Biography of General Thomas Harrison 1616-1660

1649 Trial of Charles I

1660 Trial and Execution of the Regicides

In 1616 General Thomas Harrison was born.

In 1645 [his son] Charles Harrison was born to General Thomas Harrison (age 29).

Trial of Charles I

On 23 Jan 1649 King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland (age 48) was tried at Westminster Hall [Map] by Henry Mildmay (age 56). The fifty-nine signatories of his Death Warrant were:

1 Judge John Bradshaw

2 Thomas Grey

3 Oliver Cromwell

4 Edward Whalley

7 John Danvers

9 Henry Ireton

11 Hardress Waller

14 Major-General William Goffe

17 General Thomas Harrison

21 Admiral Richard Deane

27 Adrian Scrope

34 Richard Ingoldsby

42 John Jones

45 Major General Charles Fleetwood

54 Gregory Clement

55 John Downes

57 Thomas Scot

58 John Carew

The commissioners who sat at the trial but did not sign the Death Warrant included:

William Monson 1st Viscount Monson (age 50)

James Harington 3rd Baronet (age 41)

The Captain of the Guard was Daniel Axtell (age 27). The guards included Francis Hacker, Matthew Tomlinson (age 31).

The Solicitor-General was John Cook (age 41).

Pepy's Diary. 10 Oct 1660. Office day all the morning. In the afternoon with the upholster seeing him do things to my mind, and to my content he did fit my chamber and my wife's. At night comes Mr. Moore, and staid late with me to tell me how Sir Hards. Waller (age 56)1 (who only pleads guilty), Scott, Coke, Peters, Harrison2, &c. were this day arraigned at the bar at the Sessions House, there being upon the bench the Lord Mayor, General Monk (age 51), my Lord of Sandwich, &c.; such a bench of noblemen as had not been ever seen in England! They all seem to be dismayed, and will all be condemned without question.

Note 1. Sir Hardress Waller (age 56), Knt., one of Charles I judges. His sentence was commuted to imprisonment for life.

Note 2. General Thomas Harrison (age 44), son of a butcher at Newcastle-under-Lyme, appointed by Cromwell to convey Charles I from Windsor to Whitehall, in order to his trial. He signed the warrant for the execution of the King. He was hanged, drawn and quartered on the 13th.

Pepy's Diary. 13 Oct 1660. To my Lord's in the morning, where I met with Captain Cuttance, but my Lord not being up I went out to Charing Cross, to see Major-general Harrison (age 44) hanged, drawn and quartered; which was done there, he looking as cheerful as any man could do in that condition. He was presently cut down, and his head and heart shown to the people, at which there was great shouts of joy. It is said, that he said that he was sure to come shortly at the right hand of Christ to judge them that now had judged him; and that his wife do expect his coming again.

1660 Trial and Execution of the Regicides

On 13 Oct 1660 General Thomas Harrison (age 44) was hanged, drawn and quartered for his role in the regicide of King Charles I.

Pepy's Diary. 21 Oct 1660. Lord's Day. To the Parish church in the morning, where a good sermon by Mr. Mills. After dinner to my Lord's, and from thence to the Abbey, where I met Spicer and D. Vines and others of the old crew. So leaving my boy at the Abbey against I came back, we went to Prior's by the Hall back door, but there being no drink to be had we went away, and so to the Crown [Map] in the Palace Yard, I and George Vines by the way calling at their house, where he carried me up to the top of his turret, where there is Cooke's (deceased) head set up for a traytor, and Harrison's (deceased) set up on the other side of Westminster Hall [Map]. Here I could see them plainly, as also a very fair prospect about London. From the Crown to the Abbey to look for my boy, but he was gone thence, and so he being a novice I was at a loss what was become of him. I called at my Lord's (where I found Mr. Adams, Mr. Sheply's friend) and at my father's (age 59), but found him not. So home, where I found him, but he had found the way home well enough, of which I was glad. So after supper, and reading of some chapters, I went to bed. This day or two my wife has been troubled with her boils in the old place, which do much trouble her. Today at noon (God forgive me) I strung my lute, which I had not touched a great while before.