Will of John Kew, haberdasher and soldier, 1660

Kew was probably a young, unmarried man. He left items of clothing, books and weapons to his father, brother and cousin. No inventory survives. Kew was a member of Captain Unton Crooke and Captain Pittman’s troops and was owed arrears in pay. In 1655 Crooke led the New Model Army troop of horse and was instrumental in defeating Cavaliers in South Molton, Devon. In 1660 Parliamentary officers were replaced by Royalists and Crooke’s troop became the Royal Regiment of Horse, later named the Royal Horse Guards (The Blues).