Table of Contents

Colonel Christopher Copley’s Regiment of Horse

Active1643-6
CountryEngland
AllegianceParliamentarian
ConflictsFirst Civil War
TypeHorse
ColonelChristopher Copley
Area RaisedYorkshire
Flag Colour
Flag Design
Field ArmiesFairfax 1643-5

Parliamentarian regiment of horse serving with Lord Fairfax’s army of the Northern Association

Service History

1643

1644

1645

Notes

In 1645 Copley appears to have taken over Sir Thomas Fairfax's Regiment of horse, any clarification gratefully received!

It appears to have been the case in a number of regional armies that 1645 saw a reduction in the number of regiments either through disbanding or merger. This was partly as a result of the self-denying-ordinance removing Colonels and partly as a means of saving money. Sometimes it is, rather confusingly, described as new-modeling

Flags

Notable Officers

Colonel Christopher Copley

Officer list

(The heading to this pay claim only mentions service under Col. Copley and the claim for pay as Major specifies it was under Copley. But the claim for pay as Captain appears to say “as Captaine of a Troope of Horse in my owne Regiment (the phrase in italics is damaged by damp). However there is no evidence in the document as to whom this refers as the claim is supposedly being made by Gill. (Sorry read it as “in ye said” before enhancing the photo) In context it could be refering to Fairfax's regt. Ivor Carr)

Strength

Initially a single troop, later expanded to a regiment. Copley raised a troop early in 1643, and on 8th August 1643 was transferred to Fairfax's Horse as Major to the regiment. He took with him most of his existing troop. He was given his own regiment of horse on 1st April 1644. Gill's Troop was 63 strong after the Battle of Namptwich.

See Also