Nathaniel Wade
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Wade was an English conspirator.
, Gloucestershire
. John Wade was a major in Oliver Cromwell
's army and governor of the Isle of Man
for a short period under the Protector. The maiden name of his mother, who was buried in St. Stephen's, Bristol, on 22 March 1678–9, was Lane. The John Wade who is claimed as the founder of the family was mayor of Bristol in 1576, and is described in the corporation records as a lollard. From 1560 the family resided at Filton
, near Bristol.
Nathaniel entered New Inn on 11 June 1678, and the Middle Temple
on 16 June 1681. As a young lawyer of the country party and a frequenter, it would appear, of the Green Ribbon Club
, he had some dealings with Richard Rumbold
and other insurgent ‘republicans’ in the spring of 1683. He was suspected of complicity in the Rye House plot
, and on 23 June a reward of £100 was offered for his apprehension, together with Rumbold, John Rumsey, Richard Goodenough, and other plotters. Three witnesses were found to give evidence against him, but he escaped to Holland, where he spent two years in an atmosphere of whig intrigue, and, according to his own account, acted as an emissary between the Duke of Monmouth
and Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll
.
Wade took part in the Monmouth Rebellion
, sailing with Monmouth at the end of May 1685, and landing at Lyme Regis
on 11 June. Three days later he marched with Forde Grey, earl of Tankerville, in the direction of Bridport
, at the head of about three hundred infantry, and took part in an indecisive and shambling encounter with the Dorset militia. At Taunton
he at first opposed Monmouth proclaiming himself king, but he subsequently overcame his republican scruples, fighting in the van at the Battle of Sedgemoor
as colonel of ‘Monmouth's’ regiment. After Sedgemoor he fled to the coast, but found a frigate cruising off the spot where he had hoped to embark. He was soon captured, taken to London
, and committed to Newgate Prison
on 5 October. In spite of his previous record he was allowed to turn king's evidence (19 October), and he received a free pardon on 4 June 1686. In the meantime he had given evidence against Henry Booth, Lord Delamere
, and doubtless aided the crown prosecutions in some other cases.
In January 1687 King James
, anxious to win the good opinion of the dissenters, sent Wade to Bristol
with the order of the council for the ‘remodelling’ of the corporation, and he presented his special commission under the privy seal to the mayor on 4 Feb. In a second document, setting forth the new appointments, Wade himself by way of reward was nominated town clerk of the city. His tenure of the office did not survive the events of the following October, when John Romsey was reinstated (17 October); but he seems to have retained some position in Bristol, as in Queen Anne's charter to the city of 24 July 1710 he was confirmed in his office of steward of the sheriff's court. In 1714 he headed the militia at Bristol against the Kingswood
colliers. He resigned his municipal post, after upwards of six years' service, early in 1712. During 1711 he took part in building a bridge over the River Froom at Wade Street, Bristol, long known as the ‘Traitor's Bridge.’ Wade died early in 1718, and was buried on 14 March 1717–18 ‘at the foot of Mrs. Noble's tombstone’ in Redcross Street burial-ground. He was granted a commission as major by Monmouth ‘on ship-board,’ and he was spoken of in his later years as ‘Major Wade.’
Life
Nathaniel Wade, born probably about 1666, was the third son of John Wade of the Wick-house, ArlinghamArlingham
Arlingham is a village and civil parish in the Stroud District of Gloucestershire, England. The 200 Census recorded a parish population of 410. The parish occupies a peninsula on a sharp bend in the River Severn. The next parish to the east is Fretherne with Saul.In Passage Road is a fish...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
. John Wade was a major in 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....
's army and governor of the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
for a short period under the Protector. The maiden name of his mother, who was buried in St. Stephen's, Bristol, on 22 March 1678–9, was Lane. The John Wade who is claimed as the founder of the family was mayor of Bristol in 1576, and is described in the corporation records as a lollard. From 1560 the family resided at Filton
Filton
Filton is a town in South Gloucestershire, England, situated on the northern outskirts of the city of Bristol, about from the city centre. Filton lies in Bristol postcode areas BS7 and BS34. The town centres upon Filton Church, which dates back to the 12th century and is a grade II listed building...
, near Bristol.
Nathaniel entered New Inn on 11 June 1678, and the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
on 16 June 1681. As a young lawyer of the country party and a frequenter, it would appear, of the Green Ribbon Club
Green Ribbon Club
The Green Ribbon Club was one of the earliest of the loosely combined associations which met from time to time in London taverns or coffee-houses for political purposes in the 17th century....
