3:1 The Bacon Family
Bacon of Suffolk: The Descendants of Robert “of Drinkstone” Bacon
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The background of the Bacon Family and their connections to the Cooke, Cecil, de Vere and Golding families
According to the Dictionary of National Biography, BACON is the name of an ancient seigniory in Normandy and from this place the Norman ancestors in England took their name nearly a thousand years ago. According to the genealogy of the Suffolk family of Bacon, Grimaldus, a relative of the Norman chieftain, William de Warrenne, came to England in 1066 at the time of the Conquest and settled near Holt in County Suffolk. His son or grandson Robert took the name Bacon or rather assumed the use of the placename as a surname. One of the earliest ancestors of the family was Roger Bacon who was born about 1165. He was the son of George Bacon and was sued by his sister-in-law Agnes, the widow of his brother Thomas for distaining her tenants in Baconsthorpe and Lodue and breaking her park. Roger raised arms with the Barons against the King and had his estates confiscated but his lands were returned to him in 1216 through the favor of Henry III. Roger Bacon's direct line extends to ROBERT, REGINALD, RICHARD, SIR ROBERT, SIR THOMAS to JOHN alias ROGER "Friar Bacon" where it ends in 1546. (The Dictionary of National Biography)
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His son was Robert "of Drinkstone" Bacon born about 1480 in Drinkstone, Suffolk, England and he married Isabella Cage.
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Robert "of Drinkstone" Bacon and Isabella Cage
The following information came largely from the Dictionary of National Biography, Vol. 1 beginning on page 838. "Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper was born in 1509, probably in a house belonging to the parents of Sir Francis Walsingham at Chislehurst, Kent. He was the second son of Robert Bacon of Drinkstone, Suffolk, sheepreeve to the abbey of Bury St Edmunds where the Golding family lived. He was the younger brother of James Bacon who was engaged in trade in London and was elected an alderman on 24 April 1567. There is reason to believe that Nicholas was at first educated at the abbey school at Bury and in 1523 he proceeded to Corpus Christi College in Cambridge where he obtained a bible-clerkship and while there he made the acquaintance of two other students: William Cecil, afterwards Lord Burghley and Matthew Parker, who later became the Archbishop of Canterbury. He remained friends with both of them for the rest of his life. Sir Nicholas Bacon went to France and then returned to study common law at Gray's Inn, was called to the bar in 1533 and became an 'ancient' in that society in 1536."
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Sir Nicholas Bacon profited from the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII
About 1540 during the time of King Henry, Sir Nicholas Bacon while operating in his official capacity was determined that the confiscated revenues of the dissolved monasteries should be applied to useful purposes so he and Thomas Denton and Robert Cary drafted a plan to establish a college for the education of young statesmen. They proposed to erect a house in London where young men of good family could be taught civil law, Latin and French but the proposal met with little favor and the monastic estates were distributed among the king's friends. Bacon himself was not excluded from the spoils because he received land in Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Wiltshire and Hampshire, land that had once belonged to the monasteries of St. Albans, Walsingham and Thetford. He also got from the king the manors of Great Holland in Essex and of Redgrave, Botesdale and Gillingham, Suffolk, all of which had once been the property of the abbey of Bury St. Edmunds.
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Sir Nicholas Bacon by an unknown artist. This Portrait is in the National Maritime Museum in London. Public Domain
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The fates always seemed to be with Sir Nicholas because in spite of his Protestantism, when Queen Mary came into power, he managed to retain his office in the court of wards and escape persecution. No doubt his connections to other powerful men worked in his favor. He remained in close contact with his old friend Sir William Cecil who had by that time married a sister of Bacon's second wife. When Queen Mary died and Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne, Sir Nicholas rose in prominence and assumed an active political life. Cecil was created secretary of state, and Bacon, perhaps through Cecil's influence received at Somerset House on December 22, 1558 the post of Lord Keeper of the Great Seal. He was afterwards admitted to the privy council and knighted. The Queen was afterwards content to leave the ordering of church matters for the most part in the hands of Bacon and Cecil and the reformed religion greatly benefited from this arrangement. In the parliament of 1570 he suggested a sensible means for the better observance of doctrine and discipline in the church, and on the latter question he always offered judicious advice but occasionally quarrelled with Parker concerning the archbishop's laxity in this matter. The two friends were reconciled before Matthew Parker's death in 1575 and Bacon was remembered in his will. Sir Nicholas Bacon died in London at his residence York House by Charing Cross on February 20, 1578-9. (The Dictionary of National Biography, Vol. 1, p. 838-843)
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Sir William Cecil, Lord Burghley and husband to Mildred Cooke
Sir Nicholas Bacon, Keeper of the Great Seal under Queen Elizabeth I married twice, the first time to Jane the daughter of William Fernley of West Creting, Suffolk by whom he had three sons; Nicholas, Nathaniel and Edward and three daughters Anne, Jane and Elizabeth. His second wife was Ann, the daughter of Sir Anthony Cooke by whom he had two sons, Anthony and the illustrious Francis. (The Dictionary of National Biography, Vol. 1, p. 838-843)
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Mildred Cooke and Sir William Cecil, the friend of Sir Nicholas Bacon
Sir Nicholas Bacon was connected by marriage to the Cooke family and also to the de Vere's through Mildred Cooke's marriage to William Cecil. They were powerful and influential allies to have, and of the sons of Sir Nicholas "the Lord Keeper" Bacon, his marriage to Anne Cooke and her son Sir Francis Bacon is of special note. The Cooke family is connected through marriage in multiple ways to the Golding family of Suffolk. Anne's father, Sir Anthony Cooke married Anne Fitzwilliam and their daughter Mildred became the Lady Burghley referred to in the above narrative as "the sister of Bacon's second wife who married Sir William Cecil."
