# Nathaniel Barton

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**Nathaniel Barton** (1615/16–1672/73) was an English clergyman, military officer and politician who played a notable role during the mid-17th century, particularly during the English Civil Wars and the subsequent Protectorate period.

## Early life

The son of Edmund Barton, rector of [Broseley](/source/Broseley), [Shropshire](/source/Shropshire), Nathaniel Barton was born in 1615/16, matriculated at [New Inn Hall, Oxford](/source/New_Inn_Hall,_Oxford), in 1634 and graduated with a [BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) in 1638, advancing to [MA](/source/Master_of_Arts_(Oxford,_Cambridge_and_Dublin)) in 1641 (he later took a [BD](/source/Bachelor_of_Divinity) in 1649). He became chaplain to [Sir Thomas Burdett, 1st Baronet, of Bramcote](/source/Sir_Thomas_Burdett,_1st_Baronet,_of_Bramcote) in Derbyshire.[1]

## Military career

After the outbreak of the [First English Civil War](/source/First_English_Civil_War) in 1642 Barton joined the Parliamentarian army. By late spring 1643 he was [major](/source/Major_(United_Kingdom)) of Sir Richard Houghton's Derbyshire and Staffordshire regiment of foot, of which [Thomas Sanders](/source/Thomas_Sanders_(MP)) was [lieutenant-colonel](/source/Lieutenant_colonel_(United_Kingdom)). The regiment was captured at [Burton upon Trent](/source/Burton_upon_Trent) when the town fell to the Royalists on 2 July. After their release, Sanders and Barton joined a new regiment of horse commanded by [Sir John Gell](/source/Sir_John_Gell,_1st_Baronet), as major and [captain](/source/Captain_(British_Army_and_Royal_Marines)) respectively. Gell placed Barton in command of the garrison of [Barton Blount](/source/Barton_Blount) from where he could harass the Royalist garrison at [Tutbury](/source/Tutbury). Barton's [Troop](/source/Troop) was engaged at the storming of Oswestry in June 1644, a skirmish there the following month, and a skirmish at Burton in July 1645. At Barton Blount Barton reported to the Parliamentarian regional commander, [Sir William Brereton](/source/Sir_William_Brereton,_1st_Baronet), and later sided with Brereton in a dispute with Gell.[1][2][3]

In 1645 Barton transferred to Colonel Richard Graves's Regiment of Horse of the [New Model Army](/source/New_Model_Army) (possibly after both regiments were engaged at the [Battle of Rowton Heath](/source/Battle_of_Rowton_Heath)). The regiment served in the [Siege of Oxford](/source/Siege_of_Oxford) in 1646. At the outbreak of the [Second English Civil War](/source/Second_English_Civil_War) Graves sided with Parliament against the Army and was replaced in June 1647 as colonel by Maj [Adrian Scrope](/source/Adrian_Scrope), with Barton promoted to major. During the subsequent campaign Barton was detached with three Troops serving under Col [Thomas Horton](/source/Thomas_Horton_(soldier)) in South Wales, at the seizure of [Brecon](/source/Brecon) in April 1648, the [Battle of St Fagans](/source/Battle_of_St_Fagans) on 8 May, and the subsequent sieges of [Tenby](/source/Tenby) and [Pembroke Castle](/source/Siege_of_Pembroke). Barton's detachment was then sent north to oppose the [Scottish invasion](/source/Scottish_invasion_of_England_(1648)) and took part in the Battles of [Preston](/source/Battle_of_Preston_(1648)) (17 August) and [Winwick Pass](/source/Battle_of_Winwick) (19 August). Barton attended the [Army Council](/source/Army_Council_(1647)) meetings in November and December 1648. Most of Scrope's Regiment joined the [Leveller Mutiny](/source/Levellers) and was disbanded after [Cromwell](/source/Oliver_Cromwell) had the ringleaders shot at [Burford](/source/Burford) in May 1649.[1][4]

On 2 March 1650 Barton was appointed Colonel of the [Derbyshire Militia](/source/Derbyshire_Militia) horse and foot. When [King Charles II](/source/Charles_II_of_England) and the Scots invaded the following year during the [Third English Civil War](/source/Third_English_Civil_War) the Derbyshire Militia was not involved, but Barton served as major in Sanders' Horse.[1][5][6]

## Political career

Barton was a [Justice of the peace](/source/Justice_of_the_peace) in Derbyshire, and was one of the magistrates who examined the [Quaker](/source/Quaker) leader [George Fox](/source/George_Fox) after his arrest. In 1653, Barton was nominated to represent [Derbyshire](/source/Derbyshire_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) in [Barebone's Parliament](/source/Barebone's_Parliament), an assembly convened by [Oliver Cromwell](/source/Oliver_Cromwell) and the Army Council. Following this, he was elected as one of the four members for Derbyshire in the [First Pvrotectorate Parliament](/source/First_Protectorate_Parliament) of 1654.[1][7]

