(9 April 1649 – 15 July 1685), was an English nobleman. Originally called James Crofts or James Fitzroy, he was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the eldest illegitimate son of Charles II and his mistress, Lucy Walter. Monmouth was executed in 1685 after making an unsuccessful attempt to depose his uncle, King James II, commonly called the Monmouth Rebellion. Declaring himself the legitimate King, Monmouth attempted to capitalise on his position as the son (albeit illegitimate) of Charles II, and his Protestantism, in opposition to James, who was Catholic. His full titles were Duke of Monmouth and Earl of Doncaster, in the County of York (1663), Earl of Dalkeith (1663), Baron Scott of Tindale, in the County of Northumberland (1663) and Baron Scott of Whitchester and Eskdale (1663).
In 1685, James was proclaimed King in Cornhill Bridgwater and other local towns including Taunton. He was eventually executed on order by King James II. Many local people suffered because of the Monmouth Rebellion and a list of names who were executed or transported abroad as slaves are estimated to be over 800. A list of local known names are beginning to connect with local families of today.
James Scott - 1st Duke of Monmouth suffered awfully during his execution as he refused to pay the executioner which was polite - and spared the prisioner unduly suffering - thus it was a very messy end for him. A rather cynical and quite funny video by a London Tower Beefeater. Not for the faint hearted.
Somerset Genealogy.
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