Sir John Goodricke seventh but eldest surviving son of Sir Henry Goodricke, by his wife Jane, daughter of Sir John Savile, Knight, succeeded his father 22nd July 1641. He was born 20th April 1617, and was created a Baronet 14th August 1641. He was educated at Aberdeen, as was also his brother Savile, their father considering the discipline there stricter than in the English colleges. At the age of nineteen he was sent to France, where he remained a year and a half, returning home in 1638, when he received a commission as captain of a foot company in Lord Fairfax's regiment. He proclaimed at an early age his devotion to the royal cause, for I find a letter from him to Mr. Thomas Livingstone, in London, written in January 1639, ordering a buff suit and other necessaries, and inquiring the price of a complete suit of armour, as he "intends to attend his Majesty this summer in arms as a private gentleman, if not as a captain." He says "I am not ignorant that you make profession of arms, as well as of other arts; which moves me, being likewise myself entered into the same list, to desire your opinion in the choice and price of a complete armour for a captain of a foot company. This is my request to you as you are a soldier, and for the fitting them to my body, none can do it better than yourself. As for the other things, which my mother mentioned in her letter to you, I leave the ordering of them to your own discretion, that which cannot err in making them handsome and fashionable. Yet thus far let me advise you, that as you tender the Honour of your military profession, you send them down against the 12th February next, and together with them the price of the arms. "This letter dated 12th January 1639. On 7th October, 1641, he married, at Trinity Church, Micklegate, York, Catherine, daughter and co-heiress of Stephen Norcliffe, of York, Esquire, counsellor-at-law, who had just attained her majority, and on 24th October in the following year his son and heir, Henry, was born. The civil war had now broken out, and Sir John immediately took up arms in the cause of the King. He commanded a troop of horse under the Earl of Newcastle, which he led at the attack of Bradford, then in the hands of the Parliamentarians, 18th December 1642. In this siege he was seriously wounded, and his horse killed under him by a scythe.

The extract from a very quaint account of the siege of Bradford, written by Joseph Lister, an eyewitness, will be read with interest "Accordingly, on the 18th of December, being the Sabbath-day, the Earl of Newcastle sent the van of his army again from Leeds, consisting of five troops of horse, six troops of dragoons, and two hundred foot. Commanded by Colonel Goring, Colonel Evans, Sir William Savile, and Sir John Goodricke. Intending with these troops to surprise the town while the inhabitants were engaged in Divine service; but our scouts returned and alarmed the town and country of their approach; and now, what hurry and confusion immediately ensued: the whole congregation betook themselves to flight, and sought for refuge where they thought most safe. Every man was now ordered to his post armed with such weapons as he was beforehand provided with all the church and steeple were secured in the best manner we possibly could, being determined (relying upon Divine assistance) to defend it to the last extremity. Again they approached us with the sound of warlike music, and their streamers flying in the air a tremendous sight! enough to make the stoutest heart to tremble! To shake the nerves, and loose the joints of every beholder! Amazing, to see the different effects it had upon others, who were fired with rage, even to madness; and filled with revenge, almost to enthusiasm. They then advanced nearer, and set down in Barker-end, not above three hundred paces above the church, where they raised a battery against it, but chiefly against the steeple, intending, if possible, to erase it to the ground; perhaps because they feared to suffer the greatest harm by those who were placed therein; ten or twelve of the best marksmen being in that part of the steeple judged most proper to annoy the enemy others were in and about the church, and every pass leading thereto, and those into the town were guarded in the best manner our little army of men would admit of, which were very small in comparison to the number of our enemies, which we thought upwards of two thousand, with a train of artillery suitable thereto. Each party being in this position, the enemy began to fire with the greatest fury upon us, and especially against the steeple; and,in small space of time, discharged their great guns seventeen times. At length, one of our men, with a fowling-piece, from off the steeple, killed one of their cannoneers; and instantly we all, with the greatest courage, resolution, and intrepidity, issued out of the town upon the enemy. Who expected rather a speedy surrender than resistance?

This so much daunted and surprised them, that they were at a loss what course to take but perceiving how advantageous the steeple was to our men. And how they were incommoded by the fire from thence, they presently possessed themselves of some houses and a barn nearer the church, very convenient for the shelter of their men, and brought their cannon also nearer the church. From hence, they sent out Sir John Goodricke's troop of horse, who encompassed the town, and some little villages on the side of it, they robbed a woman most basely, and cowardly slew two naked (or unarmed) men as they passed by. And, so coming within sight of the town's sentinel, at the west end, the sentinel fired upon them, and wounded two or three of their horses one of which, being but slightly hurt, was brought into the town. And in a little time, partly by the shot from the town, and partly by the approach of some club men from Bingley, they were forced to return to their party.

