We're often asked if there was any connection between Thomas #Cromwell and Oliver Cromwell (many people even confuse the confuse the two). The answer is yes - the two men were related. This thread will explain how with a quick guide to the #CromwellFamily #Tudors #17thCentury 1/7 
Thomas Cromwell was chief minister to #HenryVIII 1532-40. His sister Katherine Cromwell had married Morgan Williams, a Welsh lawyer. Their son Richard (c.1502-44) became a protege of Thomas, serving as a commissioner in the Dissolution of the Monasteries and as a soldier. 2/7
Richard Williams prospered, given property in Huntingdon by Henry VIII, as High Sheriff & an MP. By his death he called himself Richard Cromwell - as there was no formal way to change names for generations after the Cromwells signed legal documents 'Cromwell, alias Williams' 3/7
Richard's eldest son Sir Henry Cromwell (alias Williams), (d.1604) was known as 'the Golden Knight' as one of the wealthiest men in the region, & built a grand house at Hinchingbrooke, today @HBKSchool. His second wife was said to have been murdered by the Witches of Warboys! 4/7
Sir Henry's eldest son inherited Hinchingbrooke - Sir Oliver (1563 - 1655) but lost it by having King James I as a regular house guest! Royal entertaining was expensive and to avoid bankruptcy Sir Oliver had to sell Hinchingbrooke in 1627. Portrait of him in our collection. 5/7
Sir Henry's second son/Sir Oliver's younger brother was Robert Cromwell (c.1567-1617), who married Elizabeth Steward (c.1560-1654) - they were Oliver Cromwell's parents. These portraits in our collection were traditionally thought to be them, but recent research refutes this. 6/7
So, as you can probably work out... Thomas Cromwell was Oliver Cromwell's great, great grand-uncle! Hope that adds a bit of clarity and interest to the Cromwell story! 😀If you want to know more, do come and visit us to discover more about this remarkable family. 7/7
