The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-11-08
THE HEAD OF OLIVER CROMWELL

: Nearly two centuries have elapsed sine
the death of this renowned champion of &c
clesiastical right and religious liberty il
, Great Britain
That the vertable head of Oliver Crom
, we'll now exists. and is in good state o
preservation near London, in the custody o
lady. there is no doubt Having bee,
seen and actually hand cd, and its writer
aud printed history carefully noted down
there can hardly be the possibility of a mis-
take. Rumors Of the existence OF the heac
were in circulation in London half a ceutu
ry since, aud periodicals now in the Britsl
Museum suggested such fact Various
correspondents alluded to its concealmept
and as having been seen privately; but it j.
only recently that an American gentleman
was prIiui,,cu AZ st ,iio IvIIv auu Iiauuiv n
IN person.
Cromwell's body was embalmed ant
buried with great poWp in Westminster Alb
bey. After the restoration of the Stuart,
the body was dlsnterrcd The head cut of
and pke.staff thrust through the neck
1t was then placed on Westminster Hail
IL remained there 4 considerable number o
years, uItil either blown by the wind OF
carried off by stealth 1t was secreted for
long series Of years, and handed down
from generation 10 generation, among the
defendants of Cromwell, until it now rests
IN the custody Of the accomplished daughter
of w. A. Wilkinson, Esq, an ex-member
Of Parliament, residing at Beckeuham
Kent. near London
While on recent visit to England, the
writer passed the Sabbath with Rev. Mr..
Nerrell. pastor of the Dissenting Chapel at
Bromley, Kent. During the evening Of
that day an alusion was made to his having
seen Cromwell's head in tha: vicinity Ii
was agreed that the next morning an effort
should be made to procure sight Of il, the
possessors of it not being desirous that it
should be too often exhibited. Near noon
We called at the residence Of Mr.. Wilkin.
son, at Beckenham. not long distance from
the home Of the estimabble Miss Marsh
Rev. Mr.. Nerrell sent his card to Miss w
and We were shown into the drawing room
Like most of the residences of the English
gentry, the windows looked out upon 3
landscape Of faultless lovcliness and beauty
Lawns. velvet-llke in appearance. with tn,
sweetest beds Of flowers, lay before the eye
In the distance, clusters of aristocratic oak.
threw their deep shadows over the lawns
shielding from the rays of a summers sun
groups of beautiful English cattle
Very soon a lady of mature years, and
of handsome person, entered the room, Will
an air that indicated position and the man
ners of the true lady An introduction fol
lowed. and the purpose of our visit being
made known. it was cheerfully granted es
pecially when it was stated the strange
was an American. Very soon woodeI
box was brought into the room and opened
Enclosed in 1t was smaller one Of oak
with dark brass hinges. Two or three GOV
erlngs of cloth and silk were successivel,
removed, and then was lifted out the yer
ita bic head Of Oliver Cromwell,
The head having been embalmed, retain
the flesh in shrivelIcd, Try state. but tn
} features arc distinct and the hair almost a
perfect as at its burial The huge war
over ole of the eyes, SO historically true. j
clearly distinct, and the resemblance to
bust, copied from real life, which is nea
by, carries conviction of the identity Of th
head beyond misgving. The iron pix
; which was thrust through the throat an
came out at the top Of the head, is ruste
in. Its ace and exposure have consume
the upper part; and only a couple inches q
the iron remain above the head The wood
en- part Of the pc was broken of Just belos
the throat, and the fracture shows that
was sew red by violence, and not cut asuu
der by an instrument
Altogether, this singular memorial {
another age is in better state Of preserya
ton than any Of the embalmed Egyptian,
and 50 well preserved are the features, an
The shrlyelitd skin So entire. that it has III
tie that ls hldeous or repulsIve. FlaxDaI
the eminent sculptor. who had examined
with care, IN connection with contemporant
Gus busts aud portraits, unhesitatngly eI
pressed entire confidence, that it is the hea
Of Oliver Cromwell. la addition. the fan
lily who possess this relic Of an illustrou
, man, have both printed documents and writ
: ten details Of its history, 50 minute and Gil
cumstantial, that they knoa0, beyond doub
its authenticity. Yet in London, little @
: nothing is Known Of tie existence of thi
. head, even among men Of position and IL
E tluence. Until recently, it has been keE
secreted. aud now it is not easily accessible
e The following letter from the Rev. NJ,
] Nerrell. who is an Intimate friend Of th
family of Mr.. Wilkinson, prepared at th
request of the writer of this paragraph, j
!, of historical interest and confirms the aboy
: statement. W. A.
r BROMLEY, KENT, July 6, 1858.
] Dear Sir The head We saw at W. A
c WilkiDson's, cf Shortlands, Beckenham,
believe to be that Of Oliver Cromwell
The history Of his death, interment afte
3 being embalmed, and the sentence passe
for his exhumation. hanging at Tyburr
and placing the heads Of Ireton, Bradsha,
{ and Cromwell on Westminster Hail. ar
all patent. The head having rolled int
E the parapet Of the hall By the breaking {
the spear, or halbert, on which it was fxet
: after twenty years the sentinel taking
t under his cloak, and hiding i. till bis death
hrs widow then conveying it to the Can
bridgeshire Russell family its being po
sessed by them until j. was sold for 9lO