Biography of John The Younger Evelyn 1655-1699

Before 10th September 1647 [his father] John Evelyn [aged 26] and [his mother] Mary Browne [aged 12] were married by Bishop John Earle [aged 46] at Paris [Map]. She is first mentioned in his diary John Evelyn's Diary on 10th September 1647.

John Evelyn's Diary. 19th January 1655. My [his mother] wife [aged 20] was brought to bed of another son, being my third, but second living. Christened on the 26th by the name of John.

On 19th January 1655 John The Younger Evelyn was born to [his father] John Evelyn [aged 34] and [his mother] Mary Browne [aged 20].

John Evelyn's Diary. 13th December 1660. I presented my son, John [aged 5], to the Queen-Mother [aged 51], who kissed him, talked with and made extraordinary much of him.

John Evelyn's Diary. 1st August 1662. Mr. H. Howard [aged 34], his brothers Charles [aged 32], Edward [aged 25], Bernard [aged 21], Philip [aged 33], now the Queen's [aged 23] Almoner (all brothers of the Duke of Norfolk, still in Italy), came with a great train, and dined with me; Mr. H. Howard leaving with me his eldest and youngest sons, Henry [aged 7] and Thomas [aged 5], for three or four days, my son, John [aged 7], having been sometime bred up in their father's house.

John Evelyn's Diary. 24th October 1663. Mr. Edward Phillips came to be my son's [aged 8] preceptor: this gentleman was nephew to Milton, who wrote against Salmasius's "Defensio"; but was not at all infected with his principles, though brought up by him.

John Evelyn's Diary. 17th November 1666. I returned to Chatham, Kent [Map], my chariot overturning on the steep of Bexley Hill, wounded me in two places on the head; my son, Jack [aged 11], being with me, was like to have been worse cut by the glass; but I thank God we both escaped without much hurt, though not without exceeding danger.

John Evelyn's Diary. 24th January 1667. Visited my Lord Clarendon, and presented my son, John [aged 12], to him, now preparing to go to Oxford, of which his Lordship was Chancellor. This evening I heard rare Italian voices, two eunuchs and one woman, in his Majesty's [aged 36] green chamber, next his cabinet.

John Evelyn's Diary. 29th January 1667. To London, in order to my son's [aged 12] Oxford journey, who, being very early entered both in Latin and Greek, and prompt to learn beyond most of his age, I was persuaded to trust him under the tutorage of Mr. Bohun, Fellow of New College, who had been his preceptor in my house some years before; but, at Oxford, under the inspection of Dr. Bathurst [aged 47], President of Trinity College, where I placed him, not as yet thirteen years old. He was newly out of long coats.

John Evelyn's Diary. 10th January 1671. Mr. Bohun, my son's [aged 15] tutor, had been five years in my house, and now Bachelor of Laws, and Fellow of New College, went from me to Oxford to reside there, having well and faithfully performed his charge.

John Evelyn's Diary. 2nd May 1672. My son, John [aged 17], was specially admitted of the Middle Temple by Sir Francis North [aged 34], his Majesty's [aged 41] Solicitor-General, and since Chancellor. I pray God bless this beginning, my intention being that he should seriously apply himself to the study of the law.

John Evelyn's Diary. 29th March 1673. I carried my son [aged 18] to the Bishop of Chichester, that learned and pious man, Dr. Peter Gunning [aged 59], to be instructed by him before he received the Holy Sacrament, when he gave him most excellent advice, which I pray God may influence and remain with him as long as he lives; and O that I had been so blessed and instructed, when first I was admitted to that sacred ordinance!

John Evelyn's Diary. 25th May 1673. My son [aged 18] was made a younger brother of the Trinity House. The new master was Sir J. Smith, one of the Commissioners of the Navy, a stout seaman, who had interposed and saved the Duke [aged 39] from perishing by a fire ship in the late war.

