Samuel More
Encyclopedia
Samuel More was at the centre of two separate controversies in seventeenth century England
.
at Shipton in Corvedale on February 4, 1610 (old date style). Katherine’s father, Jasper More, was master of Larden, a 1000-acre estate between Much Wenlock
and Ludlow
. Both estates are in Shropshire
, England
.
According to the marriage contract, the newly married couple were to live at Larden, with Katherine’s parents. Over the next four years she bore four children: Eleanor (May 1612), Jasper (August 1613), Richard (November 1614) and Mary (April 1616). All were baptised at Shipton church in Corvedale.
In 1616 Samuel More removed all four children to his father’s estate near Linley, about twenty miles distant from Larden. In a later statement, Samuel More wrote that the reason was the ‘apparent likeness & resemblance … to Jacob Blakeway
’, a local man from Corvedale. The removal seems to have occurred in late April or May, because the youngest child had only just been baptised, on April 16 at Shipton. Samuel's wife fought the decision through the courts, and final judgement in Samuel's favour was not obtained until July 1620. Immediately following the court action, the four More children were transferred to the Mayflower
. In Samuel More’s statement, he wrote that he took this action because of the:
“great grief of such a spurious brood,”
The children were despatched to America in order to:
“provide for the educacon & maintenance of these children in a place remote from these parts where these great blotts and blemishes may fall upon them.”
The choice of the Mayflower may have been because of the connection between Samuel More and Lord Zouche
. From 1617 to 1625, when Zouche died, Samuel More acted as Zouche's secretary, and it's possible that his employment began earlier, possibly from shortly after the marriage. Zouche was an early supporter of the Virginia Company. The children were passed to a man called Philomen Powell in a transfer arranged by Richard More’s lawyer. Powell was a close associate of Thomas Weston, who was involved with the financing of the Mayflower voyage. At the time of the Mayflower sailing in September 1620 the children were aged between four and eight. A number of colonists travelled as paying passengers on the Mayflower. The children were amongst this group. Exactly what explanation was given for their presence is not known. Three of the Mayflower pilgrims took responsibility for the children:
estate in a private chapel, but the legal settlement was not confirmed for another ten years, when it was witnessed by Sir Edward Zouche.
in Shropshire. Hopton Castle was one of the few castles to be held for the Parliament in the west. Samuel More was commandant of the castle when, in 1644, it was besieged by a force of cavaliers led by Sir Michael Woodhouse, with a force of about 500. Samuel More’s garrison numbered around 30 men, and the end result of such an action was inevitable. Without external support, More would be forced to surrender. It seems the Samuel was offered ‘quarter’ (the option of a surrender) twice and refused. After this accounts differ.
Samuel’s own account states that he finally surrendered once the cavaliers had breached the castle walls, whereupon his men were brutally slaughtered.
Other accounts state that, after a three-week siege, More delayed surrendering until the bailey
had been taken and the entrance to the keep was on fire. Under the laws of war as they were practised at that time, such a surrender was at the discretion of the besieging forces, who had taken significant casualties. It seems that Sir Michael Woodhouse choose not to accept the surrender and ordered (or at least did not prevent) the killings. As his men were being butchered, Samuel was taken to Ludlow and was given his freedom in a prisoner exchange.
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...
.
The Mayflower controversy
Samuel More married his cousin Katherine MoreKatherine More
Katherine More was the centre of a seventeenth century controversy in England.Katherine was the youngest daughter of an ancient Shropshire family...
at Shipton in Corvedale on February 4, 1610 (old date style). Katherine’s father, Jasper More, was master of Larden, a 1000-acre estate between Much Wenlock
Much Wenlock
Much Wenlock, earlier known as Wenlock, is a small town in central Shropshire, England. It is situated on the A458 road between Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth. Nearby, to the northeast, is the Ironbridge Gorge, and the new town of Telford...
and Ludlow
Ludlow
Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place...
. Both estates are in Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, England
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...
.
According to the marriage contract, the newly married couple were to live at Larden, with Katherine’s parents. Over the next four years she bore four children: Eleanor (May 1612), Jasper (August 1613), Richard (November 1614) and Mary (April 1616). All were baptised at Shipton church in Corvedale.
In 1616 Samuel More removed all four children to his father’s estate near Linley, about twenty miles distant from Larden. In a later statement, Samuel More wrote that the reason was the ‘apparent likeness & resemblance … to Jacob Blakeway
Jacob Blakeway
- Background :Jacob Blakeway was born in July 1583 and baptised at Stanton Long in Corvedale, Shropshire. His father was a yeoman, and farmed approximately thirty acres of land as a leaseholder, though it is possible that the Blakeways held other land. Blakeway was, and is, a common name in...
