The Cromleholme Family

Samuel Cromleholme [Cro0479] became quite well known and had many connections during his own lifetime. As a result he is fortunately quite well recorded. My researches relating to his life are fully detailed on Mike Russell's excellent Dorchester OPC website which hosts the research and predates this family history website. 

Here is a link :  Life of Samuel Cromleholme MA (1618-1672)  

The Cromleholme Family :  Below is the additional research into Samuel's family - his father Rev Richard Cromleholme [Cro0475] and his siblings. The key points of Samuel's life are noted as well, to hopefully put things into context.

The research starts with a frustrating lack of records relating to his father's birthplace and ancestors. He certainly came from Lancashire and must have had a wealthy family background that enabled him to go to an Oxford university. Oxford was effectively barred to Roman Catholics and so unlike many Crombleholme families he presumably was not Catholic. The omission of the "b" in their name may be significant and "Crumlum" (which is often interchanged with Cromleholme) is presumably the phonetic of how the name was pronounced. The later generations of Rev Richard, Rev William and Rev Alexander Cromleholme of St Michaels on Wyre in Lancashire all used this spelling. Pepys recorded Samuel Cromleholme in his now famous Diary as Crumlum.  Samuel Cromleholme himself used Cromleholme and this is reflected in his signature :  

c1592 - Richard Cromleholme [Cro0475] (Samuel's father) was born in Lancashire. No record found as yet of location or parents or exact date. His home county and birth date come from the 1609 entry to Oxford university below)

1609 - 7th May : Richard Crombleholme [Cro0475] matriculated Brasenose College, Oxford .. "matr. pleb. Lancs.  aged 17" (pleb : as a commoner)

(Note : This record gives his birthdate and that he came from Lancashire. Brasenose College had strong links with Lancashire and Cheshire and was founded in 1509. The main area of study was theology with other subjects including sophistry, logic and philosophy. Members of the Sherburne family had also attended this college.

Brasenose College, Oxford :   It is thought that the College takes its name from its original C13th brass door knocker which was shaped like a nose. An alternative is that it may be a corruption of "brasenhuis" - a brewery ! The knocker was not in the college during Richard Cromleholme's time as it had been stolen and installed on a house in Stamford Street. In the C19th, the college purchased the whole house and the knocker is now mounted in the dining room. An educational hall existed on the site from the C13th but the college itself was established in 1509 by Sir Richard Sutton (who provided the land) and William Smith, Bishop of Lincoln (who financed the building work).  The principal during Richard Cromleholme's time at the college was Thomas Singleton (1595 to 1614).

1612 - 8th February : Richard Cromleholme [Cro0475] admitted as Bachelor of Arts (BA)

(Source : This & 1609 record above - Alumni Oxoienses (1500-1714) J Foster 1891 Vol 1 p 354 & Brasenose Register 1509-1919 Vol 1 p111)

1614 - 18th December : (Rev) Richard Cromleholme [Cro0475] ordination as a Deacon by Bishop John Bridges.

(Source : OCRO Oxford Diocese Papers e.9 - Bishop John Bridges 1604-18.   Richard would have been 22 years old)

Below :  Actual copy below is in Latin and almost impossible to transcribe !)

No records have been found as yet of his first "living" location or marriage but it would seem that he was married or married soon after his ordination.

c1614 - Rev Richard Cromleholme [Cro0475]  married Elizabeth (nee ???) [Cro0476]  

(Note : Richard C's  first marriage - location / date unknown - her burial in 1621 gave her name. Date approx based on birth of children.

c1615 / 17 - Two daughters born  :  Harriott Cromleholme [Cro0477] (married name Hawkins) and Margarott Cromleholme [Cro0478] (married name Nithalls / Nicholson)    (Source : Samuel's probate records ....both sisters had pre-deceased Samuel and have the comment "whilst she lived, the sister of the said Samuel Cromleholme deceased)

1618 - Samuel Cromleholme [Cro0479] born (his university enter gives "Wilts”) 

Note : Only his university entry gives his age. It can be seen from the map below that Rockbourne borders Wiltshire and it may be that his father Richard [475] lived across the county border before coming to Rockbourne itself in 1619.  

1619 - 17th March : "Richard Cromlum [Cro0475] came to Rockborne the seventeenth of March 1619"  (Source : Entry in Rockbourne Par Reg)

Below : Rockbourne Parish in Fordingbridge Hundred in Hampshire and a village street map c 1672.

