POYER
,
JOHN
(d.
1649
),
mayor
of
Pembroke
,
was a leading
merchant
of that town. He was active in local affairs and
in command of the trained band
. On
17 Feb. 1642
he wrote to
Sir
Hugh
Owen
of
Orielton
,
Member of Parliament
for
Pembroke borough
, to draw his attention to the undefended state of
Pembrokeshire
in view of the insurrection in
Ireland
, whence refugees were arriving daily in the county. Later in the year, on the outbreak of the
Civil War
, he
organized the defence of Pembroke town and castle
, forcibly retaining the office of
mayor
and becoming
governor of the castle
. He was joined by
Rowland
Laugharne
(q.v.)
and
Rice
Powell
(q.v.)
, and together with them vigorously maintained the Parliamentary cause. When the
Royalist commander
in
west Wales
,
Richard
Vaughan
,
2nd earl of Carbery
(q.v.)
, entered
Pembrokeshire
in
Aug. 1643
, he failed to induce
Pembroke
to capitulate. It became the base for the Parliamentary offensive when opportunity offered and a retreat when difficulties arose.
Poyer
himself is only recorded as having been the leader in one attack when he captured
Carew castle
(
10 March 1644
). His activities involved him in serious disputes with the members of the county committee, some of whom he accused of being half-hearted in the cause. He was in
London
in
Dec. 1645
defending himself against charges of not giving a proper account of moneys he had received and other allegations made by his opponents. He appears to have remained there for several months. When general hostilities ceased in
1647
Parliament
decided to reduce its military forces by disbanding supernumeraries. The men who had fought in
west Wales
were included in this order.
General
Fairfax
sent one
colonel
Fleming
to take over the governorship of
Pembroke castle
from
Poyer
as part of this policy.
Poyer
refused to hand it over. He seems to have regarded the possession of it as an important asset in view of his quarrels with members of the county committee and the claims he was putting forward for payment for disbursements and arrears.
Fleming
showed a willingness to treat with him; but
Poyer
proved obdurate.
There is no doubt that he was encouraged in his defiance by
Royalist agents
. He was in touch with
prince
Charles
and received a commission from him issued at
S. Germains
on
3 April 1648
.
Poyer
's action led to a widespread opposition to disbandment and
Rice
Powell
, in the absence of
Rowland
Laugharne
, took command of the resistance. After the defeat of the combined ex-Parliamentary and Royalist forces at
S. Fagans
(
8 May 1648
) a remnant escaped to
Pembroke
where the siege was conducted by
Oliver
Cromwell
. It did not surrender until
11 July
, when the garrison was greatly reduced and there was no prospect of help from the
Royalists
.
Poyer
, together with
Rowland
Laugharne
and
Rice
Powell
, was condemned to death; but lots were drawn as to which should be executed.
Poyer
drew the fatal blank and was
shot
at
Covent Garden
on the morning of
25 April 1649
. His wife,
Elizabeth
, petitioned
Charles
II
for a grant on the ground that her husband had lost £8,000 in the Royal cause. She was given a sum of £3,000, payable at the rate of £300 a year.
Bibliography:
-
J. R. Phillips
,
Memoirs of the Civil War in Wales and the
Marches, 1642–1649
, 1874
,
1874
;
-
A. L. Leach
,
History of the Civil War (1642-49) in
Pembrokeshire and on its borders
, London, 1937
,
1937
;
-
J. F. Rees
,
Studies in Welsh History collected papers,
lectures and reviews
, Cardiff, 1947
,
1947.
Author:
Emeritus Professor Sir James Frederick Rees, Ll.D., (1883-1967), Tenby
/ Cardiff
