Robert Porter (sword-cutler) facts for kids
Robert Porter lived a long time ago, from after 1603 until 1648. He was a special kind of craftsman in Birmingham. He made and sharpened swords! Robert was a strong supporter of the Parliamentary side during the English Civil War. This was a big fight between the King and Parliament.
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Who Was Robert Porter?
Robert Porter was the third son of Henry Porter. His mother was Anne, whose father was William Colmore. They lived in New Hall, Birmingham.
Making Swords for Parliament
When the English Civil War began, Robert owned a water mill. It was called Town Mill and was in Digbeth Street, Birmingham. This mill used water from a stream to power its machines. Robert changed Town Mill from a place that ground corn into a "blade mill." This meant it was used to make and sharpen sword blades.
Like his brother-in-law, Waldive Willington, Robert strongly supported Parliament. Because of this, he only supplied swords to the Parliamentary army.
Birmingham's Role in the War
In 1642, before the Battle of Edgehill, Birmingham helped the Parliamentary army. This was the first major battle of the Civil War. Birmingham provided about 15,000 sword blades. Many of these probably came from Robert Porter's mill.
After Prince Rupert briefly took over Birmingham, Porter's mill was targeted. This happened after the Battle of Camp Hill on April 3, 1643. People who supported the King burned down Porter's Mill. They did this to stop him from making more blades for Parliament.
Fighting for Parliament
Robert Porter did not just make blades; he also knew how to use them! He was a captain in the Parliamentary cavalry. Cavalry are soldiers who fight on horseback. He fought during the Battle of Camp Hill.
People believe Robert also wrote a letter that was published. This letter was part of a pamphlet that supported Parliament. It talked about Prince Rupert's actions in Birmingham. Later in the war, Robert was a treasurer. He managed money for the Parliamentary soldiers at Edgbaston Hall. He served under a commander known as "Tinker" Fox.
Robert Porter also helped with two important charities in Birmingham. These were Field's Charity and the Lench's Trust. He passed away in 1648.
Robert's Family and Legacy
Robert Porter's two sons, Josiah and Samuel, followed in his footsteps. They both continued to be "sword-cutlers," or "long-cutlers" as they were sometimes called. This meant they also made and sharpened swords. Samuel, who lived at New Hall, also tried to get involved in coal mines. However, this did not turn out well for him or his family.