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Mildred Cooke was born August 24, 1524 in Romford, Essex and she married as has already been mentioned William Cecil, Lord Burghley in December of 1545. She was his second wife and by him she became the mother of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury the trusted advisor of King James I.
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Mildred Cook, Lady Burghley
Mildred's great-grandparents on her father's side were Sir Philip Cooke and Elizabeth Belknap and her paternal GG Grandparents were Sir Thomas Cooke, a wealthy member of the Worshipful Company of Drapers and Lord Mayor of London in 1462-3 and Elizabeth Malpas, the daughter of Philip Malpas, also Master of the Company of Drapers and Lord Mayor of London. Mildred Cooke's mother was Anne Fitzwilliam, the daughter of Sir William Fitzwilliam, Master of the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors and Sheriff of London by his first wife Anne Hawes, the daughter of Sir John Hawes. Mildred was a brilliant and educated woman and grew up in an enlightened household. According to most accounts was educated in the Classics by her father at Cecil House and was raised in the company of some of the greatest minds of her century. She built up an impressive collection of books, described by Bowden as "one of the finest libraries of the day" and in 1587 presented eight volumes by Galen, five in Greek and three in Latin to Christ Church, Oxford. She later gave two books to St. John's College, Oxford and two to Westminster School.
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The tomb of Mildred “Lady Burghley and her de Vere granddaughters in Westminister Abbey
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Lady Burghley died on April 4, 1589 after 43 years of marriage. She was buried with her daughter Anne Cecil, Countess of Oxford in Westminster Abbey in an enormous tomb. The mother is depicted lying on a sarcophagus with her three granddaughters Elizabeth, Bridget and Susan de Vere at her head and her only son Robert Cecil at her feet. In the upper story Lord Burghley is depicted kneeling in his robes. Lord Burghley lay in state in the Abbey but was buried at St. Martin's Church in Stamford. (Mildred Cooke, Lady Burghley)
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Anne "Countess of Oxford" Cecil was the daughter of Mildred "Lady Burghley" Cooke
The Golding family of Suffolk established family connections to the de Veres when Margaret, the daughter of John "of Essex" Golding married Edward de Vere, the 16th Earl of Oxford. Anne Cecil married their son Edward de Vere the 17th Earl of Oxford, which means Margaret, formerly Golding was the daughter-in-law of Mildred "Lady Burleigh" Cecil (Cooke). The 17th Earl of Oxford was essentially the patron of Arthur Golding the translator and in many ways served as the protector of the Golding family as he, through his inclusion in the highest levels of society was able to elevate them in status and help fulfil their social ambitions. It is ironic to consider that debt played a major factor in the destruction of both of these noble families. (Mildred Cecil, Lady Burghley & Anne Countess of Oxford)
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Anne Cecil
Anne Cecil was born on December 5, 1556 the daughter of William Cecil, trusted friend of Sir Nicholas Bacon and Mildred Cooke. Like her mother she was an intelligent and well educated girl and is thought to have been tutored by William Lewin. In 1569 she was engaged to marry Sir Philip Sidney but when those marriage negotiations failed she became in 1571 the first wife of Edward de Vere. She served as a Maid of Honor to Queen Elizabeth before her marriage so Anne was married in Westminster Abbey with the Queen in attendance. Anne may have actually loved her husband however his reasons for marrying Anne were largely mercenary as he had hoped her father would pay some of his many debts. This reckless attitude towards life and his family was to cause friction between Edward de Vere and his mentor and tutor Arthur Golding on many occasions, but nevertheless the older man tried to provide a good example for his nephew, but much of his effort proved to be in vain. Following her marriage Anne Cecil continued to live with her parents at Theobalds House and when she gave birth to her first child, Elizabeth on July 2, 1575 de Vere, who had been abroad touring the Continent accused her of adultery and then began an affair with the Queen's Lady of the Bedchamber, Anne Vavasour. (Anne Cecil)
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Margaret “Marjory” Golding and Edward 16th Earl of Oxford had two children; Edward and Mary. Mary de Vere married Peregrine Bertie, 13th Baron Willoughby de Eresby. An interesting sidenote related to Peregrine Bertie is that John Smith, the English soldier, explorer and colonial governor who played such an important role in the establishment of the colony of Jamestown was baptized on Janauary 6, 1580 at Willoughby near Alford, Lincolnshire where his parents rented a farm from Lord Willoughby. Smith claimed descent from the ancient Smith family of Cuerdley, Lancashire and he was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School, Louth from 1592 to 1595. (John Smith)
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Edward de Vere suffered the wrath of Queen Elizabeth
When his mistress gave birth to an illegitimate son Edward in March of 1581, both Edward de Vere and she earned the wrath of Queen Elizabeth and were sent to the Tower of London. Oxford was soon released and in that same year Anne began a correspondence with him. By January 1582 they were reconciled enough that he was able to recognize the paternity of their daughter.
