Biography of Paulina Pepys 1640-1689
Paternal Family Tree: Pepys
In 1626 [her father] John Pepys Tailor (age 24) and [her step-mother] Margaret Kite were married.
On 18 Dec 1640 Paulina Pepys was born to John Pepys Tailor (age 39) in Salisbury Court, Fleet Street.
Pepy's Diary. 06 Jan 1660. Friday. This morning Mr. Sheply and I did eat our breakfast at Mrs. Harper's, (my brother [her brother] John (age 19) being with me) upon a cold turkey pie and a goose. From thence I went to my office, where we paid money to the soldiers till one o'clock, at which time we made an end, and I went home and took my wife (age 19) and went to my cosen, Thomas Pepys, and found them just sat down to dinner, which was very good; only the venison pasty was palpable beef, which was not handsome. After dinner I took my leave, leaving my wife with my cozen Stradwick, and went to Westminster to Mr. Vines, where George and I fiddled a good while, Dick and his wife (who was lately brought to bed) and her sister being there, but Mr. Hudson not coming according to his promise, I went away, and calling at my house on the wench, I took her and the lanthorn with me to my cosen Stradwick, where, after a good supper, there being there my [her father] father (age 58), [her step-mother] mother, brothers, and sister (age 19), my cosen Scott and his wife, Mr. Drawwater and his wife, and her brother, Mr. Stradwick, we had a brave cake brought us, and in the choosing, Pall was Queen and Mr. Stradwick was King. After that my wife and I bid adieu and came home, it being still a great frost.
Pepy's Diary. 01 Jun 1666. At noon I and my [her father] father (age 65), wife and sister (age 25), dined at Aunt Wight's here hard by at Mr. Woolly's, upon sudden warning, they being to go out of town to-morrow. Here dined the faire Mrs. Margaret Wight, who is a very fine lady, but the cast of her eye, got only by an ill habit, do her much wrong and her hands are bad; but she hath the face of a noble Roman lady.
Pepy's Diary. 17 Jun 1666. Thence my father and I walked to Gray's Inne Fields, and there spent an houre or two walking and talking of several businesses; first, as to his estate, he told me it produced about £80 per ann., but then there goes £30 per. ann. taxes and other things, certain charge, which I do promise to make good as far as this £30, at which the poor man was overjoyed and wept. As to Pall (age 25) he tells me he is mightily satisfied with Ensum, and so I promised to give her £500 presently, and to oblige myself to 100 more on the birth of her first child, he insuring her in £10 per ann. for every £100, and in the meantime till she do marry I promise to allow her £10 per ann.
Pepy's Diary. 19 Jun 1666. Up, and to my office, there to fit business against the rest meet, which they did by and by, and sat late. After the office rose (with Creed with me) to Wm. Joyce's to dinner, being invited, and there find my [her father] father (age 65) and sister (age 25), my wife and Mercer, with them, almost dined. I made myself as complaisant as I could till I had dined, but yet much against my will, and so away after dinner with Creed to Penny's, my Tailor, where I bespoke a thin stuff suit, and did spend a little time evening some little accounts with Creed and so parted, and I to Sir. G. Carteret's (age 56) by appointment; where I perceive by him the King (age 36) is going to borrow some money of the City; but I fear it will do no good, but hurt. He tells me how the Generall [The Duke of Albemarle (age 57).] is displeased, and there have been some high words between the Generall and Sir W. Coventry (age 38). And it may be so; for I do not find Sir W. Coventry so highly commending the Duke (age 32) as he used to be, but letting fall now and then some little jerkes: as this day, speaking of newes from Holland, he says, "I find their victory begins to shrinke there, as well as ours here".
Pepy's Diary. 12 Dec 1666. After dinner I away to the office, where we sat late upon Mr. Gawden's accounts, Sir J. Minnes (age 67) being gone home sick. I late at the office, and then home to supper and to bed, being mightily troubled with a pain in the small of my back, through cold, or (which I think most true) my straining last night to get open my plate chest, in such pain all night I could not turn myself in my bed. Newes this day from Brampton [Map], of Mr. Ensum, my sister's (age 25) sweetheart, being dead: a clowne.
