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Civil Wars in Myddle

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Tim of Acleah (U1736633) on Friday, 16th December 2005

  In 1700, when aged 66, Richard Gough started writing down everything that he could about the village of Myddle, where he lived. Myddle was a village of about 450 people to the north of Shrewsbury, near the Welsh border. He included a section ‘Some accidents which happened in the Parish of Myddle in the Time of the Wars.’
  
  “King Charles set up his standard at Nottingham, AD 1642, and because few there resorted to him, he removed thence to Shrewsbury about the latter end of the summer 1642, in hopes that this country and Wales would soon furnish him with an army, and he was not disappointed in his expectation, for multitudes came to him daily. And out of these three towns, Myddle, Marton and Newton, there went no less than twenty men, of which number thirteen were killed in the wars. (vizt).
  
  First, Thomas Formeston, of Marton, a very helpful young man, but at what place he was killed I cannot say.
  
  Secondly, Nathaniel, the son of John Owen of Myddle, the father was hanged before the wards, for he was a Catiline to his own country. His common practice was to come by night with a party of horses to some neighbour’s house and break open the doors, take what they pleased, and if the man of the house was found, they carried him to prison, form whence he could not be released without a ransom in money; so that no man here was safe from him in his bed; and many did forsake their own houses. This Nat. Owen was mortally wounded by some of his own party in an alehouse quarrel, near Bridgenorth, and was carried in a cart to Bridgenorth to be healed, but in the mean time the parliamentary party laid siege to Bridgenorth, and the garrison soldiers within the town set the town on fire, and fled into the castle, in which fire, this Owen (being unable to help himself) was burnt to death.
  
  Thirdly, Richard Chaloner of Myddle, bastard son of Richard Chaloner, brother of Allen Chaloner, blacksmith. This bastard was partly maintained by the parish, and being a big lad, went to Shrewsbury, and was there listed, and went to Edgehill fight (which was October 23rd, 1642), and was never heard of afterwards in this country.
  
  Fourthly, Reece Vaughan, he was brother to William Vaughan, a weaver in Myddle, and brother to Margaret the wife of Francis Cleaton. He was killed at Hopton Castle in this country, where the garrison soldiers refusing fair quarter, when they might have had it, were afterward cut in pieces when the castle was taken by storm.
  
  Fifthly, John Arthurs, a servant of my father’s who was killed at the same castle.
  
  Sixthly, Thomas Hayward, brother to Joseph Hayward the innkeeper then in Myddle was killed in the wards, but I cannot say where.
  
  Seventhly, Thomas Taylor, son of Henry Taylor of Myddle, was killed, I think at Oswestry.
  
  Eighthly and ninethly, William Preece of the cave (who was commonly called Scogan of the Goblin Hole) went for a soldier in the king’s service and three of this sons (i.e.) Francis, Edward and William, two of them viz Francis and William were killed at High Ercall. The old man died in his bed, and Edward was hanged for stealing horses.
  
  Tenthly and eleventhly, Richard Jukes and Thomas Jukes, sons of Roger Jukes, sometime innkeeper in Myddle.
  
  Twelfthly, John Benion, a tailor, who lived in Newton in the house where Andrew Paine lives.
  
  Thirteenthly, an idle fellow, who was a tailor and went from place to place to work in this parish, but had no habitation. These four last named went for soldiers, when the king was at Shrewsbury, and were heard of no more, so that it was supposed that they all died in the wars. And if so many died out of these towns, we may reasonably guess that many thousands died in England in that war.
  
  There were but few that went out of this parish to serve the parliament, and of them, there was none killed (as I know of) nor wounded except John Mould of Myddle Wood. He was a pretty little fellow, and a stout adventurous soldier. He was shot through the leg with a musket bullet, which broke the master bone of his leg and slew his horse under him. His leg was healed but was very crooked as long as he lived.�
  
  
  I have posted this because I think it is an interesting account at the invidual level of the effects of the wars of the Three Kingdoms (civil war).
  
  

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by wyn8126 (U2577714) on Friday, 16th December 2005

  Thank you. Most interesting, and what happy memories of Myddle you gave me. I have several relatives buried in the cemetary there.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Tim of Acleah (U1736633) on Saturday, 17th December 2005

  I glad you appreciated it. It certainly inspired me to want to visit the place when I am next in the area.
  

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