Anthony Hungerford (Roundhead) facts for kids
- Hungerford should not be confused with his namesake and contemporary, the Royalist Member of Parliament Anthony Hungerford
Anthony Hungerford (born around 1614 or 1615, died 1657) was an important military leader. He was a Colonel in the English Parliamentary army. This army fought against the King during the War of the Three Kingdoms, a big conflict that involved England, Scotland, and Ireland. Anthony Hungerford fought in Ireland during this war.
Who Was Anthony Hungerford?
Anthony Hungerford was a soldier who served the English Parliament. The Parliament was a group of people who made laws and often disagreed with the King. Their army fought against the King's supporters.
His Time as a Soldier
In 1646, Anthony Hungerford was a Major. He wanted to be in charge of a Parliament army base in Stoke. He also wanted to be a Major for soldiers in Shropshire.
By March 1647, Parliament agreed to his requests. They made him a Colonel. He was sent to Ireland, arriving on April 30, 1647. In 1648, he led a group of soldiers in a place called Drogheda.
Life After the War
In 1650, something serious happened. Anthony Hungerford was shot in the head during the Battle of Dungan's Hill. This battle took place in County Meath, Ireland. After being injured, he went back to England.
In England, he worked on finding properties that belonged to people who supported the King. These people were called 'delinquents' by Parliament. In July 1652, the government gave him £100. This money was to help him return to Ireland.
However, in 1653, he was in trouble because of debt. He was held in a London prison for not paying money he owed. He asked Parliament to pay him for his military service. A friend, Sir John Danvers, said that Anthony was a very honest and religious person. He was also described as brave and loyal to Parliament.
He was allowed to go back to Ireland. But on March 28, 1654, his group of soldiers was disbanded. This meant he no longer had a job. He was in great need of money. So, on April 17, 1655, the government gave him a small weekly payment. Anthony Hungerford passed away on June 9, 1657.
His Family Background
Historians have different ideas about Anthony Hungerford's family. Sir Bernard Burke, a writer from 1884, believed Anthony came from a family in Gloucestershire. He thought Anthony's great-grandfather was Sir John Hungerford of Down Ampney.
Another historian, William John Hardy, thought Anthony might be related to another Anthony Hungerford. This other Anthony was a Royalist, meaning he supported the King. It was common for families back then to give the same first name to more than one child.
More recently, Stephen Wright suggested a different idea. He thinks Anthony might have been the son of Thomas Hungerford from Wiltshire. As a young boy, Anthony knew Sir John Danvers. This connection might mean he was the Anthony Hungerford who started studying at Queen's College, Oxford in 1632. At that time, he was seventeen years old.
In 1658, Anthony's wife, Chrisagon, asked Oliver Cromwell for help. Cromwell was the leader of England at the time. It is not known if she received any help.
