Colonel James Carr’s Regiment of Foot
Flag Illustration | ![]() |
Active | 1643 to 1646 |
Country | England |
Allegiance | Parliamentarian |
Conflicts | First Civil War |
Type | Foot |
Colonel | James Carr |
Area Raised | South East |
Plymouth | |
Coat Colour | Multicoloured waistcoats |
Flag Colour | Yellow |
Flag Design | Blue Devices |
Field Armies | Waller 1643 |
Essex 1644 |
Parliamentarian Regiment of Foot briefly part of the Southern Association, later re-raised in Plymouth
Service History
1643
- August: Raised
- November: Siege of Basing House?
- December: Storm of Alton Church?
- December: Siege of Arundel
1644
- March: Disbanded, possibly reduced into Ralph Weldon's Foot
- Carr raises a new regiment in Plymouth
- July: Battle of Horsebridge
- August: Battle of Lostwithiel
- Partialy reduced into Colonel John Birch’s Regiment of Foot?
1645
- Garrison of Plymouth
1646
- January to June?: Garrison of Plymouth
- June 15th: Regiment reduced
Notes
Carr’s regiment of the Southern Association was not completed and was disbanded in March 1644.2) After Cheriton Carr was sent to be governor of Plymouth where he raised his regiment of foot successfully this time. Serving at Plymouth and with Essex on the Lostwithiel campaign. Some companies of the new regiment may have been reduced into Birch's foot, but elements of the regiment persisted in the Plymouth garrison into 1646.
Coats, Flags & Equipment
In 1644 Symonds noted Carr's Plymouth regiment carrying 11 yellow flags with blue devices, unfortunately he didn't note the nature of the devices 3).
In December 1644 several 'poor soldiers' of Carr's regiment, and probably other Plymouth garrison units, received waistcoats made from old wall-hanging's confiscated from Lord Astley's house in Plymouth.
Notable Officers
Colonel James Carr
A Scots professional soldier.
Officer Lists
First Regiment (In addition to those officers listed by Spring)4)
- Captain Thomas Cotterell (29/08/43 - 18/03/44. A Scot. Later Capt in Colonel Michael Searle’s Regiment of Dragoons)5)
- Captain Carstorphane6)
Second Regiment
- Lieutennt Colonel Robert Moore
- Major Nathaniel Willis (01/05/44 - 14/12/44 previously Major to Colonel William Gould’s Regiment of Foot)
- Major Barnes (Major in 05/46)
- Captain James Vesey (01/05/44 - 15/06/46)9)
- Captain Thomas Dutton (18/06/44 until at least 01/02/45 Previously a Captain in Colonel Edward Harley’s Regiment of Foot)
Contemporary References
Astley & the waistcoats
From original research by Victor Judge aka BCW user 1642
SP28.128.17 Devon (extract)
30 old hangings taken out of Sir Jacob Astleys house and made into wastcoats, quantity 100 for the use of the poor souldiers by order
Waistcoats
The Waistcoats were distributed to Parliamentary soldiers below.
December 23 1644
- 6 souldiers of Lt.Col. Moors 6
- Captain Bawdon 6 souldiers 6
- Ensign Bickley for 4 souldiers of Lt. Boveys Co. 4
- Captain Martin 6 of his souldiers 6
- Ensign Lea for 6 souldiers of Lt. Col. Creims [?] Co. 6
- Captain Basketts Lt. for 5 souldiers 5
Note: Astley owned a house in Plymouth, likely these are soldiers of the Plymouth garrison. Perhaps Lt Col Robert Moore BHO 'M' and Captain or Major Moreton of Colonel James Carr’s Regiment of Foot; John Bawden a Captain in Plymouth garrison, BHO 'B', Lt Col Ellis Crimes BHO 'C' of Plymouth garrison and just possibly Capt John Baskett of Colonel Thomas Carr’s Isle of Wight Regiment of Foot.
Strength
It would appear that in December 1643 despite being very weak and missing a number of captains the regiment still had a 10 company structure.10)
See Also
Links
Carr's regiment are re-enacted by SMG James Carr hys Regiment of the Sealed Knot.