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Hartford featured twice in the Civil
War.
In 1644 a battle was fought in
Hartford when the Royalists from
Chester under Colonel Morrow encountered the Parliamentary forces from
Northwich. It is recorded in "Malbon's
Memorial of the Civil War"
"Colonell
Marrowe slayne. On Sondaye 18 Aug 1644 Colonell Marrowe yssued furthe of
Chester wth all or most of the horse & foote theire, and marched towardes
Northwyche; by the waye they plu'dred some poore mens Cattell; But some of theim
appeareing vnto the Townesmen on Hertford [Hartford] Greene, The forces in Towne
yssued furthe vpon theim; wch they p'ceyvinge, fledd before theim towards
Sandywaye; The Townesmen pursuynge theim, (vnadvysedlye to[o] farr) [so] that
the Kinges ptie. tooke fyfteene of theim prsoners & carryed theim awaye; But
Colonell Marrowe was shott in Sandywaye by one lyinge vnder a hedge, & was
carryed alyve into Chester, where hee dyed the nexte daye afterwards."
Colonel Morrow was
buried in St Oswald's Cathedral Chester on 22nd August 1644.
There was also a skirmish at
Hartford before the Battle of Winnington Bridge in 1659 when Royalist forces
were defeated. Only about thirty Royalists and one Parliamentarian were killed.
The Parliamentarians under
Major-General John Lambert allowed the Royalist forces to disperse. The
following extract is from "Memorials of the Civil War in Cheshire and
the Adjacent Counties".
"This year Sir George Booth,
with many other Cheshire Gentlemen, Sir Tho: Middleton, with many in Wales, &
Coll: Holland with many in Lancashire, raised Forces against the Parliament, &
Army, but were defeated by Lambert at Winnington Bridge, near Northwich 19 Aug
1659 Many were taken Prisoners, but few slain. After which Defeat many were
Sequestrated."
Born in 1622, Sir George
fought for Parliament during the First Civil War and was elected MP for Cheshire
in May 1645 but became disillusioned with the Parliamentarians and by 1659 was
plotting with the Royalists to bring about the Restoration.
He fled the battle dressed as a woman and was arrested at an inn in Newport
Pagnell trying to reach London and thence the Continent. The innkeeper became
suspicious because of his size and that he tried to buy a razor! He was imprisoned in
the Tower of London but was released in 1660 on five thousand pounds bail. After
the restoration of the monarchy he was made Lord Delamere at Charles II's
coronation (April 1661). He died in 1684.
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