John Keble's Parishes: A History of Hursley and Otterbourne

hanael Napier, whose son, Sir Gerald, parted with it again to Richard Maijor, the son of the mayor of Southampton. This was in 1638, and for some time t

Cranbury, he, as Lord of the Manor, stipulated that it should be let only to a Protestant of the Church of Engl

yhold of Cranbury before 1643, and retired thither when he was expelled from his deanery and other

d Anvyle, as Ampfield was then spelt, and thought him a severe lord to his copyholders. Morley was born at Hursley, and was sent to school at Baddesley in 1

fuit, August 1672." (Senex ind

t Oliver Cromwell made his acquaintance, and in 1647 began the first proposals of a "Marriage treaty," between Richard, Oliver's eldest surviving son, just twenty-one and educated for the Law, and the elder daughter of Mr. Maijor (which Carlyle always spells as

friend, Richard M

2th Febru

he last year's motion, touching my Son and your Daughter. Mr. Robinson was also pleased to send enclosed in his, a Letter from you, bearin

so a freedom in the young persons thereunto. What liberty you will give herein, I wholly submit to you. I thought fit, in my Letter to Mr. Robinson, to mention somewhat of expedition because indeed I know not h

r Cro

. Stapylton, he made a visit to Hursley, and was received by Mr. and Mrs. Maijor with many civilities, also seeing their two daughters, Dorothy and Anne. In a letter of 28th February, Cromwell thanks Mr. Maijor for "The reception of my son, in the liberty given him to wait on your worthy daughter, the report of whose v

the young lady's godliness causeth him to deny himself in the matter of moneys." More correspondence ensued, as to the settlement of Hursley upon Dorothy and her heirs male

he) "King Charles was put to death, and Oliver Cromwell Protector of England, and Richard Maijor of his privy council, and Noll his eldest son Richard married to Mr. Maijor's daughter Doll, then Mr. Maijor did usurp authority over his tenants at Hursley." In another place he says that "he" (i.e. Mr. Maijor) "set forth horse and man for

e. There were two walnut avenues planted about this time, leading to the lodge from the churchyard on one side, and

that this must have been to the gardens in Ram-Alley near Chandler's Ford, originally Chaloner's Ford, where numerous trees, bearing quantities of little

he wrote kindly paternal letters to his son and daughter. He wishes Richard to study mathematics and cosmography, and read history, especially Sir Walter Raleigh's

t of their expenses, which is still preserved. Seven different ministers in the half year after Christmas 1645 were remunerated "for travell and pains in

ning of a chalk-pit at Hatchgate in 1655, and at Otterbourne. The children of William

immediately sank to the bottom and (this is quite certain) never was seen! The well was cleaned out in later times, and nothing was found but a pair of curious pattens, cut away to receive a high-heeled shoe, also a mazer-bowl, an iron flesh-hook and small cooking-

affairs were more settled; and when, in his last moments, he was harassed with enquiries as to his successor, he answered, "You will find my will in such a drawer of my cabinet." Some of

uneral. It must have been a great misfortune to him that his shrewd father-in-law, the witty and thrifty Mr. Maijor, was sinki

t the head of the list of his father's attempt at a House of Lords, and he allowed greatness to be thrust on him in a quiet acquiescent way. He dismissed the fictitious parliament that his father had summon

his father. While packing for his departure, he sat down on a box containing all the complimentary addresses made to him, and said, "Between my legs lie the lives and fortunes of all the good folk in England!" He then returned to Hursley, where he found himself pursued by those debts of his

nherited the estates, and seems to have been on good terms with his father, who, in 1700, came to live at Cheshunt unde

his two daughters set up their claim, and the case was brought into court. It is said that the judge was Cowper, but this has bee

he lived between Hursley and Cheshunt

algrave

unt we

ugh the choru

though no

adulation o

blame of tongue

low cha

eace

conscious her

footsteps

while silence

obin comes, wh

his heed

s, ere, in 1718, they sold the estate. It was a large tablet of marble, surmounted by death's heads. It is of gray or veined marble, i

pril 1731, in the 82d yeare of her age, and lyes interred near this place; she was the daughter of Richard Cromwell, Esq., by Dorothy, his wife, who was the dau

age, and lies interred, with Dr. Thomas Gibson, her husband, Physician Genera

e said Eliz. Cromwell, died 12th Jul

aid Richard Cromwell, died 11th May

e of John Mortimer, Esq., died 14th May 1681,

aid Richard Cromwell, died 5th Janua

the said Mrs. Dorothy Cromw

and of the said Mrs. Ann M

daughter, died 13th December 16

d 27th May 1655, in t

ughter, died 24th September 16

othy Cromwell, died 13th December

aughter, died 14th March 1651

r of the said Mrs. Ann Ma

n excellent fashion of planting them in the latter end of the seventeenth century, partly due to a French custom, partly to Evelyn's

ght; but on being cleaned, it proved to be the die of the seal of the Commonwealth. Richard had caused a new seal to be made for himself by Simon, a noted medallist,

. They are believed to have been friends of Oliver Cromwell the grandson, who certainly named them in h