John Evelyn's Diary. 22nd July 1674. I went to Windsor, Berkshire [Map] with my [his mother] wife [aged 39] and son [aged 19] to see my daughter Mary [aged 9], who was there with my Lady Tuke and to do my duty to his Majesty [aged 44]. Next day, to a great entertainment at Sir Robert Holmes's [aged 52] at Cranbourne Lodge, Windsor, in the Forest; there were his Majesty, the Queen [aged 35], Duke [aged 40], Duchess [aged 15], and all the Court. I returned in the evening with Sir Joseph Williamson [aged 40], now declared Secretary of State. He was son of a poor clergyman somewhere in Cumberland, brought up at Queen's College, Oxford, of which he came to be a fellow; then traveled with ... and returning when the King was restored, was received as a clerk under Mr. Secretary Nicholas. Sir Henry Bennett [aged 56] (now Lord Arlington) succeeding, Williamson is transferred to him, who loving his ease more than business (though sufficiently able had he applied himself to it) remitted all to his man Williamson; and, in a short time, let him so into the secret of affairs, that (as his Lordship himself told me) there was a kind of necessity to advance him; and so, by his subtlety, dexterity, and insinuation, he got now to be principal Secretary; absolutely Lord Arlington's creature, and ungrateful enough. It has been the fate of this obliging favorite to advance those who soon forgot their original. Sir Joseph was a musician, could play at Jeu de Goblets, exceedingly formal, a severe master to his servants, but so inward with my Lord O'Brien [aged 32], that after a few months of that gentleman's death, he married his widow [aged 34], who, being sister and heir of the Duke of Richmond, brought him a noble fortune. It was thought they lived not so kindly after marriage as they did before. She was much censured for marrying so meanly, being herself allied to the Royal family.

John Evelyn's Diary. 10th July 1675. The Vice Chancellor Dr. Bathurst [aged 55] (who had formerly taken particular care of my son [aged 20]), President of Trinity College invited me to dinner, and did me great honor all the time of my stay. The next day, he invited me and all my company, though strangers to him, to a very noble feast. I was at all the academic exercises.-Sunday, at St. Mary's, preached a Fellow of Brasen-nose, not a little magnifying the dignity of Churchmen.

John Evelyn's Diary. 31st October 1675. Dined at my Lord Chamberlain's [aged 57], with my son [aged 20]. There were the learned Isaac Vossius [aged 57], and Spanhemius, son of the famous man of Heidelberg; nor was this gentleman less learned, being a general scholar. Among other pieces, he was author of an excellent treatise on Medals.

John Evelyn's Diary. 10th November 1675. Being the day appointed for my Lord Ambassador [aged 47] to set out, I met them with my coach at New Cross. There were with him my Lady his wife, and my dear friend, Mrs. Godolphin [aged 23], who, out of an extraordinary friendship, would needs accompany my lady to Paris [Map], and stay with her some time, which was the chief inducement for permitting my son [aged 20] to travel, but I knew him safe under her inspection, and in regard my Lord himself had promised to take him into his special favor, he having intrusted all he had to my care.

John Evelyn's Diary. 13th May 1676. Returned home, and found my son [aged 21] returned from France; praised be God!

John Evelyn's Diary. 16th November 1676. My son [aged 21] and I dining at my Lord Chamberlain's [aged 58], he showed us among others that incomparable piece of Raphael's, being a Minister of State dictating to Guicciardini, the earnestness of whose face looking up in expectation of what he was next to write, is so to the life, and so natural, as I esteem it one of the choicest pieces of that admirable artist. There was a woman's head of Leonardo da Vinci; a Madonna of old Palma, and two of Vandyke's, of which one was his own picture at length, when young, in a leaning posture; the other, an eunuch, singing. Rare pieces indeed!

John Evelyn's Diary. 29th July 1677. Mr. Bohun, my Son's [aged 22] late tutor, preached at Abinger, on Phil., iv. 8, very elegantly and practically.

John Evelyn's Diary. 25th December 1677. I gave my son [aged 22] an office, with instructions how to govern his youth; I pray God give him the grace to make a right use of it!

