Edwin Sandys

Edwin Sandys (1612 – December 1642) was an English Colonel in the Parlmentarian Army under Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex at the start of the First English Civil War. He was educated at Wadham College, Oxford and lived at the family seat in Northbourne, Kent. He is known for leading troops in the Iconoclasm and Looting of Canterbury Cathedral and Rochester Cathedral, which were the first attacks on cathedrals by parliamentary soldiers. Sandys was also a key leader in fighting in the first battle of the First English Civil War. There have been two baronetcies created for members of the Sandys family, both in the Baronetage of England. Both creations are extinct. Family Edwin Sandys was the son of Edwin Sandys (died 1629) His father was an English politician, famous for coining the phrase 'honesty is the best policy', younger brother of Henry Sandys (MP) and grandson of former Archbishop of York Edwin Sandys (bishop). When his father died Henry Sandys was executor of his fathers will, which was problematic as his father left significant debts. Despite significant share holdings in the Virginia Company and the Somers Isles Company, now better known as Bermuda. Their father's profits from these ventures were much less than what was owed. Edwin Sandys (died 1629) specified in his will that the profits of his estate should pay his debts, until 1633. Henry Sandys gained control of the estate in 1634 on the death of his mother. Henry had incurred significant debts having had no income from the estate. As a result, Henry Sandys invoked a clause in his farther's will that allowed him to delay the release of parts of the estate to his younger brothers. In 1638 Edwin undertook litigation against his brother, but was unsuccessful. In 1637 Henry Sandys drew up his own will and also, following his father, made provision for his debts to be paid. It appears he did not trust Edwin to be the executor of his will, as he chose his younger brother Richard. On Henry's death Edwin again litigated, but also took direct action. In the autumn of 1640 he descended on Northbourne with an armed gang and evicted his brother Richard at gun point. Edwin's behaviour with his own family was a precursor to his subsequent actions. First English Civil War Sandys was commissioned a deputy lieutenant of Kent by Parliament in July 1642 to raise troops in Kent.