Below : Stone plaque in porch of the church (RC photo) showing Richard Cromlum (1619 - 1624) and also periods of

no incumbent in the parish “Nullis Curatus” at various periods between 1555 and 1606. 

Above : St Andrews Church, Rockbourne dating from the C12th. 

Rockbourne is a small village just north of Fordingbridge in Hampshire just on the west side of the New Forest. The village was even smaller with only 40 families recorded in 1650. Today, the village is probably best known for the nearby Roman Villa site

There are interesting insights (extracted below) into Rockbourne in this period in a delightful small book entitled : Rockbourne Clergy and Church Wardens of the 17th century written by Andrew Winser in 1979 and published locally in Rockbourne. ..........”When John Cooper, though still a minor, left Rockbourne to marry Ann Ashley in 1617, the parish ceased to have a resident Lord of the Manor.......his eldest son Anthony Ashley-Cooper later became the first Earl of Shaftesbury.”  The absence of a Lord of the Manor seems to have placed more authority into the hands of the local clergy especially as they were often amongst the few who could read and write locally. 

The advowson (right to presentation to the a benefice) was held by the Doddingtons of Breamore. They received the rectorial or great tithe (ie tithe from corn, hay and wood etc) whilst the little tithe (derived from pigs and wool etc) which was more difficult to collect remained with the incumbent. Note is made in the book ........"How the great tithes of the manor of Rockbourne (later) came the property of King's College, Cambridge has yet to be discovered”.

The Rockboune parish register was began by the two churchwardens Thomas Penny and Mathew Holloway in 1601 and goes back to 1561. No clergy are mentioned in the register until 1606 when Thomas Hanson became the incumbent. He was followed by John House in 1610 and Thomas French in 1611 - both these left a shilling in their wills "for the reparacioun of my parish church”. There was an Archbishop’s visitation in 1607 which found evidence of neglect with no surplice, no common prayer book or their appearance at the visitation. The churchwardens were reprimanded but seem to have had a good reason due to the lack of resident incumbents in the latter part of the C16th - this can be seen in the stone plaque photographed above which records no incumbent in the parish “Nullis Curatus” at various periods between 1555 and 1606.  Roger Gray was made incumbent in 1617 but only stayed two years until Richard Cromlum [Cro0475] came in 1619.

It then appears that money was being spent on the church at long last.  The construction of the belfry tower was already underway when Richard Cromleholme (Cromlum) [Cro0475] arrived but was not completed until after he had left the parish in 1624. Although John Wallis of Salisbury cast the two new bells in 1617, they were not hung until 1630. An inscription "1630 RC 1630" is recorded on a beam just below the eaves (not visible externally and not seen as yet) on the south side of the tower. It has been suggested that the "RC" is Richard Cromlum who may have assisted with the funding perhaps assisted by his wealthy father in law. Three buttresses (masonry supporting the walls externally) were added at this time as well. (Source :  Rockbourne Clergy and Church Wardens of the 17th century written by Andrew Winser in 1979 - see more extracts below)

1620 - 7th September : Elizabeth Cromlum [Cro0481] baptised at Rockbourne daughter of Richard Cromlum [Cro0475] (Source : Rockbourne Par Reg)

1620 - 18th September : Elizabeth Cromlum (nee ?? ) [Cro0476] wife of Richard Cromlum  [Cro0475] buried at Rockbourne. (Source : Rockbourne Par Reg)  Note : It would seem likely that Elizabeth Cromlum [476] died as a result of giving birth to her daughter Elizabeth [481] a few days earlier. Sadly her baby daughter died the following year.

1621 - 4th February : Richard Cromlum [Cro0475]  married Sybill (nee Guidott) [Cro0482] at Rockbourne (Richard's 2nd marriage) (Source : Rockbourne Par Reg)

Note : Sybill Guidott [Cro0482] was baptised in Rockbourne on 27th September 1589 and thus appears to be a couple of years older than Richard. She was the eldest child of William Guidott and had two younger sisters and four younger brothers. At their marriage , she was 32 years old and Richard 30 years old. 

