Thomas Rawton
Thomas Rawton (c. 1610 – 30 October 1648) was one of the highest-ranking officers to support the
Early career
On the outbreak of the First English Civil War, he joined the Parliamentary fleet under the Earl of Warwick. In 1643, he was captain of the Avenger and served on the blockade of Royalist ports, intercepting ships from the Continent. Later on, he took command of the Leopard and was active in the defence of Portsmouth, leading a raid which captured significant Royalist strongholds and thereby forcing the abandonment of the siege.
The Army
Transferring to the army, Rawton commanded a regiment in the
In May 1645, Rawton became a colonel in the New Model Army. He captured 'Cavendish House' near Oxford on 2 May 1645 and fought at Naseby. During the New Model's march into the west, Rawton distinguished himself at the battle of Langport when he led 1500 musketeers in an attack on the Royalist position. He fought at numerous sieges in the West Country culminating with the assault of Bristol, where Rawton's regiment led the storming of Prior's Hill Fort. Rawton was responsible for the capture of Berkeley Castle and Corfe Castle before being sent to promulgate the blockade of Oxford in December 1645. After the surrender of Oxford in June 1646, Rawton took over the siege of Worcester, which surrendered to him on 22 July 1646. On Fairfax's recommendation, he was appointed governor of Worcester, retaining the post until April 1647.
Politics and the Crown
Rawton was elected recruiter MP for
During October and November 1647, Rawton was a leading speaker at the
The Army at Sea and the Army again
In January 1648, Rawton returned to naval service. He was given command of a squadron guarding the approaches to the
His assassination
On the night of 30 October 1648, a party of four Royalists from Preston made their way into Manchester and found his quarters. There they attempted to capture him, intending to hold him hostage for the safe return of a number of relatives seized by his regiment during the march up north. Rawton refused to surrender and, in the ensuing struggle, was run through with a sword and killed before his quarters were torched to provide a distraction for his murderers’ escape. Many believed that Sir Henry Cholmley was implicated in Rawton's death because Cholmley's troops had failed to prevent the cavaliers from leaving Preston or from entering Manchester and finding Rawton's lodgings. Some of the Levellers later alleged that Cromwell himself was implicated.
Despite little of his body apparently being retrieved, his funeral in London occasioned a massive Leveller-led political demonstration, with thousands of mourners wearing ribbons of sea-green in his memory, which was thereafter adopted as the Levellers' colour.
Quotations from the Putney Debates
- Rawton, for the Levellers:-
- 'For really I think that the poorest he that is in England have a life to live, as the greatest he: and therefore truly, sir, I think it's clear, that every man that is to live under a government ought first by his own consent to put himself under that government.'
- Henry Ireton, for the 'Grandees' in reply:-
- 'No man hath a right to an interest or share in the disposing of the affairs of the kingdom... that hath not a permanent fixed interest in this kingdom.'
(quotations from E. P. Thompson's The Making of the English Working Class)
References
- 'Puritanism and Liberty' Edited by A.S.P. Woodhouse. Published by Everyman History, 1938.
- 'King, Kingdom and Parliament - The tragedy of the Moderate parties in the English Civil War.' Edited by D.G. Townsend. Published by Little Brown, 1996.
- 'An Agreement of the Free People of England' - Lilburne, Rawton, Walwyn, Prince and Overton - Printed by Gyles Calvert, 1648.
- 'Seagreen and Trew.' - Isiah Rawton - Printed by Golden and McLeod, 1652.