The Monmouth Rebellion 1685
Somerset Record Society. Volume 79. Page 208.
Roll Call Luppitt Devon.
Bird Bernard. Yeoman of Luppitt. Supposed CP;Presented at
Exeter,but at large JR.
Bird John. Yeoman of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion CP;
Presented at Exeter,but at large JR.
Bird Nat'. Yeoman of Luppitt. Absent CP; Presented at
Exeter,but at large JR.
Braddick John. Yeoman of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion CP;
Presented at Exeter,but at large JR.
Bradley George. Yeoman of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion CP;
Presented at Exeter,but at large JR.
Bradley Jas. Yeoman of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion CP;
Presented at Exeter,but at large JR.
Broome John. Of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion CP;
Browne John. Yeoman of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion CP;
Presented at Exeter,but at large JR.
Burrough Ezekiel. Yeoman of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion
CP; Presented at Exeter,but at large JR.
Burrow John. (Wick). Yeoman of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion
CP; Presented at Exeter,but at large JR.
Coleman Jas. Yeoman of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion CP;
Presented at Exeter,but at large JR.
Coombe John. Yeoman of Luppitt. Supposed CP; Presented at
Exeter,but at large JR. Excepted from the GP.
Dare Gideon. Convicted, Transported. See main text. (a).
Deeme John Senior. Yeoman of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion
CP; Presented at Exeter,but at large JR.
Deeme John Junior. Yeoman of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion
CP; Presented at Exeter,but at large JR.
Evans Edward. Yeoman of Luppitt. Absent CP; Presented at
Exeter,but at large JR.
Farmer Jos. Yeoman of Luppitt. Presented at Exeter,but at
large JR.
Ferrer Jos. Yeoman of Luppitt. Absent CP.
Francklin Thomas. Convicted. Transported. see main text (b).
Hamme Edward. Yeoman of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion CP;
Presented at Exeter,but at large JR.
Huggins Edward. Yeoman of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion CP;
Presented at Exeter,but at large JR.
Huggins Jos. Yeoman of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion CP;
Presented at Exeter,but at large JR.
Huggins Richard. Yeoman of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion CP;
Presented at Exeter,but at large JR.
Lambert John Juinior. Of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion CP;
See Humphrey Lambert of Combe Raleigh.
Lowman George. Yeoman of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion CP;
Presented at Exeter,but at large JR.
Middleton John. Yeoman of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion CP;
Presented at Exeter,but at large JR.
Pulman Thomas Junior. Of Luppitt. Supposed CP;
Quick Thomas. Convicted. Transported.see main text (c).
Rogers Christopher. Yeoman of Luppitt. Absent CP; Presented
at Exeter,but at large JR.
Sheppard John. Yeoman of Luppitt. Absent CP; Presented at
Exeter,but at large JR.
Thomas Moses. Yeoman of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion CP;
Presented at Exeter,but at large JR.
Thomas Phillip. Yeoman of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion CP;
Presented at Exeter,but at large JR.
Willcox Phillip. Yeoman of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion CP;
Presented at Exeter,but at large JR.
Woodroffe John. Yeoman of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion CP;
Presented at Exeter,but at large JR.
Combe Raleigh Roll Call Extract
Lambert Humphrey. Yeoman of Combe Raleigh. In the rebellion
and not yet taken CP. Presented at
Exeter,but at large JR.
CP = Constables Presentments eg; "supposed", "absent".
JR = Judge Jeffrey's report to King James.
GP = General Pardon. Issued 10th March 1686.
Excepted from the General Pardon,
Henry Quick of Upottery.
John Comb of Luppitt.
Convictions & Transportations.
(a) Gideon Dare.
Husbandman of Luppitt. In prison, supposed CP.
In the High Gael, Exeter, Devon. DLD; presented at Exeter,
but at large; tried at Taunton; to be hanged but omitted
from the warrant JR; transported by Howard, November 12th,
on the Constant Richard to Jamaica SL; land forfeit and for
sale TB: named on the 1689 petition for return CSPD,W&M
1,43. Returned with Coad 1690 CM.
(Sir Philip Howard, Governor of Jamaica)
(b) Thomas Francklin.
Husbandman of Luppitt. Supposed CP; in prison in Wiltshire
DLD; tried at Dorchester JR; transported for Nipho on the
Betty from Weymouth, November 25th, to Barbados; sold to
Thomas Pearce SL. Also presented at Exeter and misreported
at large JR. Land forfeit and for sale TB. Named on the 1689
petition for return CSPD, W&M, 1,43.
(Sir Jerome Nipho, the queen's secretary)
(c) Thomas Quick.
