Francis Thornhagh
Encyclopedia
Sir Francis Thornhagh or Thornhaugh (1617 – 1647) was an English soldier, High Sheriff and MP.
He was born the son of the East Retford MP and High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
Sir Francis Thornhagh of Fenton, Lincolnshire and educated at Lincoln school and Magdalen College, Cambridge, before entering the Inner Temple in 1636. He was appointed High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
for 1637.
He enlisted to fight in the Netherlands under the Earl of Essex, returning in 1640.
He married Elizabeth, daughter and coheiress of John St. Andrew, of Gotham. They lived on St. Mary's Hill, Nottingham and at his wife's home, Rushcliffe Hall, Gotham.
He was made a Justice of the Peace in 1642. During the Civil War he was, like his father, a Parliamentarian, served on the shire committee and was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of his father's horse regiment. On his father's death he succeeded to his estates at Fenton and elsewhere, together with his colonelcy. He was wounded at the relief of Gainsborough
in 1643 and again at Newark later that year. After the Parliamentary victory at the Battle of Rowton Heath
near Chester, he was voted a 1000 pounds prize for his gallantry. He was then elected as MP for East Retford
, taking his seat when the town was freed.
After the end of the Civil War, a Scottish army under the Duke of Hamilton marched south and Thornhagh marched under Oliver Cromwell
to meet them. He was killed near Chorley during mopping up operations after the Battle of Preston (1648)
.
He left an only son John, who also became Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and MP for East Retford (and Nottinghamshire).
He was born the son of the East Retford MP and High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
’The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
Sir Francis Thornhagh of Fenton, Lincolnshire and educated at Lincoln school and Magdalen College, Cambridge, before entering the Inner Temple in 1636. He was appointed High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
’The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
for 1637.
He enlisted to fight in the Netherlands under the Earl of Essex, returning in 1640.
He married Elizabeth, daughter and coheiress of John St. Andrew, of Gotham. They lived on St. Mary's Hill, Nottingham and at his wife's home, Rushcliffe Hall, Gotham.
He was made a Justice of the Peace in 1642. During the Civil War he was, like his father, a Parliamentarian, served on the shire committee and was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of his father's horse regiment. On his father's death he succeeded to his estates at Fenton and elsewhere, together with his colonelcy. He was wounded at the relief of Gainsborough
Battle of Gainsborough
The Battle of Gainsborough was a battle in the English Civil War, fought on 28 July 1643.-Prelude:When the English Civil War was declared, Gainsborough in Lincolnshire lay in an area which supported Parliament, but the town itself had Royalist sympathies...
in 1643 and again at Newark later that year. After the Parliamentary victory at the Battle of Rowton Heath
Battle of Rowton Heath
The Battle of Rowton Heath occurred on 24 September 1645 during the English Civil War between the Parliamentarians, commanded by Sydnam Poyntz, and the Royalists under the personal command of King Charles I...
near Chester, he was voted a 1000 pounds prize for his gallantry. He was then elected as MP for East Retford
East Retford (UK Parliament constituency)
East Retford was a parliamentary constituency in Nottinghamshire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons for the first time in 1316, and continuously from 1571 until 1885, when the constituency was abolished...
, taking his seat when the town was freed.
After the end of the Civil War, a Scottish army under the Duke of Hamilton marched south and Thornhagh marched under Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
to meet them. He was killed near Chorley during mopping up operations after the Battle of Preston (1648)
Battle of Preston (1648)
The Battle of Preston , fought largely at Walton-le-Dale near Preston in Lancashire, resulted in a victory by the troops of Oliver Cromwell over the Royalists and Scots commanded by the Duke of Hamilton...
.
He left an only son John, who also became Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and MP for East Retford (and Nottinghamshire).