John Boys
Encyclopedia
John Boys is best known as the Royalist
captain who was the Governor of Donnington Castle
in Berkshire
during the English Civil War
.
Boys was born in at Bonnington
, in Kent
, the eldest son and heir of Edward Boys of Bonnington, by Jane, a daughter of Edward Sanders (of Northborne). He was baptized at Chillendon, on 5 April 1607.
is located north of the town of Newbury
. It was garrisoned in 1643 for King Charles I
and commanded the road from Oxford
to Southampton, and the road from London
to Bath. It was from 1643 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel John Boys who spent £1,000 on earthworks to strengthen the defences.
A division of the Royalist Regiment of the Earl Rivers
consisting of 200 foot, 25 horse and 4 guns under the command of John Boys, 'a professional soldier from Kent', were put into Donnington Castle and held the castle from 1643 until 1 April 1646.
On 31 July 1644 Donnington Castle was attacked by a division of the New Model Army
of 3000 horses and dragoons, under the command of Lieutenant-General John Middleton, without any artillery support who attempted to compel a surrender from Boys, but the Parliamentary army was repulsed with the loss of at least 300 men.
About a month later, on 29 September, Colonel Jeremy Horton began a 12 day blockade laying siege to Donnington, having raised a battery at the foot of the hill, near Newbury he was able to shatter the southern towers of the castles medieval defenses and reduce a part of the wall to rubble. It has been estimated that at least 1000 missiles were projected against the fortress during this engagement. Even though Colonel Horton had been reinforced, with additional men, Governor John Boys refused to concede and even invited Horton to surrender his forces.
A parliamentarian
army soon after returned on 4 October led by the Earl of Manchester
. An attempt to storm the castle failed, but the bombardment continued for several days without avail, frustrated, the whole army dispersed, as Charles I, at the head of the Royal army, moved towards Donnington. For his great services in defense of the castle Governor John Boys was knighted on 21 October 1644. The king also promoted him to Colonel of the regiment which he had before commanded as Lieutenant-Colonel to Earl Rivers.
On 27 October, the second battle of Newbury
was fought, and Colonel Sir John Boys secured the King's artillery under the walls of Donnington castle. Even that great Parliamentarian soldier Sir William Waller
with his army surrounded the castle and again Boys refused to surrender.
After the battle of Newbury, when the King had gone to Oxford
, Essex
besieged Donnington Castle but abandoned the attempt before Charles returned in the first week of November 1644 to relieve Donnington and retrieve his 'treasure and guns' leaving some of the heavier pieces for use by the garrison.
Some time after 14 November 1645, Oliver Cromwell
himself turned his attention to the problem of the Royalist stronghold of Donnington castle. The following spring a furious bombardment with cannon and mortars was ordered, and by 30 March a truce was concluded so that Charles had no option other than to instruct Boys to obtain the best possible conditions for the surrender of his garrison. Finally, it was on 1 April 1646 that the surrender of Donnington Castle was accomplished. Boys garrison was permitted to march to the Royalist garrison at Wallingford, with their colours flying and drums beating.
Surprisingly,Boys himself went to London rather than continue further military resistance while others of the Regiment served in Wallingford Castle.
Another of his Captains continued to serve and was captured in Carnarvon Casle later in 1646.
John Boys had risen from Captain in 1641 in Ireland to Lieutenant Colonel when he came to serve the King in Earl Rivers Regiment in 1642.He was Colonel in all but name,as John,Earl Rivers never took command of the Regiment in the field.
He was one of the most loyal Officers to Charles 1 during both the 1st and 2nd Civil War.
in Deal, one of the Cinque Ports, and customary home of the Lord Warden. Sir Algernon Sydney
replaced him as Warden in 1648. In 1659, Boys was held as a prisoner in Dover Castle
for 'petitioning for a free Parliament', but was released on 23 February 1660. He was then, reputedly, granted the office of Receiver of Customs at Dover
from Charles II
.
A few years later on 8 October 1664, Sir John Boys died at his house at Bonnington and was buried in the parish church of Goodnestone-next-Wingham (near Canterbury
) in Kent.
He was married twice, and by his first wife, Lucy, he had five daughters.
His second marriage was to the Lady Elizabeth Finch, widow of Sir Nathaniel Finch
, and a daughter of Sir John Fotherby of Barham
(Kent).
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
captain who was the Governor of Donnington Castle
Donnington Castle
Donnington Castle is a ruined medieval castle, situated in the small village of Donnington, just north of the town of Newbury in the English county of Berkshire.- History :...
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
.
Boys was born in at Bonnington
Bonnington
Bonnington is a dispersed village and civil parish on the northern edge of the Romney Marsh in Ashford District of Kent, England. The village is located eight miles to the south of the town of Ashford on the B2067 ....
, in 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...
, the eldest son and heir of Edward Boys of Bonnington, by Jane, a daughter of Edward Sanders (of Northborne). He was baptized at Chillendon, on 5 April 1607.
Defence of Donnington Castle
Donnington CastleDonnington Castle
Donnington Castle is a ruined medieval castle, situated in the small village of Donnington, just north of the town of Newbury in the English county of Berkshire.- History :...
is located north of the town of Newbury
Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse and the adjoining former USAF...
. It was garrisoned in 1643 for King 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...
and commanded the road from Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
to Southampton, and the road from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Bath. It was from 1643 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel John Boys who spent £1,000 on earthworks to strengthen the defences.
