'The Parliamentary Hedge?'
Everyone is no doubt familiar with the Royal Oak and the tale of King Charles II hiding after the Battle of Worcester in 1651 but how many are aware of a Parliamentarian soldier hiding in a hedge in Woodchester?
I am grateful to the Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society for the following information.
John Freind was born at Westerleigh near Bristol in 1621 and baptised on 24 June, son of John Freind a mason. He was of a weakly constitution and suffered from smallpox whilst at school. His story is told by his brother, Nathaniel, a schoolmaster.
John was 21 at the outbreak of the Civil War and at Christmas 1642, he, Nathaniel and their father joined the Parliamentarian forces at Cirencester. Following capture by the Royalists in February 1643, they were imprisoned in Oxford for 11 weeks. Some others taken at the same time opted to join the King's forces but the Freinds appear to have not been willing to do so. However, there is no evidence that they took an oath not to fight.
In August 1643, he set off for London, avoiding being taken prisoner at Andover, and became clerk to a Regiment of Horse being raised by Colonel Sir Thomas Stephens. Following their arrival in Gloucester, he became quartermaster remaining until March 1645.
He was with the same regiment, at the raising of the siege of Rowden House, near Chippenham in April where he was shot twice. The first bullet passed between his shirt and skin, and the second went through his pocket taking his handkerchief through his powder horn. He was taken prisoner again and carried to Bristol, where he arranged his release and went to Northampton. There his horse died and he had to return to Gloucester on foot having bought a release for his 'fellowes'.
From Gloucester he went to his fellowes quarters at Woodchester where he fell ill of the smallpox 'which came out well upon him and hee in a hopeful way of recovery'. Unfortunately, the King's army under General Goring (presumably returning from Oxford to the west country) marched by 'on the hills neare where hee lay', resulting in John leaving his bed, wrapping himself in his cloak and hiding in a hedge! He stayed there for two hours until the army had passed, fortunately not descending into the village. He was scarcely able to get back to bed and died two days later on Friday 16 May 1645, being buried next day by his companions in the churchyard.
In November 1676, Nathaniel, who was acquainted with Mr Joseph Browne, a schoolmaster and 'excellent graver', living in Woodchester, came to visit. A woman who had visited John during his illness told him where his grave was and he arranged to have it turfed. Nathaniel asked Mr Browne to get some gravestones which he was to engrave himself. Would this suggest a head and foot stone.
Nathaniel returned in June 1678 to pay and see the stones. He gives a description of the position of the grave. 'Southwestward of the Church on the left hand side of the way that leads to the south door at some distance from the way towards the west side of the churchyard, north of the tombs belonging to the family of the Cambridges a few paces'.
The Cambridge tombs, still identifiable today are between the wall and the Roman pavement. Immediately north of them is the grave of John Wade. If we assume that the Cambridge tombs still occupy their original position, there are scarcely a few paces of space before the pavement. We know that the pavement was officially discovered when John Wade's grave was being dug in 1795 so was he then squeezed in next to the Cambridges? In which case, was John Freind buried above or through the pavement and subsequently moved?
Everyone is no doubt familiar with the Royal Oak and the tale of King Charles II hiding after the Battle of Worcester in 1651 but how many are aware of a Parliamentarian soldier hiding in a hedge in Woodchester?
I am grateful to the Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society for the following information.
John Freind was born at Westerleigh near Bristol in 1621 and baptised on 24 June, son of John Freind a mason. He was of a weakly constitution and suffered from smallpox whilst at school. His story is told by his brother, Nathaniel, a schoolmaster.
John was 21 at the outbreak of the Civil War and at Christmas 1642, he, Nathaniel and their father joined the Parliamentarian forces at Cirencester. Following capture by the Royalists in February 1643, they were imprisoned in Oxford for 11 weeks. Some others taken at the same time opted to join the King's forces but the Freinds appear to have not been willing to do so. However, there is no evidence that they took an oath not to fight.
In August 1643, he set off for London, avoiding being taken prisoner at Andover, and became clerk to a Regiment of Horse being raised by Colonel Sir Thomas Stephens. Following their arrival in Gloucester, he became quartermaster remaining until March 1645.
He was with the same regiment, at the raising of the siege of Rowden House, near Chippenham in April where he was shot twice. The first bullet passed between his shirt and skin, and the second went through his pocket taking his handkerchief through his powder horn. He was taken prisoner again and carried to Bristol, where he arranged his release and went to Northampton. There his horse died and he had to return to Gloucester on foot having bought a release for his 'fellowes'.
From Gloucester he went to his fellowes quarters at Woodchester where he fell ill of the smallpox 'which came out well upon him and hee in a hopeful way of recovery'. Unfortunately, the King's army under General Goring (presumably returning from Oxford to the west country) marched by 'on the hills neare where hee lay', resulting in John leaving his bed, wrapping himself in his cloak and hiding in a hedge! He stayed there for two hours until the army had passed, fortunately not descending into the village. He was scarcely able to get back to bed and died two days later on Friday 16 May 1645, being buried next day by his companions in the churchyard.
In November 1676, Nathaniel, who was acquainted with Mr Joseph Browne, a schoolmaster and 'excellent graver', living in Woodchester, came to visit. A woman who had visited John during his illness told him where his grave was and he arranged to have it turfed. Nathaniel asked Mr Browne to get some gravestones which he was to engrave himself. Would this suggest a head and foot stone.
Nathaniel returned in June 1678 to pay and see the stones. He gives a description of the position of the grave. 'Southwestward of the Church on the left hand side of the way that leads to the south door at some distance from the way towards the west side of the churchyard, north of the tombs belonging to the family of the Cambridges a few paces'.
The Cambridge tombs, still identifiable today are between the wall and the Roman pavement. Immediately north of them is the grave of John Wade. If we assume that the Cambridge tombs still occupy their original position, there are scarcely a few paces of space before the pavement. We know that the pavement was officially discovered when John Wade's grave was being dug in 1795 so was he then squeezed in next to the Cambridges? In which case, was John Freind buried above or through the pavement and subsequently moved?