John Dove
Encyclopedia
John Dove was a parliamentary
politician during the English Civil War
and Interregnum
. He has sometimes been numbered amongst the regicides; however, although he sat as a Commissioner in the trial
of Charles I
at the Painted Chamber
of the Palace of Westminster
on the 12th, 13th, 19th, and 26th of January (the last being the day that the sentence was agreed), Dove took no other part in the trial of Charles, did not sign the death warrant, and he was not punished at the Restoration
.
Little is known about Dove's background, although his father, Henry, had been mayor of Salisbury
, Wiltshire
in 1616. John was also active in local politics, serving as mayor of the city in 1635. He and his brother Francis (mayor of Salisbury in 1645 and 1650) were zealous parliamentarians, serving on a number of county committees from 1644, and he was elected to the Long Parliament
for Salisbury in 1645 in the place of an ejected Royalist. He was made a colonel of the Wiltshire militia in 1650 and was commended in August 1651 by the Council of State
for his zeal.
Dove's influence within the county and at Westminster enabled him to acquire a considerable fortune, with which he was able to purchase sequestered royalist and episcopal estates at Fountell in Hampshire, Blewbury
in Berkshire, and Winterbourne Earls
in Wiltshire. In 1655, whilst serving as High Sheriff of Wiltshire
, he was captured at Salisbury during the Penruddock uprising
, narrowly escaping being hanged thanks to the intervention of some of the rebels. This clemency did not prevent Dove from having John Lucas, one of his saviours, executed. Another rebel, Hugh Grove, who was executed at Exeter
, accused Dove of having given false witness against him. Grove's estate at Chisenbury Priory, near Enford
, had been sequestered in 1650 and granted to Dove.
On 29 March 1655, Dove wrote to Secretary Thurloe
that he had heard there was to be a commission of oyer and terminer
for the trial of "rebels" (Royalists captured during and after the Penruddock uprising) in the west of England. He promised that there should be no juror chosen for either jury who could not be depended upon to be well disposed to the government of the day and recommended Thurloe to proceed capitally against the "chief actors that were commissionated, as they said, by Charles Stuart
".
Dove was removed from the Salisbury corporation under its new charter of 1656, but was restored in 1659, when he also resumed his seat in the Rump Parliament
. At the Restoration he made an abject submission and escaped punishment. He continued to act as an alderman in Salisbury until 1662, when he was removed by the Corporation Act. He retired to his estate at Ivy Church, near Alderbury
, where he died some time before March 1665.
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
politician during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
and Interregnum
English Interregnum
The English Interregnum was the period of parliamentary and military rule by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell under the Commonwealth of England after the English Civil War...
. He has sometimes been numbered amongst the regicides; however, although he sat as a Commissioner in the trial
High Court of Justice for the trial of Charles I
The High Court of Justice is the name given to the court established by the Rump Parliament to try King Charles I of England. This was an ad hoc tribunal created specifically for the purpose of trying the king, although the same name was used again for subsequent courts.Neither the involvement of...
of Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
at the Painted Chamber
Painted Chamber
The Painted Chamber was part of the original Palace of Westminster. It was destroyed by fire in 1834.Because it was originally a royal residence, the Palace did not include any purpose-built chambers for the two Houses. Important state ceremonies, including the State Opening of Parliament, were...
of the Palace of Westminster
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
on the 12th, 13th, 19th, and 26th of January (the last being the day that the sentence was agreed), Dove took no other part in the trial of Charles, did not sign the death warrant, and he was not punished at the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
.
Little is known about Dove's background, although his father, Henry, had been mayor of Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
in 1616. John was also active in local politics, serving as mayor of the city in 1635. He and his brother Francis (mayor of Salisbury in 1645 and 1650) were zealous parliamentarians, serving on a number of county committees from 1644, and he was elected to the Long Parliament
Long Parliament
The Long Parliament was made on 3 November 1640, following the Bishops' Wars. It received its name from the fact that through an Act of Parliament, it could only be dissolved with the agreement of the members, and those members did not agree to its dissolution until after the English Civil War and...
for Salisbury in 1645 in the place of an ejected Royalist. He was made a colonel of the Wiltshire militia in 1650 and was commended in August 1651 by the Council of State
English Council of State
The English Council of State, later also known as the Protector's Privy Council, was first appointed by the Rump Parliament on 14 February 1649 after the execution of King Charles I....
for his zeal.
Dove's influence within the county and at Westminster enabled him to acquire a considerable fortune, with which he was able to purchase sequestered royalist and episcopal estates at Fountell in Hampshire, Blewbury
Blewbury
Blewbury is a village and civil parish at the foot of the Berkshire Downs about south of Didcot. It was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire.-Prehistory:...
in Berkshire, and Winterbourne Earls
Winterbourne Earls
Winterbourne Earls is a village in Wiltshire, England, near Salisbury. It adjoins Winterbourne Dauntsey.-Facilities:*The anglican parish church is dedicated to St Michael and All Angels.*There is a primary school for boys and girls up to the age of 11....
in Wiltshire. In 1655, whilst serving as High Sheriff of Wiltshire
High Sheriff of Wiltshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Wiltshire.Until the 14th century the shrievalty was held ex officio by the castellans of Old Sarum.-To 1400:*1066: Edric*1067-1070: Philippe de Buckland*1085: Aiulphus the Sheriff*1070–1105: Edward of Salisbury...
, he was captured at Salisbury during the Penruddock uprising
Penruddock uprising
The Penruddock uprising was one of a series of coordinated uprisings planned by the Sealed Knot for a Royalist insurrection to start in March 1655 during the Protectorate of the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell....
, narrowly escaping being hanged thanks to the intervention of some of the rebels. This clemency did not prevent Dove from having John Lucas, one of his saviours, executed. Another rebel, Hugh Grove, who was executed at Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, accused Dove of having given false witness against him. Grove's estate at Chisenbury Priory, near Enford
Enford
Enford is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. The parish includes nine small settlements along the banks of the headwaters of the River Avon...
, had been sequestered in 1650 and granted to Dove.
On 29 March 1655, Dove wrote to Secretary Thurloe
John Thurloe
John Thurloe was a secretary to the council of state in Protectorate England and spymaster for Oliver Cromwell.-Life:...
that he had heard there was to be a commission of oyer and terminer
Oyer and terminer
In English law, Oyer and terminer was the Law French name, meaning "to hear and determine", for one of the commissions by which a judge of assize sat...
for the trial of "rebels" (Royalists captured during and after the Penruddock uprising) in the west of England. He promised that there should be no juror chosen for either jury who could not be depended upon to be well disposed to the government of the day and recommended Thurloe to proceed capitally against the "chief actors that were commissionated, as they said, by Charles Stuart
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
".
Dove was removed from the Salisbury corporation under its new charter of 1656, but was restored in 1659, when he also resumed his seat in the Rump Parliament
Rump Parliament
The Rump Parliament is the name of the English Parliament after Colonel Pride purged the Long Parliament on 6 December 1648 of those members hostile to the Grandees' intention to try King Charles I for high treason....
. At the Restoration he made an abject submission and escaped punishment. He continued to act as an alderman in Salisbury until 1662, when he was removed by the Corporation Act. He retired to his estate at Ivy Church, near Alderbury
Alderbury
Alderbury & Whaddon are two small adjacent villages three miles south-east of Salisbury, Wiltshire, England with a population of about 2,000. They are bypassed by the A36 road, which links them to Southampton and Salisbury.-External links:****...
, where he died some time before March 1665.