Frances Cromwell

Frances Russell (née Cromwell; 1638 – 1720) was the ninth child and youngest daughter of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, and his wife, Elizabeth Cromwell. She was baptized at St. Mary's Church in Ely on 6 December 1638.[1]

Lady Frances Russell
Born
Frances Cromwell

6 December 1638
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Died27 January 1720
London
NationalityEnglish
Spouse(s)Robert Rich, Sir John Russell
Children5
Parent(s)Oliver Cromwell
Elizabeth Bourchier

Family and marriage

After growing up in the Cromwell family home, Frances moved to both Whitehall and Hampton Court when her parents became the protector and protectoress of England. Historians have linked her to several suitors, amongst them Charles II,[2] but she did not marry until 11 November 1657 when she wed Robert Rich (1634-1658), grandson of Robert Rich, second earl of Warwick (1587–1658), and only son and heir of Robert Rich, Lord Rich (1611–1659). After a difficult courtship and days of celebration the marriage was short-lived: Rich, who had been ill at the time of the marriage, died 16 February 1658 at Whitehall.[3]

Five years later, on 7 May 1663 Frances married Sir John Russell. Russell died in March 1669. Frances raised their five children, before spending the latter part of her life with her sister Mary and her husband Thomas.[4]

Children

Sir John and Lady Frances had three sons and two daughters:

  • Sir William Russell, 4th Baronet (c. 1660–1725)
  • Christina Russell (d. 1669)
  • Frances Elizabeth Russell (1664–1733)
  • Maj.-Gen. Rich Russell (c. 1667–1735)
  • John Russell (1670–1735), President of Bengal

References
  1. Gaunt, Peter. "Russell [née Cromwell; other married name Rich], Frances, Lady Russell". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  2. Antonia Fraser, (1973) Cromwell our Chief of Men, p. 601
  3. Waylen, James (1897). The House of Cromwell: A Genealogical History of the Family and Descendants of the Protector. 62 Paternoster Row: Elliott Stock. Retrieved 8 March 2018.CS1 maint: location (link)
  4. Noble, Mark (1784). Memoirs of the protectorate-house of Cromwell: deduced from an early period, and continued down to the present time, Vol II. London: Pearson and Rollason. p. 382. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
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