’, a local man from Corvedale. The removal seems to have occurred in late April or May, because the youngest child had only just been baptised, on April 16 at Shipton. Samuel's wife fought the decision through the courts, and final judgement in Samuel's favour was not obtained until July 1620. Immediately following the court action, the four More children were transferred to the Mayflower
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
. In Samuel More’s statement, he wrote that he took this action because of the:
“great grief of such a spurious brood,”
The children were despatched to America in order to:
“provide for the educacon & maintenance of these children in a place remote from these parts where these great blotts and blemishes may fall upon them.”
The choice of the Mayflower may have been because of the connection between Samuel More and Lord Zouche
Edward la Zouche, 11th Baron Zouche
Edward la Zouche, 11th Baron Zouche, 12th Baron St Maur was an English diplomat.-Early Life:Zouche was the son of George la Zouche, 10th Baron Zouche and his wife Margaret, née Welby....
. From 1617 to 1625, when Zouche died, Samuel More acted as Zouche's secretary, and it's possible that his employment began earlier, possibly from shortly after the marriage. Zouche was an early supporter of the Virginia Company. The children were passed to a man called Philomen Powell in a transfer arranged by Richard More’s lawyer. Powell was a close associate of Thomas Weston, who was involved with the financing of the Mayflower voyage. At the time of the Mayflower sailing in September 1620 the children were aged between four and eight. A number of colonists travelled as paying passengers on the Mayflower. The children were amongst this group. Exactly what explanation was given for their presence is not known. Three of the Mayflower pilgrims took responsibility for the children:
- Ellen More was under the care of Edward Winslow. She died in the winter of 1621
- Jasper More was under the care of John Carver and died in the winter of 1621
- Mary More was under the care of William Brewster and died in the winter of 1621
- Richard MoreRichard More (Mayflower passenger)Richard More was a passenger on the Pilgrim Fathers's ship, the Mayflower. Richard More was born in Corvedale, Shropshire and baptised at Shipton church on November 13, 1614. As a child, Richard More was at the centre of a seventeenth century controversy in England...
was also under the care of William Brewster and lived a long life in the New World
Second Marriage
In 1625 Samuel More married Elizabeth Worsley in a private ceremony that probably took place on Lord Zouche's BramshillBramshill House
Bramshill House is a Jacobean mansion standing on of land in the civil parish of Bramshill in northeast Hampshire in England. It has been the location of the Police Staff College since 1960.-History:...
estate in a private chapel, but the legal settlement was not confirmed for another ten years, when it was witnessed by Sir Edward Zouche.
Second Controversy: the Hopton Massacre
In the English civil war Samuel More fought for Parliament and commanded a garrison at Hopton CastleHopton Castle
Hopton Castle is a small village and civil parish in Shropshire, England.The village grew up near to the keep of Hopton Castle, which was opened as a visitor attraction in 2011. Nearby is the hamlet of Hopton Heath, with its small station on the Heart of Wales Line...
in Shropshire. Hopton Castle was one of the few castles to be held for the Parliament in the west. Samuel More was commandant of the castle when, in 1644, it was besieged by a force of cavaliers led by Sir Michael Woodhouse, with a force of about 500. Samuel More’s garrison numbered around 30 men, and the end result of such an action was inevitable. Without external support, More would be forced to surrender. It seems the Samuel was offered ‘quarter’ (the option of a surrender) twice and refused. After this accounts differ.
Samuel’s own account states that he finally surrendered once the cavaliers had breached the castle walls, whereupon his men were brutally slaughtered.
Other accounts state that, after a three-week siege, More delayed surrendering until the bailey
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
had been taken and the entrance to the keep was on fire. Under the laws of war as they were practised at that time, such a surrender was at the discretion of the besieging forces, who had taken significant casualties. It seems that Sir Michael Woodhouse choose not to accept the surrender and ordered (or at least did not prevent) the killings. As his men were being butchered, Samuel was taken to Ludlow and was given his freedom in a prisoner exchange.
Books
'A Spurious Brood' - a novel based on the events surrounding Samuel's dispute with his first wife Katherine, was published in 2011.External links
- 'A Spurious Brood' - the History, sets out a factual account of the events surrounding Samuel's dispute with his first wife Katherine.
- Time Team programme on the siege at Hopton Castle
- Hopton Castle Preservation Trust page about the siege in 1644