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the roamerthe_roamer@mastodonapp.uk
Jun 12, 2026, 6:25 PM
@samuelpepys
This is Mary Cromwell, born 1637, third daughter of Oliver Cromwell. The oddities of early Restauration England.
In 1657 Mary had married Thomas Belasyse, Viscount Fauconberg (later 1st Earl of Fauconberg). So here in 1663 she was Mary Fauconberg, or Viscountess Fauconberg. But Pepys refers to her by her father's name. Perhaps a subconscious sign of the overwhelming presence of the dead Oliver Cromwell in people's minds, even after his death? Cromwell had died only 5 years earlier, in 1658; Charles II had only taken power in 1660.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Cromwell,_Countess_Fauconberg
#Pepys #MaryCromwell #Fauconberg #OliverCromwell #Restauration
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Replies

That’s a morayBumblefish@mastodon.scot
Jun 12, 2026, 6:30 PM
@the_roamer @samuelpepys Maybe she just kept her name for professional purposes like most people who live somewhere that they are forced to change their name when married?
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the roamerthe_roamer@mastodonapp.uk
Jun 12, 2026, 6:40 PM
@Bumblefish @samuelpepys
I don't think she had a profession, except for being the Head and COO of an aristocratic household, no doubt a full-time job. But that role would link to Fauconberg, or Belasyse, not Cromwell. But obviously, no one could ignore that here was a woman whose late father had had complete power over the life of nation.
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That’s a morayBumblefish@mastodon.scot
Jun 12, 2026, 6:43 PM
@the_roamer @samuelpepys Yes of course despite being from a vastly more powerful family she was (checks notes) subservient, and had no free will over what people called her, society just broke with tradition and...
Wait, no aristocrat has a profession..,
Sorry no you've lost me. Make it make sense.
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the roamerthe_roamer@mastodonapp.uk
Jun 12, 2026, 6:46 PM
@Bumblefish @samuelpepys
Hi. Where have I lost you?
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That’s a morayBumblefish@mastodon.scot
Jun 12, 2026, 6:49 PM
@the_roamer @samuelpepys Well you're applying anachronistic Victorian naming standards to a person from a different era and anyway who would naturally be known by her own name exactly because she does come from the more powerful family.
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the roamerthe_roamer@mastodonapp.uk
Jun 12, 2026, 7:30 PM
@Bumblefish @samuelpepys
You are right, I am not an expert on naming conventions in mid-17th century England. From what little I know, I find it remarkable that Pepys refers to this person as Lady Cromwell.
We are three years into Restauration England. Cromwell's memory is negated by the royal regime. Just two years ago his body was exhumed so that he can be symbolically executed. Mary is his daughter. She happens to be married to a member of an aristocratic family with good standing in the new regime. Her social role is to run the household of the family she now represents. Viscountess Fauconberg is as much a job title as a family name. I can't imagine that conventions at the time would have suggested to refer to her by her maiden name. Or for her to refer to herself that way. But then again, I am no expert. To me this naming, in Sam's private diary, looks like an expression of the overwhelming presence of Oliver Cromwell in Sam's mind.
Happy to review in light of facts.
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