Richard Neville served in the English Civil War as a Royalist.
Background
Neville was born at Billingbear House in Waltham Street Lawrence, the son and heir of Sir Henry Neville (died 1629) and educated at Queens’ College, Cambridge (1631). His mother, Elizabeth (née Smyth), was given immediate rights to the manor in her lifetime, remarried Sir John Thorowgood and lived until 1669.
Career
He came to prominence as commander at the First Battle of Newbury in 1643 when he commanded the Royalist troops. He was the elder brother of the writer Henry Neville. Neville"s grandfather was Henry Neville, the Elizabethan politician, diplomat and courtier.
Neville joined the Royalists and served under the Earl of Carnarvon at the Battle of Newbury in 1643.
Carnarvon was killed and Neville took up the command as a Colonel of Horse. Neville was with King Charles I at Oxford in 1646.
He was appointed High Sheriff of Berkshire for 1643-1644. After the Restoration of the Monarchy he became a Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for Berkshire from 1660 to his death.
In 1667 Waltham Street Lawrence Parish Registers recorded that:
In 1670 he was elected to Parliament as Knight of the Shire (Member of Parliament) for Berkshire.
When Neville died he was buried at Waltham Street Lawrence.