Robert Yeamans
Encyclopedia
Robert Yeamans or Yeomans (died 1643), was a merchant of Bristol
who in early 1643 plotted with other Royalist
to aid in the capture of Bristol by the Royalists. The plot was discovered by the parliamentary governor Nathaniel Fiennes
and Yeomans was tried as a traitor, found guilty by court-martial and executed.
, incumbent of St. Philip's, Bristol, where he was noted as a puritan, and from 1615 till his death prebendary of Bristol Cathedral.
Robert Yeamans was a well-known merchant and councillor of Bristol
, and in 1641–2 served as sheriff. He was royalist in his sympathies, and he obtained a commission from King Charles I of England
to raise a troops from Bristol, but in December, before he could accomplish the task, the city was occupied by a parliamentary force under the command of Colonel Essex. In February 1643 Nathaniel Fiennes
became the parliamentary military governor of the city.Dates are in the Julian calendar with the start of year adjusted to 1 January (see Old Style and New Style dates
)
, and the king sent him a commission to enlist men in his service. Prince Rupert was to bring four thousand horse and two thousand foot to Durdham Down
, and the royalists in Bristol, who were estimated at two thousand, were to seize the Frome-gate and admit Rupert's forces. The plot was to take effect on the night of 7 March 1643.
Fiennes heard of the plot, and on 7 March before they could execute the plan Yeamans and his principal confederates were arrested in his house in Wine Street. "A Brief Relation of the Plot" was published by parliament on 13 March, various witnesses were examined in that and the following month, and on 8 May Yeamans was condemned to death by a court-martial as a traitor.
Charles made great efforts to save him, and Lord Forth threatened to execute a similar number of parliamentary prisoners in his hands. The threat proved useless, as Fiennes also held other notable Royalist prisoners recently captured by Sir William Waller
on his raid into Herefordshire, so to forestall a blood bath King Charles ordered that no retaliatory executions should take place.
Yeamans was hanged, drawn and quartered
opposite his house along with his co-conspirator and friend George Bouchier
. Yeamans's remains were buried in Christ Church, Bristol. When Fiennes was himself on his trial his execution of Yeamans was one of the charges brought against him by Prynne.
, and the second Sir Robert Yeamans, who, like his brother, was created a baronet on 31 December 1666 and died without issue, being buried in St. Mary Redclyffe, Bristol, on 7 Feb. 1686–7. But both affiliations are fictitious; Sir John was born not later than 1611, and Sir Robert was baptised on 19 April 1617, and both were apparently sons of John Yeamans, brewer, of Redcliffe, whose will is dated 1645 . Many other members of the family are mentioned as taking prominent part in local affairs at Bristol and at Barbados. The only child of the royalist whose relationship to him is established is his daughter Anne, who married Thomas Curtis
, the quaker of Reading, and interceded for George Fox's
release in 1660. Other members of the Yeamans family were Quakers, and one of them married Isabel, daughter of Margaret Fell, and stepdaughter of Fox.
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
who in early 1643 plotted with other Royalist
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
to aid in the capture of Bristol by the Royalists. The plot was discovered by the parliamentary governor Nathaniel Fiennes
Nathaniel Fiennes
Nathaniel Fiennes was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1640 and 1659...
and Yeomans was tried as a traitor, found guilty by court-martial and executed.
Early life
Yeamans came of a numerous Bristol family, and was probably nearly related to William Yeamans (1578–1632?), a graduate of Balliol College, OxfordBalliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, incumbent of St. Philip's, Bristol, where he was noted as a puritan, and from 1615 till his death prebendary of Bristol Cathedral.
