Colonel Arthur Radford’s Regiment of Foot

Royalist regiment of foot from Dorset

• Garrison at Sturminster Castle
• Summer: Evacuate on the approach of Essex's army

• June: Radford compounds on Exeter articles

Of Develish, Dorset

From original research by Victor Judge aka BCW user '1642'

• Colonel Arthur Radford
• Lieutenant Colonel John Dirdo

• Lieutenant Morgan Cave I.O. Dorset to Lt. Col. Dirdo
• Lieutenant Clifford Hussy I.O. Dorset
• Lieutenant Henry Willys I.O. Somerset

From original research by Victor Judge aka BCW user '1642

Here Lieth the body of John Dirdo Gent. Who died the 27th December 1691

Arthur Radford Colonel for the King summoned the County to appear at Sturminster for raising souldiers, Robert Busbridge was sat at the Table with him.

Busbridge secretly took bribes of between 5 and 10 shillings to strike out certain mens names from the list to be soldiers under Radford.

The Regiment were in garrison at Sturminster Castle with Radford as Governor but left the Castle in 1644 upon the advance of the Parliamentary Army.

Radfords delinquency SP23.206.343-6.

P8180169 Radford at Sturminster.

Jn: Haines of Ockford Fitzpaine in the County of Dorsett husbandman sworne and examined saith that when the Kings partie had command of this County, Arthur Radford Esq. then a Colo: for the Kinge, did summon in the Country to appeare at Sturminster for raising of soldiers at which time this deponent fearing his sonne might bee returned, did goe to Sturminster to gett of his sonne in case he should bee called, and coming to the place where the said Mr Radford satt, he this deponent saw Mr Robert Busbridge sitt at the table with the said Mr Radford, and received the lists that the Constables and Tithingmen delivered in, and called the persons sett downe in each list, and then to prevent his sonnes callinge, he this deponent employed one Walter Robins (then Tithingman) to agree with Mr Busbridge to strike his sonne of, which the said Robins did accordingly and agreed for tenn shillings which money this deponent borrowed, and delivered it to the said Robins, and the said Robins delivered it to the said Mr Busbridge under the table in this deponents sight, and the said Robins told this deponent at that time that he had given Mr Busbridge five shillings already to release one Jo: Cole.

Jo: Cole of Belchalwell in ye County of Dorsett husbandman sworne and examined saith that hee being summoned to bee at Sturminster upon the occasion abovesaid did goe to Sturminster, but did not appeare before Colo: Radford, yett sent his wife to Mr Robt. Busbridge to keepe him of from being a soldier, and for five shillings Mr Busbridge promised to strike him out, which five shilling this deponents wife paid him.

SP23.206.350

To all Officers and souldiers under my command and all those whome it may concerne.

Suffer the bearer hereof Arthur Radford Esq. and his two servants with their horses, Armes, baggage and necessaryes to pass to London or any other place in the Parliaments quarters, without trouble or molestation, hee being a person that was in Exeter att the surrendering thereof and is to have the benefitt of these Articles given under my hand and Seale

13th of April 1646

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