BARKSTEAD, Sir John (executed 1662). Regicide.
Letter Signed to Colonel Clerke, 1 page folio with address-leaf (rather browned), Tower of London, 3 December 1655. Enquiring whether the two soldiers he was holding under arrest should proceed to court martial consequent upon the procedings against a ships' chandler with whom they had been involved.

I formerly wrote unto you touching the offences of twoe sould[iers] under my comaund relateing to one Cox, a shipp chaundler neere the Tower, since w[hi]ch time I have been informed of yo[u]r proceedings against ye ship chaundler, & for that ye sould[iers] have ever since remained in prison. I desire to know by this Bearer Ensign Brunsdon whether you intend any thing further against them or to leave them to their tryall at a Court Martiall here ...'

Barkstead had been appointed by Parliament to be governor of Reading in 1645 and in 1649 governor of Yarmouth. He became also governor of the Tower in 1652 and was praised by Cromwell for his vigilance in that capacity. At the Restoration he was outlawed and fled to Germany. He was later arrested in Holland and brought to England for trial. He was executed on 19 April 1662.
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