However, his election faced challenges due to his prior clerical status. A defeated rival contested his eligibility, arguing that his holy orders disqualified him from serving as a member of parliament. Barton countered by asserting that the abolition of episcopal ordination rendered this objection moot. The dispute remained unresolved at the time of the Parliament's dissolution.[8]

Records indicate that Barton did not serve as a member for Derbyshire in the Second and [Third Protectorate Parliaments](/source/Third_Protectorate_Parliament). In the Second Protectorate Parliament of 1656, the members for Derbyshire were [Sir Samuel Sleigh](/source/Samuel_Sleigh) and [German Pole](/source/German_Pole_(politician)). In the Third Protectorate Parliament of January 1659, the representatives were John Gell and [Thomas Sanders](/source/Thomas_Sanders_(MP)).

In 1654, Barton published a "Representation and Defence" in response to allegations made against him by Sir Samuel Sleigh, addressing claims related to his conduct and qualifications.[9]

Following the fall of [Richard Cromwell](/source/Richard_Cromwell), Sanders was reinstated in command of his old regiment and Barton served as his major once more. They were replaced with other officers by General [Monck](/source/George_Monck,_1st_Duke_of_Albemarle) and were arrested in late 1659, apparently for armed resistance. On 27 December they were ordered to be released by the restored [Rump Parliament](/source/Rump_Parliament), and Barton was authorised to disarm Parliament's enemies in Staffordshire. Sanders was given command of Col Robert Swallow's regiment with Barton as his major.[1][10]

After the [Restoration of the Monarchy](/source/Stuart_Restoration) Barton became [curate](/source/Curate) of [Caldwell](/source/Cauldwell,_Derbyshire) Chapel in [Stapenhill](/source/Stapenhill) parish, Derbyshire, but was ejected from it in 1662. He lost the royal lands he had purchased during the [interregnum](/source/Interregnum_(England)), and in 1669 was accused of being privy to a conspiracy. Barton died between March 1672 and November 1673, leaving a wife, Sarah, two sons and four daughters.

## References

1. [Stephen K. Roberts (ed), The Cromwell Association Online Directory of Parliamentarian Army Officers, at British History Online (archived at the Wayback Machine).](https://web.archive.org/web/20221216182056mp_/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/cromwell-army-officers/surnames-b)

1. [Houghton's Foot at David Plant, *British Civil Wars, Commonwealth & Protectorate, 1638–1660* (The BCW Project).](https://wiki.bcw-project.org.uk/parliamentarian/foot-regiments/sir-richard-houghton)

1. [Gell's Horse at BCW Project.](https://wiki.bcw-project.org.uk/parliamentarian/horse-regiments/sir-john-gell)

1. [Graves's Horse at BCW Project.](https://wiki.bcw-project.org.uk/new-model-army/horse-regiments/richard-graves)

1. [Derbyshire Trained Bands at BCW Project.](https://wiki.bcw-project.org.uk/trained-band/derbyshire)

1. [Thornhaugh's Horse at BCW Project.](https://wiki.bcw-project.org.uk/parliamentarian/horse-regiments/col.-francis-thornhaugh)

1. Taft, Barbara (March 1985). ["The Council of Officers'"](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/historical-journal/article/abs/council-of-officers-agreement-of-the-people-16489/ED25F750E1BD02E10A6A55EB02B43050?utm_source=chatgpt.com). *The Historical Journal*. **28** (1): 169–185. [doi:10.1017/S0018246X00002260](https://doi.org/10.1017/S0018246X00002260). [ISSN 1469-5103](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1469-5103)

1. ["Breaching the guidelines: clerical MPs in the mid-seventeenth century - The History of Parliament"](https://historyofparliament.com/2020/05/21/clerical-mps-in-the-mid-seventeenth-century/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). *historyofparliament.com*. 2020-05-21. Retrieved 2025-02-03.

1. Peacey, Jason (ed.) (2013), ["Taking part"](https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/print-and-public-politics-in-the-english-revolution/taking-part/424F71048E9D78EF57595D938C59A685?utm_source=chatgpt.com), *Print and Public Politics in the English Revolution*, Cambridge Studies in Early Modern British History, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 229–413, ISBN 978-1-107-04442-5, retrieved 2025-02-03

1. [Whalley's Horse at BCW Project.](https://wiki.bcw-project.org.uk/new-model-army/horse-regiments/edward-whalley)

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