Two Thurrock Regicides

Two Thurrock Regicides (continued)

Edward remained a close associate of Oliver Cromwell. He was present when Cromwell finally dismissed the long parliament - removing the parliamentary mace. He was appointed to be one of the ruling Major Generals and governed the counties around Nottingham. He was subsequently a member of Cromwell's House of Lords.

James Temple continued in post at Tilbury Fort after the execution, but in September 1650 the council of state was concerned about the security of the fort and the need for a person to reside there personally. Colonel George Crompton was appointed governor in place of James Temple and the income was shared between them pending resolution of what rights James had as a result of a parliamentary order and patent.[11]

James Temple was less closely associated with the protectorate than Edward Whalley, although he was a member of parliament during this period. Like his father, James had financial difficulties and these were well known to other members of the Temple family. His cousin wrote in a letter to his aunt "my cousin Kay Saunders is broke for forty thousand pounds and not able to pay five shilling in the pound and James Temple is in too much ".[12]

His continuing financial difficulties led to the final link between the regicides in 1659 when James Temple and Edward Whalley were back in the court of Chancery.[13]

With the restoration of Charles II in 1660, prominent regicides such as James Temple and Edward Whalley became wanted men. James was arrested attempting to flee to Ireland. At his own trial he claimed that he had participated in the trial of Charles I in order to pass information to the King's friends. Despite his protestations, James was convicted, of regicide. However he escaped being hung drawn and quartered - the fate of many of his fellows. He was imprisoned and died in Jersey.

Edward Whalley escaped to America by way of Switzerland along with his son in law William Goffe.[14] Charles II attempted to have them arrested and returned to England for trial, but the colonists sheltered him. In 1674 in a letter to his wife, Goffe reported that Whalley was close to death. He is presumed to have died shortly afterwards.[15]

I am grateful to Robert Whaley of Rochester, New York for sharing his research on Edward Whalley with me and for pointing out the link between the Temples and the Whalleys.

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