The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-18
is 1T cRoMwELL'S HEAD7

History of a Mummiaed Relic Preserved
In a Country House In Kent.
From the Philadelphia Times.
A mummy head, reputed to be that
of Oliver Cromwell. Is cared for as
sacred trust by Mr.. Horace Wilkin-
son at the country house near Seven
oaks. in Kent, England, which is his
home. II descended to him from his
father. Mr.. william Arthur Wilkin-
son. who at one time sat in the house
of commons for Lambeth. He like
wise had received IL from his father.
Mr. Josiah Henry Wilkinson, the
grandfather of course, of Mr.. Horace
Wilkinson.
Documents dealing with the relic
have accumulated beside it, and in
particular Mr.. Josiah Henry Wilkin-
son left in manuscript what may be
called a statement of the case for II,
as Cromwells head.
Tradition runs that on a stormy
night about % years after the heads
of Cromwell. Ireton and Bradshaw
had been set on Westminster hall, that
OF Cromwell was blown down. 1t was
picked up by a sentinel, who was on
his rounds below, and placed under his
cloak and by him carried to his home.
Naturally there would be hue and
cry as to what had become of so not
able a thing.
The sentinel had taken 1t, perhaps,
to sell for money, perhaps simply that
he might have such a property, per-
haps on the impulse of the moment
that is a detail. But the hue and cry
would have placed him in a difficult
position. and therefore he hid the
mummy in the chimney of his house,
only revealing its presence there to
his wife and daughter on his deathbed.
BY this time the mystery of the disap-
and the wife and daughter were able
to sell IL to a Cambridgeshire family
named Russell.
This family was intimately connect
ed with the Cromwells by marriage,
and so naturally desired to preserve
so important a part of the remains of
the lord protector. 1t continued in the
possession of the Russells for long
years. the last to own II being one
Samuel Russell.
With him. however, the head fell on
evil days. and was exhibited on so
much of a charge in the vicinity of
Clare market James Cox, the propri-
etor OF a museum. coveted the head for
his place and offered Samuel Russell
e100 for 1t. Russell refused the offer,
but later was indebted to Cox for a
loan amounting to that sum. In con-
sideration of the loan and a further
amount he eventually handed over the
heirloom for Cox's museum-perhaps
in the year 1850.
Thus there was a forced sale of what
was worth selling and worth buying.
only because IL was believed to be a
Cromwell head. But this was hardly
a greater indignity for the head than
to be often exhibited by Russell while
AS the tale goes-that worthy was
drunk. When Cox retired from his
museum, just off Bond street. he in
turn sold the trophy, there being this
time three buyers. They were gentle
men of democratic views, and the Pc
riod was early in the French revolu-
ton. but the head was still kept on
show
The price they gave for it was f23O,
and IL is ominously added that they all
died sudden deaths. The last survivor
of the three was a friend of Mr.. Jo-
siah Henry Wilkinson, and the grand
| father of the present owner bought II
| from his dead friends daughter, to
whom IL was left. This would have
been about 1872. and the head was
| then in the strong oaken box in which
| IL is still kept. Indeed. the box, like it's
contents. came from the Russells, and
both are now enclosed in a second case
| of polished wood. An oil painting
which Mr. Horace Wilkinson bought
| some years ago at a sale at Syden-
| ham gives a very good representation
| of the head. The artist is one Cranch,
| and on the back of the picture is in
scribed THE Cromwell Head"