist Contributor to the Analysis of mineral water” was born in September 1638 in Lymington, Hampshire (on the coast south east of Rockbourne) the eldest son of Francis Guidott. He was educated in Dorchester under Samuel Cromleholme and graduated BA 1659 and MA 1662 from Wadham College Oxford. He studied medicine and was granted MB in 1666.

An entry in “A calendar of the registers of apprentices of the city of Gloucester (1595-1700)” records Richard’s youngest son Giles :  1648, 18 December  Crumlum, Giles son of Richard, clerk dec’d of Quedgeley
As the next Rector at Quedgeley is recorded in 1649, it would appear that Richard died in 1648 ⁽⁷⁾ , aged 56 years.

No will is known to exist. Not recorded in the Will index 1541 – 1650 and there is a break in the records until 1660 due to the Commonwealth period.

As noted above, nothing is known of Samuel’s mother apart from her death when he was only 3 years old. His
stepmother is not recorded in the Quedgeley parish registers where Richard’s later children were baptized
(presumably by their father Richard)

Samuel's probate documents of 1673 (see section 12) note two deceased sisters. Both are noted thus : "while she lived the sister of the said Samuel Cromleholme deceased".
Harriott : (married name Hawkins)
Margarott : (married name Nithalls). Her nephew John Church, made seemingly unsuccessful court petitions against Samuel's widow and their estate (see section 13).
It would seem that they were both older sisters, daughters of Elizabeth, Richard Cromleholme's first wife, as his second wife Sybill gave birth to her children on almost bi-annual basis from 1622 to 1633 !    Elizabeth :         bap 7/9/1620 in Rockbourne Hampshire (her mother probably died as a result of this birth)

Step brothers and sisters :

William :          bap  21/12/1622 in Rockbourne Hampshire
                       (may have died as an infant as next brother also named William ?)
William ⁽⁸⁾ :     b. 23/11/1625   bap 1/12/1625 at Quedgeley, Gloucester.
Timothy ⁽⁹⁾ :    bap 10/1/1627  (all below at Quedgeley)
Joane :            bap 16/6/1629
Mary :            bap 25/8/1631
Gyles ⁽¹⁰⁾ :      bap 15/10/1633

To date, it has only been possible to calculate the year of Samuel’s birth date from his from university records. At this date, his father Richard was 26 years old and it is almost certain that Samuel was the eldest child in family.

Given as Wiltshire in his university record – exact place not known.
However this could be Wilpshire in Lancashire which is a parish adjacent to Blackburn where an Elizabeth Cromleholme married Robert Chew on May 16th 1618. In February 1672, Samuel takes a kinsman Elisa Chew as a pupil in his school and asked “to remember his love to the boy’s mother” ⁽¹¹⁾. See further details under 1672 below. 

The Kings School Gloucester

Although unfortunately the earliest school register commences in 1684, it would appear very likely that Samuel attended the College School (later called the Kings School), Gloucester close to his home in Quedgeley. Samuel was only 6 years old when his family moved to the area from Rockbourne in July 1624. It seems very probable that he was taught by John Langley who had become head master here in 1617 direct from university.

John Langley was born in 1598 near Banbury in Oxfordshire. On 23rd April 1613, he was admitted as a commoner to (the then Puritian) Magdalen Hall, Oxford and graduated BA in 1616 and MA in 1619.

He was appointed when only 19 years old by William Laud (Dean of Gloucester Cathedral) as headmaster of the College School at Gloucester on 9th March 1617. The school was later called the King's School after its founder Henry VIII. He resigned from his post in 1627 when the puritan town of Dorchester in Dorset enticed him away to teach there. However, the Gloucester Corporation in regard of  "his careful teaching and educating the youth of the city and the sons of divers noblemen and gentlemen to the great grace of this city" agreed to supplement his stipend if he stayed and he was re-admitted on 11th August 1628. This probably started his relationship with Dorchester, finally leading to Samuel Cromleholme's appointment at the Free School there.

In 1629, the Bishop of Gloucester, Godfrey Goodman founded a library in the cathedral whereby 'every private man [who] cannot furnish himself … might be supplied out of our common storehouse'. One of the librarians was John Langley and young Samuel Cromleholme may have acquired his love of books here.

Langley finally resigned in 1635, due in some part to William Laud, who had been appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in 1633. It appears that Langley held a prebend in Gloucester Cathedral but also became a tutor to Lord Middlesex's household.  Lord Middlesex was a high churchmen and consulted with Laud on a number of church rituals. It is therefore rather strange that he employed Langley who was a well known puritan and enemy of Laud. However, it is thought likely that Middlesex also played a part in Langley eventually becoming High Master of St Pauls School.

In the late 1630’s, Archbishop Laud had also quarrelled with the Mercers Company regarding their authority over St Pauls School in London. He supported the High Master Alexander Gill (the younger) who had been causing the Mercers many problems at the school.

An attempt in 1640 to remove the conservative John Bird as master of Gloucester's Crypt school and to replace him with John Langley was also thwarted by Laud in a very terse note ...."to bring in one Langley, a man factiously sett agaynst the government of the Church of England, insomuch that at the later Metropolitan Visitation ... he publiquely in Courte before the Vicar Generall (Oliver Cromwell) obstinately refused to conforme himself to those things which were required of him according to law and forthwith deserted the school in Gloucester belonginge to the Dean and Chapter

However, Archbishop Laud was arrested in December 1640 for treason and several other charges. Shortly afterwards in 1641, Gill finally resigned from St Paul's School with the Mercers removing his pension two years later due to him libelling one of their members.

On 7th January 1641, John Langley was appointed High Master of St Pauls School, London. As a result of his educational achievements, on 20th June 1643, he was appointed, by parliamentary order, as one of the licensers of the press (public censor) for books of “philosophy, history, poetry, morality, and arts”. However, he was petitioned on 20th December 1648 by the stationers and printers of London for “latterly being remiss in these duties”.

During Archbishop Laud's trial for treason, on 6th June 1644, John Langley was a witness before the Lord’s committees considering one charge concerning Laud’s conduct of cathedral services at Gloucester. Laud was ultimately found guilty and executed in 1645. Langley was asked to preach a sermon before the House of Commons on Christmas Day 1644, the House formally thanking him and asking him to have it printed.

John Langley was a talented school master who had “a very awful presence and speech, that struck a mighty respect and fear in his scholars which however wore off after they were a little used to him.” He had been influential in securing Samuel Cromleholme as master of the Mercers Chapel School in 1644, as his own surmaster at St Pauls School in 1647, as Master of the Free School in Dorchester in 1651 and finally as his successor at St Pauls School in 1657.

During an illness before he died, he had wished to be buried at the school door as a sign of his care for its wellbeing. He died at his house in St. Paul's Churchyard on 13 Sept. 1657 and was buried on 21st September in the Mercers' Chapel. The scholars of the school attended his funeral, walking with white gloves on before the corps (hung with Verses instead of Eschotcheons) from the School through Cheapside to the chapel.

A funeral sermon, subsequently printed ' (on Acts vii. 22), touching the ' Use of Human Learning,' was preached by his friend Dr. Edward Reynolds, Dean of Christ Church, and afterwards Bishop of Norwich. The preacher warmly eulogised Langley's learning and character, and stated that he was so much honoured by the governors that they accepted his recommendation of Samuel Cromleholme as his successor at St. Paul's. He also said of Langley : ....."learned in the whole body of learning; not only an excellent linguist and grammarian, historian, cosmographer, artist and a most judicious divine and a great antiquary"

John Langley was held in high regard by Selden and other contemporaries, Fuller referred to him as an able and religious schoolmaster. He also published several learned books.

Unlike some previous High Masters, Langley was not in debt with the Mercers Company, indeed, he even left bequests to them to buy plate and memorial rings. In his will dated 9 September 1657 (proved on 29 Sept.1658) he had left monies to and mentioned Master Cromlum of Dorchester.  Langley had never married but it appears that he had taken Samuel Cromleholme under his wing not only giving him a good education but also acting as his mentor for most of his career.