Pepy's Diary. 16 Jan 1667. So home to supper with my wife, and after supper my wife told me how she had moved to W. Hewer (age 25) the business of my sister (age 26) for a wife to him, which he received with mighty acknowledgements, as she says, above anything; but says he hath no intention to alter his condition: so that I am in some measure sorry she ever moved it; but I hope he will think it only come from her.
Pepy's Diary. 12 Jun 1667. And to White Hall to hear the truth of it; and there, going up the back-stairs, I did hear some lacquies speaking of sad newes come to Court, saying, that hardly anybody in the Court but do look as if he cried, and would not go into the house for fear of being seen, but slunk out and got into a coach, and to The. Turner's (age 15) to Sir W. Turner's (age 51), where I met Roger Pepys (age 50), newly come out of the country. He and I talked aside a little, he offering a match for Pall (age 26), one Barnes, of whom we shall talk more the next time. His father married a Pepys; in discourse, he told me further that his grandfather, my great grandfather, had £800 per annum, in Queen Elizabeth's time, in the very town of Cottenham; and that we did certainly come out of Scotland with the Abbot of Crowland. More talk I had, and shall have more with him, but my mind is so sad and head full of this ill news that I cannot now set it down.
Pepy's Diary. 01 Jul 1667. Home in the evening to supper, and so pretty betimes, about 10 o'clock, to bed, and slept well. This day letters are come that my sister (age 26) is very ill.
Pepy's Diary. 19 Nov 1667. Thence with W. Hewer (age 25) and our messenger, Marlow, home by coach, and so late at letters, and then home to supper, and my wife to read and then to bed. This night I wrote to my father, in answer to a new match which is proposed (the executor of Ensum, my sister's former servant) for my sister (age 26), that I will continue my mind of giving her £500, if he likes of the match. My father did also this week, by Shepley, return me up a 'Guinny, which, it seems, upon searching the ground, they have found since I was there. I was told this day that Lory Hide (age 25)1, second son of my Chancellor (age 58), did some time since in the House say, that if he thought his father was guilty but of one of the things then said against him, he would be the first that should call for judgement against him: which Mr. Waller (age 61), the poet, did say was spoke like the old Roman, like Brutus, for its greatness and worthiness.
Note 1. Laurence Hyde, second son of Chancellor Clarendon (1614-1711). He held many important offices, and was First Lord of the Treasury, 1679-84; created Earl of Rochester in 1681, and K.G. 1685.
Pepy's Diary. 21 Dec 1667. At the office all the morning, and at noon home to dinner with my Clerks and Creed, who among other things all alone, after dinner, talking of the times, he tells me that the Nonconformists are mighty high, and their meetings frequented and connived at; and they do expect to have their day now soon; for my Lord of Buckingham (age 39) is a declared friend to them, and even to the Quakers, who had very good words the other day from the King (age 37) himself: and, what is more, the Archbishop of Canterbury (age 69) is called no more to the Cabal, nor, by the way, Sir W. Coventry (age 39); which I am sorry for, the Cabal at present being, as he says, the King, and Duke of Buckingham, and Lord Keeper (age 61), the Duke of Albemarle (age 59), and Privy Seale (age 61). The Bishops, differing from the King in the late business in the House of Lords, having caused this and what is like to follow, for every body is encouraged nowadays to speak, and even to preach, as I have heard one of them, as bad things against them as ever in the year 1640; which is a strange change. He gone, I to the office, where busy till late at night, and then home to sit with my wife, who is a little better, and her cheek asswaged. I read to her out of "The History of Algiers", which is mighty pretty reading, and did discourse alone about my sister Pall's (age 27) match, which is now on foot with one [her future husband] Jackson (age 27), another nephew of Mr. Phillips's, to whom he hath left his estate.
