Thomas Pengelly (merchant) facts for kids

Thomas Pengelly lived in the 1600s and was a very successful British merchant. A merchant is someone who buys and sells goods to make money. Thomas Pengelly traded with countries around the Mediterranean Sea and along the Atlantic Ocean. He owned many properties, including homes in London, Finchley, and Cheshunt.

Pengelly Family Life

Thomas Pengelly married a woman named Rachel. Her father, Jeremy Baines, was an officer who supported the Parliament during the English Civil War.

Thomas Pengelly's Son

Thomas and Rachel had a son, also named Thomas, who was born in 1675. This younger Thomas Pengelly later became a judge and a Member of Parliament.

Richard Cromwell's Stay

By 1683, the Pengelly family's home in Finchley became a place for Richard Cromwell to live. Richard Cromwell had been the leader of England for a short time after the Civil War, before the king returned to power. He stayed with the Pengelly family after the king's return.

After Thomas Pengelly's Death

Thomas Pengelly passed away in 1696. Even after his death, Richard Cromwell continued to live with Mrs. Pengelly.

Moving to Cheshunt

In 1700, Mrs. Pengelly and Richard Cromwell moved together to her property in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire. Richard Cromwell lived there until he died in 1712. Because they lived together for so long, some people wondered if the younger Thomas Pengelly was actually Richard Cromwell's son.