(1) Langley funeral sermon frontispiece  and (2) his coat of arms

          

Corpus Christi College Oxford

Corpus Christi College ⁽¹²⁾, Oxford  matriculated 13th November 1635 (aged 17 years).

Graduated BA on 27th June 1639 &  MA in 1642

1639 – Graduated BA from Corpus Christi, Oxford (aged 21)

1639 -  Appears to have taught as a junior teacher at his former school King’s School Gloucester under his former head master John Langley. ⁽¹³⁾  Both were removed after Langley’s stand against Archbishop Laud.

1640 – Noted ⁽¹⁴⁾ as teaching at Huntingdon Grammar School (Cambridgeshire) but as yet not substantiated.
If so, he would have taught Samuel Pepys (1633 – 1703) who he definitely taught later as surmaster at St Pauls School in London (see below). Pepys was sent to St Pauls School in 1646 aged 13.

1642 – Awarded MA from Oxford (aged 24) Presumably whilst possibly at Huntingdon.

1642 -   Oxfordshire & North Berkshire Protestation Returns and tax assessments 1641-42 ⁽¹⁵⁾ record : Crumlum Univ Corp

1642 -  Buckinghamshire contributions for Ireland 1642 ⁽¹⁶⁾ ………”Mr Sam Crumlum  sch” 5s 0d

1644 -   Appointed as Master of The Mercers Chapel School (adjoining Mercers Hall, Cheapside, City
of London) on 21st March 1644.  John Langley as Highmaster of nearby St Pauls School had influence on this appointment. (aged 26)

1647 – Appointed on 19th February as surmaster ⁽¹⁷⁾ at St Pauls School, London under Highmaster John Langley. (aged 29)         Taught Samuel Pepys during this time. (1647 – 1650)

    

It had been founded by John Colet, the son of a prosperous mercer (merchant in textiles & silks) in 1509. Colet was a priest and by 1504 the Dean of St Pauls Cathedral. He was a good friend of Erasmus and his father, who had been Lord Mayor, left him enough wealth to allow him to set up a generous endowment providing places for 153 free scholars.

In 1512, he entrusted the school to the Mercers City Livery Company who have funded and administered the school ever since. The school was immediately to the east of the apse of the cathedral and the Highmaster’s dwelling formed part of the school on the north side. Surmasters had lodgings in the nearby Old Change.

Extract of the Agas Map of London c1570  (the city remained largely the same until the Great Fire in 1666) John Langley was buried in the Mercers Chapel in 1657 and Samuel Cromleholme in 1672. All 3 buildings highlighted were rebuilt after the fire.

Plan of the first school (by unknown author based on John Colet's will of 1514)

From the map and plan above, the school appears to have had a fairly long and low elevation flanked by higher buildings. The master's house (2) had been added in 1510/11 and there was a chapel (3) at the south end. A vacant area (7) between two of the large cathedral buttresses "was the children's pissing place" ! A dwelling for the usher had been built here in 1588 but had been demolished in 1620. The original cathedral school had been above four shops (5). It is probable that the surmaster's lodging had been in the adjacent tenement (4). The school was right in the midst of the city and must have suffered considerable disruption during the Civil War years with troop movements, riots, and the use of the adjacent Cathedral as a shopping area and stabling for the army. In 1648, shortly after Samuel Cromleholme was appointed as surmaster, Oliver Cromwell himself entered the city with some 18,000 troops.

The High Masters Country House

The High Master appears to have had the use of a rather grand house in Stepney, then a village in the countryside outside the city. It was one of several properties that John Colet had left in trust for the school. It had been extensively repaired and rebuilt between 1648 and 1652 but there is no record of John Langley or Samuel Cromleholme actually staying there. The location of the house is not known. In 1528, the house had been used to teach 17 boys during an outbreak of the plague. They had travelled daily from the city and following this precedent, it was resolved that if it was not in use by the High Master, the house should be kept "for teaching the children when the school cannot meet in St Paul's churchyard because of the plague". It is not known why it was not used during the Great Plague of 1665 and after the Great Fire of 1666.

1651 - Appointed schoolmaster of Dorchester Free School (Dorset) again upon Langley’s ⁽¹⁸⁾ recommendation.(aged 33)

“19th September – Mr Gower and Mr Whiteway are desyred to ride to London to treat with Mr Crumlum, and yf they can make an agreement with him to be scolemaster heer, and also yf  he please, to procure an usher to be heer vntill he commeth”

“10th October - Mr Samuel Cromleholme elected schoolmaster, from Michaelmas last.”

“20th October – it is ordered and desired that Mr Mayor ⁽¹⁹⁾ do pay or cause to be payed to Clement Bryne, for the carriage of Mr Cromleholme’s bookes  from London this weeke”

1657 -  2nd October – It is ordered and desired that Mr Cromleholme shall have xxl given to him in consideracion of his repayring the house and building of the new washing house, and of the fruit trees, herbs and flowers in the garden, which  the Company desire may not be wasted nor defaced by the removal of poles, postes or anything else out of the garden.

9th October – Mr Cromleholm came to this company and deliuered up his order of deputacion which he had receiued  for scholemaster, being chosen Scholemaster of Pawles, and desired this company to chose another Scolemaster. 

1657  - 21st October - Appointed Highmaster ⁽²⁰⁾ of St Pauls School, London following John Langley’s death  (aged  39).

Samuel was a great linguist. …..”understanding a great many languages and exceeded his predecessor in that part of  learning, this tribute is borne out by the fact that the adjective plouglottos (= many tongues)was applied to him by his comtemporaries. ⁽²¹⁾ as being  “very curious in books” (“curious” then meaning painstaking and discriminating)

1658 – February 3rd – At the school’s Apposition Court, Samuel was voted in addition to the usual gratuity, a sum of £10
“in regard to the great charge he hath bin at in removing his family out of the country”.

1658 April 1st - Mr Crumlum recorded amongst the trustees of a scheme ⁽²²⁾ for selecting scholars for University Education

1659 – Samuel Cromleholme presented the Bodleian Library in Oxford (Bodl.Auct E ii 20) with a Catena manuscript (a form of Biblical commentary) written probably in Rome in a 16th century hand. Earlier in 1601, it had been given to Dr G Ryves, warden of New College by John Lloyd, Rector of Writtle in Essex. From notes on the flyleaf, it would appear that this manuscript had been part of the spoils of the Earl of Essex’s Spanish expedition in 1596. It is unknown why Samuel presented it or how he had obtained it, although he was known to have procured books from all over Europe. At this time, Samuel was also noted by Samuel Clarke (Architypographus of the Library) as having given Arabic manuscripts to the Bodleian.
Source : A Dictionary of the Bible: Dealing with Its Language, Literature, and Contents, including the Biblical Theology.              By James Hastings & John Selbie   pub 1904

January 25th – “Feast of the Scholars” held for the first time at the school

February 2nd -  Again  granted £10 “in regard of his eminent rare and great paines in the schoole the year past”
                Sir Richard Wood’s scholarship was founded at St John’s College, Cambridge

1660 -  February- Similar grant  “in regard to his abundant care and pains”

April 23rd – Coronation of King Charles II – St Pauls School had  a puritan outlook and it was not it’s pupils who presented an address to the King as he came through St Pauls churchyard. The school had however presented a bible at the King’s public entry to London.

1661 – February   - Similar grant “for full satisfaction of Mr Crumlum’s extraordinary pains and diligence”

Dr Samuel Knight had preserved a collection of school and college exercises intending to print them as an appendix to his edition on John Strype who had been one Samuel Cromleholme’s pupils.  Styrpe had later edited and updated Stow’s Survey of London. He related that .. there is a copy of Latin Alcaics in imitation of Horace, which his master Crumeholm loved to talk of and commend, often telling him “I shall never forget the ode you made in such a place” pointing to some particular seat in a form he had been in”.

