| Notes |
- Robert Mason was killed as part of the Bolton Massacre in 1644.
Bolton was a centre of Puritanism, and in the Civil War of the 17th Century it was a Parliamentarian outpost, surrounded by Royalist areas. In 1642 civil war began between king and parliament. The people of Bolton solidly supported parliament but most of the people in the rest of Lancashire supported the king. The people of Bolton built earthwork defences around the town and waited for the royalists to attack. The royalists came in February 1643 but they were beaten off. Then in January 1644 parliament sent 3,000 men to garrison Bolton. The royalists attacked Bolton again in March 1644 but once again they were beaten off.
Finally in May 1644 the royalists made a determined attempt to capture Bolton. Prince Rupert's army of 10,000 men were joined by troops under the leadership of the Earl of Derby, and stormed the town on May 28th 1644 from Deane Moor. This time they succeeded. This was the third major assault against Bolton, of the 3000 local troops led by Colonel Rigby. After a brief siege they broke through the defences. Once inside the town the royalists massacred many of the parliamentary soldiers. Perhaps as many as 1,000 died and another 700 were taken captive. It became known as the Bolton Massacre. Robert Mason was among those killed that day.
After Cromwell's Parliamentarian victory, Charles I was executed in 1649. In 1651 his son led an uprising to try and regain his throne. The uprising failed and the Earl of Derby, James Stanley was hunted down and captured in Cheshire. After a three day trial, he was taken to Bolton, spent his last hours at Ye Olde Man and Scythe public house, then was beheaded in Churchgate on October 15th 1651. In his speech from the scaffold he denied responsibility for the Bolton Massacre.
Lancashire: Bolton - Parish Register, 1587-1660
Deaths due to "The Bolton Massacre"
Wm. Bootle, Capt.; James Siddall, seriant; Nicho Norres, serient; Thomas Cooke, Adam Rothwell, John Rothwell, Wm. Rothwell, Richard Morris, senior, Alex: Lightbowne, John Lightbowne, Roger Seddon, Robt: Kirkall, Raph Dickenson, John Drap, Robert Mason, Alexander Mason, Raph Bordman, John Pomfrett, Rich: Robinson, John Aynsworth, Henery Brook, Tho: Russell, John Kirkall, Robt: Kirkall, Henery Wright, James Wright, John Brook, Rich: Haslome, Jorden Sharples, Wm. Makon, James Norres, Rich: Norres, Roger Hart, Edmund Haslom with his sonne, Raph Leaver, Wm. Bolton, John Hobbs, George Smith, John Dobson, Hamlett Smith, John Norres, Henery Twist, Peter Blakloe, Jo: Greenehalgh, Wm. Yeate, John Edge, Rich: Wright, Gyles Morris, Tho: Grundy, Robt. Robinson, Lamuell Harper, Jo: Bradshaw, gent; Arthur Wolfitt, Wm. Holland, Wm. Hardman, Rich: Marshall, Henery Seddon, Robt. Farnworth, George Holme, James Gorton, Tilsley Grundy, Wm. Harvye, Jo: Fletcher, Wm. Crompton, Wm. Isherwood et uxor, Rich: Bolton, prentice; Tho: Kay, Robt. Dickson, John Crompton, Adam Hodgskinson, Wm. Hosken, Chr. Nuttall, Uxor Arthur Seddon, Chr: Neild, Wm. Wood, George Munday. All these 78 of Boltonn slayne on the 28 May 1644.
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1600 - 1644 (44 years)
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