"In the mean time, their cannon was removed to such a place as they could conveniently play upon the town, and especially upon that part called Kirkgate, by which the townsmen must of necessity march in order to relieve their party, and best resist the enemy. Those upon the steeple, made great havoc and confusion among the enemy: for when any buff or scarlet coat appeared within their reach, they had two or three guns pointed in one hole, and discharged at once upon them, and generally with success, which thereby greatly deterred the rest from relieving their men, which were in the houses; and thus they continued until high noon; about which time there came to our assistance some fire-men and club-men from Halifax, who immediately were put to service, some in the church, others in the lanes near the houses where the enemy lodged; those in the church and lanes kept the houses in play, and those on the steeple hindered the enemy from relieving those in the houses; but seeing this was not the way to repel the enemy, for the largeness of the church windows, and the smallness of their houses, made their assault more secure, and our defence more dangerous; which the townsmen perceiving, and, that this way did but waste themselves and their ammunition, they therefore resolved to win or lose all at once, by a general assault therefore. Watching an opportunity betwixt the discharge and charging again of the cannon of the enemy, our men sallied out of the church, and being seconded by those in the lanes, rushed up to the houses, burst open the doors, slew them that resisted, and took those that yielded; the rest fled into the field adjoining, where some of the townsmen followed, (the greatest part of them being employed in conveying the men and ammunition, which the enemy had left behind them) and in the field the skirmish grew hotter than ever; the townsmen were too eager to keep rank and file, though they had before been taught so to do. But this disorder proved very advantageous to our men; for, mixing themselves with the enemy, they thereby fought securely, even in the mouth of the enemy's cannon, and in the eye of one body of their forces, both placed in the field above them; they not daring to discharge their cannon upon us, lest in so doing they should destroy their own men together with us; otherwise, they had ten firemen for one, and might have cut us all off in an instant nor could our men use their muskets but as clubs. To speak ingenuously, their commanders being exasperated at the cowardice of their common soldiers, manifested greater courage themselves; but they were well paid for it, for our scythes and clubs now and then reached them sorely, and few else did the townsmen aim at; one among the rest, in a scarlet coat, (said to be Colonel Goring himself,) our club-men had got hold of, and were spoiling of him; but, a party of their horse, fearing the loss of such a man, became more courageous than they intended, so, leaping over a hedge, came full gallop upon our men, and forced them to give a little ground, but they quickly recovered themselves though they lost their man and redoubling their courage, would neither give nor take quarter, (not through cruelty, but ignorance, as the enemy themselves afterwards confessed); and, in the end, forced both man and horse out of the field. Yet ours could not keep it; for, now being separated from the enemy, their musketeers were at liberty to play upon our men ; and now, indeed, they rained such a shower of lead among them, as forced them to retreat to the next hedge for shelter, and so hindered them from pursuing their men-their ordnance also, all this time, playing upon the town and steeple ; nevertheless, that which was planted against the steeple did it no harm-that intended to scour Kirkgate, though planted in the most advantageous place, though the streets were continually crowded with people, and though the bullets did hit some of the houses, and some whistled through the streets, yet was not any man hurt therewith: which was nothing short of the wonderful goodness of the Almighty, in protecting the lives of the inhabitants in such a surprising and miraculous manner.

One circumstance somewhat remarkable cannot be omitted. During the heat of this action, a stout young officer (said to be the Earl of Newport's son) headed a company of foot, came down the field on the left side of the high-road, under cover of a thick hedge, intending to force a passage through a house and so surprise the church. He (the officer) being too sanguine, pushed on little too fast before his men, fell into an ambuscade; being cut off from his men, and seeing no way to escape, begged for quarter, but was answered by one Ralph Atkinson, saying he would give him Bradford quarter! and immediately slew him. His men, understanding what had happened, and struck with astonishment at the loss of their leader, fled with the greatest precipitation; and were pursued by a party of our men, who slew some of them; then the whole body of the enemy begun to retreat, for they had sent off their baggage before; and thus, the terror of the Lord, and our men falling upon them, away they went, using their feet better than their hands, and about fifty of our musketeers and club-men after them, which courage of ours, did most of all astonish the enemy, who said afterwards, no fifty men in the world, except they were mad or drunk, would have pursued a thousand. Our men, indeed, shot and fought, as if they had been mad; and, the enemy truly fell as if they had been drunk: some discharged ten, some twelve times in the pursuit; and having the whole body of the enemy for their butt, it may easily be imagined what good execution was done, in a mile and a half pursuit, for they followed them up to the moor; but fearing to be envisioned by the horse, they retreated, so weary after eight hours' fight, (for so long it lasted) that they could scarce return to the town.

