James Chudleigh (1618 - abt. 1643)

Born 1618 in Ashton, Devon, England

Ancestors

Died about 6 Oct 1643 at about age 25 in Dartmouth, Devon, England

Biography

James Chudleigh was born in Devon, England.

James Chudleigh is Notable.

Birth

James Chudleigh was born in 1618 at Ashton Manor, Devon. He was the fourth of nine sons born to George Chudleigh and Mary Strode ^[1][2] who also had nine daughters. Those following are known to have survived into adulthood:^[3]

• John Chudleigh MP (1606-bef.1634)
• Mary (Chudleigh) Clifford (abt.1610-aft.1645)
• George Chudleigh (1612-1691)
• Anne Chudleigh (1617-1704)
• James Chudleigh, (1618-1643)
• Christopher Chudleigh (1620-)
• Thomas Chudleigh (1622-1668)
• Alice Chudleigh (1624-1664)

Ashton Manor and House

Ashton Manor was the family seat of the Chudleigh family from about 1320 to 1745. The manor house was known as Ashton Manor or Ashton Place. It was situated on the western slopes of Haldon Hill, about 6 miles south-west of Exeter, Devon, England. Ashton House was later abandoned in favour of Haldon House that was built on the eastern side of Haldon Hill in 1735. Ashton House was already in ruins when it was painted in 1794 by the Rev John Swete.^[4][5]

Ashton House in 1794.

Political Background

The backdrop to James' military career was an unsettled period in Britain that resulted in a number of military actions:

First Bishops' War, 1639

The Bishops' Wars were two military campaigns against the Scots at the instigation of King Charles I whose ambition was to enforce Anglican observances within the Scottish Church by introducing a modified version of the English Book of Common Prayer. A riot in Edinburgh in 1637 quickly lead to national resistance with the General Assembly at Glasgow defying Charles' orders in 1638. Charles marched an army on Scotland in 1639 but lack of sufficient funds and confidence in his army lead to a pacification treaty being agreed at Berwick, So, the First Bishops' War ended without battle.^[6][7]

Riots over the Prayer Book.

Second Bishops' War, 1640

Misunderstandings of the terms of the Pacification Treaty and Scottish liaisons with France provoked Charles to use further force. To raise funds, Charles required the agreement of Parliament which he summoned in April 1640, the so called Short Parliament, that sat from 13 April 1640. Because this parliament did not support his intentions, Charles dissolved the parliament on 5 May 1640. This weakened his position leading the Scots to invade England. Charles raised an army on his own account but this was followed by the Scots taking Northumberland and Durham. In a further attempt to raise funds, Charles summoned another parliament, the so called Long Parliament. This Parliament was even more challenging to the King, dismissing his advisors and strengthening Parliament. Charles failed in his attempt to arrest some of Parliament's members in 1642 leading to Civil War later that year.^[6][8][9]

Sitting of the Short Parliament on 13 April 1640.

Ulster Rebellion, 1641

A major revolt against England rule began in Ireland, led by Sir Phelim O'Neill who seized Charlemont Castle in Ulster and claimed that Charles I had authorised the act. O’Neill’s followers massacred hundreds of England’s colonists in Ulster. However, after besieging Drogheda, County Louth, for several months they were compelled to withdraw in April 1642.^[10]

First English Civil War begins, 1642

Fighting took place in the British Isles between supporters of the monarchy of Charles I, known as Royalists or Cavaliers, and opposing groups in each of Charles’ kingdoms. These included Parliamentarians in England, known as Roundheads, Covenanters in Scotland, and Confederates in Ireland. The English Civil Wars are generally considered to have begun in England in August 1642, when Charles I raised an army against the wishes of Parliament. The Civil War was not restricted to England as its familiar name suggests but took place thoughout all the kindoms of the House of Stuart.^[7]

Military Career

Prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, James Chudleigh was a Captain in the Earl of Northumberland's regiment that was part of the army raised for the Bishops' Wars. At the beginning of the English Civil War it appears Chudleigh tried to join the Royalists but was rejected on the grounds of his father and uncle being 'disaffected to the King'. Instead he joined the Parliamentary forces and raised 1000 dragoons from the west country which were used to garrison Barnstaple, north Devon. At this time he supervised construction of Chudleigh Fort, near Bideford, Devon.^[11]

Following the expiry of a treaty between Parliamentarian and Royalist forces on 22 April 1643, Sergeant Major General James Chudleigh, commanding 1500 Foot and 200 Horse, engaged with Sir Ralph Hopton's forces at Launceston, Cornwall. Hopton's forces were well established on a hill and surrounding hedges made use of the cavalry impracticable. Chudleigh was able to withdraw reasonably safely across Poulson Bridge where they had been at risk of being cut off having been rescued by the arrival of Colonel Merricks regiment under the command of Colonel Calmady who made the Royalists retreat.^[12]

The forces engaged again on 25 April 1643 at Sourton Down, near Okehampton; Hopton having 400 Horse and Dragoons and about 4000 Foot. Chudleigh had no more than 600 Foot and 108 Horse at that time and could not withdraw without abandoning artillery and ammunition. Chudleigh divided his Horse into squadrons and hid atop a hill that Hopton's forces were to pass until the enemy came to them. The squadrons charged causing the enemy to throw down their arms and cry for quarter. The enemy faced about and were engaged again, this time Chudleigh deployed his Foot and some 60 or 70 Horse to repel some 400 of the enemy.^[12][13][11]

Battlefield map - Battle of Sourton Down, 25 April 1643.

