Frances (Murfyn) Cromwell (abt. 1520 - abt. 1543)

Born about 1520 in London, England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Wife of Richard (Williams) Cromwell — married before 8 Mar 1534 in London, England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about 1543 at about age 23 in London, England [uncertain]

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Biography

Frances Murfyn was the daughter of Thomas Murfyn and his second wife Elizabeth Donne.^[1][2]

She was a beneficiary of the will of her father Thomas Murfyn, Alderman of London, in 1523.^[1] In the will there was reference to a document indicating that Thomas Murfyn married Elizabeth Donne after 15 Oct 1519. Frances is therefore presumed to have been born around 1520.

Thomas Murfyn died in 1523.^[1] His widow Elizabeth married Sir Thomas Dennis/Denys in July 1524.^[3][4]

Frances Murfyn was noted in the Dennis Pedigree in the Visitations of Devon^[5] although it incorrectly shows her as a daughter of Sir Thomas Dennis rather than a step-daughter.

Marriage

Frances married Richard Williams alias Cromwell of Hinchinbroke, Huntingdonshire^[2], date and place unknown.

It has been suggested^[6] that the marriage between Frances Murfyn and Richard Williams alias Cromwell was arranged by Thomas Cromwell, Chancellor of Henry VIII, the marriage taking place before 08 March 1534.^[7] If so, Frances may have been only 13 or 14 years of age when she married.

"In June, 1542, Sir Richard Cromwell alias Williams and Frances his wife granted the manors of Great Raveley and Moynes [Huntingdonshire] to John Sewster".^[8]

Children

In the Cromwell Pedigree in the Visitation of Huntingdon^[2] she was recorded as Frances Murfyn, daughter of 'Sir' Thomas Myrfyn and Elizabeth Donne. She had married Richard Williams alias Cromwell of Hinchinbroke, Huntingdonshire, and was the mother of:

• [Sir] Henry Cromwell of Hinchinbrooke, Huntingdonshire^[9]
• Francis Cromwell of Hemingford, Huntingdonshire^[10]

Death

In the will of her husband Sir Richard Williams alias Cromwell, the will made on 20 Jun 1544 and proved on 24 Nov 1546^[11], he made a bequest as follows:

"I will and geve to my Lady Dennys’ Sr Thomas Dennys’ wiffe the best gowne of my late wiffes" [Lady Dennys being Elizabeth Donne, the mother of Frances]

Hence, Frances pre-deceased her husband, and died presumably between June 1542 and June 1544.

Her place of burial is unknown.

Research Notes

Noble's Memoirs of the Protectoral House of Cromwell is widely quoted regarding the history and genealogy of the Cromwells. He stated that Frances Murfyn was married in 1518 to Richard Williams; that she died at Stepney, London and was buried there on 20 Feb 1533.^[12]

This was repeated by Cox in 1876 in his Annals of St Helen's Bishopsgate, London.^[13] However, in the will of Thomas Murfyn in 1523 it is clear that Thomas was to marry Elizabeth Donne in 1519. Hence, if the Visitation of 1613 and the other sources noted above are to be believed then the dates in Noble must be incorrect!

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Drake, W R. Fasciculus Mervinensis. 1873, Appendix I, vi Will of Thomas Mirfyn Internet Archive.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} The Visitation of the County of Huntingdon 1613. Sir Henry Ellis (Ed.) Printed for the Camden Society. 1849. Cromwell Pedigree pp 79-80 Internet Archive.
3. ↑ Denys, Sir Thomas (by 1477-1561), of Holcombe Burnell and Bicton, Devon and London. Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-1558, ed. S.T. Bindoff, 1982 HOP.
4. ↑ Allegations for Marriage Licences Issued by the Bishop of London 1520-1610. Publications of the Harleian Society, Vol XXV. Edited by Armytage G J. 1887, p 4 Internet Archive.
5. ↑ The Visitations of the County of Devon comprising the Herald's Visitations of 1531, 1564, & 1620. With additions by J L Vivian. 1895. Dennis Pedigree pp 279-280 HathiTrust.
6. ↑ The real Wolf Hall - The Cromwell Family in Wolf Hall: Richard Cromwell. 22 May 2015 theanneboleynfiles.com.
7. ↑ Cromwell alias Williams, Richard (by 1512-44), of London; Stepney, Mdx. and Hinchingbroke, Hunts. Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-1558, ed. S.T. Bindoff, 1982 HOP.
8. ↑ Great Raveley', in A History of the County of Huntingdon: Volume 2, ed. William Page, Granville Proby and S Inskip Ladds (London, 1932), pp 198-201 BHO.
9. ↑ Cromwell, alias Williams, Henry (c.1537-1604), of Hinchingbrooke and Ramsey Abbey, Hunts. Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603, ed. P.W. Hasler, 1981 HOP.
10. ↑ Cromwell, alias Williams, Francis (c.1541-98), of Hemingford Grey and St. Neot's, Hunts. Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603, ed. P.W. Hasler, 1981 HOP.
11. ↑ Will of Sir Richarde Williams otherwise called Richarde Cromwell, Gentleman of the King's Privy Chamber. 24 November 1546. PROB 11/31/335. The National Archives, Kew.
12. ↑ Noble, M. Memoirs of the Protectoral House of Cromwell. Third Edition 1787, Vol. I, pp 19-20 HathiTrust.
13. ↑ Cox, J E Rev. (Editor). The Annals of St Helen's Bishopsgate, London. 1876, p 243 Internet Archive.