Rupert Billingsley


Rupert Billingsley was an English soldier who secured the garrison and town of Berwick-upon-Tweed for William of Orange during the Glorious Revolution in 1688.

Biography

Billingsley was born in 1644 in Astley Abbotts Shropshire, to Francis Billingsley and Elizabeth Latham. His father was a major in the Royalist Army supporting King Charles I. His godfather was Prince Rupert.
A plaque on the wall of St Calixtus Astley Abbotts commemorates the family of Mjr. Francis Billingsley the son of Col. Francis - he killed lesding the Royalist Forces in the defence of Bridgnorth. A plaque on the wall of St Leonard's records that the Col. was buried at St Calixtus. Eleanor the daughter of Edward LATHAM Married the Mjr. having the family :- Francis 1640, Edward 1642, Rupert 1644,, Lewis 1645, Charles 1649.
& Margsret 1643 Bridget 1646. Eleanor 1650, Elizabeth 1653, & Dorothy 1655.
The Register of St. Calixtus notes that at the baptism of Francis 1640 three generations of Francis - Mjr. Col. and Sir were present.
I will not confirm that this Rupert was the god-son of Prince Rupert. There were many other candidates. Manorial records give a descent from Wyllym appointed King's Clerk of Gloucester by King Edward I in 1306. The Prince's tutor.