In total, Oxford and Anne Cecil had a total of five children:
1. Elizabeth de Vere, Countess of Derby (1575-1627) married William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby.
2. Lord Bulbecke, who died in early infancy in 1583
3. Bridget de Vere (1584-1630-1)
4. Frances de Vere died as an infant in 1587.
5. Susan de Vere (1587-1629) married Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke
Anne died on June 5, 1588 at the young age of 31 and was buried with her mother in Westminster Abbey. Her father was so stricken with grief at her death that he was unable to carry out his ministerial duties in the Privy Council. Her three daughters were sent to live with their grandfather where they received excellent educations and eventually married into the peerage and Edward de Vere remarried in 1591 to Elizabeth Trentham, by whom he had his son and heir Henry de Vere who became the 18th Earl of Oxford. (Anne Cecil)
Mildred "Lady Burleigh" Cooke and her nephew Sir Francis Bacon
Mildred Cecil (Cooke) was the aunt of the most famous of the Bacon family, Sir Francis Bacon, a man who has been called "the father of empiricism". The works of his life are credited with developing the scientific method and they remained influential throughout the scientific revolution. Sir Francis was the son of Anne Cooke, a daughter of Sir Anthony Cooke and Anne Fitzwilliam and was the sister of Mildred "Lady Burleigh" who married Sir Nicholas "Lord Keeper" Bacon. The two sisters married men who were lifelong friends, thus solidifying their personal and political alliance within the bonds of family and it is not unexpected that Sir Francis Bacon should come down through history as one of the greatest minds of all the ages, as he came from a lineage of superbly accomplished and intellectually inquisitive people.
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Sir Francis Bacon played an instrumental part in the planting of the Virginia colony
By 1591 Bacon was acting as one of the Earl's confidential advisors and in religious matters, he did show signs of sympathy to Puritanism, attending sermons of the Puritan chaplain of Gray's Inn and accompanying his mother to the Temple Church to hear Walter Travers. These experiences led to the publication of his earliest surviving tract which criticized the English church's suppression of the Puritan clergy. There is nothing to suggest that Francis Bacon included either the Goldings or the de Vere's in his alliances but he was acquainted with Robert Deveraux the 2nd Earl of Sussex and one of Queen Elizabeth's favorites, but he did play a leading role in the establishment of the British colonies in North America, especially in Virginia, the Carolinas and Newfoundland in northeaster Canada. He submitted his report on "The Virginia Colony" in 1609 and by 1610 had, along with his associates, received a charter from King James to form the "Tresurer and the Companye of Adventurers and planter of the Cittye of London and Bristoll for the Collonye or plantation in Newfoundland". They sent John Guy to found a colony there.
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Thomas Jefferson wrote of Bacon: "Bacon, Locke and Newton. I consider them as the three greatest men that have ever lived, without any exception, and as having laid the foundation of those superstructures which have been raised in the Physical and Moral sciences", and some scholars actually believe Francis Bacon was largely responsible for the drafting in 1609 and 1612 of two charters of government for the Virginia Colony. William Hepworth Dixon (1821-1879), the noted English historian and traveler stated in his book The Story of Lord Bacon's Life (1862) that Bacon considered that Bacon's name could be included in the list of Founders of the United States, although Dixon's books on Bacon have for the most part not been valued by scholars. (Francis Bacon)
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Another son of Robert "of Drinkstone" Bacon and Isabella Cage was James "Alderman and Fishmonger of London" Bacon
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References
(n.d.). Retrieved from The Dictionary of National Biography: http://search.ancestry.com/iexec?htx=View&r=an&dbid=1981&iid=31205_Vol22-00515&fn=Arthur&ln=Golding&st=r&ssrc=pt_t43926987_p12724356161_kpidz0q3d12724356161z0q26pgz0q3d32768z0q26pgplz0q3dpid&pid=89662
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Anne Cecil. (n.d.). Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Cecil
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Francis Bacon. (n.d.). Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Bacon
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Mildred Cecil, Lady Burghley & Anne Countess of Oxford. (n.d.). Retrieved from Westminster Abbey: https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/commemorations/mildred-cecil-lady-burghley-anne-countess-of-oxford
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Mildred Cooke, Lady Burghley. (n.d.). Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mildred_Cooke
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Wikipedia, John Smith https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Smith_(explorer)