Pepy's Diary. 09 Jan 1668. After dinner to the office again, where busy till night, very busy, and among other things wrote to my father about lending Anthony Joyce the money he desires; and I declare that I would do it as part of Pall's (age 27) portion, and that Pall should have the use of the money till she be married, but I do propose to him to think of Mr. Cumberland (age 36) rather than this Jackson that he is upon; and I confess I have a mighty mind to have a relation so able a man, and honest, and so old an acquaintance as Mr. Cumberland. I shall hear his answer by the next [post]. At night home and to cards with my wife and girle, and to supper late, and so to bed.
Pepy's Diary. 11 Jan 1668. Lay some time, talking with my wife in bed about Pall's (age 27) business, and she do conclude to have her married here, and to be merry at it; and to have W. Hewer (age 26), and Batelier, and Mercer, and Willet bridemen and bridemaids, and to be very merry; and so I am glad of it, and do resolve to let it be done as soon as I can. So up, and to the office, where all the morning busy, and thence home to dinner, and from dinner with Mercer, who dined with us, and wife and Deb. to the King's house, there to see "The Wild-goose Chase", which I never saw, but have long longed to see it, being a famous play, but as it was yesterday I do find that where I expect most I find least satisfaction, for in this play I met with nothing extraordinary at all, but very dull inventions and designs. Knepp come and sat by us, and her talk pleased me a little, she telling me how Mis Davis (age 20) is for certain going away from the Duke's house, the King (age 37) being in love with her; and a house is taken for her, and furnishing; and she hath a ring given her already worth £600: that the King did send several times for Nelly (age 17), and she was with him, but what he did she knows not; this was a good while ago, and she says that the King first spoiled Mrs. Weaver, which is very mean, methinks, in a Prince, and I am sorry for it, and can hope for no good to the State from having a Prince so devoted to his pleasure. She told me also of a play shortly coming upon the stage, of Sir Charles Sidly's (age 28), which, she thinks, will be called "The Wandering Ladys", a comedy that, she thinks, will be most pleasant; and also another play, called "The Duke of Lerma"; besides "Catelin", which she thinks, for want of the clothes which the King promised them, will not be acted for a good while.
Pepy's Diary. 12 Jan 1668. Lord's Day. Up, and to dress myself, and then called into my wife's chamber, and there she without any occasion fell to discourse of my [her father] father's (age 66) coming to live with us when my sister (age 27) marries. This, she being afeard of declaring an absolute hatred to him since his falling out with her about Coleman's being with her, she declares against his coming hither, which I not presently agreeing to, she declared, if he come, she would not live with me, but would shame me all over the city and court, which I made slight of, and so we fell very foul; and I do find she do keep very bad remembrances of my former unkindness to her, and do mightily complain of her want of money and liberty, which I will rather hear and bear the complaint of than grant the contrary, and so we had very hot work a great while: but at last I did declare as I intend, that my father shall not come, and that he do not desire and intend it; and so we parted with pretty good quiet, and so away, and being ready went to church, where first I saw Alderman Backewell (age 50) and his lady come to our church, they living in Mark Lane [Map]; and I could find in my heart to invite her to sit with us, she being a fine lady. I come in while they were singing the 19th Psalm, while the sexton was gathering to his box, to which I did give 5s., and so after sermon home, my wife, Deb., and I all alone and very kind, full of good discourses, and after dinner I to my chamber, ordering my Tangier accounts to give to the Auditor in a day or two, which should have been long ago with him. At them to my great content all the afternoon till supper, and after supper with my wife, W. Hewer (age 26) and Deb. pretty merry till 12 at night, and then to bed.