The Guidotts were originally a Florentine family who settled in the Southampton area in the 1530's. Sir Antonio Guidotti (b c1500) was a wine merchant and confidential messenger to Henry VIII. In 1550, Edward VI had knighted him for his part in negotiations with France and also gave him an annual pension of £250. His wife was Anne (nee Huttoft) and their son John was born c1530. John was also given £37 by the King and the right to his father's pension during John's lifetime. (Source : guidott.webs.com/1500.htm)

1621 - 12th September : Elizabeth Cromlum [Cro0481] buried at Rockbourne (Source : Rockbourne Par Reg)  (daughter of Richard [475] & Elizabeth [476] Infant 1 year old)

1622 - 21st December : William Cromlum [Cro0483] baptised at Rockbourne (son of Richard [475] & Sybill [482] ) (Source : Rockbourne Par Reg)

1623 - 28th January : Frannces Cromlum [Cro0504]  at Rockbourne son of Richard Cromlum  [Cro0475] Source : Rockbourne Par Reg + FHL 1041287)

                (Note : Probably named after mother’s brother Frannces Guidott)

Rev Richard Cromleholme [Cro0475] and his family left Rockbourne to take up a new living in Quedgeley just south of Gloucester in July 1624.

1624 - 4th July : "Richard Cromlum [Cro0476] came to Quedgeley the 4th July in anno ab. In carnatione supradicto . Ann Regni Jacobi 22" (1624)

(Source : Entry in Quedgeley Register Ref P260 IN 1/1)  

1624 - 1634 : Samuel Cromleholme [Cro0479] almost certainly attended the College School (later called the Kings School) in Gloucester under John Langley who was to become Samuel's mentor. It is presumed that he walked the three miles from his home each day and probably acquired his love of books there under Langley who was also one of the cathedral's librarians. Boys usually went to a kind of nursery school often called a "petty school" prior to moving up into a grammar school. Samuel would have been 6 years old when his family moved to the area. The school day started at 6am in summer and an hour later in winter. They finished at about 5pm and usually went to school 6 days a week with few holidays .  (Note : The registers of the Kings School do not start until 1684) (Source : John Strype's Survey of London see 1639 below) 

1625 - 1st December : William Cromlum [Cro0484] son of Richard Cromlum [Cro0475], minister, baptised. born 23rd November 1625 (at Quedgeley, Gloucestershire)  (Source : Quedgeley Register Ref P260 IN 1/1) 

1626 - 29th August : Will of William Guidott father of Sybill (nee Guidott) [Cro0482] - Sybill is not mentioned (Source : Hants CRO ref 44 M69/E6/77/4)

1627 - 10th January : Timothy Cromlum [Cro0485] baptised. (at Quedgeley, Gloucestershire)  (Source : Quedgeley Register Ref P260 IN 1/1) 

1629 - 16th June : Joane Cromlum [Cro0486] daughter of Richard Crumlome [Cro0475] baptised at Quedgeley, Gloucestershire. 

1629 - 17th June : Joane Cromlum [Cro0486]  daughter of Richard Cromlum was buried  (Sadly, she only lived one day)  

(Source  : (both) Quedgeley Register Ref P260 IN 1/1)

1631 - 25th August : Mary Cromlum [Cro0487] daughter of Richard Cromlum [Cro0475] was baptised at Quedgeley, Gloucestershire. (Source :Quedgeley Register Ref P260 IN 1/1) 

1633 - 15th October : Gyles Cromlum [Cro0488] son of Richard Cromlum [Cro0475] was baptised. (at Quedgeley, Gloucestershire) (Source : Quedgeley Register Ref P260 IN 1/1) 

A summary of Rev Richard Cromleholme [Cro0475]'s children :

Rev Richard Cromleholme [Cro0475]  married Elizabeth (nee ???) [Cro0476]  c 1614

Harriott  [477] (married name Hawkins)  born c1615/1617 - died prior to 1672. 

Margarott [478] (married name Nithalls / Nicholson)  born c 1615/1617 - died prior to 1672.

(Source : The above two elder sisters - Samuel's probate records ....both sisters had pre-deceased Samuel and have the comment in the probate record : "whilst she lived, the sister of the said Samuel Cromleholme deceased)

Samuel [479] :     b 1618  exact date / location (Wiltshire) not known (date from University record) He died 1672.