1661 - 10th July Samuel Cromleholme MA licensed as a schoolmaster :
"Licensed to teach privately and publicly in any place within the province of Canterbury" William Juxon, Canterbury      (source CCEd Record ID 306784)

1661 -   In his 1720 edition of  Stow’s Survey, John Strype he mentions Samuel Cromleholme again ……”from whose care of my education which I think myself bound publickly to acknowledge I removed to the University of Cambridge anno 1661”. Strype had been placed in the Highmaster’s class and was nearly expelled by the surmaster whilst Cromleholme was out. Cromleholme later called him back and the surmaster told not to meddle with him. Samuel also made efforts to arrange exhibitions for able poor boys and generally seems to have been a benevolent master and certainly not a "flogger" like some of his predecessors.

1662 – February5th – Grant increased to £11 “in regards of his extraordinary  paines and care and the dearnesse
of graine”

August 7th – recorded ⁽²³⁾ as “Coadjutor” of Colet School near St Pauls (principal praeceptor)

1663 – February – again granted £11 in “regard to his outstanding paines and care in the schoole”

1664 – February – Grant increased to £12 “in regard to his extraordinary paines and care in the schoole”

Plague of London 1665

1665  - Midsummer’s Day - St Pauls School closed due the Plague.  Samuel remains in the school cataloging his books and library.⁽²⁴⁾ (aged 47) . The school remained closed for 8 months and reopened after a meeting held on 9th February 1666.

1666 – Hearth Tax for St Faith under St Pauls   “Paules Churchyeard east syde”  Samuell Cromleholme – 12 Hearths for Paules School.  (Listing status  : S  = single standalone)

1666 - 7th September - St Pauls School lost during the Great Fire. Samuel (aged 48) loses reputably the largest private Library in London⁽²⁵⁾.  His library books had been stored together with many booksellers stock in the crypt of St Pauls (the original cathedral abutted the school to the west). One account relates that the books survived the fire but being very hot all burst into flames when the doors were opened and the fresh air flowed in.

However, Pepys describes the roof collapsing and in turn destroying the roof of the crypt below (see under Pepys 1666 below)

Bagford relates⁽²⁶⁾ …..”We have seen outher fernald (fine) Library withen ye Waulds (walls ?) of ye Citey as that of St Poules Scoale by Dr Deane Colet and since rebuilte by ye Company of Mercers. Ye founder left to them many good books which fild  ther library, both MSS and printed books most of them grammatical learning in Hebrew, Greke and Latin, which ware destroyed in ye late dreadful fire with those of ye Headmaster Mr Cromleholme a rayer collection of classacks and ye best impressions and editions printed by Aldus, Juntine, Greftons, Stephenenses, Elzevars, neatly bound and perhaps at that time of  day was of ye best for a privet in or about London”

And ye losse of these books I verily believe shortned his days for he was a grate lover of his books and spared for no cost fpr ye procuring them from all parts of Europe. Herethen I say have bin furnished with all sorts of Editions, Dicksinaries and Gramersin Hebrew Calde, Greeke, and Latten, for the use of the scholars of yer upper Schoole”

At the time of the Great Fire, the principal bookseller’s shops were in St Paul’s Churchyard and Pepys often relates visits when wanting either a new or old book. It was estimated that bookseller’s losses due to the Fire amounted to some £150,000 (1660’s values) and many were completely ruined. In 1667, Pepys relates how book prices had greatly increased noting a book previously costing 8s being on sale for 55s.

Pepys also records that Robert Scott, one of London’s largest booksellers ran an international operation with “warehouses in London, Frankfort, Paris and other places and dealt by factors”. It is probable that Samuel Cromleholme also had many dealings with such booksellers and presumably was able to procure books etc via such international factors. From his probate inventory taken in 1673, it is evident that even after having lost his library in the Great Fire, he had been spending considerable sums on books :
Item - a study of books priced by Mr Kotley, a bookseller worth         £100 - 00 - 00

1666     After the Great Fire, Samuel teaches from a temporary school in Wandsworth⁽²⁷⁾ Permission was given to the three masters to seek other employment on the understanding that they would return to duty when the new school was opened.

Samuel and his staff were very fortunate in having the Mercers as generous employers as in addition to the above understanding  …….during the time of the school’s cessation they shall quarterly receive the salary⁽²⁸⁾ appointed them by the founder together with their liverys. This resulted in Samuel's annual salary being drastically reduce by about 80% to only £34 3s 4d

1666 - 26th December - A letter written by Samuel Cromleholme whilst temporarily running his school in Wandsworth (south of the Thames). The letter is written to Thomas Bradshaw concerning a youth whom he commends as well fitted for university and benefiting by the Dean of St Paul's. This letter is firm evidence of Samuel's temporary living in Wandsworth but it does not give his address.

" Wandfworth, December ye 26 1666

Worthy Sir, I thank you for your compassion, which I am sure is not ill placed as to my own particular, whatever the public detriment (as you call it) may be, by this suspicion of him, who has painfully, and (I thank God) I hope not wholly unsuccessfully served in his calling. And yet this adds to my private calamity also. I very much commend your address to the Rightworthy and Reverend Mr Dean of St Paul's. All the world of learned men are sufficiently assured that no person is more able to judge of fitness for ye University than himself. But I apprehend Mr Dean would hereby evidence that his nomination or presentation to a preferment should be warranted by something more than that of ability. Which is the best commendation of all.

In every deed I have had so good proof of ye youth's both parts, industry and affection to learning that (considering the great interruption of his studies in our court of discipline) I shall not receive any prejudice, if I tell you , that I judge it now more moot to dispose of him to the University as soon as may be with safety than to stay longer, so that I have good hopes he will not prove undeserving of Mr Dean's charity, or my expectations. Sir I pray you to keep this letter, yet it may reproach the lad if he should come short. I hope to be in town shortly, and if I come, you may hear of me at Mr William Willis's in Little Britain. My due respects to good Mrs Spinedge with my wife's, to whom with yourself and Anthony I heartily with all comforts, encouragements and happiness in the quality of Sir
Your friend ? & ...servant ?
Sam: Cromleholme."

Outer part of letter (ie it would appear to have been folded instead of being put in an envelope). It was presumably hand delivered.

"To my worthy good friend Mr Thos : Bradshaw
?.....nigh Aldgate at his mother's house in London"

Little Britain was an area in the centre of the City of London with Christ Church School and St. Bartholomew's Hospital to the west and Smithfield and Long Lane to the north. The part extract of the letter below gives us Samuel's handwriting, his signature and the fact that he spelt his surname "Cromleholme"

Extract from the above letter showing Samuel's signature

1670 -  Samuel Cromleholme is noted in a book entitled “A new Torch to the Latin Tongue” published by Paul P. Jasz-Berenyi, from Transylvania being printed and sold in London in 1670 Nath. Brooke of the Angel in Cornhill.

The author promotes his book ……."So enlightned, that besides the easie understanding of all Classical Authors, there is also laid open A ready way to write and speak Latine well and elegantly. Being very useful for Gentlemen, Lawyers, and young Clerks, and all others: either for Englishmen that desire to better their Knowledge in the Latine Tongue, or for Strangers to learn or speak English”

The author also mentions his patrons to further promote his work ….."From the British are to name Edm. Castell, famous orientalist, a principal associate at the Biblia Polyglotta by Walton, Sam. Cromleholme, Head Master of St. Paul's school, the lexicographer Adam Littleton, the astronomer John Goad, the mathematician Thomas Branker, etc All of them, authorities in the areas of a subject, speak of the works Jász Berényi with the warmest appreciation and hope that it may be found in the English school the greatest proliferation.”

