Hardress Waller
Encyclopedia
Sir Hardress Waller cousin of Sir William Waller
, was an English
parliamentarian of note.
, Kent
, and descendant of Sir Richard Waller of Groombridge Place
, Waller was knighted by Charles I
in 1629. That same year he married Elizabeth Dowdall, the daughter of an English landowner in Ireland and acquired a large estate in Castletown, Kilcornan
, County Limerick
. He gained military experience in serving against the rebels in Ireland
, where in 1644 he was made Governor of Cork
.
During the 1st Civil War his loyalty to Charles 1 was in doubt and he was in Oxford in September 1643 when his loyalty to Charles 1 was confirmed.He held the rank of Colonel at this time.
He returned to Ireland but felt compelled to return to England and offer his military services to the Parliament and took up a Colonelship.
From 1645 to the conclusion of the Civil War
he was in England commanding a regiment in the New Model Army
.
Waller was Colonel Pride
's chief assistant when the latter purged the House of Commons
in 1648, and he was one of the king's judges and one of those who signed the death warrant.
Waller was back in Ireland in 1650 as a major-general in Cromwell's invasion force. When Cromwell returned to England in May 1650, Waller stayed in Ireland and assisted Henry Ireton
and Edmund Ludlow
in completing the subjugation. He captured Carlow Castle
in July 1650 and played a major role in the siege of Limerick in 1651, after which he was appointed governor of Limerick
. Waller was involved in the settlement of Ireland and remained loyal to Cromwell throughout the 1650s. He supported the establishment of the Protectorate
against opposition from fellow officers, and came over to the republicans after Richard Cromwell
's resignation in 1659. Waller opposed General Lambert's military coup against Parliament in October 1659 and led the officers who seized Dublin Castle in Parliament's name in December. Early in 1660, however, he became alarmed at moves to reinstate the MPs he had helped to expel during Pride's Purge. Waller seized Dublin Castle
again on 15 February 1660 but, finding little support, he was obliged to surrender to Sir Charles Coote three days later. He was imprisoned at Athlone, then returned to England on the intervention of his cousin Sir William Waller
.
Waller returned to England in 1660. After the Restoration
he fled to France, but soon surrendered himself to the authorities as a regicide
.
Samuel Pepys
' diary records how his friend Henry Moore visited "... to tell me how Sir Hards. Waller (who only pleads guilty), Scott
, Peters
, Harrison, &c. were this day arraigned at the bar at the Sessions House", having been indicted before a grand jury of Middlesex
on the previous day at Hicks Hall.
Waller was condemned to death but his life was spared owing to the efforts of his friends. He was, however, kept in prison and was still a captive in Mont Orgueil
, Jersey
, when he died.
Named as Sir Hardresse Waller in the Proclamation for apprehending the late King's Judges (4 June 1660)
William Waller
Sir William Waller was an English soldier during the English Civil War. He received his education at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, and served in the Venetian army and in the Thirty Years' War...
, was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
parliamentarian of note.
Life
Born in GroombridgeGroombridge
thumb|right|A house in GroombridgeGroombridge is a village of about 1,600 people. It straddles the border between Kent and East Sussex, in England. The nearest large town is Tunbridge Wells, about away by road....
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, and descendant of Sir Richard Waller of Groombridge Place
Groombridge Place
Groombridge Place is a moated Manor house in the village of Groombridge near Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. It has become a tourist attraction, noted for its formal gardens, vineyards and a bird of prey sanctuary. -History:...
, Waller was knighted by Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
in 1629. That same year he married Elizabeth Dowdall, the daughter of an English landowner in Ireland and acquired a large estate in Castletown, Kilcornan
Kilcornan
Kilcornan is a parish in County Limerick. It is about seventeen Kilometers west of Limerick City on the N69. According to the 2006 census of Ireland the population of Kilcornan was 671, an increase of 39 since 2002. According to Lewis's Topographical Dictionary the earliest identifiable settlements...
, County Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
. He gained military experience in serving against the rebels in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, where in 1644 he was made Governor of Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
.
During the 1st Civil War his loyalty to Charles 1 was in doubt and he was in Oxford in September 1643 when his loyalty to Charles 1 was confirmed.He held the rank of Colonel at this time.
He returned to Ireland but felt compelled to return to England and offer his military services to the Parliament and took up a Colonelship.
From 1645 to the conclusion of the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
he was in England commanding a regiment in the New Model Army
New Model Army
The New Model Army of England was formed in 1645 by the Parliamentarians in the English Civil War, and was disbanded in 1660 after the Restoration...
.
Waller was Colonel Pride
Thomas Pride
Thomas Pride was a parliamentarian general in the English Civil War, and best known as the instigator of "Pride's Purge".-Early Life and Starting Career:...
