Henry Williams (alias Cromwell) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Williams alias Cromwell
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Arms of Sir Henry Williams alias Cromwell:–
Quarterly of six – 1, Sable, a lion rampant Argent; 2, Sable, three spear-heads Argent, their points imbrued Gules; 3, Argent, a chevron between three fleurs de lys Sable; 4, Gules, three chevronels Argent; 5, Argent, a lion rampant Sable; 6, Argent, on a chevron Sable, a mullet of the field Argent. |
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| Born |
Henry Cromwell alias Williams
1537 |
| Died | 6 January 1604 (aged 66–67) |
| Resting place | All Saints' Church, Huntingdon |
| Occupation | MP |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | with Joan:
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| Parent(s) | Sir Richard Williams Frances Murfyn |
Sir Henry Williams (1537 – 6 January 1604), also known as Sir Henry Cromwell, was an important English gentleman. He served as a MP for Huntingdonshire during the time of Elizabeth I. He is also famous for being the grandfather of Oliver Cromwell, who later became the Lord Protector of England.
Early Life and Family Name
Sir Henry Williams, also called Cromwell, came from a Welsh family. He was the oldest son of Sir Richard Williams and Frances Murfyn. His family's original name was Williams. However, his grandfather, Morgan ap William, and then his father, started using the name Cromwell. They did this to honor their uncle, Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex, who was a very powerful person. Because of this, the family often used "Williams, alias Cromwell" for a long time. Henry studied at Queens' College, Cambridge, which is a famous university.
A Life of Service
Queen Elizabeth I thought highly of Sir Henry. She made him a knight in 1564. This was a great honor. The Queen even stayed at his home, Hinchingbrooke House, in 1564. This showed how important he was.
Sir Henry was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Huntingdonshire starting in 1563. An MP is someone elected to represent their area in the government. He was also chosen four times to be the Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire. A sheriff was a key official who managed law and order in a county. He also helped with big projects, like looking into how to drain The Fens, which were large marshy areas.
Sir Henry spent most of his time in Huntingdonshire. He lived at Ramsey Abbey in the summer and Hinchingbrooke House in the winter. He improved the manor house at Ramsey and built Hinchingbrooke House next to a former nunnery. He decorated his homes with his family's coat of arms.
People called Sir Henry the "golden knight" because he was very generous. It was said that he would throw money to the poor people of Ramsey when he visited. He was known as a "worthy gentleman" who was respected by everyone. He owned many valuable lands in Huntingdonshire, including Saltry, Warboys, Hinchingbrooke, and Ramsey. These lands were very important for his family's wealth and power.
Family Life
Sir Henry Williams married twice. His first wife was Joan Warren, who passed away in 1584. Together, they had six sons and five daughters:
- Sir Oliver Cromwell
- Robert Cromwell, whose son was the famous Oliver Cromwell (the Lord Protector)
- Henry Cromwell
- Richard Cromwell
- Philip Cromwell
- Ralph Cromwell
- Joan Cromwell
- Elizabeth Cromwell, whose son was John Hampden, another important figure in English history
- Frances Cromwell
- Mary Cromwell
- Dorothy Cromwell
Joan was buried at All Saints' Church in Huntingdon.
After Joan's death, Sir Henry married Susan Weeks. They did not have any children. Susan died in 1592 after a long illness. At that time, some people believed that illnesses could be caused by witchcraft. Susan was also buried at All Saints' Church. Sadly, during the English Civil War, many monuments and grave markers in Huntingdon were destroyed or stolen. Because of this, there are no monuments left for Sir Henry or his wives.
His Final Years
Sir Henry lived to be about 66 or 67 years old. He passed away on 6 January 1604 and was buried the next day at All Saints' Church, Huntingdon. His funeral was very grand, showing how important he was. His oldest son, Sir Oliver, inherited most of his wealth. His other sons also received valuable estates, ensuring their financial security.
Images for kids
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North front of Hinchinbrook (1787)
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Hinchingbrooke House (2007)