The battlefield map shows the action of the Battle of Sourton Down. The Royalists, in red, were travelling towards Okehampton overnight, when they were ambushed by the Parliamentarians, in blue. The attack routed the Royalists, who retreated back to Bridestowe.

On 16 May 1643 at Stratton, close to the Devon/Cornwall border, the Earl of Stamford forces were depleted as his Lieutenant General Sir George Chudleigh, James Chudleigh's father, had gone into Cornwall taking 600 Horse. Hopton discovered this and took advantage to attack and rout Stamford's remaining forces. During this action, Major-General Chudleigh was taken prisoner.^[13]

Following his surrender to the Royalist forces, James Chudleigh changed sides and declared himself for the King. He defended his decision to do so in a long declaration that he wrote to refute criticism for becoming a turncoat.^[14]

Following the Defeat at Stratton, the Earl of Stamford retreated by way of Barnstaple in North Devon to Exeter. James Chudleigh, now with the Royalists, besieged him there and with the arrival of Prince Maurice with reinforcements, the Earl surrendered after a long siege.^[13] In the Royalist army James Chudleigh held the rank of Colonel.^[15]

Death

The notable military career of Colonel James Chudleigh ended with his death from a musket shot wound received on 30 September 1643 during an action by the Royalists upon the Parliamentarian garrison at Dartmouth, Devon, following a month's siege. He died a few days later on 6 October and was buried at St Saviour's, Dartmouth, on the 9th October 1643. He was aged about 25.^[11][16]

St Saviour's Church, Dartmouth.

Sources

1. ↑ Visitation of Devon 1620 Page 59: Chudleigh
2. ↑ James Chudleigh, Personal Details "Wikipedia Section"
   Wikipedia Accessed and entered on 19 June 2023 by Keith Bowden.
3. ↑ Sir George Chudleigh, 1st Baronet, Biography "Wikipedia Section"
   Wikipedia Accessed and entered on 19 June 2023 by Keith Bowden.
4. ↑ Manor of Ashton "Wikipedia page"
   Wikipedia Accessed and entered on 19 June 2023 by Keith Bowden.
5. ↑ Ashton Daniel Lysons and Samuel Lysons. "Parishes: Abbotsham - Aylesbeare," in Magna Britannia: Volume 6, Devonshire, (London: T Cadell and W Davies, 1822), 5-27. British History Online Accessed and entered on 19 June 2023 by Keith Bowden.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Bishops' Wars Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Bishops’ Wars." Encyclopedia Britannica, Accessed and entered on 20 June 2023 by Keith Bowden.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} English Civil Wars Ohlmeyer, J. H.. "English Civil Wars." Encyclopedia Britannica, Accessed and entered on 20 June 2023 by Keith Bowden.
8. ↑ Short Parliament Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Short Parliament." Encyclopedia Britannica, Accessed and entered on 20 June 2023 by Keith Bowden.
9. ↑ Long Parliament Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Long Parliament." Encyclopedia Britannica, Accessed and entered on 20 June 2023 by Keith Bowden.
10. ↑ Revolt in Ireland Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Sir Phelim O’Neill." Encyclopedia Britannica, Accessed and entered on 20 June 2023 by Keith Bowden.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2} James Chudleigh, Career "Wikipedia section"
    Wikipedia Accessed and entered on 19 June 2023 by Keith Bowden.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} Letter "A Full RELATION Of the great defeat given to the Cornish Cavalliers," By Sergeant Major Generall Chudley. LONDON, Printed for Eward Blackmore. May. 3. 1643. University of Michigan. Accessed and entered on 21 June 2023 by Keith Bowden.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1 13.2} Actions in 1643 John Rushworth. "Historical Collections: Military action in 1643," in Historical Collections of Private Passages of State: Volume 5, 1642-45, (London: D Browne, 1721), 263-309. British History Online. Accessed and entered on 21 June 2023 by Keith Bowden.
14. ↑ Mr James Chudleigh his Declaration "Serjeant Major Iames Chvdleigh his declaration to his country-men (Oxford, 1643)"
    Printed, M. DC. XL III. pp1-5. University of Michigan. Accessed and entered on 21 June 2023 by Keith Bowden.
15. ↑ Chudleigh, James by Thompson Cooper "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Chudleigh, James"
    Wikisource. Accessed and entered on 21 June 2023 by Keith Bowden.
16. ↑ Death Daniel Lysons and Samuel Lysons. "Parishes: Dartington - Dunterton," in Magna Britannia: Volume 6, Devonshire, (London: T Cadell and W Davies, 1822), 152-174. British History Online Accessed and entered on 19 June 2023 by Keith Bowden.

Acknowledgements

This profile has been improved by a member of the England Project's Orphan Trail