Bishop William Meade DD and Thomas Cromwell
I found a book on the Memoir of the Life of Bishop Meade published about 150 years ago.Bishop Meade was a relative of Lord Thomas Fairfax the head of the Ohio Company.Christopher Gist was in charge of all survey work and the equipment to do the surveys for the Ohio Campany.The book says Bishop Meade was a direct descendent of Thomas Cromwell's father. Thomas Cromwell was beheaded by Henry VIII.It also says Oliver Cromwell the Lord Protector was Thomas Cromwell's great nephew.
I understand Christopher Gist's grandmother was Edith Cromwell and that her grandfather was Oliver Cromwell.I also understand that Lord Thomas Fairfax's grandfather was a General in Oliver Cromwell's army.
A second book published about the same time as the first book says a genealogist living at the time of Oliver Cromwell was doing a book about Thomas Cromwell.This genealogist approached Oliver Cromwell about his connection to Thomas Cromwell.Oliver Cromwell replied that the Earl of Essex (Thomas Cromwell) is in no degree related to me.This genealogist took him at his word. Most likely he agreed in order to keep his head on his shoulders