, he had some dealings with Richard Rumbold
Richard Rumbold
Richard Rumbold was a Cromwellian soldier who took part in the Rye House Plot to assassinate Charles II of England and his brother James.The pattern of his character and the details of his life have to be pieced together from scanty evidence...
and other insurgent ‘republicans’ in the spring of 1683. He was suspected of complicity in the Rye House plot
Rye House Plot
The Rye House Plot of 1683 was a plan to assassinate King Charles II of England and his brother James, Duke of York. Historians vary in their assessment of the degree to which details of the conspiracy were finalized....
, and on 23 June a reward of £100 was offered for his apprehension, together with Rumbold, John Rumsey, Richard Goodenough, and other plotters. Three witnesses were found to give evidence against him, but he escaped to Holland, where he spent two years in an atmosphere of whig intrigue, and, according to his own account, acted as an emissary between the Duke of Monmouth
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, 1st Duke of Buccleuch, KG, PC , was an English nobleman. Originally called James Crofts or James Fitzroy, he was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the eldest illegitimate son of Charles II and his mistress, Lucy Walter...
and Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll was a Scottish peer.He was born in 1629 in Dalkeith, Scotland, the son of Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll....
.
Wade took part in the Monmouth Rebellion
Monmouth Rebellion
The Monmouth Rebellion,The Revolt of the West or The West Country rebellion of 1685, was an attempt to overthrow James II, who had become King of England, King of Scots and King of Ireland at the death of his elder brother Charles II on 6 February 1685. James II was a Roman Catholic, and some...
, sailing with Monmouth at the end of May 1685, and landing at Lyme Regis
Lyme Regis
Lyme Regis is a coastal town in West Dorset, England, situated 25 miles west of Dorchester and east of Exeter. The town lies in Lyme Bay, on the English Channel coast at the Dorset-Devon border...
on 11 June. Three days later he marched with Forde Grey, earl of Tankerville, in the direction of Bridport
Bridport
Bridport is a market town in Dorset, England. Located near the coast at the western end of Chesil Beach at the confluence of the River Brit and its Asker and Simene tributaries, it originally thrived as a fishing port and rope-making centre...
, at the head of about three hundred infantry, and took part in an indecisive and shambling encounter with the Dorset militia. At Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
he at first opposed Monmouth proclaiming himself king, but he subsequently overcame his republican scruples, fighting in the van at the Battle of Sedgemoor
Battle of Sedgemoor
The Battle of Sedgemoor was fought on 6 July 1685 and took place at Westonzoyland near Bridgwater in Somerset, England.It was the final battle of the Monmouth Rebellion and followed a series of skirmishes around south west England between the forces of James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth and the...
as colonel of ‘Monmouth's’ regiment. After Sedgemoor he fled to the coast, but found a frigate cruising off the spot where he had hoped to embark. He was soon captured, taken to 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...
, and committed to Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison was a prison in London, at the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey just inside the City of London. It was originally located at the site of a gate in the Roman London Wall. The gate/prison was rebuilt in the 12th century, and demolished in 1777...
on 5 October. In spite of his previous record he was allowed to turn king's evidence (19 October), and he received a free pardon on 4 June 1686. In the meantime he had given evidence against Henry Booth, Lord Delamere
Henry Booth, 1st Earl of Warrington
Henry Booth, 1st Earl of Warrington was a Member of Parliament, Privy Councillor, Protestant protagonist in the Revolution of 1688, Mayor of Chester and author.-Life:...
, and doubtless aided the crown prosecutions in some other cases.
In January 1687 King James
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
, anxious to win the good opinion of the dissenters, sent Wade to Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
with the order of the council for the ‘remodelling’ of the corporation, and he presented his special commission under the privy seal to the mayor on 4 Feb. In a second document, setting forth the new appointments, Wade himself by way of reward was nominated town clerk of the city. His tenure of the office did not survive the events of the following October, when John Romsey was reinstated (17 October); but he seems to have retained some position in Bristol, as in Queen Anne's charter to the city of 24 July 1710 he was confirmed in his office of steward of the sheriff's court. In 1714 he headed the militia at Bristol against the Kingswood
Kingswood, South Gloucestershire
Kingswood is an urban area in South Gloucestershire, England, bordering the City of Bristol to the west. It is located on both sides of the A420 road, which connects Bristol and Chippenham and which forms the high street through the principal retail zone...
colliers. He resigned his municipal post, after upwards of six years' service, early in 1712. During 1711 he took part in building a bridge over the River Froom at Wade Street, Bristol, long known as the ‘Traitor's Bridge.’ Wade died early in 1718, and was buried on 14 March 1717–18 ‘at the foot of Mrs. Noble's tombstone’ in Redcross Street burial-ground. He was granted a commission as major by Monmouth ‘on ship-board,’ and he was spoken of in his later years as ‘Major Wade.’