Elizabeth [481] :    bap 7/9/1620 in Rockbourne Hampshire (her mother died soon after) Died as an infant in 1621

Richard Cromlum [Cro0475]  married Sybill (nee Guidott) [Cro0482] at Rockbourne (Richard's 2nd marriage) 1621

William [483] :      bap  21/12/1622 in Rockbourne Hampshire        (died as an infant)

William [484] : bap 1/12/1625 at Quedgeley, Gloucester. numerous court cases, noted in Samuel's probates etc

Timothy [485] :    bap 10/1/1627  bookseller apprentice in 1648 in London (aged 21)

Joane [486] :            bap 16/6/1629 died same year

Mary [487] :            bap 25/8/1631

Gyles [488] :  bap 15/10/1633 started apprenticeship in Gloucester in 1648 (aged 15)

Elizabeth [503] : bap  ??         Married Augustine Herrman in 1654 in Gloucester (her brother William C [484] was a witness

1634/5  - Richardus Cromlinn [Cro04750] is recorded as a curate at Quedgeley (Source : C of E Clergy database for Quedgeley ref 225078 - under Godfrey Goodman Gloucester (1625-1640))

1635 - 13th November : Samuel Cromleholme [Cro0479] matriculated Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He was recorded : Sam Crumlum. sacerdotis famuli (ie clerical background) Matric. Nov 13 1635 Wiltonensis , fil RC sacred aed 17 

(Source : History of Corpus Christi College - T Fowler - Oxford HS pp193, 454)

Note : Corpus Christi College was founded in 1516. Samuel was at Oxford from 1635-9 and in 1662 Samuel Pepys records in his Diary (below) meeting "an old fellow student of Cromleholme's"  by the name of Newell. 

17th September 1662: ………"After dinner Mr Moore and I about three 0' clock to Pauls school to wait upon Mr Crumlum [479] (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."

It would appear that this was John Newell, a fellow of Corpus Christi 1634-48 and by 1662 was the Rector of Combe Martin in Devon.

1638 - September : Thomas Guidott (1638-1705) "Physician and Chemist Contributor to the Analysis of mineral water" was born in Lymington (on the coast south of Rockbourne) to Frannces Guidott a younger brother of Sybill Cromlum. He was later educated by Samuel Cromleholme [Cro0479]  whilst he was in Dorchester, Dorset (1651-1657). He went to Wadham College, Oxford and graduated BA in 1659 and MA in 1662.  

1639 - 27th June : Samuel Cromleholme [Cro0479] graduated BA and MA later in 1642 from Corpus Christi Oxford. (Source - as 1635 above)

1639 - Samuel Cromleholme [Cro0479] appears to have joined his old schoolmaster at Gloucester as a junior teacher.  Both were removed after Langley's stand against Archbishop Laud. (Source : John Strype's Survey of London ......."Samuel Cromleholme of Corpus Christi College, who was also removed from the government of Gloucester School hither, where he had once been second master.")  Note :  John Strype had attended St Pauls School and had been taught by both John Langley and Samuel Cromleholme. The Register of the Kings School, Gloucester  did not started until 1684.

c1640 : Samuel Cromleholme [Cro0479] may have taught at Huntingdon Grammar School, Cambridgeshire. If so, he would have taught Samuel Pepys here before having taught him again as surmaster of St Pauls School in London. Oliver Cromwell had finished his education here in 1616. (Source : Dorset NHAS Vol XLVII p134 Trio of Dorset Worthies"). Note : The master Rev Henry Cooke paid £10 a year to an "usher" or under master to do the teaching whilst he was living away from the area !!  Samuel is not recorded by name and it may be the Samuel Pepys connection that has made this writer jump to conclusions not aware that he taught him later in London.

1643-1648 - No Quedgeley parish burials recorded between these dates. 

1648 - December : Rev Richard Cromleholme [Cro0475] had died prior to December 1648 when his son Giles was apprenticed and his father was noted as deceased. A search of the Will index from 1541-1650 did not locate a will. Between 1650 and 1660, the Diocesan Courts did not function properly so there is a break in the series of Wills until 1660. (Source : Letter giving search results by the Archivist at the Gloucester CC CRO - 28/09/1987) 

Sources : The records for St Pauls School have been sourced from :

A History of St Paul's School - Michael McDonnell pub 1909

St Paul's - Cyril Picciotto K C pub 1939

The Annals of St Paul's School - Sir Michael McDonnell KBE pub 1959 (privately printed for the Governors)

A miraculous draught of fishes - A history of St Paul's School (1509-1990) - A H Mead pub 1990 