One thing I cannot omit. A hearty Roundhead (or so the enemy called us) left by his comrades, and surrounded by three of the enemy's horse, discharged his musket upon one, struck down another's horse with the butt-end of it, broke a third's sword, beating it back to his throat, and put them all to flight, which relation though strange as the rest, yet is most certainly true. There was slain in this notable and remarkable skirmish, the Earl of Newport's son, by Atkinson, who took great store of gold out of his pockets, a gold ring, etc., but, it is said upon a serious reflection, he greatly lamented so rash an action: Captain Binas was carried away to Leeds and died of his wounds three days after. Their wounded were Sir John Goodricke, whose horse was killed with a scythe, Colonel Goring, general of the horse, and about a hundred common soldiers. Of ours, not above three at most fell by the enemy, and about twelve wounded, all curable except two, There were also taken prisoners of the enemy, Sergeant-Major Crew, twenty-six common soldiers, about ten horses, one hundred and eighty pounds (weight) of powder, and about forty muskets, thus, our wants were supplied out of our enemy's store, leaving us a much better stock of arms and ammunition, than we had at their first coming."

Soon after this event Sir John was made a prisoner, and his estate sequestered. The Hall at Hunsingore, one of his seats, is said to have been entirely destroyed during the Civil War. Sir John was confined first at Manchester, and a very interesting relic of him at this period still exists at Ribston, it is a French Bible, printed in 1622, which his mother sent to him. It contains a letter to him on the flyleaf, as follows:-
"Son John,
I have sent you to Manchester your father's French Bible a Jewel to which you are no stranger. This book was the delightful study of his freedom and trust it may be the profitable delight of your confinement by the assistance of God's most Holy Spirit is the hearty desire and shall be the humble prayers of Your loving mother Jane Goodrick."
Post PS.-
"What you find written of your worthy Father's hand be careful to preserve, for I part not willingly with any of his manuscripts." (The rest is illegible.) Sir John has added the following:-
"This Bible I bought at Tours in France Anno Dom 1638, and brought it with me into England as a present to my Father, after whose death it was sent to me by my mother, being Prisoner of War in Manchester, as the best companion in solitude, I have found by experience that The Bible is most profitably read when a man reads it in his mother tongue, however he understands it in foreign languages and (as the food we are accustomed to) is soonest digested into solid nourishment."

Sir John was afterwards removed to the Tower of London, where he was kept a prisoner for three years, during which time his young wife died. It has been stated that he escaped from the Tower and fled to France, where he remained until the Restoration; but I have met with no authentic evidence supporting this tradition. In the early part of November 1645 he addressed the following petition to the House of Commons:-

"To the honorable House of Commons in Parliament assembled.
The humble Petition of Sir John Goodricke, Knt. and Baronet humbly sheweth, that you petitioner having been a Prisoner of War these three years' remains committed to the Tower of London by Order from this honorable house to the great impairment of his health, by so long and tedious a restraint, his whole estate being, sequestered.

The Petitioner, therefore, humbly prayeth, that it will please this honorable house to admit him to his Composition and Liberty to attend the same he giving good security. Never hereafter to act or do anything to the prejudice of the State. And your petitioner shall daily pray, etc. John Goodricke."

" December 30th, 1645.
This is the Petition of Sir John Goodricke delivered into my hands about the beginning of November last; though it waited for an opportunity to be presented to The House until the 22nd of December instant. Phillip Stapelton."

This Petition was duly presented to the House of Commons, and the following order was made Die Lune, 22nd December 1645.
"Ordered (upon the Question) by the Commons Assembled in Parliament that it be referred to the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall to compound with Sir John Goodricke, and to consider of and examine the losses sustained by Mr. Stockdale. And to report to the House both the Composition and Losses of the said Mr. Stockdale.
H. Elsynge, Cler. Parl. D. Coin."