1671    28th March - The new St Paul’s School ⁽²⁹⁾ opens on approximately it’s former site close to St Pauls Cathedral ⁽³⁰⁾ (aged 53)

   

In his well Survey of London, John Strype, who had been one of Samuel's pupils in the new school, gives the following descriptions :
At the upper end of the School, facing to the Door, was a decent Cathedra, or Chair placed, somewhat advanced, for the high Master to sit in, when he pleased, and to teach and dictate there. And over it was a lively Effigies, (and of exquisite Art) of the Head of Dr. Colet (see 2.9) , cut (as it seemed) either in Stone or Wood with the inscription,
" Intendas animum studiis et rebus honestis."  (fix the mind on virtuous studies and matters)

He also notes the " large and elegant apartments " of the high master, and the rather stern inscription above the school  room doorway  “Doce Disce aut Discede " (Prove that you can learn or leave)

He also notes that underneath this ....since the rebuilding of the school by the Mercers, for ever grateful Remembrance, were these Lines added, composed, I conjecture, by Mr Crumleholm, then the worthy Master :
"Ad seræ Posteritatis imitationem, æternitatem Famæ suæ; Post luctuosam Urbis Londinensis deflagrationem M Dc Lxvi, amplissima MERCERORUM Societas Fidem Fundatori MAKAPITHTO, datam sanctissimè per solvens, Scholam hanc de integro extruendam instaurandamque, curavit: Perfecitq; Dno. RICHARDO FORD Equite, Urbis Præfecto, Custode vero, totiusq; Negotii assiduo diligentissimoq; Procuratore, Dno. ROBERT WARE. Dignos laude Viros Musa vetat mori".

This is obviously recording the loss of the first school during the Great Fire and thanking the Mercers Company who, not only owned the site and rebuilt the school, but had financed and managed it since its founding by John Colet. Sir Richard Ford was a Sheriff of the City of London in 1666 and a prominent liveryman of the Mercers Company serving as Lord Mayor in 1670.  Robert Ware was probably another Mercer involved in the school rebuilding. Another version of this presumably now lost inscription also names Richard Clutterbuck as Master of the Company.

The second school was designed by Edward Jarman an architect who had worked extensively for the Mercers Company. He did not live to see the school completed as he died in November1668.

Plan of the second school designed by Edward Jarman

1672     6th February – Apposition Court. “The Court considering the great pains of Mr Cromleholme since the instaurcon (sic) of the schole gave him an opposition grant of £50 for his encouragement.”

1672 -   19th February - A letter written by Thomas Greenfield to Roger Kenyon ⁽³¹⁾ on 20th February relates :

According as you desired, I give you the accompt, touching the Doctor’s reception of Elisha Chew. Yesterday, Dr Frankland went with myselfe and Mr Eilliam Clayton alongt with the boy to Dr Cromleholme, who readily gave the child, and us, a very free and welcome entertaynement; and to be short, he gave us, order to remember his love to the boy’s mother, and lett her know from him that he received her boy as his owne, and that (by God’s blessing) give him learning and send him to Oxford, and that he doubted not of friends to gett him preferment there.

He called upp his wife, and said “sweetheart you must take this child as myne and yours” which she denyed not, but asked her husband who he was like; he would have her judgement first, whereupon she sayd the boy was very like a brother of hers, and he concurred with her in the matter. He was very glad the boy was past the measles and small pockes. After we had drunk a glass or two of ayle about, he layd his hand on the boye’s head and blessed him saying “the Lord Almighty bless thee and not only give the wisedom and learning, but his grace alsoe”.

Upon which, other company comeinge to him, wee took our leave and departed; and to-morrow morning, I am to goe, with the boy, to him, and carry with him, his cloathes. And this is all, save that Mr Edward Bradhill writt to Dr Frankland, that one of Mr Cromleholme’s name, was likewise coming upp, by which Dr Frankland had thought of some fowle play in the case, and found a little fault with me, that I did not come to him sooner; which I had done, had not his friends desired me to keepe him aweeke and buy him cloathes. But all is well. ……………

Another letter was also written to Roger Kenyon on the same day by another of the party, Dr J Frankland, who visited Samuel with the Elisha Chew.  This adds a little more detail and refers to Samuel as an "old man" perhaps reflecting the fact that he was not in the best of health.

I hope this will have ye good fortune ....(tear in paper) ... safe to your hands though my last to you did miscarry yours in behalfe of little Chew. I received (?) and was in expectation of him every day since ye receipt of it and so much ye more in regard I had ...... yet one of Mr Crumleholme's name was comeing up to him therefore we might not be disappointed I went beforehand to Mr Crumleholme to find how ye matter was and upon enquiry he freely let me yet he had notice of such  a one; but yet he was fixed and resolved for his little kinsman who since has arrived and was entertained by ye old man with us much kindness  and ....... as if he had beene his owne child but ye particulars I leave to Will Clayton to relate to you who was present when I presented him to Mr Crumleholme; I'm sure ye boy cannot miscarry if he is not wanting to himselfe and so much for this affayre. ..............   I am your affectionate J Franckland                                      Source Lancashire Record Office (Kenyon of Peel papers ref DDKE/9/43/19)

Roger Kenyon (1627 - 1698)
(from Judges Lodgings Museum of Lancaster)

Samuel's relationship with Elisha Chew when resolved, may assist in locating his father's (Rev Richard Cromleholme) family in Lancashire. The Chew family were landowners near Whalley / Wilpshire in Lancashire with the Kenyon Family being the local gentry family of the area in the C17th.

Further information is given after Samuel's death by his widow Mary Cromleholme in his probate documents which records her spending £15 to fulfil Samuel's wish to "plan him (Elisha) out in the world".

......the said Samuel Cromleholme did, while he lived in his lifetime, keep in his house one Elisha Chew his kinsman being a youth about thirteen years of age who he sent for to come unto him out of Lancashire, and did declare in his lifetime that he would plan him out in the world to some .... ?, and that he dying before he did the same this accomptant finish his wish ? did plan him out which cost her fifteen pounds.

To date, no further record of Elisha Chew (born c1659) has been found except for a person of his name appearing in early records in North America. It is possible that he went to the English colonies with Mary Nicholson (Samuel's elder sister's daughter).

1672 – 21st July - Samuel dies (aged 54) (see further details below)

3) Famous Pupils:     (Return to Content Listing)

3.1) At Gloucester : (c1639)   If Samuel did teach in his old school (as a junior teacher under his head teacher John Langley) there are no records of any famous pupils.

3.2) At Huntington : (c1640 – 42). If Samuel did teach at this school for a few years, it is almost certain that he taught Samuel Pepys (1633 – 1703) as a young boy (aged 7 years). He definitely taught Pepys later as surmaster at St Pauls School in London (see below). Pepys was sent to St Pauls School in 1646 aged 13 – perhaps because Samuel Cromleholme was known to his family ?

3.3) At Dorchester : (1651-1657)

Before leaving Dorchester, Samuel had managed, from little foundation, to build up the school to such an extent that during the concluding years of his mastership, his pupils were able to avail themselves of a university education. Although he may well have sent pupils elsewhere, it would seem that St John's College, Cambridge had become the school's "tradition”.

There are four entries recorded in the Admission Registers of the College which is a remarkable number from a school of its size:

21st  May 1655. Humphrey Gower (native) of Brampton Bryan Herts (Picture left) , son of Stanley Gower, clerk, bred at Dorchester for 3 years, Pensioner, aet 17. He had previously been taught by Samuel at St Pauls in London, his father knowing John Langley well.  Gower became Master of St John’s College Cambridge. In his will of 1708, he left an exhibition to St John’s College Cambridge for boys of both his old schools in Dorchester and St Pauls School.