Pepy's Diary. 01 Feb 1668. At noon home to dinner, and after dinner out with my wife, thinking to have gone to the Duke of York's playhouse, but was, to my great content in the saving my vow, hindered by coming a little too late; and so, it being a fine day, we out to Islington [Map], and there to the old house and eat cheese-cakes and drank and talked, and so home in the evening, the ways being mighty bad, so as we had no pleasure in being abroad at all almost, but only the variety of it, and so to the office, where busy late, and then home to supper and to bed, my head mighty full of business now on my hands: viz., of finishing my Tangier Accounts; of auditing my last year's Accounts; of preparing answers to the Commissioners of Accounts; of drawing up several important letters to the Duke of York (age 34) and the Commissioners of the Treasury; the marrying of my sister (age 27); the building of a coach and stables against summer, and the setting many things in the Office right; and the drawing up a new form of Contract with the Victualler of the Navy, and several other things, which pains, however, will go through with, among others the taking care of Kate Joyce in that now she is in at present for saving her estate.
Pepy's Diary. 07 Feb 1668. So there parted, my mind pretty well satisfied with this plain fellow for my sister (age 27), though I shall, I see, have no pleasure nor content in him, as if he had been a man of reading and parts, like Cumberland (age 36), and to the Swan [Map], and there sent for a bit of meat and eat and drank, and so to White Hall to the Duke of York's (age 34) chamber, where I find him and my fellows at their usual meeting, discoursing about securing the Medway this year, which is to shut the door after the horse is stole. However, it is good.
Pepy's Diary. 07 Feb 1668. Thence I, about two o'clock, to Westminster Hall [Map], by appointment, and there met my cozen Roger (age 50) again, and [her future husband] Mr. Jackson (age 28), who is a plain young man, handsome enough for Pall (age 27), one of no education nor discourse, but of few words, and one altogether that, I think, will please me well enough. My cozen had got me to give the odd sixth £100 presently, which I intended to keep to the birth of the first child: and let it go-I shall be eased of the care, and so, after little talk, we parted, resolving to dine together at my house tomorrow.
Pepy's Diary. 12 Feb 1668. Thence with cozen Roger (age 50) to his lodgings, and there sealed the writings with [her future husband] Jackson (age 28), about my sister's (age 27) marriage: and here my cozen Roger told me the pleasant passage of a fellow's bringing a bag of letters to-day, into the lobby of the House, and left them, and withdrew himself without observation. The bag being opened, the letters were found all of one size, and directed with one hand: a letter to most of the Members of the House. The House was acquainted with it, and voted they should be brought in, and one opened by the Speaker; wherein if he found any thing unfit to communicate, to propose a Committee to be chosen for it. The Speaker opening one, found it only a case with a libell in it, printed: a satire most sober and bitter as ever I read; and every letter was the same. So the House fell a-scrambling for them like boys: and my cozen Roger had one directed to him, which he lent me to read. So away, and took up my wife, and setting Jackson down at Fetter Lane end, I to the Old Exchange [Map] to look Mr. Houblon, but, not finding him, did go home, and there late writing a letter to my Lord Sandwich (age 42), and to give passage to a letter of great moment from Mr. Godolphin (age 33) to him, which I did get speedy passage for by the help of Mr. Houblon, who come late to me, and there directed the letter to Lisbon under cover of his, and here we talked of the times, which look very sad and distracted, and made good mirth at this day's passage in the House, and so parted; and going to the gate with him, I found his lady and another fine lady sitting an hour together, late at night, in their coach, while he was with me, which is so like my wife, that I was mighty taken with it, though troubled for it.
On 27 Feb 1668 John Jackson (age 28) and Paulina Pepys (age 27) were married.
Pepy's Diary. 29 Feb 1668. So home again, my head full of thoughts about our troubles in the office, and so to the office. Wrote to my father this post, and sent him now Colvill's [The Goldsmith.] note for £600 for my sister's (age 27) portion, being glad that I shall, I hope, have that business over before I am out of place, and I trust I shall be able to save a little of what I have got, and so shall not be troubled to be at ease; for I am weary of this life. So ends this month, with a great deal of care and trouble in my head about the answerings of the Parliament, and particularly in our payment of seamen by tickets.