Robert Yeamans was a well-known merchant and councillor of Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, and in 1641–2 served as sheriff. He was royalist in his sympathies, and he obtained a commission from King Charles I of England
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
to raise a troops from Bristol, but in December, before he could accomplish the task, the city was occupied by a parliamentary force under the command of Colonel Essex. In February 1643 Nathaniel Fiennes
Nathaniel Fiennes
Nathaniel Fiennes was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1640 and 1659...
became the parliamentary military governor of the city.Dates are in the Julian calendar with the start of year adjusted to 1 January (see Old Style and New Style dates
Old Style and New Style dates
Old Style and New Style are used in English language historical studies either to indicate that the start of the Julian year has been adjusted to start on 1 January even though documents written at the time use a different start of year ; or to indicate that a date conforms to the Julian...
)
Plot
Early in 1643 Yeamans conceived a plan for turning the city over to a royalist army under the command of Prince Rupert. He communicated with Charles I, who was then at OxfordOxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, and the king sent him a commission to enlist men in his service. Prince Rupert was to bring four thousand horse and two thousand foot to Durdham Down
Durdham Down
Durdham Down is an area of public open space in Bristol, England. With its neighbour Clifton Down to the southwest, it constitutes a area known as The Downs, much used for leisure including walking, jogging and team sports. Its exposed position makes it particularly suitable for kite flying...
, and the royalists in Bristol, who were estimated at two thousand, were to seize the Frome-gate and admit Rupert's forces. The plot was to take effect on the night of 7 March 1643.
Fiennes heard of the plot, and on 7 March before they could execute the plan Yeamans and his principal confederates were arrested in his house in Wine Street. "A Brief Relation of the Plot" was published by parliament on 13 March, various witnesses were examined in that and the following month, and on 8 May Yeamans was condemned to death by a court-martial as a traitor.
Charles made great efforts to save him, and Lord Forth threatened to execute a similar number of parliamentary prisoners in his hands. The threat proved useless, as Fiennes also held other notable Royalist prisoners recently captured by Sir William Waller
William Waller
Sir William Waller was an English soldier during the English Civil War. He received his education at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, and served in the Venetian army and in the Thirty Years' War...
on his raid into Herefordshire, so to forestall a blood bath King Charles ordered that no retaliatory executions should take place.
Yeamans was hanged, drawn and quartered
Hanged, drawn and quartered
To be hanged, drawn and quartered was from 1351 a penalty in England for men convicted of high treason, although the ritual was first recorded during the reigns of King Henry III and his successor, Edward I...
opposite his house along with his co-conspirator and friend George Bouchier
George Bouchier
George Bouchier or Bourchier was a wealthy merchant of Bristol who supported the royalist cause during the English Civil War....
. Yeamans's remains were buried in Christ Church, Bristol. When Fiennes was himself on his trial his execution of Yeamans was one of the charges brought against him by Prynne.
Family
Yeaman is said in the royalist accounts to have left by his wife, a kinswoman also named Yeamans, eight very young children, and a ninth was born posthumously.The eldest son is said to have been Sir John YeamansJohn Yeamans
Sir John Yeamans, 1st Baronet was an English colonial administrator described in his day as "a pirate ashore".-Life:...
, and the second Sir Robert Yeamans, who, like his brother, was created a baronet on 31 December 1666 and died without issue, being buried in St. Mary Redclyffe, Bristol, on 7 Feb. 1686–7. But both affiliations are fictitious; Sir John was born not later than 1611, and Sir Robert was baptised on 19 April 1617, and both were apparently sons of John Yeamans, brewer, of Redcliffe, whose will is dated 1645 . Many other members of the family are mentioned as taking prominent part in local affairs at Bristol and at Barbados. The only child of the royalist whose relationship to him is established is his daughter Anne, who married Thomas Curtis
Thomas Curtis
Thomas Pelham "Tom" Curtis was an American athlete and the winner of the 110 metres hurdles at the 1896 Summer Olympics....
, the quaker of Reading, and interceded for George Fox's
George Fox
George Fox was an English Dissenter and a founder of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers or Friends.The son of a Leicestershire weaver, Fox lived in a time of great social upheaval and war...
release in 1660. Other members of the Yeamans family were Quakers, and one of them married Isabel, daughter of Margaret Fell, and stepdaughter of Fox.