Edward Rodes facts for kids

Sir Edward Rodes (born around 1600 – died 19 February 1666), also known as Edward Rhodes, was an important figure from Great Houghton, Yorkshire, England. He served as the top law enforcement officer in Yorkshire, called the High Sheriff of Yorkshire. He was also a colonel in the army under Oliver Cromwell, a powerful leader during the English Civil War. Sir Edward was part of Cromwell's special advisory group, the privy council. He also served as the sheriff of Perthshire in Scotland and represented Perth in Parliament from 1656 to 1660. His sister, Elizabeth, was the third wife of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford.

Sir Edward Rodes's Life

Even though Sir Edward Rodes was related to the Earl of Strafford (his sister was married to him), they had very different ideas about politics and religion. Sir Edward strongly supported the Long Parliament, which was a key part of the English government before the Civil War.

Early Troubles and the Civil War

Before the war started, there was an attempt to keep peace in Yorkshire with something called the Treaty of Neutrality. Sir Edward Rodes and his friends, the Hothams, helped stop this peace agreement. Sir Edward was very keen on the Parliament's side, partly because his home was attacked. In September 1643, a group of Royalists attacked his house at Great Houghton. They burned his outbuildings, stole about £600 worth of his belongings, treated his wife badly, and hurt some of his servants. One servant was even killed.

During the First English Civil War, Sir Edward was arrested by Parliament and sent to the Tower of London along with the Hothams. However, nothing could be proven against him, so he was set free. (The Hothams, Sir John Hotham and his son John, were later found guilty of treason and punished for trying to hand over a town called Hull to the Royalists).

Fighting for Parliament

During the Second English Civil War, Royalist forces took control of Pontefract Castle. They began to raid and capture important Parliament supporters nearby. To stop this, Sir Edward Rodes and Sir Henry Cholmley were asked to gather troops and move towards Pontefract Castle. Their orders were to surround the castle. If they didn't have enough soldiers for a full siege, they were to at least keep the Royalist soldiers inside the castle and protect the surrounding area. Sir Edward led the cavalry (soldiers on horseback). He was even ordered by Oliver Cromwell to chase after the Duke of Hamilton, who led the Royalist and Scottish armies after their defeat at the Battle of Preston.

Later, Cromwell himself took charge of the sieges of Scarborough and Pontefract castles. He sent more soldiers to Pontefract, bringing the total to five thousand men, including Sir Edward's cavalry. The siege of Pontefract Castle was very difficult. On October 31, a Parliamentarian officer named Colonel Thomas Rainsborough was killed by Royalists who came out of the castle. Cromwell then took direct command of the siege, completely surrounding the castle. When Cromwell had to leave, General Lambert took over. The Royalist soldiers finally gave up and surrendered the castle on March 24, 1649.

Life After the War

During the time when England was a republic (called the Interregnum), Sir Edward Rodes continued to serve the new government. He was the High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1650 and became a colonel of horse under Cromwell in 1654. He was also a member of Cromwell's special advisory group. Sir Edward spent a lot of time in Scotland during this period. He was the sheriff of Perthshire and represented Perth in Parliament from 1656 to 1660.

After the king returned to power in 1660 (the Restoration), Sir Edward was allowed to live peacefully at his home in Great Houghton. His house became a safe place for ministers who were forced out of their churches because they didn't follow the new rules of the Act of Uniformity 1662. Sir Edward Rodes was still living at Great Houghton when a famous historian, Sir William Dugdale, visited. Sir Edward died soon after this visit, on February 19, 1666.

Sir Edward Rodes's Family

Sir Edward Rodes came from an important family. His grandfather was Francis Rodes, who was a judge during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. Francis Rodes built a grand house called Barlborough Hall in 1583.

Sir Edward's father was Sir Godfrey Rodes of Great Houghton. Sir Godfrey was knighted in 1615. He had many children, including Sir Edward and his sister Elizabeth. Elizabeth became the third wife of Thomas Wentworth, the Earl of Strafford.

Edward Rodes married Mary (or Margaret) Whichcote in 1629. They had several children, but only one son, William, got married and had children. William had two sons, Godfrey and William. William Rodes, the younger, was the last male heir of this part of the family. He died in 1740 without marrying, and his two sisters inherited his property.

Cultural Influence

Sir Edward Rodes's house is mentioned in some old poems collected by Sir Walter Scott. It's not entirely clear if the poem is about a house the family owned in Scotland or about the attack on his house in Great Houghton in 1642. The poem describes a house on fire:

:The House of Rodes on the Hill.

The Gordon then his bugle blew.

And said, "awa, awa.

The house of Rhodes is all on fire,

I hold it time to g'a"