1644 - 21st March : Samuel Cromleholme [Cro0479]  appointed Master of the Mercers Chapel School (adjacent to the Mercers Hall, Cheapside, London). John Langley who was by then the Highmaster of nearby St Pauls School had influence on this appointment. Samuel was 26. (Source :     )

1647 - 19th February : Samuel Cromleholme [Cro0479] appointed surmaster of the St Pauls School (immediately to the east of St Paul's Cathedral, London). John Langley who was still the Highmaster  again had influence on this appointment. Samuel was 29. It was during this period that he taught Samuel Pepys. (Source :     )

1648 - 17th April : Timothy Cromlum [Cro0485].  Thomas Davies was bound apprentice through the Stationer's Company to Thomas Whiaker, bookseller of the Kings Arms, St Pauls Churchyard. On the same day Timothy Cromlum [Cro0485], apparently a younger brother of Samuel Cromleholme, [Cro0479] was also bound to Thomas Whitaker. Davies was made free of the company in 1655 and he went on to eventually become Lord Mayor of London 1676. He had been a pupil at St Pauls School in 1647 when Samuel Cromleholme [Cro0479]began his six year period as surmaster. He was elected Sheriff in 1667 and it is very likely that he was influential in securing the privilege of holding Samuel Cromleholme's [Cro0479] funeral service in the Guildhall Chapel in 1672.   (Source : Sir Thomas Davies : first bookseller Lord Mayor of London by Charles Rivington (Bibliographical Soc 1981 - s6-III p187-201) 

1648 - 18th December : Giles Crumlum [Cro0488]  : A younger step brother of Samuel's was Gyles Crumlum [Cro0488] b1633) who is recorded as starting an apprenticeship aged 15 years in Gloucester in 1648. This also notes that his father Richard Cromleholme [Cro0475] had died by that date.

1648 - 18 Dec Crumlum Giles, son of Richard clerk dec'd of Quedgeley    (source  : A calendar of the registers of apprentices of the city of Gloucester 1595 - 1700)

c 1648 - Rev Richard Cromleholme [Cro0475]  dies in late 1648 (see Giles C record above). The Quedgeley Parish Register records a new minister arriving in 1649.  No burial record or will found as yet probably due to Cromwell's interrugam -  PCC will ?? 

1651 - 2nd October :  Samuel Cromleholme [Cro0479] appointed Head Master of Dorchester Free School, Dorset (age 33). 

1651 - 20th October : It is ordered and desired that Mr Mayor do pay or cause to be payed to Clement Bryne, for the carriage of Mr Cromleholme’s [Cro0479] bookes from London this week. (Source : Municipal Records of Dorchester) Note : The mayor was Richard Bury - no doubt this is how Samuel met his future wife Mary, his eldest daughter.

1651 - 57 - It is presumed that Samuel Cromleholme [Cro0479]  marries Mary Bury daughter of Richard Bury during his time in Dorchester.

1654 - Elizabeth Cromleholme [Cro0503] married Augustine Herrman at St John the Baptist Church, Gloucester (Source : Ancestry via MM) 

        Transcription (by MM) :   The purpose and intent of marriage between Augustine Herman of this parish and Elizabeth Crumblam [Cro0503] of the parish of St. Michael’s was published three Lord days vizt on the 17 and 24 days of September 1654 and on the first of October next following according to the Act of Parliament in that case made and provided

By me Tho: Jenings Register [sic]

Augustine Herman and Elizabeth Cromblam [Cro0503]  were married the twelfth day of October 1654 before Edmond Cellet Mayor and one of the justices of the peece [sic] of the Citie of Gloucester according to the Act of Parliament in that case made and provided

Edmond Cellet                             Witnesses present Ferdinand Meighen Joseph Phelppes, William Cromlholme, [Cro0484] Tho: Jennings

(Source : Marriage record of Elizabeth Crumblam and Augustine Herman at St. John the Baptist church, Gloucester in 1654.)

Note : This record has some interesting details including mention of William Cromleholme [484] (her step brother ?)  and being married by the Mayor perhaps due to taking place during the Interrugam. 

There was an Elizabeth C  bap 7/9/1620 (but died as infant ??) at Rockbourne Hampshire - she would have been 34 years old when married. She is not mentioned in Samuel C's probates.

