Colonel John Trevannion’s Regiment of Foot
Active | 1642 to 1646 |
Country | England |
Allegiance | Royalist |
Conflicts | First Civil War |
Type | Foot |
Colonel | John Trevannion |
William Arundell | |
Richard Arundell | |
Area Raised | Cornwall |
Coat Colour | Possibly red |
Flag Colour | Unknown |
Flag Design | Unknown |
Field Armies | Hopton 1643 |
Grenville 1644? | |
Goring 1645-6 | |
Garrison 1646 |
Later, Colonel William Arundell's, then Colonel Richard Arundell's Regiment of Foot
Royalist Regiment of Foot that was one of the five famous Cornish Regiments of Hopton’s Army
Service History
1642
- Raised in Cornwall
- December: Siege of Exeter
1643
- 19th January: Battle of Braddock Down
- 23rd April: Battle of Beacon Hill
- 25th April: Battle of Sourton Down
- 16th May: Battle of Stratton - Right(?), 600 men app
- July: Skirmish at Monckton Farley
- 5th July: Battle of Lansdowne
- 8th -13th July: Besieged at Devizes
- 26th July: Storm of Bristol - Part of Slanning's Brigade
- William Arundell takes over after Trevannion is killed at Bristol
- December: William Arundell dies and the regiment is taken over by his brother, Richard Arundell
1644
- August: Battle of Lostwithiel?
- October: Second Battle of Newbury?
1645
- July: Battle of Langport
1646
- March: Besieged in Exmouth Fort?
- March to August: Besieged in Pendennis Castle
Notes
Originally the Regiment of Colonel Sir John Trevannion and upon his decease at the storm of Bristol was taken over by Colonel William Arundell. Upon William Arundell's decease it passed to Colonel Richard Arundell. Richard Arundell was noted by Hopton as being one of the leaders of Cornish Trained Bands in 1646.
Coats, Flags and Equipment
It was reported 1) that Major General Chudleigh captured a large amount of weaponry, clothing, twelve drums and three ensigns from Hopton's Army – amongst this haul were red coats at Sourton Down (April 1643). At least five, possibly six, Cornish Regiments of Foot were present at Sourton Down.
Another report 2) refers to captured, Royalist deserters, most likely Cornish men, wearing redcoats “pressed men…gone home”.
Notable Officers
Lists of the regiment's officers are shown separately for Trevannion and the Arundells in Officers and Regiments of the Royalist Army by Stuart Reid (Partizan Press).
Colonel John Trevannion
John Trevannion, one of the four wheels of Charles' wain as the rhyme had it, was killed during the Storm of Bristol. He was married to Sir John Arundell's daughter Mary.
Sergeant-Major Nicholas Kendal
Killed during the Storm of Bristol
Colonel William Arundell
William was one of the sons of Sir John Arundell, who was known as ”Jack for the King”. His brothers Richard and Colonel John Arundell also served in the Royalist forces, the latter being killed at the siege of Plymouth in 1644. William Arundell served as a captain in Trevannion's regiment, then took it over after Trevannion's death at Bristol. He died in December 1643.
Colonel Richard Arundell
Richard Arundell, described as a stout and diligent officer by Clarendon, was brother of William Arundell and took over the regiment after his brother's death.
Officer Lists
From original research by Victor Judge aka BCW user 1642
Under Colonel William Arundell
- Colonel William Arundell
- Sargeant Major Phillip Dart Ment. I.O.
- Sargeant Major John Spry Ment. I.O.
- Lieutenant John Spry I.O. Cornwall to Major Dart
- Ensign Gilbert Ford I.O. Devon to Sgnt. Maj. Spry
Under Colonel Richard Arundell
- Colonel Richard Arundell
- Captain John Blight I.O. Cornwall
- Captain Peter Courtenay (4) + I.O. Cornwall
- Captain Francis Gully I.O. Cornwall
- Captain John Sprye (1)
- Captain William Spry (5)
- Captain George Yeo (2), later Lt Col of Colonel Lewis Tremayne’s Regiment of Foot
- Lieutenant Nathaniel Cooke (4) + I.O. Cornwall
- Lieutenant Forman (3)
- Lieutenant Ralph Keat I.O. Cornwall
- Lieutenant Thomas Kestell I.O. Cornwall
- Lieutenant Nicholas Petegrew =I.O. Cornwall
- Lieutenant Peter Polsue =(4) + I.O. Cornwall
- Lieutenant Watkins (3)
- Lieutenant Thomas Wyat I.O. Cornwall
- Ensign Thomas Carne I.O. Cornwall
- Ensign William Dunkin I.O. Cornwall
- Ensign Richard Pierce I.O. Cornwall
- Ensign Joseph Tucker I.O. Cornwall
- Ensign George Williams (4)
- Cornet Gifford (3)
Contemporary References
From original research by Victor Judge aka BCW user 1642
St.Stephen by Saltash Parish Register
Colonell Will. Arundell the sonne of John Arundell of Trerice was buried the nineteenth day of December 1643.