Yeoman of Luppitt. Out in the rebellion CP;
in Dorchester gaol, tried at Dorchester JR: transported
for Nipho from Weymouth, November 25th, on the Betty to
Barbados, sold to Ralph Lane SL. Also misreported presented
at Exeter and at large JR.
One of two Thomas Quick's the other being a silk weaver from
Membury, one of these two was named on the petition for
return of 1689.CSPD, W&M, 1,43.
CP = Constables Report.
JR = Judge Jeffrey's report to King James.
DLD = List compiled for the Deputy Lieutenant of Devon of
persons in prison in Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset,
and Devon.
SL = Sailing and Shipping list. Public Records Office,
Colonial Office. List of persons of quality,
emigrants, religious exiles, political rebels, who
went from Great Britain to the American plantations.
TB = Calender of Treasury books is a schedule of people
whose lands were forfeit and in some cases were for
sale. HMSO Volume VIII pp 2002/6.
CSPD = Calender of State papers Domestic.
CM = J.Coad. Memorandum of the Wonderful Providence of
God. 1849.
Chronology
James Duke of Monmouth illegitimate son of Charles II by
Lucy Walter was born in 1649, he was created Duke of
Monmouth in 1663. Married Anne Scott. In 1684 he fled to
Holland after being implicated in a conspiracy to claim the
throne. On 11th June 1685 he landed at Lyme Regis and
claimed the crown from James II. On the 18th June he arrived
in Taunton. On the 5th,6th July he fought and lost the
battle of Sedgemoor. On the 8th July he was captured. On the
15th July he was beheaded on Tower Hill.
Assizes began at Winchester on 25th August 1685 then moved
on to Dorchester, Exeter, Taunton and then Wells on 23rd
September.
In all 1400 cases were heard, 300 sentenced to be hanged
drawn and quartered, 600 transported mainly to the West
Indies.
Honiton and the Vale of the Otter.
By
Capt' J.R.W.Coxhead.
Page 26,27.
The following copy of a contempory broadside gives names of
the men of the Honiton district who were tried before the
Court at Exeter on 14th September,1685, fourteen of them
being executed:
An Account
of the
PROCEEDINGS
against the
REBELS
at an Assize holden at
EXETER,
On the 14th of this instant September, 1685, where to the Number of 26 Persons were tryed for High - Treason, and found Guilty.
As also an Account of the several Persons Names that were appointed to be Executed, and the places they are to be Executed at.
Sir
I Having already given an Account of the Proceedings at
Dorchester; I shall now proceed to that at Exeter; where on
the 14th of this Instant, were arraigned for High - Treason
the Persons whose names follow :-
JOHN OLIVER, THOMAS BROUGHTON,
HENRY KNIGHT, PETER BIRD,
ABRAHAM HUNT, JOHN KAMPLIN,
CHRISTOPHER COOPER, JOHN GOSLING,
EDMOND BOVET, JOHN SPRAKE,
SAMUEL POTS, WILLIAM CLEGG,
WILLIAM SILLER,JUN. WALTER TEAPE,
JOHN KNOWLES, JAMES COX,
JOHN FOLLET, TIMOTHY DUNKIN,
ELIAS HOLMAN, JOHN ROSS,
WILLIAM PARSONS, THOMAS CONNET.
THOMAS QUINTIN,
The Persons above - named, being in Numer, Twenty Three,
were Indicted for High - Treason, and upon their Arraignment
of Death pleading Guilty, an have since received Judgment.
John Foweracres, and Robert Drower, puting themselves upon
Tryal were found Guilty, and received Judgment as the
former.
Thomas Hobbs, Tryed for Proclaiming Monmouth King at
Crediton in the County of Devon, was found Guilty, and
received Judgment.
These are all the Persons that were Tryed at Exeter and
received Judgment, in Number Twenty Six, out of which
Number, Fourteen are ordered to be Executed at the several
places following, viz.:-
THOMAS HOBBS, at Crediton.
WILLIAM PARSONS
THOMAS QUINTIN at Ottery St.Mary.
JOHN SPRAKE
WILLIAM CLEGG at Collyten.
JOHN OLIVER
HENRY KNIGHT
SAMUEL POTS
JOHN KNOWLES at Honiton.
THOMAS BROUGHTON
JOHN GOSLING
TIMOTHY DUNKIN
JOHN ROSS at Axminster.
The Heads and Quarters of these Persons are to be fixed
where the King shall appoint.
Your Servant, T.S.
September the 15th, 1685.
This may be Printed, R.L.S.
September the 25th, 1685.
LONDON : Printed by E.Mallet, in Black Horse Alley, near
Fleet - Bridge, 1685.
In the neighbourhood of Luppitt Common to the north of
Honiton there is an area of ground containing a number of
small depressions or craters measuring roughly eight feet
across by about three feet deep; tradition has it that these
pits were used as bivouacs by men of the district while they
were mustering before joining Monmouth's main force.
