British Civil Wars, 1638-1651

War is defined as a contest between nations or states, carried on by force, either for defense, or for revenging insults and redressing wrongs, for the extension of commerce or acquisition of territory, or for obtaining and establishing the superiority and dominion of one over the other. [Webester : 1828]  Now "Civil War" is the above activity between people of the same state or city.  It was certainly the case for the people of England starting 1638. 

My genealogy tree climbing bought me to this period.  To sort through this social quagmire was necessary for me to get around a number of brick walls.  The following book was one of many that lead the way.

First published by Routledge in 1992, and written by Charles Carlton, it is basically a social history of the conflicts that were shared by the participants.  Primary sources were the foundation to this writing, and provides a solid description of the events involved by many of these days.  Colonel Thomas Lundsford had an influential role from the very beginning, and was to provide a connector to my own Jones family as they came to Virginia [1649 -1650] with essentially "the cloths on their backs".  A series of brick walls indeed.

An Apex

Religious, political, and economic differences continued to boil during the reign of the second Stuart, Charles I.  These disagreements came to an apex in what has come to be called the "English Civil War".  For my own Jones surname tree climbing, this period of English history was one of the hardest brick walls to show its face.  A number of issues had to be evaluated and sorted. Several references were helpful in getting through this difficult branch of my family tree, and the next several post will give these sources.  The first is:

A military history of England, Scotland, and Ireland it is.  Edited by John Kenyon and Jane Ohlmeyer [with nine other historians], and was published by Oxford University Press in 1998.  It gives a general overview of this conflict providing a needed "big picture" for those whose ancestors played a part.  The period covered is 1638 to 1660.  This arranges a context in which most of our families became involved.  For those with a military history bend, it is an excellent read.

A Plot

The struggle for the minds and hearts of individuals has been an activity since the beginning of time as we know it. [Present day included!]  Since Henry VIII separated the Church of England from the Papacy of Rome, this struggle continued as a major issue between the Catholics and Protestants of  the day.  During the reign of James I, a plot was designed to continue the struggle.

The Gunpowder Plot it has been named.  The book by Alan Haynes [cover shown above] is a comprehensive account of this exploit.  First published 1994 it gives a broad coverage of this topic.  My own Jones family was Catholic during this historical period, and were involved heart and soul in many of these struggles.  My many years of genealogical research involved exploring and trying to understand these issues as branches of my family tree were exposed.   The book shown above was very helpful.

Printed in Great Britain by WBC Limited, Bridgend, it is in both hard cover and paperback.  Struggling with my own brick walls, understanding this religious conflict helped get around a few.

Life Under The Stuarts

Historical context remains a foundation to those genealogist who are trying to climb out those tree branches.  Tudor tradition had established one historical corridor through which our ancestors walked.  The Stuart period resulted in multiple changes in the religious, political, social, and colonial mindsets. [Many of our ancestors crossed the great pond during this period.]  The following text discusses many of these developments.  Multiple authors present a series of topics such as "Poetry" [Chap. VIII], "Theatre" [ Chap. IX], and "Art" [Chap. XI] which is often not included in other texts covering this period.

The book was first published in 1950, by Falcon Educational Books, Ltd, London.  It has been published in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa.  Only 170 pages, it is a good overview of many aspects impacted during this transition period in our ancestors life time.

Drums and Trumpets

Unity and tolerance seem like good ideas.  However, from the first Stuart King (1603) to the death of a great granddaughter (1714) , this was certainly not the case.  The following book by Kirsty McLeod gives an overview of this turbulent time.  For my own Jones family tree climbing, exploring this period of conflict, became a necessary tool to break though a few of those brick walls. [Inigo Jones ended up being a member of the family tree!]

The first American edition was 1977, published by Seabury Press, NY.  It discusses the life in court, town, and country during the reign of "The House of Stuart".  Chapter topics include "Courtly Life", "Town Life", "The Growth of Puritanism", the "Civil War", "The Commonwealth",  and "Life After The Restoration".  It was in this period of conflict that many of my Jones family survived to pass down that Y-chromosome DNA.

Life in Stuart England...a transition period for many, and a difficult time for the genealogist to sort through the branches.  A helpful text it is.

Outside The Box

We often carry with us a group of boxes that contain our views of the world.  Historical boxes also exist that place time and life events into fixed spaces.  The making of history is frequently placed here.  The book by Michael Reed looks outside the box.

The way man [in this case Britons] has shaped and occupied the space around them between 1550 - 1700.  The period covered occupies a central role in the process of change that has affected our ancestors.  Taking pictures from an archaeologist point of view, the period is presented around the changes that took place.  Understanding this period will help many genealogist to break down a few of their brick walls.  The land and its people, check the pulse in this "The Age of Exuberance".

First published in 1986 by Routledge & Kegan Paul plc, London, it includes 74 plates in ten chapters.  Chapter 8 titled "Landscapes of the mind" is my favorite.  You will have to pick your own reaching outside the box.

A New Beginning

The Tudor era ended 1603 with the death of Elizabeth I.  A new beginning it was with the Stuarts.  The Welsh line of descent was replaced with a Scottish line of descent, and a new millennium was turning its page in history. 

A Scottish king [James VI] was to become an English king [James I].  This historical context is discussed in the book by David Harris Willson, my copy of the paperback shown above.  First published in 1956, it was republished as an Oxford University paperback in 1967.  It contains 22 chapters [only 464 pages] as it interweaves the story of transition during this new millennium.  Context, context, and more context is presented.  Religious, political, and social issues are at a new beginning.

For those whose ancestors first came to the colonies [Virginia and Plymouth Companies and all that] it was certainly a new beginning for them.  This book is a foundation.