User:Peridon/Colonel Sir John Owen

Colonel Sir John Owen (1600 – 1666) was a Welsh supporter of Charles I and a Royalist commander during the English Civil War. Sir John Owen of Clenennau. Major General and vice admiral of North Wales, High Sheriff of Caernarvonshire. Believed to have been commissioned a Captain in Colonel Endymion Porters foot of the 1642 Irish expedition. Ordered by Charles I in September 1642 to raise a regiment of foot in Caernarvonshire, intended to be the lifeguard for the Prince of Wales. Was at Hereford by Christmas 1642 and helped to capture Cirencester on his way to the King. He is said to have taken part in “seven battles, nine sieges and thirty-two actions”. Was at Culham Camp with regiment in May 1643. He distinguished himself in assault on Bristol, but was seriously wounded in neck and face. He saw the attempt to relieve Gloucester and was at the First Battle of Newbury. In 1644 was made deputy governor of Reading and subsequently knighted at Oxford, 17th December 1644 Was made major general by Prince Maurice in February 1645, and marched Caernarvonshire troops to drive Roundheads out of Denbighshire who were operating near Wrexham. On his return, he turned Archbishop Williams out of Conway on 9th May 1645 His field regiment at Naseby was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Roger Burgess. A second regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Hookes operated in Merioneth. Owen was active in sending supplies to beleaguered Chester. And co-operated with Byron during the siege. Conway town was captured 9th August 1646, but Owen defied General Mytton besieging and held Conwy castle until 18th November 1646. He headed a revolt in 1648 but was captured at Y Dalar Hir, near Bangor and was imprisoned in Denbigh Castle. After a failed rescue attempt in July 1648 he was removed to Windsor. He was tried in court with Hamilton, Lord Capel, Holland and Goring, and condemned to be executed but reprieved. He was put upon his trial with the Duke of Hamilton, the Earl of Holland, and the Earls of Goring and Capel, and in reply to his judges said "he was a plain gentleman of Wales, who had been always taught to obey the King; that he had served him honestly during the war; and finding many honest men endeavoured to raise forces whereby he might get him out of prison, he did the like." Eventually he was condemned to lose his head, for which, with humorous intrepidity, he bowed to the court, and gave his humble thanks, One of the bystanders asking him what He meant, he replied aloud that “ it was a great honour to a poor gentleman of Wales to lose his head with such noble lords ; for he was afraid they would have hanged him. Imprisoned in Chester 1651 and again in 1655. He was also captured in Booths Cheshire uprising in 1659. Married Janet of Griffith Vaughan of Gorsygedol, Merioneth. Buried in Penmorfa Church.

Category:Cavaliers Category:1600 births Category:1666 deaths