Francis Billingsley

Colonel Francis Billingsley (1595–1646) was a Royalist officer in the English Civil War. Placed in charge of the defences of Bridgnorth in Shropshire, he was killed in the churchyard of St Leonard's when the town was stormed by Parliamentarian troops on 31 March 1646.[1]

His rapier was presented to the church by one of his descendants (Lois Astley) and for many years was on display in the church.[2][3] It was stolen in around 2000 and has not been recovered.

Family and background
Coat of Arms of Francis Billingsley

Francis was from the Billingsley family of Astley Abbotts, Shropshire, and married Eleanor Kerry in 1616.[4]

Amongst his siblings was the celebrated horseman Sir Thomas Billingsley. Another brother was Capt. John Billingsley, who supported Parliament during the Civil War and was brother-in-law to the Regicide Daniel Blagrave.

Amongst the children of Francis and Eleanor were Francis Billingsley who served as a major in the Royalist army, and Capt. Edward Billingsley who married a daughter of another Royalist officer, Francis Sandford, and served in Ireland during the 1640s.[5][6]

References
  1. Page 475, The Gentleman's Magazine, Volume 129
  2. Page 217, Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, by Shropshire Archaeological and Natural History Society (Great Britain), Publication date 1896, Volume Ser. 2, Vol. 8, ...Colonel Francis Billingsley of Astley Abbotts Manor, co. Salop, was the eldest son and heir of Francis Billingsley of the same place, by Bridget, daughter of Thomas Vernon of Haslington, co. Chester. He married Eleanor, daughter of Thomas Kerry of Bin Weston, co, Salop, took up the Royal cause at an early date, signed the Ingagement and Resolution of the Gentlemen of Salop " in 1642, held a commission in the trained bands of Bridgnorth as Lieutenant, afterwards Lieut. -Colonel, under the command of the Governor Sir Lewis Kirke, and fell in the Churchyard of St. Leonard's, when the town was besieged, March 31, 1G46. He was buried at Astley Abbotts. His sword was preserved by his [ family down to recent times, and was presented to St. Leonard's Church by Mr. Joseph Instone in 1884...
  3. Photo of sword on wall, Bridgnorth From Old Photographs, By Clive Gwilt, Amberley Publishing Limited, 15 Oct 2012
  4. Page 32, Collections Historical & Archaeological Relating to Montgomeryshire, Volume 9, ...Thomas Kerry...had..daughters...Elinor, wife of Colonel Francis Billingsley, of Astley Abbots...
  5. Page 77, Notices and remains of the family of Tyrwhitt [signed R.P.T.]. Corrected and ...By Robert Philip Tyrwhitt, ...who had purchased it, about 1648, from the son of aloyal cavalier, Francis Billingsley, buried at Astley the last of March, 1646; who, as his epitaph in that parish church informs us, was "Mayor for King Charles, and slayne on the 8th of that month at Bridgenorth." He met his death in the attack of St. Leonard's churchyard by the parliamentary forces, as a stone exiting there as late as 1820 commemorated. He left a widow, five sons, one being named Rupert, and six daughters...
  6. Page 1045, A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of ..., Volume 2, By Sir Bernard Burke, ...WALTER MOSELEY, ESQ...(son of Walter...by Dorothy his wife, dau. of Francis Billingsley, Esq. of Astley Abbots...
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