The Timeline can also be viewed via the Clubmen Maps page. Click Clubmen 1645 map image above.
1. DECEMBER 1644/JANUARY 1645 BISHOP’S CASTLE SHROPSHIRE
Shropshire, Clubmen risings, mentioned in reports from December of 1644-January1645. Bishop's Castle, Clun, Purslow and areas surrounding had seen Clubmen in numbers of 1200.
2. February 1645, GODMANSTONE, DORSET
Godmanstone, Dorset. A clash between General Goring’s troops and the Clubmen in February of 1645.
3. WORCESTERSHIRE 5TH MARCH 1645 WOODBURY HILL PETITION.
A Declaration and Resolution document of March 5th 1645 read out on Woodbury Hill was presented by a Mr Charles Nott, ( Knott ) a parson of Shelsley to a gathering of a 1000 -2000 Clubmen.
4. SHERBORNE. MARCH 1645 MEETING, CLUBMEN, LEWIS DIVES. SHERBORNE.
March of 1645. Sir Lewis Dives (Royalist commander Dorset) trying to quell the Clubmen anger made promise to put an end to the Royalist plunder.
5. HEREFORD. MARCH 19TH 1645. DEMANDS MADE, CLUBMEN
Demands of 12,000 Clubmen in March 19th 1645 put to the Royalist governor of Hereford, Sir Barnabas Scudamore.
6. LEDBURY 29TH MARCH. 1645. CLUBMEN. PRINCE RUPERT.
2000 Clubmen gathered in Ledbury. Royalist Prince Rupert arrived on the scene and on the 29th March the Clubmen were set upon.
7. AREA OF, FOREST OF DEAN APRIL 12TH 1645. A REPORT OF PLUNDER.
They have plundered much about Mansil-hope, Ruardean, Staunton, and the adjacent parts about the Forrest of Deane, and have murdered divers men, women and children - particularly at Longhope, they took away some Gentlemen's children & the like at other townes, & carried them away either to be redeemed by their parents or starve; for some of those children have died under their hands.'
(Perfect Occurrences April 12th. 1645)The 16th Week Tuesday, April 11, 1645.
8. MONMOUTH. APRIL 1645. PRESSING OF MEN.
Prince Rupert and Maurice on the 4th April 1645 with an aim to press men into the Royalist cause "reducing this county for its just obedience to his Majesty”.
8 April 1645, the County Committee reported 'great oppressions, cruel plunders and continual marches and inroads of the enemy lying near and heavy upon us on every side; our county was so extremely exhausted and miserably destroyed that it was even ready to give up the ghost'.
9 WINDSOR NEW MODEL ARMY 30TH APRIL 1645
On Wednesday the 30th of April 1645, Fairfax and the New Model Army marched from Windsor to Reading with aims for the relief of the siege on Taunton Somerset. A rendezvous with Cromwell in Newbury was on route.
10. NEWBURY. THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEW MODEL ARMY. MAY 2ND 1645
The New Model Army arrive in Newbury on May 2nd, 1645. Joined by Cromwell.
11. ANDOVER MAY 4TH 1645 FAIRFAX ARRIVES WITH THE NMA.
From Newbery Fairfax and the New Model Army march to Andover. From here the NMA march to Salisbury arriving on May 5th 1645.
12. SALISBURY FAIRFAX AND THE NMA ARRIVE ON THE 5TH MAY 1645
Fairfax and the NMA arrive in Salisbury on the 5th of May 1645 after marching from Andover. Then head for Sixpenny Handley on the 6th May 1645
13. SIXPENNY HANDLEY MAY 6TH 1645. THE ARRIVAL OF THE NMA
14. BLANDFORD 7th MAY 1645. FAIRFAX AND THE NMA ARRIVE.
On the 7th May 1645 Fairfax with the NMA arrives in Blandford. From here a brigade of four Foot Regiments were sent to the relief of Taunton,
15. WITCHAMPTON 8TH MAY 1645. FAIRFAX AND THE NMA ARRIVE.
Marching from Blandford and with some Royalist reports on route to Dorchester turning at Puddletown, the NMA arrive in Witchampton on the 8th of May.
