Synopsis of Regiment's History

Raised July 1642 by Sir Ralph Dutton in Gloucestershire.
Joined King at Nottingham, 22nd August 1642.
Fought at Battle of Edgehill, 23rd October 1642.
Probably with army at Battle of Brentford, 11th November 1642.
Oxford Garrison for Winter 1642/43.
Contingent of regiment with Rupert at storming of Cirencester, 2nd February 1643.
Abingdon Camp May 1643 and with Oxford Army throughout 1643.
Siege of Bristol, 23rd-26th July 1643.
Siege of Gloucester, 10th August-5th September 1643.
First Battle of Newbury, 20th September 1643.
Garrison of Reading for Winter 1643/44.
Colonel Stephen Hawkins appointed in place of Dutton on 6th December 1643.
Contingent of Regiment with Lisle at Battle of Cheriton, 29th March 1644.
Whole Regiment garrisoned Greenland House, 15th May 1644.
Siege of Greenland House, 16th May-12th July 1644. Regiment allowed to march out with honours of war and returned to Oxford.
Part of Oxford Garrison for remainder of war alongside Queens Lifeguard of Foot.
Contingent formed part of Sir Henry Gage's Basing House relief force, 10th-12th September 1644.
Contingent formed part of Sir Henry Gage's Banbury relif force, 25th October 1644.
Hawkins' Regiment and Queens Lifeguard formed Sir Henry Gage's Tertia for main field army's recovery of guns left at Donnington Castle; 9th November 1644.
No further significant forays out of Oxford for remainder of war.
Regiment disbanded with surrender of Oxford on 24th June 1646.

NB.

Sir Stephen Hawkins raised new regiment for French service from exiled English royalists in late 1647. Served with French army under the overall command of Prince Rupert in Northern France until July 1648 when whole force disbanded, some taking over the manning of ex-Parliamentarian fleet, remainder staying in French service.

A List of all Officers who served in Sir Ralph Dutton's/Sir Stephen Hawkins' Regiment of Foot, 1642-1646.

Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Hawkins, later Colonel.
Lieutenant Colonel John Palmer, under Hawkins, previously Captain then major.
Major Degory Collins, later Lieutenant Colonel under Hawkins, then a Colonel in his own right.
Major Charles Kirke, under Hawkins, previously Captain.
Captain William Atkins.
Captain Matthew Bradley, (London).
Captain Thomas Cardinal, (Surflett Holland, Lincoln).
Captain George Grimes, (Camberwell, Surrey).
Captain Fane Hack.
Captain ? Hoskins (or Hopkins).
Captain Thomas Hull, (Godalming, Surrey).
Captain William Humphreville, (Lincoln).
Captain John Jauncey, (Radnor).
Captain Roger Low, (Bromsgrove, Worcestershire).
Captain Charles Morris.
Captain Matthew Radcliffe.
Captain-Lieutenant Thomas Atkins.
Lieutenant Samuel Hull, (Berkshire) of Captain Hull's Coy.
Lieutenant John Rixon, (Worcester) of Captain Morris's Coy.
Ensign Thomas Brown, (Gloucester) of Captain Hoskins' Coy.
Ensign William Browne, (Surrey).
Ensign John Herbert, (Hereford) of Major Collins' Coy.
Ensign Edward Jordan, of Major Kirke's Coy.
Quartermaster Thomas Carter, under Colonel Dutton.
Quartermaster Thomas Littleton, under Colonel Hawkins.

The locations given in brackets is the officers home where known. (The above list is taken from pgs.59-60, `Officers and Regiments of the Royalist Army', by Stuart Reid, published by Partizan Press).

Biographies

Sir Ralph Dutton

The Dutton family of Sherborne was one of the wealthiest families in Gloucestershire, being originally an Anglo-Norman family from Chester back in the 13th century, Ralph Dutton himself was the sixth son of William and Anne Dutton (His mother gave birth to a total of seven sons and four daughters, of which four sons and one daughter survived to adulthood) being baptised on 8th December 1601. While his three surviving brother were educated at Oxford, Ralph was not, instead attending Court from an early age.

As a younger son (the eldest was John Dutton who inherited Sherborne on his fathers death on 10th November 1618) he established himself at Standish in Gloucestershire and was there-after styled `Sir Ralph Dutton of Standish. He was knighted in 1624 and by 1641 was a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber and Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire. A staunch royalist, he stood by the King's side throughout 1641-42 where he probably came to know Stephen Hawkins. In July 1642 he was commissioned to raise both a Regiment of Foot and Horse, and he returned to Gloucestershire where he received the assistance of his elder and far richer brother John, who was an M.P. for the county, to raise the cadre for both Foot and Horse. The bulk of his men though were probably raised on the subsequent march through the midlands, Shropshire and on to Nottingham, where, although his Regiment of Foot numbered 800 men, his Horse had only the strength of a single troop (although interestingly enough he wrote a `Manual of prayers' for his troopers which was considered highly enough to be brought later to the notice of the House of Commons).