Number of suspected rebels from surrounding parishes.
Honiton. 62. Luppitt. 34.
Combe Raleigh. 6.
Upottery. 33.
Sheldon. 2
Hottens List of Emigrants.
Page 317 *
A receipt of one hundred prisoners on Mr Nepho's Acco' to be
sent to Barbados.
Prisoners in Dorchester Gaol to bee Transported.
List includes:-
Thomas Quick of Luppitt.
Thomas Franklyn of Luppitt.
Rec'd according to his Ma'ties direccons ye warr't from ye
LORD CHEIFE JUSTICE with a schedule therunto annexed of one
hundred p'son attainted of High Treason which are by JEROM
NEPHO to bee transported unto some of His Majesties
Plantacons in America according to a Recognizance entered
into by me for this purpose. In witness whereof I have put
my hand this six & Twentieth day of September in the first
year of his now Majesties reign A.D. 1685
George Penne
Charles White
Witness,
Rob't Hyde
Sam'l Gee
Certificate of Mr Nipho's prisoners landed at Barbados.
A list of convicted Rebells put on Board the Betty of London
at the Port of Weymouth in the County of Dorset. James May
Commander, and according to Bill of Ladeing by him signed
bound for the Island of Barbados.
List Includes:-
Thomas Quicke of Luppitt.
Thomas Francklyn of Luppitt.
Arrived in Barbados on 8th January 1686. 8 prisoners having
died on the journey and were buried at sea.
Masters to whom the rebels were sold in Barbados.
Master Rebels
Thomas Pearce John Cooke
Thomas Franklyn
Ralph Lane Thomas Quicke
John Baker
William Clarke
The Monmouth Rebellion
Robert Dunning
The history of the reign of Charles II is a story of
political intrigue. When the King was restored in 1660 after
eleven years of republican rule, a settlement was reached to
restore govrernment by cooperation between Parliament and
Crown, the Anglican Church and Anglican land owners. The
same issues which dominated politics and divided the country
in the years before the Civil War dominated and divided it
again - constitutional or arbitary government, taxation by
consent and religion - but divided it in a different way,
largely in the form of organised political parties. these
parties came later to be distinguished as the Court party
(Tories) supporting the Crown and Establishment, and the
Country party (Whigs), poorly represented in Parliament
early in the reign, who were often against the monarchy as
well as Crown polices, and were for religious toleration. It
was to these Whigs such as Thomas Thynne of Longleat, George
Speke of Whitelackington House, Sir Thomas Sydenham of
Brympton and Edmund Prideaux of Forde that the Duke of
Monmouth came in 1680 on a progress to the West Country. He
found great support for his claim to the throne from the
large estate owners and also from the general populace.
In 1684 Monmouth was implicated in the Rye House Plot to
assasinate the King and the Duke of York and to avoid
testifying against sympathetic Whigs he left the country for
Belgium.
Who were the Rebels?.
It used to be thought that the men who followed Monmouth
were largely an illiterate rabble, attracted by a popular
hero into a rebellion engineered by political agitators.
John Evelyn the diarist recorded that " most of his party
were Anabaptists and poor clothworkers from the country",
and that most of the slain were Mendip miners. An eminent
historian of the 20th century, David Ogg, declared that
"the majority of the rebels were peasants, not craftsmen".
In the past few years two scholars have been testing these
conflicting options. Peter Earle in his "Monmouth Rebels"
made a careful analysis of a document now in the British
Library known as the "Monmouth Roll", an official list of
rebels based on the returns of parish constables from East
Devon, West Dorset and Somerset of those who for whatever
reason, were away from their homes during the rebellion and
who were thus suspected of being involved. This list
records the names, the home parishes, and sometimes the
occupations of 2,611 men. These names, of course, amount to
only a third of the rebel army at its largest, and there is
no means of knowing whether it is a representative sample of
Monmouth's support. Yet Mr Earle's general conclusion is
that, given the small proportion of people with known
occupations, the rebels were drawn not from the lowest but
from the middle ranks of society, and that Monmouth's cause
proved most attractive to urban communities where many were
engaged in making cloth. This was not to say that the
rebellion had much, if anything to do with a possible crisis
in the cloth export business. The rebel banners declared
"Fear Nothing but God", and the expressed motives in the
dying speeches of several of the rebels and the testimony of
nonconformist ministers makes that clear.
More recent work by W.Macdonald Wigfield has recovered from
many sources beyond the "Monmouth Roll" the names of almost
4,000 rebels, the largest number yet established,
representing about half of Monmouth's force at its largest.
An analysis of those whose occupations are known, a total of
1,053 or just over a quarter, produces a rather different
picture than that painted by Mr Earle. The rebels fall very
clearly within a group of people who Daniel Defoe, himself
accused of taking part in the rebellion in his youth, was