Tinker Fox facts for kids
Colonel John "Tinker" Fox (born 1610, died 1650) was a brave soldier who fought for Parliament during the English Civil War. He was in charge of a special army base at Edgbaston House in Warwickshire. This location was very important because it protected the main roads between Birmingham, which supported Parliament, and Worcestershire, which supported the King.
Fox often acted on his own, not always waiting for orders from the main Parliament leaders. Some people in Parliament didn't quite trust him because of this. However, newspapers that supported Parliament praised him for always being active and moving. On the other hand, people who supported the King called him a "low-born tinker" and said his soldiers "rob and pillage." By 1649, Fox was so well-known that many people wrongly believed he was one of the people who executed King Charles I.
Life as a Soldier
John Fox was born in Walsall, Staffordshire, and was baptised on April 1, 1610. He also got married in the same church in 1634. He likely worked with metals in nearby Birmingham. This is probably why he was called a "tinker," which was a common nickname for someone who repaired metal pots and pans.
- Starting as a Captain
In February 1643, Fox became a captain in the cavalry, which were soldiers who fought on horseback. He served under Lord Brooke, who was a leader for Parliament.
- Taking Over Edgbaston Hall
By October 1643, Fox had gathered his own group of soldiers. They took over Edgbaston Hall, which was a large house near Birmingham. Birmingham was a strong supporter of Parliament, and its metal industries helped Fox find many new soldiers.
- Becoming a Colonel
In March 1644, the Earl of Denbigh made Fox a colonel. This meant Fox was now in charge of his own group of soldiers at Edgbaston. By June 1644, his group had 256 soldiers. These included cavalry (horseback soldiers), dragoons (soldiers who rode horses but fought on foot), and scouts (who gathered information). By July, his group was split into three smaller teams. Fox led one, his brother Reighnold led another, and his brother-in-law Humphrey Tudman led the third.
- The "Tinker" Nickname
The King's newspaper, Mercurius Aulicus, tried to make fun of Fox because of his background. They wrote that "one Fox, a tinker of Walsall... got a horse and his hammer for a poleaxe." They said he gathered 16 men and marched to Edgbaston House. The newspaper claimed his small group grew to 200 soldiers who "rob and pillage very sufficiently."
- Active Raids and Patrols
Fox's soldiers were very busy. They probably helped attack Aston Hall on December 28, 1643. This attack removed the main base for the King's forces in the Birmingham area. Fox's troops also regularly patrolled local roads. They would stop merchants who were trying to sell goods to areas that supported the King.
- Capturing Stourton Castle
On March 22, 1644, Fox's brother led a raid and captured Stourton Castle. However, the King's soldiers quickly surrounded the castle. Fox tried to send help, but his soldiers were stopped and defeated by Sir Gilbert Gerard, who was the Governor of Worcester. Without any hope of help, the Parliament soldiers at Stourton Castle had to give up.
- A Daring Raid
Even after this setback, Fox didn't give up. On May 3, 1644, about sixty of his soldiers made a daring raid on the King's base at Bewdley. They captured forty prisoners, including Sir Thomas Lyttelton, who was the King's governor there. One historian said this event "reads far more like an incident out of 'The Three Musketeers'."
- Gathering Information
Fox also had a very good spy network. His spies often gave important information to the Earl of Denbigh. For example, they knew that Prince Rupert of the Rhine would meet his forces at Bloxwich and then move to Newark on March 18, 1644. They even knew where the King himself was on July 8. In December 1644, Fox raided Dudley just hours after the King's soldiers had left.
- Financial Struggles
While he was at Edgbaston, Fox often didn't have enough money to feed and pay his soldiers. He was accused of having soldiers who were not well-behaved and of misusing money. However, it's not surprising given how little money he received from the Warwick County Committee. He died in 1650 and was in a lot of debt.
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