While Sir Ralph Dutton charged at the head of his cavalry troop at Edgehill, he led his Regiment of Foot at Bristol and First Newbury the following year. In early December 1643 he vacated the command of his Regiment of Foot, being replaced by his more professional Lieutenant-Colonel, Stephen Hawkins, and Dutton took up a position at the Court in Oxford. Sir Ralph Dutton remained in Oxford until its surrender in June 1646. As his estate at Standish had been sequestered during the war and as he had been a close advisor to the King, Dutton found he had to leave England. He took passage in a ship from Leith to France, but during the voyage, heavy seas wrecked the ship on Burnt Island where his body was found on the beach.

NB. Sir Ralph Dutton is often confused with his elder brother John, who was also, briefly, a Colonel. John Dutton, as an MP for Gloucestershire, tried with Lords Conway and Chandos to raise troops to take the City of Gloucester in 1642. He was captured and taken to London where he was disenabled and discharged from being a member of the Commons. John Dutton was allowed to then travel to Oxford in 1645 where he was one of the 14 Commissioners for the Treaty of Surrender in June 1646, which he seems largely to have drafted. John Duttons estates were valued at £60,000 per annum and he had to pay fines of over £4,000 on these. He also had to cover his dead brother Ralph's fines of £952.17s to free his estate at Standish from Sequestration.

Sir Stephen Hawkins.

While his military career between 1639-48 is very well recorded, there is little known either side of this about Stephen Hawkins. As to where and when he was born, there appears to be nothing recorded, although we do know he owned property in Bishops Court, The Old Bailey, and the Middle Temple, London in the early 1640's and Cromwellian spies in the 1650's also place him as resident in London. Hence he may well have originally come from London, being possibly a cadet member of the wealthy Hawkins family of Nash Court in Kent.

But this is supposition, what there is though, in the British Manuscript Library, is Stephen Hawkins own written account of his service for the King, covering the period from 1639 to early 1645 when it was written. It was apparently written by Hawkins as an appeal to the King to ensure he and his own field regiment were not to take second place in the Oxford garrison to the officers and men of the cities auxiliary regiments;

`It is humbly represented by Colonell Stephen Hawkins in vindication of his clayms to his just precedence in his Matisiy sirvice as followith. viz. That bining in forraigns service, and hearing of the insurrection in Scotland, he forthwith repayrid home, and raysid for his matis service there, 100 foote, wherof he was Capt. as by his Comision bearing date 19th of March. 1639.

That in the next insurrection thou, he had the like command as by his Comision of the 12th of may 1640.

That (with this armys disbandment, exitt this Tumulte remayning) he left not to wayte any occasion of serving his Matie, but was with him (to his great expense) in all the rebellions insolencies at London (as at whitehall, and the Parliament house,) at Windsor, and afterwards wayed on him down to York.

That at Beverley he had Commision bearing date 25th July 1642 to be Lieutenant Colonel to Sir Ralph Dutton. Which Regiment, was the 2d raysid, and came in to his matie (compleat. 800 with flying Colours) at his setting up of his Royal Standard at Nottingham.

And was after, Major to Colonell Wentworth's Tertia at Gloster as by his Comision of the 10th of August. 1643.

That from Edgehill to the present the said Regiment hath been in Action, and by his Maty gracious favour He made Colonell to the sayd Regemt as by his Commission of the 6th of Decemb. 1643.

That he was afterwards made sole Governor of the House and fort of Greenland as by his Commision of yee 15th April 1644.

That now lastly his Highness Prince Rupert hath been pleased to constitute him Adjutant to the Governor of Oxford as by his Comision of the 12th Decemb.

All his Comisions he hath ready to show, and Humbly presentish further, that under the favour of this most honble Court, he concevieith.

That priority in forraign Comands (if there be any in this cause) did overturn to Service for his Matsy life and safety.

That Colours flying and men raysed were always preferred before bare commissions.

That men of Action and of yee sword had allways the place of Town Regiments.' [50]

As has already been written above in the main text, after the surrender of Oxford in 1646, Hawkins went into French service under Prince Rupert in 1647, raising a three company Regiment from exiled English royalists. After this forces disbandment, in November 1648, Hawkins next appeared in the records as a royalist conspirator in London in January 1655 and in September 1656, the Committee for Compounding noted that he had not compounded at that date (see main text). Sadly for this loyal Royalist he was not to see the Restoration for he died in February 1658 leaving a will which demonstrated he owned little property beyond that in Bishops Court in the `Ould Bayly' and had lived most of his life from as a professional soldier. Interestingly, the administration of his estate was given to a Thomas Panton, who was listed as a tenant in Bishops Court but had also been a Royalist Colonel during the Civil War. [51]

Degory Collins

Originally from a Cornish family, Collins had taken up the soldiers profession at an early age, serving in the ranks at the Isle de Rhe expedition in June 1627. By 1640 he was a Captain alongside Hawkins in Jerome Bretts Regiment and in July 1642 he was appointed Major of Sir Ralph Duttons Regiment of Foot. He served in the regiment, becoming its Lieutenant-Colonel when Hawkins was made Colonel in December 1643. He was then given his own command in the Oxford garrison where he served until the end of the war. He does not appear to have seen any service thereafter, residing on his small family estate in Cornwall. After the Restoration in 1660 he was granted a payment of £30 for his services. He died in 1672 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

John Palmer.

