Chesterton, the Birth-Place of Dryden.

This Mansion, the seat of the Dryden family, and of the late Sir John Dryden, was the birth-place and occasional residence of the first poetical genius in our language. It was situated on the western side of the great North road, near Kate's Cavin, about four miles north of Stilton; but was burnt down a few years after the present drawing was made. The first recorded person of this family was a Mr. Erasmus Dryden, so named from the learned Erasmus, with whom he had some connexion. He was made a baronet by James I. His eldest son and successor was Sir John Dryden, who took an active part in the civil wars in the time of Charles I. and sat on the Long Parliament. The second son of Erasmus went into trade; the third settled at Tichmarch, and had two sons, Mr. John Dryden, and Mr. Erasmus Dryden, afterwards Sir Erasmus. Sir John Dryden left two sons, Sir Robert and Mr. Dryden of Chesterton, to which latter the Poet attached himself.

This Mansion, the seat of the Dryden family, and of the late Sir John Dryden, was the birth-place and occasional residence of the first poetical genius in our language. It was situated on the western side of the great North road, near Kute's Cavin, about four miles north of Stilton; but was burnt down a few years after the present drawing was made. The first recorded person of this family was a Mr. Erasmus Dryden, so named from the learned Erasmus, with whom he had some connexion. He was made a baronet by James I. His eldest son and successor was Sir John Dryden, who took an active part in the civil wars in the time of Charles I. and sat on the Long Parliament. The second son of Erasmus went into trade; the third settled at Tichmarch, and had two sons, Mr. John Dryden, and Mr. Erasmus Dryden, afterwards Sir Erasmus. Sir John Dryden left two sons, Sir Robert and Mr. Dryden of Chesterton, to which latter the Poet attached himself.

B1974.12.905 ba- obj- 24455 -0001

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Yale Center for British Art, 2017