Thomas Lyster

Sir Thomas Lyster of Rowton Castle (1612–1655), supported King Charles I during the English Civil War. Life Thomas Lyster of Rowton was eleven years of age in 1623, according to the visitations. He was a devoted adherent of King Charles I. During the first campaign of the English Civil War, when Charles I arrived in Shrewsbury he presented 500 pieces of gold to help pay for the war. He was knighted for this act of loyalty. In 1642 he signed a joint engagement with other gentlemen of the county to help raise a regiment of dragoons. He was given a high command in the garrison established in Shrewsbury, and on the fall of the town he was taken prisoner, but his wife may have gallantly held Rowton Castle for nearly a fortnight against all the efforts of the parliamentary officer, Colonel Thomas Mytton and did not surrender until she had obtained good terms from Mytton . Sir Thomas died in 1655. He was buried at the Old St Chad's Church, Shrewsbury, on 17 March, and was succeeded by his son Richard.