Colonel Gerard Croker’s Regiment of Horse

Royalist regiment of horse serving with the Oxford army in 1644 and with Goring in 1645

• December: Arms issued to Croker's troop, Capt Hopton commissioned

• February: Powder, musket shot and match issued to Sachaverall's company of dragoons
• June: Quartered in the Hook Norton area
• summer: Quarters at Hornton beaten up by forces from Warwick

• April: Muster at Aldbourne Chase
• June: Battle of Tipton Green
• June: Battle of Cropredy Bridge
• August: Battle of Lostwithiel
• October: Second Battle of Newbury
• November: Relief of Donnington Castle

• July: Battle of Ilminster
• July: Battle of Langport

The regiment seems to have included a company of dragoons under Captain Sachaverall.

At Aldbourne Chase Symonds noted they carried two green cornets.

On 14th December 1642 Croker's troop was issued 33 sets of back-and-breast armour and helmets, 2 pairs of vambraces, 25 gorgetts and 13 pairs of holsters¹⁾.

Sachaverall's dragoon company was armed with matchlock muskets.

A Croker of Hook Norton. He was captured in 1644.

From original research by Victor Judge aka BCW user '1642'

• Colonel Gerard Croker
• Lieutenant Colonel Henry Harris (1) + ment. I.O.
• Sargeant Major Robert Kay (3)

• Captain Peter Flower Ment. I.O.
• Captain Edward Hopton (4)
• Captain Erasmus Sachaverall (2)

• Captain Lieutenant Robert Wharton (and Adjutant General) I.O. Oxon

• Cornet Thomas Hathaway I.O. L + W to Lt. Col. Harris

• Quartermaster Richard Digger I.O. Oxon. to Capt. Flower
• Quartermaster Richard Prescot I.O. Oxon.
• Quartermaster William Whitley I.O. L + W to Lt. Col. Harris

(1) WO55.1661. 4. June 1643 Rec into his Majesties stores of Lieftent Coll: Henry Harris which was taken by him upon his Majesties warrant from one Phillipp Clive late of Chipping Norton, Brasse kettles 1li 2sh 14d

Col. Gerard Croker had a bed from the same man.

(2) WO55.423.139 To John Heydon Knt. Leut. Generall of ye Trayne of Artillery These are to desire Sir John Heydon Knt. that in the absence of Leftennant Generall Wilmott, he will deliver unto Captaine Erasmus Sackeverall under Collonell Croker his Regiment of Dragooners a halfe a Barrell of powder, with a proportion of bullett and match thereunto for the use of the sd Captaines Companie and for your soe doeing this with his receopt for the same shalbe your warrant. Dated at Oxford the 21th of February 1642(3) Jacob Asteley

To ye officers and clerks of his Majesties Magazine at New College Deliver ye proportcion of Munition hereby required: Jo: Heydon

received out of his Majesties stores for the use of my owne Companye of Dragooners

• Powder di cwt
• Match di cwt
• Muskett Shott di cwt

Erasmus Sachaverall

All WO personally checked and not from the published book.

A Major Sachaverall was captured by Mytton in June 1644 near Oswestry, whether this is the same man I cannot so far discover.

(3) WO55.423.70/71 1.1642/3 Colonel Gerard Croker 100cwt Powder & Match Robert Kay, Major.

Kay is also mentioned Harley Mss. 6852 f.1 among a List of Commissions as Major to Col. Croker.

(4) Add. Mss.18980 f.20

A list of Commissions. Arthur Hopton Troop of Horse under Col. Gerard Croker 31st Dec. 1642.

• June 1643: Said to be 400 horse