Sir John took the National Covenant at Westminster on 29th December, 1645, and petitioned the Committee for Compounding with Delinquents as follows:-

"To the right Honorable the Committee for Compounding with Delinquents at Goldsmiths Hall.
The humble Petition of Sir John Goodricke, Knt. and Baronet. Sheweth, whereas the petitioner is sequestered by order from the Committee at York, and the petitioner being at this present prisoner in the Tower. And hath (by order from The Honorable House of Parliament) Liberty to Correspond. He therefore humbly prayeth that the Committee at York may be desired to certify the value of his estate. And what interest he hath in the Land sequestered together with what charge do lye upon or is issuing out of the same.
And the petitioner shall pray, etc. John Goodricke."

On 2nd February 1645, the Committee for the West Riding of York certified to the Estate of Sir John; and as these papers are full of interest, I give copies of them here. A further certificate follows them by Sir John himself:-

20th February 1645.

"To the Honorable the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall, London. For Compounding with Delinquents.
The Certificate of the Committee for the West Rydinge of the county of York.
According to the Order of the fifth of January last whereby we are required to send a just and true picture of all the estate real and personal, and yearly revenue of Sir John Goodricke knight and Baronet: we having used our best endeavours to inform ourselves touching the points in the said order, do certify to cash particulars as follow here with:-

"A particular of the estate of Sir John Goodricke in the West Riding as it was in the times before this unnatural war, being upon rack and in present possession. The Manor of Hunsingor, in the parish of Hunsingor with the lands and tythes. Thereto belonging of the yearly value of £196.07s.06d, his Lands in Cattail Magna in pochia de Hunsingor, predict p. Anne, £190.04s.00d, his lands in Ribston Magna and Walshford in Parochia predict p Annu, £150.11s.00d, his lands in Ribston parua in Parochia de Spoforth p. Ann, £45.00s.00d, Ribston Park in parochia de Hunsingor predict p. Anne, £24.00s.00d, his land in Widdington in parochia de Nunn Munketon p. Anna, £45.00s.00d. free rents in Grewellthorpe in pochia de Kirkebie Matzerd, 17s.02d. Total £651.19s.08d.


The lands mentioned as they are now of p'sente value yearly and so let. £532.16s.04d. Lands in Revenue and to descends to & John Goodricke. Viz.: - The Capital Messuage of Ribston magna and Pte of the demesnes, together with the Tythes of those Demesne grounds and a water come mime in Hunsingor, with the appurtenances being the La. Goodricke his mother's jointure before this unnatural war, of value £220.00s00d.
The particulars above mentioned are certified unto us by Richard Roundell, Edmund Birte, Thorna.s Wescoc, George Nayler, Richard Pickerd, Thomas Lewis and William Burton, sequestrators for the weapenmake of Claroc who do also certify that they do not know yet the said Sir John Goodricke bath any lands in present possession, reversion, or expectance win min the said weapentake, other then these already mentioned, nor any other personnel estate then what is already accounted for and paid into this Committee amounting to £22.17s.04d, after a 5th taken out and allowed to Sir John Goodricke's child. Edw. Rodes, Ro. Barwicke, Jo. Ffarrer, 'Tho. St. Nicholas. Jo. Bright."

The final document of importance in connection with Sir John Goodricke's composition is the order of the Houses of Parliament " for taking off the sequestration" of his estate, which was read in the House of Lords on 25th August, 1646, and " Agreed to."

Sir John appears at this time to have retired to his home, and was living there in November 1650. About 1653 he married his second wife, who was Elizabeth, widow of William, third Viscount Fairfax, of Gilling, co. York, and daughter of Alexander Smith, of Sutton, co. Suffolk, Esq.; and by her had an only son, John, born 16th October, 1654, who eventually succeeded as third Baronet. At the time of her marriage to Sir John Goodricke the Lady Fairfax had an only daughter, Catherine, afterwards wife of Benjamin Mildmay, Lord Fitzwalter; her two sons, Thomas, who was the fourth Viscount Fairfax, and William, having died in infancy. At the Restoration Sir John was elected one of the Knights of the Shire for co. York, and served as a Deputy Lieutenant.

It is a circumstance worthy of note here that during the Civil War Sir John's uncle, Colonel William Goodricke, and his cousins, Major William and Captain Henry Goodricke, were all officers in the parliamentary army. As is well known, family divisions of this nature were by no means uncommon in these troublesome times, but happily in this case the bonds of union between Sir John and his relatives were not broken or disturbed by the divergence in their political opinions. Sir John died in 1670, his will bearing date 19th September, 1669, being proved at York 25th November in the following year. His widow survived until 1692, and resided at Moulsham Hall, co. Essex. Her will, dated 4th June 1692, signed "Elizabeth Fairfax," was proved in London on 15th September in the same year.