Thomas Stiles or Styles (''
fl.'' 1642–1662) of
Walton in the parish of
Paston,
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire (; abbreviated Northants.) is a county in the East Midlands of England. In 2015, it had a population of 723,000. The county is administered by
two unitary authorities: North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire. It ...
, was a captain in the Royalist army during the
English Civil War
The English Civil War (1642–1651) was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Parliamentarians (" Roundheads") and Royalists led by Charles I (" Cavaliers"), mainly over the manner of England's governance and issues of r ...
. He was governor of
Crowland
Crowland (modern usage) or Croyland (medieval era name and the one still in ecclesiastical use; cf. la, Croilandia) is a town in the South Holland district of Lincolnshire, England. It is situated between Peterborough and Spalding. Crowland ...
in 1642–1643 and after a time as a prisoner, commander of a
troop of horse based at
Belvoir Castle.
Biography
Crowland Abbey in
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs.) is a Counties of England, county in the East Midlands of England, with a long coastline on the North Sea to the east. It borders Norfolk to the south-east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south-we ...
was garrisoned by Royalists in 1642, the first year of the Civil War. Captain Stiles was the first governor. At
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three ...
's request he was imprisoned in
Colchester Castle
Colchester Castle is a Norman castle in Colchester, Essex, England, dating from the second half of the eleventh century. The keep of the castle is mostly intact and is the largest example of its kind anywhere in Europe, due to its being buil ...
after the abbey was captured by Parliamentary forces under Cromwell's command in 1643.
In September 1644 (after 18 months' imprisonment), Styles was exchanged for Captain Henry Fines (alias Clinton), on the condition that Styles was to travel to Peterborough and from there to Belvoir Castle. At Belvoir, Styles took command of a troop of horse. Not long after his arrival his troop took part in an operation to relieve the garrison at Croyland, but it failed because of Parliamentary forces under the command of
Charles Fleetwood and
Thomas Fairfax. Styles held the command until the end of the
First Civil War. The general surrender in his region of England followed the
garrison of Newark's surrender on 6 May 1646 at the behest of Charles I (
after his journey to the Scottish army encamped besieging Newark).
After the end of the First Civil War the estate belonging to Styles was
sequestrated and he had to
compound to get them back. In 1655—a time of tension (see
Penruddock uprising)—Stiles had to provide a bond of £1,000 for his good conduct.
In 1662 (after the
restoration of the monarchy
Restoration is the act of restoring something to its original state and may refer to:
* Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage
** Audio restoration
** Film restoration
** Image restoration
** Textile restoration
*Restoration ecology
...
in 1660), Styles petitioned the Commissioners for the relief of loyal and indigent officers.
Styles died in or around 1678.
Family
Stiles married Lucy.
Notes
References
* endnotes a list of primary sources:
**pass signed by Thomas Lawrence, Mayor of Colchester, on behalf of Thomas Style
**Warrant signed by Sir Gervase Lucas, to Colonel William and Captain Thomas Style
**Contemporary transcripts of Charles I's order to Lord Belasyse for the surrender of Newark
**Documents relating to Stiles's life during the Commonwealth and Protectorate
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stiles, Thomas
Cavaliers
People from Peterborough