William Blundell of Crosby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Blundell
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Arms: Sable, ten Billets, 4, 3, 2 and 1, Argent
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| Born | 15 July 1620/1625 |
| Died | 24 May 1698 |
| Spouse(s) |
Ann Haggerston
(m. 1640) |
| Issue | Nicholas Blundell |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Royalists |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | English Civil War |
William Blundell (born 15 July 1620 or 1625 – died 24 May 1698) was an English landowner and writer. He was also an officer in the Royalist army during the English Civil War. He was sometimes known as "William Blundell of Crosby" because he lived at Crosby Hall.
Contents
Who Was William Blundell?
William Blundell was born at Crosby Hall in Lancashire, England. His family, the Blundells, were an old and respected family of landowners. His parents were Nicholas Blundell and Jane Bradshaigh.
William's Early Life and Education
The Blundell family were Roman Catholics. At that time, Catholics faced difficulties in England. William likely went to a secret Catholic school in England. When he was about 15 years old, around 1640, he married Ann Haggerston. Ann was the daughter of Sir Thomas Haggerston.
William Blundell and the English Civil War
The English Civil War began in 1642. This was a big conflict between the King's supporters (Royalists) and Parliament's supporters. William Blundell chose to support the King.
Joining the Royalist Army
William became a captain in the Royalist army. He was given permission to gather a group of one hundred dragoons. Dragoons were soldiers who rode horses but fought on foot. He joined the Royalist march to Lancaster.
William's Injury and Hardships
During the war, William was seriously injured. His leg was shattered by a musket shot. After this, his life became very difficult. He faced many money problems until the war ended.
Financial Troubles After the War
In 1646, a law was passed that affected Catholics who supported the King. William's property was taken away by the government. It stayed under their control for about nine or ten years.
He eventually bought his property back for a large sum of money, 1,340 pounds. But his troubles were not over. He also had to pay old debts from his family's past. These debts went back to the time of Queen Elizabeth I. William had to pay another 1,167 pounds, 15 shillings, and 6½ pence. The bill for these old debts was very long, about twenty feet!
Life After the War
After the Civil War, William Blundell returned to Crosby Hall. He lived there until he died on 24 May 1698. He was 78 years old. He was buried in his family's chapel at St Helen's Church, Sefton. His son, Nicholas Blundell, inherited his estate. Nicholas later became a famous diarist.
William Blundell's Writings
William Blundell was also a writer and a topographer. A topographer studies and describes the features of a place. He wrote several works, though some were never widely published.
- A Short Treatise on the Penal Laws: This book was about laws that were unfair to Catholics. It was printed in London, but only a few copies exist.
- An Exact Chronographical and Historical Discovery of the hitherto unknown Isle of Man: This book described the Isle of Man. It included its history, kings, and traditions. It was later published by William Harrison.
- Manuscript Commonplace Books: These were notebooks where William wrote down his thoughts, stories, and observations. A selection of these notes was published in a book called Crosby Records, a Cavalier's Note Book.
Images for kids
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The coat of arms of the Blundell family.
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The flag of England.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