We know very little about this officer. He possibly came from the Palmer family of Dorington, in Gloucestershire. The first hard evidence is his listing as being a professional officer and being Hawkins company Lieutenant in 1640, in Jerome Bretts Regiment. In July 1642 he was made senior captain in Ralph Dutton's Regiment of Foot, probably on Hawkins recommendation (this suggests the two may have known each other from Continental service). Palmer served with the regiment throughout 1642-43, being promoted to Major in December 1643 with the appointment of Hawkins to Colonel and Collins to Lieutenant-Colonel. In May 1644 Palmer was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel with the departure of Collins and in July it was Palmer who conducted face to face negotiations with Major-General Browne for the surrender of Greenland House. Palmer remained Lieutenant-Colonel until the Regiments demise in June 1646. Nothing further seems known of him.

Charles Kirke

The precise family background of Charles Kirke is far from clear. He may have been the younger brother of Sir Lewis Kirke of Norton in Derbyshire which means his mother would have been French and this would help explain Kirke's catholicism, which is well recorded. It seems more likely though that he was the son of George Kirke by his first wife, Anne Killigrew (she died in 1641). While there is no clear evidence of this, George Kirke, who was gentleman of the robes to Charles l, and under Charles ll did leave the following petition from February 1663;

`Petition of George Kirke to the King, to pass a grant to him, as promised, of the Keepership of Whitehall Palace, granted by the late King to trustees for the life of his son Charles, whom he expected to survive, but who is lately deceased.' [52]

If the Charles Kirke of Hawkins' regiment was indeed this son of George Kirke, it would explain why there is no further record of Charles Kirke after 1663. His career from 1639 onwards is far more certain. Charles Kirke had seen service on the Continent, he being listed as a professional officer in early 1640 when a Lieutenant to Captain Henry Ventris in Colonel Sir William Ogle's Regiment.

On 11th December 1640 though, he was discharged as a Roman Catholic during the purge of papists in the Kings Army due to Parliamentary pressure. In Dutton's Regiment he was second Captain after John Palmer by the time of the Battle of Edgehill in October 1642 and he remained with the regiment thereafter. During 1643 Kirke appears to have been responsible for the maintenance and issue of arms within the regiment as his name appears several times in the Royalist Ordnance Papers as both returning damaged weapons and drawing sound ones on behalf of Dutton's Foote. For example, on 31st January 1643, while in garrison at Oxford;

`This bearer Capt: Charles Kirke will deliver unto you sertaine arms unfixt beinge of Cornonell Duttons regemt and in respect of the present use of musketts for his soldiers in this place you may please to deliver him soe many out of the Magazin allready fixed, or as many as you have, the last of Ja:1642: George Strode
for Capt: Marsh
Endorsed: exchange of unfixt Armes unto Capen. Charles Kirke.' [53]

With Stephen Hawkins appointment to Colonel, Kirke became First Captain in December 1643, and with Degory Collins departure from the regiment and John Palmer's promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel, Kirke became Serjeant-Major in May 1644. Kirke commanded the detachments of the regiment which formed part of Gage's reliefs of Basing and Banbury in September and October 1644 respectively. On the 15th November 1645 Kirke is recorded as sitting as a judge on Lord Ogle's Court Martial at Oxford for Ogle's surrender of Winchester (he was acquitted of charges of dereliction of duty); something of an irony as Kirke had been a Lieutenant in Ogle's Regiment back in 1639-40. There is some evidence that Kirke (although no other members of Hawkins' Regiment) was serving with Lord Jacob Astley at the Battle of Stow-on-the-Wold on 21st March 1646. He may have been sent from Oxford to meet the approaching Royalist forces and was caught up in this last battle of the war. [54]

After the regiment's demise in June 1646 nothing further is recorded of Kirke until his claim for service in 1663 on the Indigent Officer list. In 1665 he petitioned for a reformado's place in the Berwick garrison, after which nothing further seems known of him.

NB. Whatever the parentage of Charles Kirke, he was a relation of the Kirke family of Whitehaigh, Chapel-le-Frith, Derbyshire, from which came Lieutenant-General Percy Kirke, the commander of `Kirke's Lambs' (The Queens Regiment of Foot) of Sedgmoor fame in 1685. If he was the brother of Sir Lewis Kirke, then he was Percy Kirke's nephew. If though, as is more likely, he was the son of George Kirke by Anne Killigrew, His first wife, then he was Percy Kirke's step-brother, Percy Kirke being the son of George Kirke by his second wife, Mary Townsend. [55]

References