's chief assistant when the latter purged the House of Commons
Pride's Purge
Pride’s Purge is an event in December 1648, during the Second English Civil War, when troops under the command of Colonel Thomas Pride forcibly removed from the Long Parliament all those who were not supporters of the Grandees in the New Model Army and the Independents...
in 1648, and he was one of the king's judges and one of those who signed the death warrant.
Waller was back in Ireland in 1650 as a major-general in Cromwell's invasion force. When Cromwell returned to England in May 1650, Waller stayed in Ireland and assisted Henry Ireton
Henry Ireton
Henry Ireton was an English general in the Parliamentary army during the English Civil War. He was the son-in-law of Oliver Cromwell.-Early life:...
and Edmund Ludlow
Edmund Ludlow
Edmund Ludlow was an English parliamentarian, best known for his involvement in the execution of Charles I, and for his Memoirs, which were published posthumously in a rewritten form and which have become a major source for historians of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. After service in the English...
in completing the subjugation. He captured Carlow Castle
Carlow Castle
Carlow Castle is located next to the River Barrow in County Carlow, Ireland. It was built between 1207 and 1213, and is a National Monument of Ireland.-External links:*...
in July 1650 and played a major role in the siege of Limerick in 1651, after which he was appointed governor of Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
. Waller was involved in the settlement of Ireland and remained loyal to Cromwell throughout the 1650s. He supported the establishment of the Protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
against opposition from fellow officers, and came over to the republicans after Richard Cromwell
Richard Cromwell
At the same time, the officers of the New Model Army became increasingly wary about the government's commitment to the military cause. The fact that Richard Cromwell lacked military credentials grated with men who had fought on the battlefields of the English Civil War to secure their nation's...
's resignation in 1659. Waller opposed General Lambert's military coup against Parliament in October 1659 and led the officers who seized Dublin Castle in Parliament's name in December. Early in 1660, however, he became alarmed at moves to reinstate the MPs he had helped to expel during Pride's Purge. Waller seized Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
again on 15 February 1660 but, finding little support, he was obliged to surrender to Sir Charles Coote three days later. He was imprisoned at Athlone, then returned to England on the intervention of his cousin Sir William Waller
William Waller
Sir William Waller was an English soldier during the English Civil War. He received his education at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, and served in the Venetian army and in the Thirty Years' War...
.
Waller returned to England in 1660. After the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
he fled to France, but soon surrendered himself to the authorities as a regicide
Regicide
The broad definition of regicide is the deliberate killing of a monarch, or the person responsible for the killing of a monarch. In a narrower sense, in the British tradition, it refers to the judicial execution of a king after a trial...
.
Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys FRS, MP, JP, was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament who is now most famous for the diary he kept for a decade while still a relatively young man...
' diary records how his friend Henry Moore visited "... to tell me how Sir Hards. Waller (who only pleads guilty), Scott
Thomas Scot
Thomas Scot was an English Member of Parliament and one of the regicides of King Charles I.- Early life :In 1626 Thomas Scot married Alice Allinson of Chesterford in Essex. He was a lawyer in Buckinghamshire and grew to prominence as the treasurer of the region’s County Committee between 1644 to...
, Peters
Hugh Peters
Hugh Peters [or Peter] was an English preacher.-Early life:He was baptized on 29 June 1598 in Fowey, and was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge....
, Harrison, &c. were this day arraigned at the bar at the Sessions House", having been indicted before a grand jury of Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
on the previous day at Hicks Hall.
Waller was condemned to death but his life was spared owing to the efforts of his friends. He was, however, kept in prison and was still a captive in Mont Orgueil
Mont Orgueil
Mont Orgueil is a castle in Jersey. It is located overlooking the harbour of Gorey. It is also called Gorey Castle by English-speakers, and lé Vièr Châté by Jèrriais-speakers....
, Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
, when he died.
Named as Sir Hardresse Waller in the Proclamation for apprehending the late King's Judges (4 June 1660)
Sources
- Mark NobleMark Noble (biographer)Mark Noble was an English clergyman, biographer and antiquary.-Life:He was born in Digbeth, Birmingham, the third surviving son of William Heatley Noble, a merchant there...
, Lives of the Regicides (1798). - The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Wednesday 10 October 1660
- Note - Pepys was misinformed, as both Waller and George FleetwoodGeorge Fleetwood (regicide)George Fleetwood was an English Major-General and one of the Regicides of King Charles I of England.Fleetwood was one of the commissioners for trial of Charles I, 1648–9; member of last Commonwealth Council of State and M.P...
pleaded guilty.
- Note - Pepys was misinformed, as both Waller and George Fleetwood
- House of LordsHouse of LordsThe House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
Journal, Volume 11, 4 June 1660 - David Plant, British Civil Wars and Commonwealth website
- (Capture of CarlowCarlowCarlow is the county town of County Carlow in Ireland. It is situated in the south-east of Ireland, 84 km from Dublin. County Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland by area, however Carlow Town is the 14th largest urban area in Ireland by population according to the 2006 census. The...
) CARLOW TOWN 1836, Old Towns of Ireland