Rupert Billingsley
Rupert Billingsley (born 1644, date of death unknown) was an English soldier who secured the garrison and town of Berwick-upon-Tweed for William of Orange during the Glorious Revolution in 1688.
Biography
Billingsley was born in 1644 in Astley Abbotts[1] Shropshire, to Francis Billingsley and Elizabeth Latham. His father was a major in the Royalist Army supporting King Charles I. His godfather was Prince Rupert.
A plaque on the wall of St Calixtus Astley Abbotts commemorates the family of Mjr. Francis Billingsley the son of Col. Francis - he killed lesding the Royalist Forces in the defence of Bridgnorth. A plaque on the wall of St Leonard's records that the Col. was buried at St Calixtus . Eleanor the daughter of Edward LATHAM ( he also killed at Bridgnorth.) Married the Mjr. having the family :- Francis 1640, Edward 1642 (- Col. will 11/567), Rupert 1644,(- Col. will 11/470), Lewis (Louis) 1645,(Cap. will 11/468) Charles 1649. ( ? Knight of the Royal Oak.) & Margsret 1643 (Mort.) Bridget 1646. Eleanor 1650, Elizabeth 1653, & Dorothy 1655. The Register of St. Calixtus notes that at the baptism of Francis 1640 three generations of Francis - Mjr. Col. and Sir were present. I will not confirm that this Rupert was the god-son of Prince Rupert. There were many other candidates. Manorial records give a descent from Wyllym (de Byllyngsleye) appointed King's Clerk of Gloucester by King Edward I in 1306. (The first person to use the name of his birthplace as a Family name. Several other branches were known to the Prince including that of Alfred Billingsley ( The Finest Horseman in England.) The Prince's tutor.
References
Church plaques Bridgnorth & Astley Abbots. Church record's St Calixtus. Manorial Records Shropshire Archives. Manorial Grants to Irish Officers. Canterbury wills. State records 1306 - 7. Kew.
- Parish registers of Astley Abbots