Pepy's Diary. 02 Mar 1668. Thence with my wife to the 'Change [Map], and so, calling at the Cocke ale house, we home, and there I settle to business, and with my people preparing my great answer to the Parliament for the office about tickets till past 1 a o'clock at night, and then home to supper and to bed, keeping Mr. Gibson all night with me. This day I have the news that my sister (age 27) was married on Thursday last to [her husband] Mr. Jackson (age 28); so that work is, I hope, well over.
Pepy's Diary. 07 Mar 1668. Home from the playhouse to the office, where I wrote what I had to write, and among others to my father to congratulate my sister's (age 27) marriage, and so home to supper a little and then to bed.
Pepy's Diary. 10 Mar 1668. Thence with Sir Prince homewards, calling at Lincolne's Inn Fields: but my Lady Jemimah was not within: and so to Newgate, where he stopped to give directions to the jaylor about a Knight, one Sir Thomas Halford brought in yesterday for killing one Colonel Temple [Map], falling out at a taverne. So thence as far as Leadenhall, and there I 'light, and back by coach to Lincoln's Inn Fields; but my Lady was not come in, and so I am at a great loss whether she and her brother Hinchingbroke [Map] and sister (age 27) will dine with me to-morrow or no, which vexes me.
Pepy's Diary. 08 Apr 1668. Thence home, and to visit Mrs. Turner (age 45), where among other talk, Mr. Foly and her husband being there, she did tell me of young Captain Holmes's (age 46) marrying of Pegg Lowther last Saturday by stealth, which I was sorry for, he being an idle rascal, and proud, and worth little, I doubt; and she a mighty pretty, well-disposed lady, and good fortune. Her mother and friends take on mightily; but the sport is, Sir Robert Holmes do seem to be mad too with his brother, and will disinherit him, saying that he hath ruined himself, marrying below himself, and to his disadvantage; whereas, I said, in this company, that I had married a sister (age 27) lately, with little above half that portion, that he should have kissed her breech before he should have had her, which, if R. Holmes should hear, would make a great quarrel; but it is true I am heartily sorry for the poor girl that is undone by it.
Pepy's Diary. 24 May 1668. Lord's Day. I up, at between two and three in the morning, and, calling up my boy, and father's boy, we set out by three o'clock, it being high day; end so through the water with very good success, though very deep almost all the way, and got to Brampton, where most of them in bed, and so I weary up to my wife's chamber, whom I find in bed, and pretended a little not well, and indeed she hath those upon her, but fell to talk and mightily pleased both of us, and upgot the rest, Betty Turner (age 15) and Willet and Jane, all whom I was glad to see, and very merry, and got me ready in my new stuff clothes that I send down before me, and so my wife and they got ready too, while I to my father, poor man, and walked with him up and down the house-it raining a little, and the waters all over Portholme and the meadows, so as no pleasure abroad. Here I saw my brothers and sister Jackson (age 27), she growing fat, and, since being married, I think looks comelier than before: but a mighty pert woman she is, and I think proud, he keeping her mighty handsome, and they say mighty fond, and are going shortly to live at Ellington of themselves, and will keep malting, and grazing of cattle.
Pepy's Diary. 25 May 1668. Waked betimes, and lay long.... [Note. Missing text "hazendo doz con mi moher con grande pleasure to me and ella;"] and there fell to talking, and by and by rose, it being the first fair day, and yet not quite fair, that we have had some time, and so up, and to walk with my father again in the garden, consulting what to do with him and this house when Pall (age 27) and her [her husband] husband (age 28) go away; and I think it will be to let it, and he go live with her, though I am against letting the house for any long time, because of having it to retire to, ourselves. So I do intend to think more of it before I resolve.
Pepy's Diary. 29 Aug 1668. Thence carried Harris (age 34) to his playhouse, where, though four o'clock, so few people there at "The Impertinents", as I went out; and do believe they did not act, though there was my Lord Arlington (age 50) and his company there. So I out, and met my wife in a coach, and stopped her going thither to meet me; and took her, and Mercer, and Deb., to Bartholomew Fair, and there did see a ridiculous, obscene little stage-play, called "Marry Andrey"; a foolish thing, but seen by every body; and so to Jacob Hall's dancing of the ropes; a thing worth seeing, and mightily followed, and so home and to the office, and then to bed. Writing to my father to-night not to unfurnish our house in the country for my sister (age 27), who is going to her own house, because I think I may have occasion myself to come thither; and so I do, by our being put out of the Office, which do not at all trouble me to think of.
