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. Manorial records give a descent from Wyllym appointed King's Clerk of Gloucester by King Edward I in 1306.A plaque on the wall of St Calixtus Astley Abbotts commemorates the family of Major Francis Billingsley the son of Colonel Francis - he was killed leading the Royalist Forces in the defence of Bridgnorth. A plaque on the wall of St Leonard's records that the Colonel was buried at St Calixtus. Eleanor the daughter of Edward Latham married the Major having as family:- Sons were Francis, born 1640; Edward, born 1642 ; Rupert, born 1644,; Lewis, born 1645 ; Charles, born 1649. Their daughters were Margaret, born 1643 ; Bridget, born 1646; Eleanor, born 1650; Elizabeth, born 1653, and Dorothy, born 1655.
The Register of St. Calixtus notes that at the baptism of Francis in 1640 three generations of Francis - Major, Colonel and Sir were present.