1655 - 2nd November : John Chewe & Rebeckah Horwood both of Gloucester married at Gloucester (source : Gloucester Par reg p68 entry 110) 

Note : Could the Chew relationship be through a family in Gloucester area rather than Lancashire ??

1656 - 7th January : Giles Crumlum [Cro0488] Freeman of the City of Gloucester extracted Parish Records notes 7th January 1656 Giles Crumlum  [Cro0488]  apprentice of Augustine Gwyn the elder, cordwainer - the book is Burials so it seems that perhaps Giles had died aged 23 years (to be checked). He is not mentioned in his step brother Samuel Cromleholme's [Cro0479] probates etc.   (Source : Freeman of City of Gloucester 1641-1838)

1657 : 21st October : Samuel Cromleholme [Cro0479] appointed as High Master of St Pauls School, London following the death of John Langley. Aged 37. 

Earlier, on 2nd October he was given £20 by the Trustees of the Dorchester Free School to reimburse him for some of his outlay on repairing the school master's house, building a new washhouse and planting fruit trees and bushes on the garden "which the Compnay desire may not be wasted or defaced by the removal of poles, postes or anything else out of the garden". He was succeeded at Dorchester by Anthony Wither of Oxford. (Source : "A Phoenix Rising" by T A Cochrane (pub locally 1995) (page 23& 24) - I had contributed much of the information on Samuel C)

1660 - 23rd April : Coronation of King Charles II

1665 / 1666 : Samuel Cromleholme [Cro0479] survived the 1665 Great Plague and although St Pauls School closed but he remained at the school and catalogued his books. The school was totally destroyed during the Great Fire of 1666 and Samuel lost all his books having moved them to St Faiths, the crypt under the Cathedral.

1666 - 1672 : Samuel Cromleholme [Cro0479] runs a school in Wandsworth, London and sends a letter from here :

Early Modern Letters on line  - Held by Bodleain Library, Oxford  -  Letter – Shelfmark MS Tanner letters 41 42  fol 81  Date 26 Dec 1666

 Author : Samuel Cromleholme (Wandsworth) to Thomas Bradshaw      Description : Concerning a youth whom he commends as well fitted for the University and benefiting by the Dean of St Paul’s charity.

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 evidence of Samuel temporary living in Wandsworth – before this was discovered, (2/2012) only references to this temporary school in Wandsworth (south of the Thames) occur in T A Walker’s Admission to Peterhouse and Dr Venn’s Register of Caius College. The location of this temporary school is unknown.

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 [1] 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.

Below : Original letter 

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

The letter gives us Samuel's signature and the fact that he spelt his surname "Cromleholme"

Notes

[1]   In  the centre of the City of London lies a small neighbourhood, consisting of a cluster of narrow streets and courts, of very venerable and debilitated houses, which goes by the name of LITTLE BRITAIN. Christ Church School and St. Bartholomew's Hospital bound it on the west; Smithfield and Long Lane on the north; Aldersgate Street, like an arm of the sea, divides it from the eastern part of the city; whilst the yawning gulf of Bull-and-Mouth Street separates it from Butcher Lane and the regions of Newgate.

1667 - 19th December : Thos Crumblaholme [Cro0499]  Grant : Isaac Legay of London merchant, to Edw Moore of Banckhall esq. Manor or Lordship of Linacre Witness : Ja Jerron,   Thos Crumblaholme [Cro0499] tran scr  (transcriber ?)  

(Source : A calendar of collection of Deeds & papers of the Moore family of Bankroll Co Lanc - by J Brownbill MA   (Soc of Gen Moore (67) MSS (1179) )

Note : Samuel Cromleholme [Cro0479] step brother ??  No - this step brother was Timothy C [0485] see above. This Thomas C [0499] may have been in Lancashire (= Moore family papers )

1668 :   A copy survives in Chetham's Library, Manchester  of a book which was owned by Cromleholme after the Great Fire  :     

Noah Bridges, Rarities: or, The incomparable curiosities in secret writing...  (London, 1665), which contains the inscription:    A prsent from the Ingenious Author. October the  8. 68. Samuel Cromleholme

The pressmark is  :  3.E.1.25 (1).

It is bound with a copy of Bridges' book Stenographie and Crytographie (sic) (1659)  (pressmark 3.E.1.25 (2)).    It was commonplace for the two books to be bound together, so it seems possible that the inscription effectively covers them both. 