Pepy's Diary. 16 Mar 1669. At noon home, where my wife and Jane gone abroad, and Tom, in order to their buying of things for their wedding, which, upon my discourse the last night, is now resolved to be done, upon the 26th of this month, the day of my solemnity for my cutting of the stone, when my cozen Turner must be with us. My wife, therefore, not at dinner; and comes to me Mr. Evelyn (age 48) of Deptford, Kent [Map], a worthy good man, and dined with me, but a bad dinner; who is grieved for, and speaks openly to me his thoughts of, the times, and our ruin approaching; and all by the folly of the King (age 38). His business to me was about some ground of his, at Deptford, Kent [Map], next to the King's yard: and after dinner we parted. My sister Michell (age 28) coming also this day to see us, whom I left there, and I away down by water with W. Hewer (age 27) to Woolwich, Kent [Map], where I have not been I think more than a year or two, and here I saw, but did not go on board, my ship "The Jerzy", she lying at the wharf under repair. But my business was to speak with Ackworth, about some old things and passages in the Navy, for my information therein, in order to my great business now of stating the history of the Navy. This I did; and upon the whole do find that the late times, in all their management, were not more husbandly than we; and other things of good content to me. His wife was sick, and so I could not see her.
Pepy's Diary. 12 May 1669. Thence to my Lord Sandwich's (age 43), and there had a promise from Sidney (age 18) to come and dine with me to-morrow; and so my wife and I home in our coach, and there find my [her brother] brother John (age 28), as I looked for, come to town from Ellington, where, among other things, he tell me the first news that my [sister Jackson (age 28)] is with child, and fat gone, which I know not whether it did more trouble or please me, having no great care for my friends to have children; though I love other people's. So, glad to see him, we to supper, and so to bed.
In 1673 [her son] John Jackson was born to [her husband] John Jackson (age 33) and Paulina Pepys (age 32).
In 1680 [her father] John Pepys Tailor (age 78) died.
In 1680 [her husband] John Jackson (age 40) died.
On 17 Nov 1689 Paulina Pepys (age 48) died.
Evelyn's Diary. 26 May 1703. This day died [her half-brother] Mr. Samuel Pepys (age 70), a very worthy, industrious and curious person, none in England exceeding him in knowledge of the navy, in which he had passed through all the most considerable offices, Clerk of the Acts and Secretary of the Admiralty, all which he performed with great integrity. When King James II went out of England, he laid down his office, and would serve no more; but withdrawing himself from all public affairs, he lived at Clapham with his partner, Mr. Hewer (age 61), formerly his clerk, in a very noble house and sweet place, where he enjoyed the fruit of his labors in great prosperity. He was universally beloved, hospitable, generous, learned in many things, skilled in music, a very great cherisher of learned men of whom he had the conversation. His library and collection of other curiosities were of the most considerable, the models of ships especially. Besides what he published of an account of the navy, as he found and left it, he had for divers years under his hand the History of the Navy, or Navalia, as he called it; but how far advanced, and what will follow of his, is left, I suppose, to his sister's son, Mr. Jackson (age 30), a young gentleman, whom Mr. Pepys had educated in all sorts of useful learning, sending him to travel abroad, from whence he returned with extraordinary accomplishments, and worthy to be heir. Mr. Pepys had been for near forty years so much my particular friend, that Mr. Jackson sent me complete mourning, desiring me to be one to hold up the pall at his magnificent obsequies; but my indisposition hindered me from doing him this last office.
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Pepys of Cottenham
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Pepys of Cottenham
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Pepys of Impington
GrandFather: Thomas "The Black" Pepys
Father: John Pepys Tailor
GrandMother: Mary Day