Sir William Brockman

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Portrait of Sir William Brockman (Courtesy of Hugh Drake-Brockman, UK)

Sir William Brockman (1595 – 1654) was an English military leader, politician, and land owner, and a notable combatant in the English civil war, wherein he fought against Cromwell.

[edit] Prominence in Kent and Conflict with Cromwell

William earned a degree at Oxford University. He was knighted by Charles I in 1632 and will hereafter be called Sir William. In 1643 he was made sheriff of Kent. In 1653 Cromwell came to power. Sir William was heavily fined for defending Maidstone and Leeds of Kent against Cromwell forces.

[edit] Defence of the Town of Maidstone Against Fairfax

Sir William Brockman was a royalist adherent of King Charles I who was noted for a courageous defence of the town of Maidstone against superior forces lead by Fairfax in 1648. He was appointed Sheriff by the King but following the conflict was superseded in his office by the parliament which replaced him with Sir John Honeywood. Fairfax's elite division marched on Maidstone, which was at the time garrisoned by ~1,000 royalist horse and foot under the command of Sir John Mayney. The republican general passed the river at Farleigh Bridge and attacked the town with a corps of ~10,000 men. The assault began at about seven o'clock in the evening. The fighting intensified and spread into every street, which, with the houses, were lined by the royalists, whose strength had been augmented by Sir William, who had brought in a reinforcement of 800 men during the preliminary skirmishing. The resistance of the townsmen was determined, and Fairfax had to literally contend for every inch of the ground; and the conflict endured to midnight. Around midnight, the outnumbered royalists were driven into a churchyard where they took shelter and continued to resist with unabated vigour. They were eventually forced to surrender upon conditions securing their personal safety.

In somewhat flowery prose the 1836 edition of Burke's Commoners closes: "Few actions displayed more of that chivalric courage and devoted resolve which characterised the adherents of the King during the civil wars than this. Lord Clarendon terms it a sharp encounter very bravely fought with the general's whole strength."

[edit] Letter Regarding Battle at Maidstone by Fairfax

House of Lords Journal Volume 10 3 June 1648

Letter from L. Fairfax, with an Account of the Victory over the Kentish Forces at Maidstone. "To the Right Honourable the Earl of Manchester, Speaker of the House of Lord, pro Tempore, at Westm'r.

My Lord,

It having pleased God to give us a Victory against those who without and against the Authority of Parliament raised an Army, I held it my Duty to give your Lordship an Account thereof (in brief), Time not permitting me at present to give the Particulars at large. The Engagement with them began the last Night, about Seven of the Clock, near Maydstone, and

Brockman Arms of William's father Henry 1606, presumed to be similar or the same as Sir William's

Sketch of Brockman Arms with Glydd, these are the arms of Sir William's grandson (also William) who married Anne Glydd

Beachborough, Kent, UK: Purchased by Sir William's Great-Grandfather Father Henry Brockman ca. 1500, says "William Brockman" at top, color arms thought to be Sir William's

continued a very fierce and hot Dispute until after Twelve, before we could be Masters of the Town: The Enemy, by reason of the continued Supplies which they received from their Forces by the Passage over Alesford, were enabled to dispute every Street and Passage. The choicest of their Forces (as we understand) were appointed for this Service; and the Lord Gowring commanded them as General. There was about Two Hundred of the Enemy slain, many wounded, about Nine Hundred Prisoners, Four Hundred Horse, and Eight Pieces of Cannon, and great Store of Arms and Ammunition taken. Sir William Brockman and others of the Gentlemen are Prisoners. As God hath been pleased in Mercy to give you this Victory, so I desire that we may return all Thankfulness unto Him for it. I shall (as God shall enable me) improve this Advantage; and remain

Maidstone, 3 June, 1648. Your Lordship's Humble Servant, T. Fairefax

[edit] Family Life

Sir William was born in 1595 in Kent, England, possibly at Newington. His parents were Henry Brockman and Helen Sawking. Henry, the father has a tablet at Newington church. The Brockman family has a long history in Kent and had a number of properties in Kent at that time. William's great grandfather Henry Brockman bought Newington Manor, Cheriton Manor and Beachborough Manor. Sir William married Anne, only daughter and heiress of Simon Bunce, Esqre., of Linstead and had issue one son, James, his heir, and four daughters. As one of very few notable and documented Kentish Englishmen from his era, Sir William is of some interest to descendants of his relatives that now live in the US and Australia today. For example, it appears that in the aftermath of the civil war his second cousin, Henry Brockman fled the country to Aruba and eventually to the American colonies, thus founding the English branch of the Brockman family in the United States. Later, descendants through the maternal Drake-Brockman line emigrated to Australia, several of whom were notable for their military and civic leadership.

Sir William died on 6 December 1654. James the second son, inherited the estate as the first son died in infancy.

[edit] References

• 1836 edition of Burke's "Commoners" (Account of Sir William's Defence of Maidstone)
• Burke’s "Landed Gentry" Burke's peerage Ltd; Jubilee edition, Mr. Bernard Burke, Mr. Gordon Pirrie (Author/Compiler)
• Hasted's History of Kent,: Corrected, enlarged, and continued to the present time, from the manuscript collection of the late Rev. Thomas Streatfeild and ... the public records, and other sources, ASIN: B000874L4G
• Harris's History of Kent.
• The history and antiquities of the county of Essex,: Compiled from the best and most ancient historians; Philip Morant, Reprinted and sold by Meggy and Chalk (January 1, 1816), ISBN 0-7158-1301-3, Another republishing, 1978.
• The Brockman Papers, (Records in the British Museum).
• The Brockman scrapbook;: Bell, Bledsoe, Brockman, Burrus, Dickson, James, Pedan, Putman, Sims, Tatum, Woolfolk, and related families (Unknown Binding) by William Everett Brockman, ASIN: B0007E8Y48 (Out of Print), this information provided courtesy of Paul Brockman (Virginia)
• Record of the Brockman and Drake-Brockman family (Privately Published) by BRIG.-GEN David Henry Drake-Brockman C.M.G. 1936 provided courtesy of Hugh-Drake Brockman (UK), ASIN: B00089U71U (Out of Print)
• Brockman & Drake-Brockman Family Tree : the Australian Branch 1830-1993. (Menora, WA : Alan Jackson, 1993) ISBN 0-646-18200-5
• Orange County Virginia families: Volume III (Unknown Binding) by William Everett Brockman, Publisher: W.E. Brockman (January 1, 1959), English, ASIN: B0007G5G0Q
• Proceedings of the House of Lords

[edit] External links

• Maidstone Museum

[edit] Estate Succession