27th  June 1655 Stephen Torrington, of Dorchester, son of John Torrington, clothier (pannifici), bred at Dorchester for 3 years, admitted sizar, aet 18. (sizar = undergraduate receiving assistance on the grounds of poverty)

3rd  July 1656 Harry Henley (native of) Co Devon, son of Henry Henley, gent, of Colway in Line, Dorset, school Dorchester for 2 years, aet 16. (admitted fellow commoner 11 Nov 1659)

2nd  April 1657 William Gould, of Dorchester, Dorset, son of James Gould, merchant (mercatoris): bred at Dorchester for 7 years. Pensioner, aet 18  (also scholar and later fellow - died 4/7/1690)

Thomas Guidot (1638- 1705) (“Physician and Chymist Contributor to the Analysis of mineral water”) is noted as having been educated at Dorchester under Samuel Cromleholme and became a commoner at Wadham College, Oxford in 1658. He graduated BA in 1659 and MA in 1662. See notes under Guidott family above.

As mentioned briefly before he had strong west country connections. Born in 1650 at Ashe in Devon at the seat of Sir John Drake, his maternal grandfather where his father Sir Winston Churchill lived in retirement during the Protectorate. After the Restoration Sir Winston returned to his Dorset manor of Mintern which is only 9 miles from Dorchester.

Having moved to London, early in 1664 he sent his son to be educated by Samuel Cromleholme at St Pauls School, almost certainly because of his past record  in Dorchester. John Churchill left St Pauls to enter the Household of James Duke of York as a page in 1666.

Sir Winston Churchill (20th century) quotes a letter of his widow, Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough (in 1774) in which she speaks of the Duke as having been "whipt at St Pauls School for not reading his Book" Whether or not Samuel Cromleholme had carried out this punishment is not known!

……."There is also a tradition in the school that during his time there, he showed leanings to his future career by reading and re-reading the four volumes of the classic Roman military guide “De re inilitari.” (concerning military matters) written by the 4th century Roman Publius Flavius Vegetius.”

Later the infamous "Judge Jeffreys".  He entered the school about 1659 & "applied himself with considerable diligence to Greek and Latin". He was Lord Chief Justice of the King’s Bench during which time the now famous The Bloody Assizes; took place following the Monmouth Rebellion.  At Dorchester in September 1685, 74 of the 312 tried were executed, the rest being  transported to the West Indies.  He was later appointed as Lord Chancellor, a post he held for 37 years.

Link to postcard showing Judge Jeffreys Lodgings in Dorchester circa 1894-1910

Link to the Life of Judge Jeffries 1st Baron Jeffreys of Wem

John Fuller :  Son of Thomas Fuller the author of   "The Worthies".

Samuel Bradford :  Bishop first of Carlisle and then of Rochester, and Dean of Westminster.

George Doddington :  Lord of the Admiralty, patron of letters, and builder of Eastbury at Tarrant  Gunville in Dorset.

It is thought that he attended the school during Samuel's time. He became Governor of  Fort St George now known as Madras. He was a great benefactor to the College at New Haven, Connecticut, which became the University in Massachusetts that adopted his name.

An ultra-protestant divine who was said to have done more than any man to pave the way for the revolution which placed William and Mary on the throne in 1688.

There were seven Campden Exhibitions awarded during Samuel’s 15 years, with the Pauline Exhibition being awarded often between 1657 and 1665. Nearly 40 of his pupils received Exhibitions and at least 60 proceeded to Oxford or Cambridge (less than 20 going to Oxford).

Born 8/11/1656 in Haggerston, Shoreditch, London son of a soap maker also called Edmund Halley. Soap was becoming very fashionable at this time and Edmund senior became very wealthy. Although suffering great losses during the Fire of London, he could still afford to send his son to St Paul’s School. Edmund junior obviously did well at the school under Samuel Cromleholme and it would appear that St Pauls played a part in nurturing this now world famous astronomer……

... equally distinguished in classics and mathematics,rose to be captain of the school at fifteen, constructed dials, observed the change in the variation of the compass, and studied the heavens so closely that it was remarked by Moxon the globe maker 'that if a star were displaced in the globe he would presently find it out'.

In 1673, aged 17, he went up to Oxford (Queen's College) seemingly already an experienced astronomer and armed with instruments provided by his father. He later played important roles in the Royal Society with amongst others Isaac Newton. He studied a comet (that now famously bears his name) which had appeared in 1682. He realised that it was the same one that had appeared in 1531 and 1607 and that it was periodic.  It appeared again on Christmas Day 1758 only slightly later than he had predicted after complex calculations made in 1705. He died 14th January 1742.

As noted above, Samuel Cromleholme taught Pepys during his time as surmaster and perhaps before at Huntington school. Pepys attended the school from 1644 to 1650.

Edward Cocker : (1631-1675) He was an "unruly" usher of the school probably appointed by Samuel Cromleholme and twice disposed for his extreme opinions and twice restored for his marvellous teaching talents. He was probably the best known English writing master of the period.

He was a gifted engraver and calligrapher and his books gave much very practical advice. A well known phrase "according to Cocker" referred to his popular and well known arithmetic textbooks (his name was proverbial for precision). He engraved a slide rule for Samuel Pepys in 1664. He is said to have died of drinking brandy in excess!!

Nathaniel Bull : was the surmaster for most of Samuel's time at the school. He had been captain of Westminster and a student of Christ Church. He was appointed as headmaster of Leicester Grammar School in 1667 on the recommendation of Samuel Cromleholme (whilst St Pauls was being rebuilt after the great fire).

He resigned due to ill health a couple of years later and returned to St Paul's after it was rebuilt. He died sometime before Midsummer 1672 having been in poor health. He had been a candidate just before his death for the Highmastership following Samuel's death.

John Mason : was the "under Usher or Chaplin" throughout Samuel's time. He had graduated from Clare Hall, Cambridge and was appointed in 1647 and worked for 10 years under John Langley. He worked under Samuel's successor (Gale) for three and half years before resigning due to age.

The staff taught mainly orally, the boys had few books and certainly no desks. The high Master's seat was at the southern end of the large schoolroom. This had no bays or recesses although it could be subdivided by means of curtains. Every boy did have a seat on regularly ascending tiers. The Head Boy in each class sat in the gangway. There was a Chapel at the southern end of the building.

It seems that pupils at St Paul's School were encouraged to keep a diary and this may have been one reason that Pepys started his in 1660. Pepys had decided to keep his diary secret and record intimate experiences as well as everyday events at home and work. He also liked to record his increasing wealth starting with mere £25 in 1660 and being worth some £10,000 a decade later when the Diary ends.

He used shorthand to further hide the contents of the Diary, probably learning this as a fashionable craze during his time at Magdalene College, Cambridge. Thomas Sheldon's first published his Short Writing in 1626 and it was improved and reprinted several times later being retitled Tachygraphy. It was relatively slow compared with later methods of shorthand but Pepys wrote his Diary immaculately as speed was not a requirement.

Samuel Pepys (1633 - 1703) had started at St Paul's School in 1644 and left in 1650 with the Robinson Exhibition and studied at Trinity Hall, Magdalene College, Cambridge (1651 – 1654).  After taking his BA in 1654, he become secretary to Edward Mountagu in Whitehall Palace and was then appointed clerk to George Downing, Teller of the Receipt in the Exchequer. He married Elizabeth St Michel in St Margaret's Westminster on 1st  December 1655. Having been operated on "for the stone" in 1658 he moved to Axe Yard in 1658. He carried letters to Mountagu in the Baltic.

He started the now famous Diary ⁽³²⁾ on 1st January 1660, and in April/May of the same year accompanied Mountagu' s fleet to Holland to bring over Charles II. He was appointed Clerk of the Acts to the Navy Board on 29th June. He was sworn in as Mountagu' s deputy as clerk in the Privy Seal Office on 23rd July. Pepys was sworn in as a J P on 24th September.   The first entry concerning Pepys' old Surmaster Samuel Cromleholme occurs:

24th January 1660 ……"After this, taking leave, I went to my father's; and my wife staying there, he & I to speak with Mr Crumlum (in the meantime, while it was 5 o'clock, he being in the school, we went to my cosen Tom Pepys' shop, the-turner in Paul's Churchyard, and drank with him a pot of ale: Mr Crumlum gave my father directions what to do about getting my brother (John) an Exhibition, and spoke very well of my brother."