The latter it seems later  belonged to the eighteenth-century stenographer John Byrom who in his journal actually records purchasing  'Bridges his book'  in  1726  in a shop in Gracechurch Street London for 18d.  His books later came to be bequeathed to Chethams by a later descendant.   

(Source : Information kindly via an email in  July 2020 from Tim Underhill of Cambridge who is researching Pepys and his shorthand collections at Magdalene College)

1671 - William Crumlum [Cro0484] : Court of Chancery : Six Clerks Office pleadings before 1714

Plaintiff : Sir Thomas Hanbury kt.

Defendants : William Crumlum and Henry Robins

Ref : The Talbert Inn alias Crown Inn in Gloucester                    What happened ??

(Source : NA Kew Chancery the Wardrobe, Royal Household etc  Ref C6/77/12 Litigation)  not seen as yet ^

Note : The William Crumlum [Cro0484] Cromleholme) noted above and below appears to be Samuel C's [Cro0479] younger step brother who is mentioned in Samuel's probates and appears to have stayed in Gloucester area where he was born in 1625. This would have made him 46 years old in 1671 and 57 years old in 1682.

1671 -  February : Samuel Cromleholme [Cro0479] agrees to take his kinsman Elisha Chew into St Paul’s school.

Letter from T Franckland 20th February 1672 (to Roger Kenyon in Lancashire).

Source Lancashire Record Office (Kenyon of Peel papers ref DDKE/9/43/19)

I hope this will have ye good fortune ....(tear) ... 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.

Sir, I must now beg one favour from you perhaps it may fall out to be for my wife ? if not it will be for my very good friend the Chancellor of our County Palatine is lately dead; Sir Robt Carr is named and hath ye .... giveth him by his master ?  My wife or ..... may perhaps have very good ...... in him, my desire to you is yet you ...... acquaint me with ye ..... yet are .. ye Chancellor's gift both of to their names natures and values ?  here in you will much oblige me; and I shall be readyed all times to acknowledge your kindness ?  I pray... what speed you may if possible let me heare from you by ye ...  post  

                                    I am your affectionate J Franckland

London Feb 20 1671  

1672 -  July : Samuel Cromleholme [Cro0479] dies in London and is buried in the Mercers Chapel. (Source : Mercers Company London)

Below : Register of the parish of St Mary Colechurch : Mr Samuell Cromland  buried in Mercer's Chappell July the 26th 1672. 

In the left hand margin : his initials "S  C  1672 He was M of St Pauls"

Above : Architect’s sketch plan & section of the original Chapel were made in 1953 after severe WW2 bomb damage. Unfortunately, damage was so structurally extensive that the building had to be demolished. (Source : NA RC photograph extracts Nov 2018)

1674 - William Crumlum[Cro0484]: with Edmund Rea, William Lambe, Anne Lambe (defendants) v John Watson (plaintiff) 

Subject : Money, Gloucestershire, Bill only Litigation. (Source Nat Archives ref C 8/333/53) (photographed RC 11/2018 to be transcribed)

1676 - 21st January : William Cromleholme, [Cro0484] gent (by fine) Freeman of City of Gloucester, William Selwyn esq Mayor (Source : Freeman of City of Gloucester 1641-1838 Ref 171 + A calendar of the Registers of the Freeman of the City of Gloucester 1641 -1838 - Bristol & Gloucester Archaeological Soc)

1681 - 30th January : William Crumlum [Cro0484] v. John Carlles, W M Scudamore, Jas Robbins

Exchequer : King's Remembrancer : Depositions taken by Commission. Charles II.  Litigation.

Sale of plaintiff's goods taken in execution upon a writ of fire facias sued out on a judgment obtained upon a bond given by plaintiff to Nathl. Dobbins for the repayment of £100 etc ...Gloucester.

(Source : National Archives - Exchequer, Office of First fruits and tenths, and the Court of Augmentations 30/1/1681-29/1/1682 Ref : E 134/33Chas2/Mich27  (photographed RC 11/2018 to be transcribed) 

1692 -    Mary Cromleholme (nee Bury) [Cro0480]  widow of Samuel Cromleholme [Cro0479] dies in Templecombe, Somerset

1692 - 17th February : Mrs Crumbloum [Cro0648]  buried at Gloucester (Source : Parish Reg via Ancestry MM)

Note : Likely to be the wife of William C [484] - he was married as noted in Samuel C’s [479] probate