Elizabeth Bourchier

Elizabeth Bourchier (1598-1665) was the wife of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland. She is sometimes referred to as the "Lady Protectress" or "Protectress Joan".

Biography

Elizabeth was born on an unknown date in 1598 to Sir James Bourchier, a wealthy London leather merchant, and his wife Frances Crane, daughter of Thomas Crane of Newton Tony, Wiltshire. Elizabeth was the eldest of twelve children. [olivercromwell.org/faqs6.html] On 22 August 1620 at St.Giles, Cripplegate, London she married Oliver Cromwell. [British Civil Wars, Commonwealth and Protectorate 1638-1660] The marriage produced nine children, eight of whom reached adulthood. The marriage to Elizabeth was very advantageous for Cromwell, as her father brought him into contact with the wealthy merchant community of London, and due to the extensive lands Sir James owned in Essex, this family association would later guarantee him much support from the influential families of the local puritan gentry. At the time of his marriage, however, Cromwell had not yet become a puritan zealot. Their marriage was happy, and they were devoted to one another. This can be attested by the solicitous love letters Cromwell wrote to Elizabeth while away on his military campaigns. Some of these were published in an anthology of love letters written by Antonia Fraser in 1976. ["Love Letters, An Illustrated Anthology" pgs120,124 Antonia Fraser Contemporary Books, Inc. 1989 ISBN 0809243148 ] A miniature of Elizabeth Bourchier was painted by miniature painter Samuel Cooper who describes her as "neither uncomely or undignified in person."

List of children

# Robert Cromwell (1621-1639) Died while away at school.
# Oliver Cromwell (1622-1644) Died of typhoid fever while serving as a Parliamentarian officer. Unmarried.
# Bridget Cromwell (4 August1624-1681). Married firstly on 15 June 1646 Henry Ireton, and secondly Charles Fleetwood. She had one son and three daughters by her first husband.
# Richard Cromwell (4 October 1626 -12 July 1712). In 1658 he succeeded his father as Lord Protector but the Protectorate collapsed one year later. In May 1649 he married Dorothy Mayor, daughter of Richard Mayor. Richard and Dorothy had nine children, but only four reached adulthood.
# Henry Cromwell (20 January1628- 23 March 1674) Served as Lord Deputy of Ireland. Married Elizabeth Russell by whom he had seven children.
# Elizabeth Cromwell (2 July1629- August 1658) Married John Claypole. They had four children. Elizabeth was known as "Bettie" and was said to have been her father's favourite child. [British Cicil Wars, Commonwealth and Protectorate 1638-1660]
# James Cromwell (born and died in 1632)
# Mary Cromwell (February 1637-1713) Married Thomas Belasyse, 1st Earl Fauconberg
# Frances Cromwell (1638-1720) Married firstly Robert Rich and secondly Sir John Russell, 4th Baronet.

Death

Elizabeth Bourchier Cromwell died in 1665 at the age of 67. It was five years after the Restoration of King Charles II and seven years after the death of her husband. Five of her nine children survived her as well as numerous grandchildren.

Depictions in film

In the 1970 film "Cromwell", the part of Elizabeth Bourchier was played by Zena Walker. The part of Oliver Cromwell was played by Irish actor Richard Harris.

References