7th February 1660 : "………then went to Paul's School; but it being too soon, I went & drank my morning draught with my cosen Tom Pepys the turner and saw his house and shop. Thence to school, where he that made the speech for the Seventh Form, in praise of the Founder, did show me a book* which Mr Crumlum had lately got, which is believed to be of the Founder's own writing. After all the speeches in which my brother John came off as well as any of the rest I went straight home and dined.. "   (* the book mentioned cannot be identified and therefore is thought to have perished in the fire)

23rd December 1660 : ….."I took coach and lighting at my booksellers in St Paul's Churchyard I met there with Mr Crumlum, and the second master of Paul's School, and thence I took them to the Starr, and there we sat and talked, and I had great pleasure in their company, and very glad I was of meeting him so accidentally, I having omitted too long to go to see him. Here in discourse I did offer to give the schoole what book he would choose of £5. So we parted and I home."

27th December 1660 : …”In the morning to my booksellers to bespeak a Stephen's Thesaurus for which I offer 4£, to give to Paul's Schoole. And thence to Pauls church & there I heard Dr Gunning preach. Here I met with Mr Crumlum and told him of my endeavours to get Stephen's Thesaurus for the school."

21st July 1662 : ….."Here I drink wine and eat some fruit off the trees and he (Capt Cockes) showed me a great rarity which was two or three of a great number of Silver dishes and plates which he brought of an Embassador that did lack in money. In the edfe or rim of which was placed silver and gold medals, very ancient and I believe writ, which if they be, they are the greatest rarities that ever I saw in my life - & I will show Mr Crumlum them."

However Pepys' high opinion of his schoolmaster received a shock - the nature of which is surprising, in view of what is known of Pepys' own convival habits!!:

17th September 1662: ………………………"After dinner Mr Moore and I about three 0' clock to Pauls school to wait upon Mr Crumlum (Mr Moore having a hopeful lad, a kinsman of his, there at school); who we take very luckily and went up to his chamber with him, where there was also an old fellow student of Mr Crumlum's one Mr Newell come to see him, of whom he made so much, and of me, that the truth is, he with kindness did drink more than I believe he used to do, and did begin to be a little impertinent - the more when, after all, he would in the evening go forth with us, and give us a bottle of wine abroad. And at the taverne met an acquaintance of his that did occasion impertinent discourse, that though I honour the man and he doth declare abundance of learning and worth, yet I confess my opinion is much lessened of him. And therefore let it be a caution to myself not to love drink, since it hath such it has an such an affect upon others of greater worth in my own esteem. I could not avoid drinking five glasses this afternoon with him. And after I had parted with him (& following another drinking bout with other friends in the evening I!)……."and so Mr Moore and I to bed and neither of us well pleased with our afternoon's work, merely from our being witnesses to Mr Crumlum's weakness."

What the "impertinence" was, of which Samuel Cromleholme had been guilty, is not known. Evidently it was something which hurt his former pupil's feelings perhaps an occurrence of his schooldays which was embarrassing in front of the others. This passage is often quoted on the internet and people have even branded Samuel Cromleholme very unfairly as a “comic drunk” !!                  However Pepys soon forgot this it seems:

4th February 1663 : “Up earely and to Mr Moore, and thence to Mr Lovell about my law business, and from him to Pauls Schoole, it being opposicion Day there. I heard some of their speeches, and they were just as schoolboys used to be, of the seven Liberall Sciences; but I think not so good as ours were in our time.  Away thence and to Bow Church and back again to Pauls schoole and went to see the head forms posed in Latin, Greek and Hebrew, but I think they do not answer in any so well as we did; only in Geography they did pretty well. Dr Wilkins and Outram* were examiners. So down to the school, where Mr Crumlum did me much honour by telling many what a present I had made to the school, showing my Stephanus in four volumes, cost me 4£ 10s. He also showed us upon my deseire an old edicion of the grammmer of Colletts - where his epistle to the children is very pretty. And in rehearsing the creed it is said "borne of the cleane Virgin Mary."
(* Dr Outram was also painted by Mary Beale; Dr Wilkins was a mathematician & a founder of the Royal Society later Bishop of Chester).

11th May 1663 : .................. I called upon Mr Crumlum, and did give him the 10s. remaining not laid out of the £5 I promised him for the school, with which he will buy strings, and golden letters upon the books I did give them. I sat with him and his wife a great while talking; and she is [a] pretty woman, never with child, and methinks looks as if her mouth watered now and then upon some of her boys"

4th February 1664 : ….Up and to the office, where after a while setting, I left the board upon pretence of serious business and by coach to Pauls schoole, where I heard some good speeches of the boys that were to be elected this year. Thence by and by with Mr Pullen and Banes with several other of my oId acquaintance to the Nags Head tavern and there did give them a bottle of sack; and away again and I to the school and up to hear the upper form examined; and there was kept by very many of the Mercers, Clutterbucke, Barker, Harrington, and others, and with great respect used by them all and had a noble dinner. ……………..Here they tell me that in Dr Colett's Will he says that he would have a master found for the school that hath good skill in Latin and (if it could be) one that had some knowledge of the Greeke; so little was Greek known here at that time. Dr Wilkins and one Mr Smallwood, posers. After great pleasure there, and especially to [hear] Mr Crumlum so often to tell of my being a benefactor to the school - I to my booksellers"  

(a little flattery obviously worked wonders on Samuel Pepys!!)

10th August 1664:   Pepys visits Edward Cocker (usher of Pauls School) the famous writing master to get him to “engrave tables upon my new sliding rule"

9th March 1665 :............. "and set down at Paules schoole, where I visited Mr Crumlum at his house. And Lord! to see how ridiculous a conceited pedagogue he is, though a learned man, he being so dogmaticall in all he doth and says. But among other discourse, we fall to the old discourse of Pauls Schoole; and he did, upon my declaring my value of it, give me one of Lillys grammer of a very old impression, as it was in the Catholique times;  ("In usum, antiquae et celebris scholae") which I shall much set by.     And so after some small discourse, away…….         "

Pepys had admired this volume at an earlier Apposition, and by which he declared he would set much store. The volume is now preserved in the Pepys library at Magdalene.

The last entry concerning Samuel Cromleholme (Crumlum) was shortly after the great fire:

26th September 1666 : ...... "But here by Mr Dugdale (bookseller) I hear the great loss of books in st Pauls churchyard, and their hall also – which they value at about 150000£; some booksellers being wholly undone; and among others, they say, my poor Kirton (one of his booksellers). And Mr Crumlum, all his books and household stuff burned; they  trusting to St Fayths ⁽³³⁾ , and the roof of the church falling, broke the arch down into the lower church and so all the goods burned - a very great loss."

Although Pepys died much later in 1703, he stopped writing his now famous diary in 1669. As the school was temporarily disbanded and Samuel Cromleholme moved the Wandsworth, they presumably had less contact with one another after the fire.

Mary Beale

Horace Walpole in his Anecdotes of Painting (3rd Edition Vol III  p129) of 1768 records a portrait by Mary Beale ⁽³⁴⁾ of Mr Crumholem (sic) and a footnote noted that the portrait was still at Melbury House near Evershot in Dorset in 1762.

Unfortunately this portrait cannot now be traced despite extensive enquiries ⁽³⁵⁾ by several persons and experts over the years.  However, there is proof that the portrait was painted by Mary Beale and its patron as George Virtue ⁽³⁶⁾ had transcribed Mary Beale’s notebooks and records :

1672        23.July  received of Coll Strangeways ⁽³⁷⁾ for Dr Pierces, Dr Cradocks, Dr Tillotson,
Dr Stillingfleet   Mr Crumholmes pictures  25”. – 0 – 0.

