Table of Contents

Bristol Trained Bands

The Bristol Trained Bands of 1638 consisted of 300 men armed with 210 muskets and 90 corslets (body armour, signifying pikemen). They mustered no cavalry.

Between 1658 and 1660 Robert Aldworth was colonel of Bristol militia.

Bristol Trained Band Regiment of Foot

Active1639 to 1645
CountryEngland
AllegianceParliamentarian
Royalist
ConflictsFirst Civil War
TypeFoot
ColonelAndrew Charleton
Thomas Colston
John Taylor
Area RaisedBristol
Coat Colour
Flag ColourWhite
Flag DesignMotto & Hearts
Field Armies

Trained Band Regiment of Foot of Bristol, initially under Parliamentarian control, then supporting the Royalists

Service History

1639

1640

1643

1644

1645

Notes

The Bristol volunteers consisted of around 1000 townsmen hastily raised to defend the city in July 1643. After the storm of Bristol by Prince Rupert and Lord Hopton they likely disbanded.

By 1645 the Royalists had two regiments of Trained Bands in garrison at Bristol, under colonels Colston and Taylor.

Coats, Flags and Equipment

The drummers and fifers of the Bristol Trained Band were equipped by the City 1), but no colours were recorded: “17th October 1642 £22/6/6 was paid for 16 suits of cloth with triming and smoking for the drummers and fifers” 2)

On July 25th 1645 Symonds noted that Colonel Taylor's Regiment carried six white flags each with the motto 'Pro Deo & Rege' and distinguished by different numbers of red heart devices 3). Needless to say this design was probably not carried when they were Parliamentarian.

Notable Officers

Colonel Andrew Charleton

Charleton was noted as Colonel in April 1643, he led the Trained Band under the Parliamentarians and died in November 1643. He was previously Sheriff, then Mayor of Bristol.

Colonel Thomas Colston

Royalist Sheriff of Bristol.

Colonel John Taylor

Killed during Fairfax's storm of Bristol in September 1645.

Strength

See Also

1) Stuart Peachy ECW N&Q Issue 2 p10
2) quoted, but not attributed in Peachey and Turton War In The West: The Fall of the West Vol 7 p749
3) ECW Flags and Colours 1: English Foot, Stuart Peachey & Les Prince 1990, Partizan Press ISBN:0946525846