Christopher Fulwood facts for kids
Christopher Fulwood (born around 1590 – died 1643) was an important English supporter of the king during the English Civil War. People who supported the king were called Cavaliers.
Who Was Christopher Fulwood?
Christopher Fulwood was likely born in London around 1590. He was the oldest son of Sir George Fulwood. His family owned land in Middleton-by-Youlgrave, Derbyshire. His father was a lawyer. Christopher also studied law at Gray's Inn, which is a place where lawyers are trained.
Christopher Fulwood spent most of his time working as a lawyer in London. But he also lived at Middleton when he wasn't busy with his legal work. He was known as a very fair judge. For example, in 1640, he was the chairman at a court session. A local church leader was accused of having different religious views. Even though Fulwood strongly supported the king and the official church, he let the church leader go. He also told off the people who made the accusation.
Role in the English Civil War
Christopher Fulwood was very important to the king's side during the English Civil War. In 1642, he was asked to gather miners from Derbyshire to protect the king. The local leader of the county did not want to help. But Fulwood quickly gathered about 1,100 men. They met on Tideswell Moor.
His success worried the leaders of the Parliament's army in the area. The main enemy of the king in that region was Sir John Gell. Gell's men soon found a way to capture Fulwood at his home in Middleton.
Capture and Death
It is said that Fulwood received a warning that the enemy was coming. He hid himself in a crack in a rock near his house. This rock was in the Bradford valley, close to his home.
However, his pursuers saw him. They shot him, and he was badly wounded. He was being taken towards Lichfield, a town that Gell's army had captured. But Christopher Fulwood died on the way, in Calton, Staffordshire, on 16 November 1643. The rock where he hid is still shown to people in Middleton today.
After his death, his family lost their property by the end of 1644. Fulwood's two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, went to live with friends in London. The family home in Middleton started to be taken apart around 1720.