In a further list, he records pictures done from the Life by Mrs Beal since 1671/2

July :       Dr Pierces picture copied
                Dr Cradocks
                Dr Tillotson
Aug :       Dr Stillingfleet
                Mr Cromholmes

This entry is followed immediately by Dr Outrams & Dr Patricks but is not clear whether Col Strangeways had commissioned these. A portrait of Col Strangeways himself is recorded later in December 1672 and the latter is the only Mary Beale portrait remaining at Melbury today.

Except for Samuel Cromleholme, the above sitters were all Doctors of Divinity (DD – known as Divines). Some knew Samuel well and it may be that Samuel knew Strangeways from his time in Dorset.

Some brief details on the other sitters are :

Dr Pierce DD was a celebrated preacher, chaplain to the King and later a canon at Canterbury.

Dr Craddock DD was provost at Eton and a distant relative of Mary Beale

Dr Tillotson DD was chaplain to the King and was elected to the Royal Society in 1672. He became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1691.

Dr Stillingfleet DD born in Cranborne, Dorset in1635 and graduated from St Johns College, Cambridge in 1649. Dean of St Pauls in 1679.

Dr Patrick DD, son of a mercer, Rector of St Pauls Convent Garden for 30 years and finally appointed Bishop of Ely.

Dr Owtram DD. Held a living in the city of London and Pepys notes him as an examiner on the Apposition day 4th February 1663

It is probable that the portrait was freshly painted in August 1672 and a replica of a slightly earlier one painted from the life as Samuel had died 21st July 1672. Mary Beale rarely took more than three days to paint a head and shoulders portrait. It would have probably had a painted stone coloured oval frame incorporating fruit with the actual painting fairly monochrome in colour. 

Almost certainly during his time in Dorchester (1651-7), Samuel married Mary, (b 1624) daughter of Richard Bury who, during his time as Mayor, had been involved in seeking a master for the town’s 'Free School'. He had been made a feoffee of the school on 9th October 1647.

Although no marriage record has been located (due to Civil War period), Samuel is mentioned as a son-in-law and an executor in her father’s will of 1661. Richard Bury died in 1662 in London in his seventies and may have then been living with or near his daughter.

In his now famous Diary, Samuel Pepys pays Mary Cromleholme a rather backhanded compliment ….

11th May 1663 --- I called upon Mr Crumlum, and did give him the 10s remaining not laid out of the £5 I promised him for the school, with which he will buy strings and golden letters upon the books I did give them.  I sat with him and his wife a great while talking; and she is [a] pretty woman, never with child, and methinks looks as if her mouth watered now and then upon some of her boys”

A former pupil, John Strype recorded…”he dyed a Married Man, but without Children. From whose Care of my Education, (which I think my self bound publickly to acknowledge) I removed to the University of Cambridge, Anno 1661.”

Mary would have been 48 years old at the date of her husband’s death.  The Court of Assistants passed a resolution on 5th August 1672 remitting the duties (dues) of her husband’s burial in the chapel.

Mary’s father Richard Bury was born between 1580/9 in Melcombe Regis, Weymouth son of William Bury and Elizabeth (nee Samwayes). Like his father before him, Richard was a grocer and apothecary. He married Dorothy Dashwood (b approx 1605) daughter of Edmund Dashwood ⁽³⁸⁾ .

Richard had a total of seven children although it is possible that his first wife died after his daughters were born and that his sons were born later to his second wife :

Dorothy Bury          b 1620                                                    and some 8 years later :
Sarah Bury              b 1622                                                    Phineas Bury           b 1634
Mary Bury            b 1624 ⁽³⁹⁾                                               John Bury               b 1636
Elizabeth Bury         b 1626                                                    Thomas Bury          b 1638

1622        Richard Bury recorded as a capital Burgess
                Richard Bury (Burie)’s signature :                                                                        

1627        Constables Richard Bury & Richard Williams both men of puritan sympathies.

1640        Richard Bury elected feoffee of Dorchester Free School 24 Mar 1640/1. Also Mayor of Dorchester 1640/1

1644        As the county treasurer Richard Bury, was one of the few who did well out of the war, but he had unusual opportunities. 

1647        Dennis Bond MP for Dorchester subscribed 2000 pounds for the Irish adventure at the request and in trust for assigned land in Ireland. Between 1655 and 1659, Richard Bury and John Whiteway were assigned land in the Barony of Kenry, Co. Limerick in the NE and SE quarters. ⁽⁴¹⁾
 
1648        A new volunteer force raised.  John Whiteway & Richard Bury were among the officers who marched with it towards Shaftesbury on 15th July. Both still enthusiastic Puritans in 1648 but it appears that they less keen after execution of Charles I.

1649        White’s successor, Stanley Gower arrived in Dorchester shortly after the king’s execution but he loathed the radicals who had thrown his world into chaos.

When asked to take a new loyalty oath in 1649, Richard Bury & John Bushrod subscribed “in this sense only, that I will live peaceably under this present power and obey them in lawful things”.

1650/1     Elected mayor of Dorchester once more. Samuel Cromleholme becomes Head master of the Free School.

1653        In April 1653, Cromwell became Lord Protector and the corporation was under pressure to get rid of possible dissidents in 1654. Philip Stansby (a grocer who had been Richard Bury’s apprentice) replaced Gould.  Later local gentry were rounded up and Sir John Strangeways was jailed for a short time.

1659        After Cromwell’s death in January 1659, the corporation felt vulnerable – Bury & Savage were both well into their seventies.For a brief moment, Dorchester had something like a municipal health service. Doctors and apothecaries received money for treating the poor. Richard Bury and a new apothecary Richard Atkins provided medicines.

1661        Richard Bury died between 1st April & 1st October in London (probably living with his son-in-law Samuel C & his daughter Mary). Link to transcription of his will ⁽⁴²⁾ which was proved 25 Oct 1661. He nominates Samuel Cromleholme along with his three other son-in-laws as overseers of his will together with a gift of 40s each to buy rings in remembrance of him. There is a large schedule of debts "to be paid by my trustees" amounting to nearly £3000. Amongst these is   "To Samuel Cromleholme by Christ £200".  This debt appears to have remained unpaid even at his daughter Mary Cromleholme's death in 1692.
In two memorandums added in April 1661 (a month after the will was made) he mentions a court judgement obtained against his son-in-law William White for £4000 debt plus costs and also his son John's intended marriage to Mary Toldervy of Dorchester. It is not known if this great sum was actually paid and what affect it had on family relationships.

1664        Richard Bury’s sons Phineas (Rector of Southrop, Gloucestershire) and John were assigned land in Ireland in 1664. John Bury married Ann Bascombe and their son Richard Cromleholme Bury was born 24th October 1664 and baptised 8th November in St Peter’s Church Dorchester.

He married Esther (d/o David Sollom) in Dublin on 23rd February 1687. Their daughter Mary married Samuel Clutterbuck ⁽⁴³⁾ . Richard Cromleholme Bury died young aged 27 on 23rd November 1691. 

1681       A manuscript ⁽⁴⁴⁾ (dated as begun in 19 October 1681) was written by Richard Cromleholme Bury, “whose identity is not known. He had probably drawn on both Walker and Holdsworth as perhaps indicated by the reference to his sources at the end of the entry: ‘per W. H’ “.

This appears to concern methods of note taking and perhaps diary writing – possibly influenced by Samuel Cromleholme originally. Interesting to note that Cromleholme was taken as a second name or possibly a lengthened surname.

More research is required into the Bury Family – especially the Ireland matters

No children of Samuel & Mary Cromleholme have been located and all records note this fact as well.

Samuel died Sunday 21st July 1672 aged 54 years. The Register of St Mary Colechurch records his burial in the Mercers Chapel ⁽⁴⁵⁾ on Friday 26th July 1672. His funeral service was held in the Guildhall Chapel ⁽⁴⁶⁾ with his friend Dr John Wells ⁽⁴⁷⁾ preaching his funeral sermon.  Posie Rings were distributed engraved “Redime Tempus”(= Seize the flying hour) ⁽⁴⁸⁾ .