16. FAIRFAX AND THE NMA WERE IN ROMSEY BY THE 11TH OF MAY 1645.
17. BADBURY RINGS MAY 1645. CLUBMEN RENDEZVOUS.
After agreement at a place called Gorehedge-Corner the Desires and Resolutions of the inhabitants of Wiltshire and Dorset was put to paper as a declaration. This was read out by a Thomas Young to a gathering of 4000 at Badbury Rings.
18. BUXBURY HILL 26TH MAY 1645. CLUBMEN RENDEZVOUS.
The Hillside of Buxbury ( Buxbury round barrow, Buxbury Hill ) saw a second meeting of Clubmen after the Badbury Rings gathering. By nine o'clock 26th May 1645 a warrant of the Wiltshire Clubmen called on the inhabitants of Dinton village to gather on Buxbury Hill.
19. CASTLE CARY 2ND JUNE 1645. CLUBMEN RENDEZVOUS.
The Clubmen in numbers reported up to 5000 gathered near Castle Cary with petition to the Prince of Wales "Denouncing the intolerable oppression, rappine, and violence of Goring's troops".
20. STURMINSTER NEWTON CASTLE JUNE 29th 1645.
Massie's men and the Parliamentarian troops quartered at Sturminster Newton Castle. A bloody meeting with the Clubmen was to be had on June 29th, 1645.
21. AMESBURY 30TH JUNE 1645. FAIRFAX.
General Fairfax and army on the 30th June were in Amesbury in Wiltshire. Fairfax himself was staying in what is now The George Hotel.
22. CATTLE HILL 30TH JUNE 1645 CLUBMEN PETITION.
The Clubmen rendezvous on Cattle Hill on the 30th June 1645 ' Mr Humphrey Willis a leader of The Clubmen speaks. A declaration is finalised. This is presented to both King and Parliament.
23. SALISBURY 1ST-2ND JULY 1645. DALES DEPOSITION. CLUBMEN.
Marching from Broad Chalke near Salisbury the New Model Army while on route encounter a Mr Christopher Dale. Following this Dale is captured where after he writes a deposition describing his joining of The Clubmen.
24. DORCHESTER JULY 1645. MEETING WITH FAIRFAX DORCHESTER.
A meeting with a party of Clubmen in Dorchester was held with Fairfax on July 3rd, 1645. Seeking warrant and allowing them passage to King and Parliament with petition.
25. BLANDFORD 2ND JULY 1645 LETTER, FAIRFAX ON THE CLUBMEN.
Reaching Blandford in Dorset on the 2nd of July we see Fairfax writing a letter on the 3rd informing Parliament with a description of The Clubmen.
26. WEST LAVINGTON. SIR JOHN DANVERS. PAN AND PESTLE.3RD JULY 1645. CLUBMEN.
On hearing the clanging of a pan and pestle, the villagers took to ring the market bell. With the market bell ringing now, other towns and villages in the area took to ringing their church and market bells, which caused a summoning of a vast number of Clubmen to gather.
27. BEAMINSTER 5TH JULY 1645. NEW MODEL ARMY QUARTERED.
Fairfax and The New Model Army by the night of the 5th of July had marched to Beaminister and were quartered on the top of a hill over the town with a few in Beaminister.
28. CREWKERNE 5TH JULY 1645. FAIRFAX AND THE NEW MODEL ARMY.
The 5th-6th of July 1645 The Clubmen take 100 of Goring's men and draughts (Horses) and Fairfax is in Crewkerne Somerset. Parliament debates the Somerset Clubmen petitions.
29. RAGLAND CASTLE JULY 8TH 1645.
King Charles was at Raglan Castle on the 3rd July where later on the 8th of July he would meet with a delegation of Clubmen from Dorset with another petition.
30. LANGPORT 10TH JULY 1645 THOMAS HAWLES.
An exchange with Clubmen Thomas Hawles and Fairfax before the Battle of Langport saw Fairfax seeking Hawles to be restrained.