John Evelyn's Diary. 25th August 1678. There was at Weybridge the Duchess of Norfolk [aged 35], Lord Thomas Howard [aged 21] (a worthy and virtuous gentleman, with whom my son [aged 23] was sometime bred in Arundel House [Map]), who was newly come from Rome, where he had been some time; also one of the Duke's daughters, by his first lady. My Lord [aged 50] leading me about the house made no scruple of showing me all the hiding places for the Popish priests, and where they said mass, for he was no bigoted Papist. He told me he never trusted them with any secret, and used Protestants only in all businesses of importance.

John Evelyn's Diary. 31st August 1679. After evening service, to see a neighbour, one Mr. Bohun, related to my son's [aged 24] late tutor of that name, a rich Spanish merchant, living in a neat place, which he has adorned with many curiosities, especially several carvings of Mr. Gibbons [aged 31], and some pictures by Streeter.

John Evelyn's Diary. 21st February 1680. Shrove-Tuesday. My son [aged 25] was married to [his future wife] Mrs. Martha Spencer [aged 21], daughter to my Lady Stonehouse by a former gentleman, at St. Andrew's [Map], Holborn, by our Vicar, borrowing the church of Dr. Stillingfleet [aged 44], Dean of St. Paul's, the present incumbent. We afterward dined at a house in Holborn; and, after the solemnity and dancing was done, they were bedded at Sir John Stonehouse's [aged 41] lodgings in Bow Street, Convent Garden.

On 24th February 1680 John The Younger Evelyn [aged 25] and Martha Spencer [aged 21] were married. He the son of John Evelyn [aged 59] and Mary Browne [aged 45].

John Evelyn's Diary. 1st May 1680. Was a meeting of the feoffees of the poor of our parish. This year I would stand one of the collectors of their rents, to give example to others. My son [aged 25] was added to the feoffees.

On 1st March 1682 [his son] John Evelyn 1st Baronet was born to John The Younger Evelyn [aged 27] and [his wife] Martha Spencer [aged 23] at Sayes Court, Deptford [Map]. He was baptised on 2nd March 1682. He married 18th September 1705 Anne Boscawen Lady Evelyn and had issue.

John Evelyn's Diary. 1st June 1691. I went with my son [aged 36], and brother-in-law, Glanville [aged 72], and his son, to Wotton, to solemnize the funeral of my nephew, which was performed the next day very decently and orderly by the herald in the afternoon, a very great appearance of the country being there. I was the chief mourner; the pall was held by Sir Francis Vincent [aged 45], Sir Richard Onslow [aged 36], Mr. Thomas Howard (son to Sir Robert, and Captain of the King's Guard), Mr. Hyldiard, Mr. James, Mr. Herbert, nephew to Lord Herbert of Cherbury, and cousin-german to my deceased nephew. He was laid in the vault at Wotton Church, in the burying place of the family. A great concourse of coaches and people accompanied the solemnity.

John Evelyn's Diary. 23rd July 1692. I went with my [his mother] wife [aged 57], son [aged 37], and [his sister] daughter [aged 23], to Eton [Map], to see my grandson [aged 10], and thence to my Lord Godolphin's [aged 47], at Cranburn, where we lay, and were most honourably entertained. The next day to St. George's Chapel [Map], and returned to London late in the evening.

John Evelyn's Diary. 1st September 1697. Very bright weather, but with sharp east wind. My son [aged 42] came from London in his melancholy indisposition.

In 1699 John The Younger Evelyn [aged 43] died.

John Evelyn's Diary. 24th March 1699. My only remaining son died after a tedious languishing sickness, contracted in Ireland, and increased here, to my exceeding grief and affliction; leaving me one grandson [aged 17], now at Oxford, whom I pray God to prosper and be the support of the Wotton family. He was aged forty-four years and about three months. He had been six years one of the Commissioners of the Revenue in Ireland, with great ability and reputation.

In 1726 [his former wife] Martha Spencer [aged 67] died.

[his daughter] Elizabeth Evelyn was born to John The Younger Evelyn. She married 21st July 1709 Simon Harcourt, son of Simon Harcourt 1st Viscount Harcourt, and had issue.