SP29.8.123 Extract. July 1660 To the Kings most excellent Majestie The humble petition of William Spry of Blisland Cornwall
Sheweth that your petitioner served your Majesties Royal father of blessed memory during the whole time of the late warrs, commanded a Company of Foot raised at his own charge and for the most part paid them alsoe without anie considerable help or restitution. That hee was besieged in that unhappy siege of Pendennis Castle where he endured the greatest of wants and hardships. That while he was soe besieged he was plundered and sequestred of all his small estate…
Atribution is that he was the brother of Sargeant Major John Spry CHECK VISITATIONS OF CORNWALL
(1) DRO.QSP.128.103.1
Petition of Abraham Doble of Plymtree served under Captain John Sprye in Colonel Richard Arundells Regiment in which service he received several wounds in his body.
(2) Devon Record Office QS/128/107/3 Listed as 1681 but undated
To the right worshipful his Majesties justice of the peace for the county of Devon now assembled at the generall sessions at the Castle of Exon. The humble petition of John Northam of Sampford Courtney in Devon husbandman Sheweth that your said peticioner served his late Majestie King Charles the first of ever blessed memory in the late unhappy wars under the command of Capt. George Yeo in the Regiment of Coll. Richard Arundell of Trerice in Cornwall and afterwards in the Regiment of Colonel Lewes Tremaine, in which time your peticioner served his said Majestie in the siege against Taunton and Plymouth in which places and in many others yout peticioner endured many hardships both by day and night, some whereof are still visible. During all which war your petitioner never deserted his said Majesties service but still according to his allegiance and duty continued loyall and stedfast in his said Majesties service as your peticioner is ready to prove to the honorable court by sufficient testimonie.
(3) E.293.17 Cornet Gifford is possibly meant to be Ensign Gifford as the list is under foot officers.
(4) DDT.1755 Lieutenant Peter Polsue of St Goran parish of Col Richard Arundells Regiment of foote. Captain Peter Courtney of Penkevill parish of the same Regiment. Nathan Cooke of Tregony of Col. Richard Arundells Regiment of foote. Ensigne George Williams of Feock of ye same Regiment.
(5) SP29.8.123 P5030325 The humble petition of William Spry of Blisland Cornwall. Sheweth that your petitioner served his Majesties Royal father of blessed memory the whole time of the late warrs & commanded a Company of Foote raised at his owne charge & for the most part paid them alsoe without any considerable assistance or restitution. That he was beseiged in that unhappy siege of Pendennis Castle where he suffered the greatest of want & hardships.
Possibly this Regiment: Cornwall Record Office Bodmin Parish Register March 25. 1642(3) Capt. James Fisher Difficult to read and possibly I have made an error. May 16. 1643 Captain Kendall buried June 21. 1643 A souldier of Capt. Blighe July 5. 1643 George Gay a souldier of Capt. Blighe
Lord Hopton's relation of the proceedings in the West state that in January 1645/46 the Cornish Trained Bands had dwindled away and there were only 150 men between Sir Chichester Wrey, Colonel Richard Arundel and Colonel Jonathan Trelawney. Carte a collection of Original letters
Petition of Anthony
DRO.QSP.128.118.2
The humble petition of John Anthony of Staverton in the County aforesaid Taylor Sheweth that your served under Sir Peter Courtnay in Sir Bevil Grenvilles regiment until Stratton where he was shot in the knee. When the regiment marched to Bristol he and other wounded were left behind. He then served as a Corporal to Col. William Arundel until his death whereafter he served as Ensign to Colonel Bullen Reymes until Taunton fight. After that he served as corporal of horse under Captain Peter Bound under whom he was captured at Kingswear Fort with Sir Henry Carey. Many Officers signed his Petition.CHECK