31. KNOWLE HILL JULY 11TH 1645 CLUBMEN MEET FAIRFAX.
On July 11th, 1645, and being informed of a gathering of Clubmen with banners and aprons of white being seen on Knoll Hill, he (Fairfax) with officers and Lieutenant General (Cromwell) went out to meet and talk with The Clubmen.
32. LYME REGIS EARLY JULY 1645. CLUBMEN.
Early July 1645, The Clubmen assembling, they were approached by the Governor of Lyme who "put those in a condition to receive the worst of answers" where upon they "rudely tore his papers and increased their sedition's"
33. MERE BEACON. CLUBMEN RENDEZVOUS 25TH JULY 1645.
Meere Beacon (Mere Beacon) at Mere in Wiltshire. Scene of Clubmen gathering, 25th July 1645. A reference to Thomas Young at Beacon Hill is stated in the account.
(July 29th 1645 we see in South Wales a body in mass called The Peaceable Army. Are these to be called Clubmen or an independent body of a different sort is open to question. There are similarities in the actions, as being organised gatherings with demands, as with the Clubmen)
34. SHAFTESBURY AUGUST 2ND-3RD. RENDEZVOUS AT CASTLE HILL SHAFTESBURY.
On the 2nd-3rd August 1645 Fairfax was quartered at Sherborne with the New Model Army. Knowing of a planned meeting of Clubmen in Shaftsbury, Colonel Charles Fleetwood sent with a thousand horse to quash.
35. DUNCLIFFE AUGUST 4TH 1645 CLUBMEN RENDEZVOUS.
Duncliffe Hill a heavily wooded area near the town. Seeing colours (flags) flying from the top of the hill Cromwell sent a Lieutenant with a small party to see the meaning of the flying colours and to "aquaint the holders of,
36. HAMBLEDON HILL, AUGUST 4TH 1645. BATTLE OF HAMBLEDON HILL
On Hambledon Hill a large-iron age earth Fort a gathering of 2-4000 Clubmen were preparing to march upon Sherborne to free the leaders captured in Shaftesbury under General Fairfax's authority
37. SHROTON, AUGUST 4TH 1645.CAPTURED HELD AT ST MARY'S CHURCH SHROTON.
Cromwell's dragoons defeated a standby the Clubmen on August 4th, 1645. See Hambledon Hill Dorset, location. Those captured held in St Mary’s church Shroton.
Clubmen? We have a peaceable meeting on the 12th August 1645 on Compton Down near Ilsley Berkshire, where a declaration is worded and put forward to the Committe of Berkshire. This declaration has in common with many Clubmen declarations in their desires. It has a specific demand for the release of the imprisoned John Hamilton of Tilehurst, the High Constable of the Hundred of Reading.
38. RUNCTON DOWN 17TH SEPTEMBER 1645. CLUBMEN RENDEZVOUS.
Six hundred Clubmen met on Runcton HIill (down) on the 17th September 1645 with a further meeting planned on Bury Hill next day.
39. THE TRUNDLE 18TH SEPTEMBER 1645 CLUBMEN RENDEZVOUS.
A Mr Cawley and the Sussex Committee reported up to a 1000 Clubmen had met at Rowkeshill, Roche Hill (The Trundle).
40. WALBERTON 21ST SEPTEMBER 1645. CLUBMEN, BELL RINGER.
Major Young set on their quarters in Walberton, killing who went to warn by bell ringing. With the warning quashed most fled.
41. LOMERS ASH. SEPTEMBER 1645
Colonel Norton when coming upon the Clubmen gathered at Lomers Ash on September 1645 and ordering them to go home they chose to retaliate
42. BAMPTON 29TH SEPTEMBER 1645. GORING, CLUBMEN, PLUNDER.
Royalist forces under the command of General Goring break through Massey's troops on the outskirts of the town and enter Bampton by Stoney Lane. With Goring's troops now in the town some Clubmen made for the church as defense position but were soon routed, others escaped.
43. GOLDSMITHS HALL 4TH MARCH 1646. ORDERED THAT ALL SUCH CLUBMEN.
The Lords concurrence to be desired herein. Ordered that all such Clubmen as have come to Goldsmiths Hall, to be compound for their delinquency, shall be used in the like manner as other delinquents that have been in arms.