Captain Jean Jammot's Civil War Skirmish
Whilst looking at possible archaeological sites across Loscar I became distracted by a field called 'Slaypit Field' that is shown on the 1851 map of Harthill and Thorpe Salvin.
I have found that villages and fields are invariably given names for particular reasons. With my interest peaked, I wanted to know why 'Slaypit Field' had acquired its name.
My first thoughts were that it probably had something to do with slaughtering animals or where deer were hunted and killed. However, I think I may have now discovered the actual reason.
Harry Garbett's 'History of Harthill' provides a clue. Garbett mentions a skirmish taking place at Thorpe Crossroads during the Civil War. He says that the Parliamentarians at Bolsover sent out a skirmishing party to capture Sir Edward Osborne at Thorpe Salvin.
To find out the truth it is always necessary to view original sources. With that in mind, I visited Sheffield Archives to view the original Church Register from Thorpe Salvin church.
In the Register, there are two interesting entries written on vellum. Some of the language was difficult to read and decipher, and the pages have stains on them which also obscures some of the words. However, using some computer wizardry, I think I have managed to decipher most of what is written.
The text in brackets are words that were difficult to fully decipher. There are differing translations available online, but this is mine.
"There were five men buried [who] in the [sc] rimmage of October being slayne in fight on Thorpe More betweene ye garrison of Welbeck on the King’s part & Captine Rodes on the Parliament part. Ano. Do.: [?]: 1645."
"The Mannor of which Scurmige was [Fought]
A party of Welbeck horfs (horse) were [drawn] out under the command of m. John Jamatz, major to [colonel] [Fretchwell] to [descrid*] (*catch sight of) a partie of [the] Parlamentors [who] had given an alarm to the Welbeckians at [worksop] whose partie had killed two of [the] King’s [partie]
Jamatz drew up his partie in the [helling] on [the] [moor] [in] [sirprisqd] [when] Sqd forlornd hope of [the] [enimed] who [flew] into they’re [bodie] commanded by Captaine Rodes of [Steetly] which was [divided] into 3 companies [to] [the] [num] [ber] of 200. Jamatz had advanced but with 18 [men] of his forlornd hope being [formd] [&] [threescore] flying, the Roden Parlamenters pursued, killd five with [bil hooks.] Fortie men the most of which [they] [wounded] after quartre was give, one of them escaped [in] [too] [Longlands] Thomas Battersbie whose hand they cutt of [which] [was] buried in ye Church yard of Thorpe Salvin."
There are a couple of words used in the above account which at first meant nothing to me, but upon examining old maps, it became much clearer.
I looked for more information about the Royalist officer, Jamatz, and discovered the following:
John Jamatz also known as Lieutenant John Jammot also Captain-Lieutenant Jammot also Major Jarnot also Major Jammot but most possibly Jean Jamotte who was born in Namur, Wallonia, Belgium.
Jamotte was described as a Frenchman, a Walloon and also a soldier of fortune from Brussels. He is also described as ‘Major Jammot, adjutant general, an unknown hero of the siege of Colchester’ which occurred in 1648.
In the Memoirs of the life of Colonel Hutchinson it describes Jammot thus; “The man being a Frenchman and a proper black man…”
Hutchinson’s memoirs also state that Jammot was also instrumental in retaking Welbeck back from the Parliamentarians. “Welbeck however, did not long remain in the possession of the parliament. It was surprised on July 16th 1645, by Major Jammot and a party from Newark (Mercurius Belgicus,” “Diary of Richard Symonds,” p.224). It was disgarrisoned by agreement in November 1645.
"Lord Grey, sending for two troops, they went to him to
Melton, which he had begun to fortify. The governor,
notwithstanding these obstacles from secret enemies and
refractory friends, carried on his business with good success,
and brought about many events according to his endeavours.
Among the rest, his men encountering a party where Colonel
Frecheville and Sir Henry Humlack were in person, fought
them, killed many of their men, and took Frecheville
prisoner; but his captain-lieutenant Jammot came to his
rescue and freed him, though he himself was taken in his
stead and brought to Nottingham. Here, after he had been
some time kept, he corrupted a soldier, who disguised and
led him out, and went away with him. The man being a
Frenchman and a proper black man, some would needs
report him to be Prince Rupert, and thereupon raised a
great clamour at the governor."
"But before his escape, upon the 15th of January, intelli-
gence was brought that all the forces in Newark were march-
ing on a design upon Sleaford in Lincolnshire."
"Sir Edward Hartup was sent with the party of horse he
before had at Muscam bridge, to pursue those that were
gone out of Newark, and fight with them, and hinder their
joining with Prince Rupert, who was expected to come to
raise the siege; and when Sir Edward came into Leicester-
shire the whole country rose with him, and the governor of
Leicester brought out foot and cannon to assist him. His
forlorn hope being of the Nottingham horse, charged the
enemy’s forlorn hope and routed them, and then fell into
their body of foot, which they had drained out of their little
garrisons, and routed them also, and if Sir Edward Hartup
would have come on with his body, they had all been cut
off; but the knight would not stir, but commanded the
forlorn hope to retreat, who had slain and taken many
prisoners of the enemy, and among them Jammot, who
had lately made his escape out of Nottingham Castle. The
enemy perceiving Sir Edward would not hurt them, rallied
again and joined with Prince Rupert; of which, as soon as
Sir Edward had intelligence, he went back to Newark with
such shameful haste, that he quitted Melton with all the
prisoners the forlorn hope had lately taken. The Leicester
forces, discouraged at this carriage, returned to their garri-
sons and marched no more with him."
Another book ‘Leicestershire’s Royalist Officers and the war effort in the county 1624-1646’ states that one officer in Nottinghamshire’s North Midlands army officer cadre was from Brussels. This is believed to be John (Jean) Jammot of Freshville’s Horse. [John Frecheville of Staveley]
John Frescheville is mentioned in the Thorpe Salvin church register, which records the skirmish involving troops under the command of one of his officers, Jean Jammot.
The clues which helped me identify 'Slaypit Field' as being the probable location of the Civil War skirmish was the mention of the word 'Longlands'. It was only when I consulted some old maps, that I could see that there was an area on Thorpe Moor next to 'Slaypit Field' that was once called 'Longlands'. Perhaps it was once covered in long grass, that would be ideal for anyone wishing to hide. You can see 'Longlands' on the map at the top of this page located in the bottom right hand corner.
I believe it was in 'Longlands' that the unfortunate Thomas Battersbie tried to hide but was caught. His punishment was having his hand cut off and buried in Thorpe Salvin churchyard, where the five men who were killed in the skirmish were also buried.