“He was happy”, declares one of his contemporaries “in sending out many excellent scholars from under his care” Dr Knight stated “I could enumerate many of this man’s scholars who arrived at great eminency of one kind or other”

A more personal note is struck in a sermon at the school feast, preached by Benjamin Calamy, one of his pupils, a few years after his death, in which reference is made to " persons, well taught and bred, whose natures have been refin'd and polish'd, and minds improved and cultivated and new moulded and fashioned, by the Care and Skill of those excellent persons to whose charge we were committed."
Source Footnote : A history of St. Pauls School  by Michael F. J. McDonnell  p238 (original source being Camden Society, 1849)

Samuel's Probate documents (see section 12 below) add some interesting detail to the arrangements and illustrate the considerable costs of his funeral. The first item relates to the posie rings noted above and it appears that a considerable number were made. Given the number, it is possible that some still survive today ?

Paid to two goldsmiths viz Master Tempest and Master Thomas Heekes for rings given at the funerall of the deceased  = £71.10s  0d
Paid for use of the Pall to bear & move the coffin often refers to a cloth draped over the coffin =  15s :0d
Paid to the clerks of the Chapel of Guildhall... for attendance & fees = £10
Paid to the officers of the Mercers Company who attended = £20
Paid to one Master William Antloby a draper for black cloth for mourning = £15
Paid to Mistress Dorothy Harvis & Master Hunsham for mourning hoods, scarves and ribbons and for mourning gloves given at the funeral = £13 : 17s : 0d

Payments were made to various members of both their families for mourning and Samuel's household servants are also mentioned :

Paid to Sara the maid servant of the deceased for mourning = £3
Paid to Ann Road the maid servant of the deceased for mourning      = £3
Paid for mourning for Mary Road (presumably a sister of Ann above ?) the deceased servant who had been very favourable to him in his lifetime. = £5

Other items recorded :

Paid for printed tickets .........  = 17s : 6d
Paid to Doctor Wells for the funerall sermon..... = £3 : 3s : 6d
Paid to one master Turner for a coffin..... = £3          

The cost of the duties (dues) for the burial in the Mercers Chapel were remitted to his widow Mary Cromleholme on the 5th August 1672 in a resolution agreed by the Mercers Court of Assistants.  One other interesting payment is :

Paid to Master Stadlott and Master Runds, two apothorarys for physicks for the said Samuel Cromleholme £11 : 15s : 0d

The Register of St Mary Colechurch records Samuel's burial in the Mercers Chapel on Friday 26th July 1672. (see map in section 2.9 for location of the Mercers Hall and Chapel). 

The Mercers Company have kindly provided a copy of the register which notes that Samuel "was buried in the vault on the north side close to the wall in the Inner Chapple" 

John Langley had been buried in this first Chapel earlier in 1657. The Great Fire of 1666 destroyed the Hall and Chapel to such an extent that it had to be completely rebuilt. In 1667, the Mercers Court had approved a preliminary scheme drawn up by their architect Edward Jarman for a new Hall and Chapel behind a detached row of shops in Cheapside. Edward Jarman is also thought to have designed the new St Pauls' School.

Although work started on the shops, it was not until October 1668 that the foundations of the Hall & Chapel were started. Edward Jarman unfortunately died and the detailed drawings were made by the architect John Oliver in November 1669. The Chapel Porch was built first and then the Chapel itself which was completed in 1672. The Hall and Ambulatory and the rest of the building above were not completed until 1676. The first court in the new Hall was held on 4th May on that year.

The Mercers Hall rebuilt after the Great Fire
(from an old wood cut print c1880 - Mercers Company)

Work on the present (third) Hall started in 1953 and during foundation works a late medieval statue of Christ was discovered buried under the Chapel. This very high quality stone statue dates from c1500 and appears to have been buried to prevent it being destroyed during the Reformation.

The present Hall has approximately the same arrangement and layout as the second one except that the ceremonial entrance and main staircase was resited from Cheapside to Ironmonger Lane.

During the rebuilding, the vaults were filled in and all burials exhumed under Home Office Supervision and reburied at the Brookwood Cemetery near Woking in Surrey.

Samuel Cromleholme would thus have been one of the first people to be interred in the vaults of the newly built Mercers Chapel in 1672. Whether an inscription existed marking his resting place is not known. This is not mentioned by any of the St Pauls School historians accounts written before WW2.  John Langley had been buried in the first Chapel in 1657 and it is not known if his remains were re-interred in the second Chapel.

By a quirk of fate, after some 269 years Samuel's remains were rather violently disturbed and some ten years later moved to their present site in Brookwood.

Enquiries made to Brookwood Cemetery and the Home Office have yet to yield any further information.

My thanks to the Mercers Company for their assistance. For more information about the Mercers Livery Company, Hall and Chapel please visit their website :
http://www.mercers.co.uk/700-years-history

Unusually for an educated person, Samuel left no will and having therefore died intestate, a Letter of Adminstration below (in Latin) was lodged ⁽⁴⁹⁾ 31st July 1673.

Probate Documents - The National Archives at Kew hold extensive probate documents for both Samuel Cromleholme and his wife Mary.  These have now been photographed and transcribed in full and can be accessed via the Crumbleholme Family History website :

https://sites.google.com/site/crumbleholmefamilyhistory/probate-records-of-samuel-cromleholme-his-wife

The records have added valuable information to the Samuel's family relationships, identified his two older sisters and produced information relating his wealth, funeral and to the rest of Mary Cromleholme's life.
Samuel Cromleholme had amassed considerable wealth and the total value of his estate was some £950 including a little over £400 in debts owing upon bond. Some of these debts were owed by family members including his brother in law Michael Watts and a trust set up by his deceased father in law Richard Bury in connection with his estates in Ireland. The latter debt seems to have never been settled and appears again in Mary Cromleholme's probate having been passed down to Richard Crumbleholme Bury who himself had died young in 1691.

Details of Mary's earlier life and family can be found in sections 7 & 8. At some time after her husband's death, Mary Crombleholme moved from London to Templecombe (Abbyscome) in Somerset where she died aged 68 some twenty years later in 1692. There appears to be a reference in the probate documents to Samuel and Mary owning a property here before Samuel's death (Mary's father Richard Bury owned property in nearby Buckhorn Weston, Dorset). It is possible that Samuel was planning to retire from St Paul's School perhaps when the school was established again in its new building.

The administrator of her probate was her sister Dorothy White and including debts owed to her estate amounted to nearly £894.  Funds were distributed amongst her relatives - members of the Bury, Clarke, and Watts families.

Also included are payments for Port wine, four dozen cakes, beef lambe, spice & sugar, malt & cider at the funeral. There were two funeral sermons, one at the parish church of Abbycome and the other at "ye conventicle" (a dissenter's meeting place).

Two maid servants were paid their wages owing and two men with horses paid for 14 days to look after and preserve her estate. Her leasehold of a farm called Pelsham in Buckhorn Weston had been valued at £550 but had actually been sold for £650. (a farm was originally a block letting for a fixed payment for a number of years - hence a "farmer"). Her goods were carried from Abbyscome to Wincanton where the London Carryor lay and another payment was made for carriage from here to London. Bartholomew Close (a house ?) is noted several times along with a final payment of rent for her house in Abbyscome. Mary does seem to have managed her affairs well resulting in an estate worth almost as much as her husbands.

Petitions by John Church : Included amongst the probate records (see website above) were two undated petitions (PROB 32/18/144 & 146) made by John Church, a nephew to Samuel Cromleholme. One record notes that it is the third one given to Judge Jenkins sitting in Doctor's Commons in London. Both were made after Samuel's death in 1672 but before Mary's death in 1692. John Church was attempting to claim monies left to his sister Mary Nicholson who could not be traced after 13 years in New England. The results of the petitions are not known.