1649-04-01
According to a manuscript by Royalist, Captain Thomas Paulden, written not long after ( probably early April that year) Pontefract Castle’s final surrender in 1649: ‘ Of some 600 that wee entered into the Castle there came out betwixt six & seuenscore, & many of them sicke & lame hauing beene besieged almost 7 monneths..’
1619-10-11
A manuscript dated 11th October 1619 declared: ‘ Out of Queen Anne her Joynture. The King (James I) granted &c. and all o’r mann’r of Pontefract in the county of Yorke & other counties wheresoever that hon’r extendeth……..’ A jointure was an estate settled on a wife for the period during which she survived her husband, in lien of a dower. Anne had died in March of that year.
1649-03-07
A document dated 7th March 1649 by Major General Lambert was fastened to a stone and thrown over Pontefract Castle’s walls. Lambert was seeking the surrender of the castle under terms he considered reasonable and honourable. It stated: ‘ Gentlemen, Yo’r owne condicon is best knowne vnto you within. I conceive you cannot be ignorant how improbable it is you should have releife from without, which beinge seriously considered you cannot but as reasonable men judge how preiuditiall yf not destruction vnto yo’selves the wilfull and obstinate keepings of this Castle against all visible authority in the kingdome will be to the great oppression of the Country the dayly losse of Christian blood which doubtless will cry loud for Justice….upon surrender of the Castle, (some few p’sons not above sixe excepted) who have beene faithless to their former trust or guilty of other notorious and bloody crymes) I thought fit to vse those meanes to lett you know my intentions, and once more to make you an offer of faire termes which yf they shalbe by you neglected or refused you may both before god & man appears to be guiltye of yo’r owne destruction…’ Terms included: freedom to march away with their goods and possessions; not be pillaged or plundered; and ‘…That all others who shall oppose deliu’y therof shal be deliu’ed to mercy, and satisfye for all the blood which hath beene vnnecessarily spilt…’
1648-09-10
Royalist, Captain Thomas Paulden, noted that on 10th September 1648 : ‘…wee made a sally w’th 100 foote & 40 horse, the feote vpp to their Barricade & ye horse towards their horse guard. The foote…Kill’d some, tooke others & their 3 colours, & beate them vpp to the market place…..’
1648-09-09
Royalist, Captain Thomas Paulden, noted that on 9th September 1648 ‘ the Enemie marched quietly into the towne…the same day they brought downe some foote w’thin Carabin shott of the Castle & there made a Baricade, & planted 3 foote Colours & brought a horse guard vpon the south-west side of ye Castle, & placed them vpon Bag-hill.’ This dates the start of the castle’s third and final siege, three weeks after Crowell’s overwhelming victory at the Battle of Preston thereby releasing his time and energy and Parliamentary forces to ‘deal’ with the problem of Pontefract Castle.
1649-08-21
A letter from Cornet John Baynes (now kept in the British Museum) dated from York 21st August 1649 stated: ‘ Morris and Blackburn were near escaping last night; they had got over the Castle wall, but were taken ere they got over the moat. Tomorrow they are to be executed with about thirty other prisoners’. Albeit Morris’ execution actually took place on 23rd August there could have been a delay in the expectation of a reprieve or because Morris’ fellow escapee, Blackburn, broke his leg during the escape attempt.
1648-08-26
Historian, George Fox, noted that on 26th August 1648: ‘ ..the governor of … castle (Pontefract) agreed with the mayor and aldermen of the town about the corn, “that the castle should have a seventh part, and the townsmen to bring it near to the castle” and the governor imposed upon the town to quarter 1000 men, or pat for each four-pence per day. He was compelled to levy this heavy charge; for although the horse had been sent away on the 3rd July with sir Philip Monckton and other commanders into Lincolnshire, where they were routed by the forces of col. Rossiter, and had sustained a great loss; yet, such great numbers flocked to him, that he could not provide for them so well as he could when the horse attended him, as they assisted him greatly in procuring provisions and gathering contributions.’
1648-06-16
On 16th June 1648, Royalist Governor John Morris of Pontefract Castle, elected as such by the garrison’s soldiers, granted a safe escort to Mr Tennet (Ferrett), the minister to depart from the town, with Mr Charles Davison officiating in his place.
1648-06-04
On 4th or 5th June 1648, soon after Royalist John Morris had gained entry to Pontefract Castle (presaging its third and final siege), Parliamentarian forces plundered his house at East Hague, South Kirkby taking away goods and stock totalling over £1000 (£140,000+ in today’s money) as well as £1800 ((£250,000+) in bonds and bills.
1649-03-20
On 20th March 1649, Major General Lambert wrote to Parliament: ‘ Mr. SPEAKER
After a long and heard winter Seige against the Castle of Pontefract, with great difficulties to the Soldjo’s, and heavy burthens upon the poore Country, I have thought fit to agree for the Rendicon of the said Castle upon the Articles and tearmes inclosed…….I have likewise taken upon mee the boldnes to p’sent unto yow the humble desires of the Majo’, Aldermen and well affected Inhabitants of the Towne of Pontefract, who earnestly pray for the demolishing of that Castle……and that this Castle hath beene occacon of ruine to diverse Families in that Towne, besides the great losse and p’judice to the Country adjacent…..’