A division of the Royalist Regiment of the Earl Rivers
Earl Rivers
Earl Rivers was an English title held in succession by the families of Woodville or Wydeville, Darcy and Savage. The first creation was made for Richard Woodville, 1st Baron Rivers in 1466 and remained in this family until 1491...
consisting of 200 foot, 25 horse and 4 guns under the command of John Boys, 'a professional soldier from Kent', were put into Donnington Castle and held the castle from 1643 until 1 April 1646.
On 31 July 1644 Donnington Castle was attacked by a division of 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...
of 3000 horses and dragoons, under the command of Lieutenant-General John Middleton, without any artillery support who attempted to compel a surrender from Boys, but the Parliamentary army was repulsed with the loss of at least 300 men.
About a month later, on 29 September, Colonel Jeremy Horton began a 12 day blockade laying siege to Donnington, having raised a battery at the foot of the hill, near Newbury he was able to shatter the southern towers of the castles medieval defenses and reduce a part of the wall to rubble. It has been estimated that at least 1000 missiles were projected against the fortress during this engagement. Even though Colonel Horton had been reinforced, with additional men, Governor John Boys refused to concede and even invited Horton to surrender his forces.
A parliamentarian
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
army soon after returned on 4 October led by the Earl of Manchester
Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester
Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester KG, KB, FRS was an important commander of Parliamentary forces in the First English Civil War, and for a time Oliver Cromwell's superior.-Life:...
. An attempt to storm the castle failed, but the bombardment continued for several days without avail, frustrated, the whole army dispersed, as Charles I, at the head of the Royal army, moved towards Donnington. For his great services in defense of the castle Governor John Boys was knighted on 21 October 1644. The king also promoted him to Colonel of the regiment which he had before commanded as Lieutenant-Colonel to Earl Rivers.
On 27 October, the second battle of Newbury
Second Battle of Newbury
The Second Battle of Newbury was a battle of the English Civil War fought on 27 October, 1644, in Speen, adjoining Newbury in Berkshire. The battle was fought close to the site of the First Battle of Newbury, which took place in late September the previous year.The combined armies of Parliament...
was fought, and Colonel Sir John Boys secured the King's artillery under the walls of Donnington castle. Even that great Parliamentarian soldier 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...
with his army surrounded the castle and again Boys refused to surrender.
After the battle of Newbury, when the King had gone to Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, Essex
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex was an English Parliamentarian and soldier during the first half of the seventeenth century. With the start of the English Civil War in 1642 he became the first Captain-General and Chief Commander of the Parliamentarian army, also known as the Roundheads...
besieged Donnington Castle but abandoned the attempt before Charles returned in the first week of November 1644 to relieve Donnington and retrieve his 'treasure and guns' leaving some of the heavier pieces for use by the garrison.
Some time after 14 November 1645, 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....
himself turned his attention to the problem of the Royalist stronghold of Donnington castle. The following spring a furious bombardment with cannon and mortars was ordered, and by 30 March a truce was concluded so that Charles had no option other than to instruct Boys to obtain the best possible conditions for the surrender of his garrison. Finally, it was on 1 April 1646 that the surrender of Donnington Castle was accomplished. Boys garrison was permitted to march to the Royalist garrison at Wallingford, with their colours flying and drums beating.
Surprisingly,Boys himself went to London rather than continue further military resistance while others of the Regiment served in Wallingford Castle.
Another of his Captains continued to serve and was captured in Carnarvon Casle later in 1646.
John Boys had risen from Captain in 1641 in Ireland to Lieutenant Colonel when he came to serve the King in Earl Rivers Regiment in 1642.He was Colonel in all but name,as John,Earl Rivers never took command of the Regiment in the field.
He was one of the most loyal Officers to Charles 1 during both the 1st and 2nd Civil War.
Later History
During the August of 1648, he made a futile attempt to raise the Siege of Walmer CastleWalmer Castle
Walmer Castle was built by Henry VIII in 1539–1540 as an artillery fortress to counter the threat of invasion from Catholic France and Spain. It was part of his programme to create a chain of coastal defences along England's coast known as the Device Forts or as Henrician Castles...
in Deal, one of the Cinque Ports, and customary home of the Lord Warden. Sir Algernon Sydney
Algernon Sydney
Algernon Sidney or Sydney was an English politician, republican political theorist, colonel, and opponent of King Charles II of England, who became involved in a plot against the King and was executed for treason.-Early life:Sidney's father was Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester, a direct...
replaced him as Warden in 1648. In 1659, Boys was held as a prisoner in Dover Castle
Dover Castle
Dover Castle is a medieval castle in the town of the same name in the English county of Kent. It was founded in the 12th century and has been described as the "Key to England" due to its defensive significance throughout history...
for 'petitioning for a free Parliament', but was released on 23 February 1660. He was then, reputedly, granted the office of Receiver of Customs at Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
from Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
.
A few years later on 8 October 1664, Sir John Boys died at his house at Bonnington and was buried in the parish church of Goodnestone-next-Wingham (near Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
) in Kent.
He was married twice, and by his first wife, Lucy, he had five daughters.
His second marriage was to the Lady Elizabeth Finch, widow of Sir Nathaniel Finch
Nathaniel Finch
Nathaniel Finch was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1640.Finch was related to John Finch, 1st Baron Finch of Fordwich, and bore the same arms as the Finch family of Eastwell. He attended Gray's Inn and became a successful London barrister...
, and a daughter of Sir John Fotherby of Barham
Barham, Kent
Barham is a village and civil parish in the City of Canterbury district of Kent, England. It is situated close to the A2 road between Canterbury and Dover, 7 miles south-east of Canterbury and 7 miles north of Folkestone....
(Kent).