Matthew Fawkes

Matthew Fawkes was the founder of the town of Newlyn.

Early Life
Born in 1602 in the town of York to William and Mary Fawkes. He was the first of three children. Little is known of his parents or his children, But what is known is that due to his family relation to the notorious Guy Fawkes, the entire Fawkes family had to lie low, moving to Newlyn in Cornwall living for many years under the assumed family name of Ireton. It was in Newlyn that Matthew spent his entire childhood and early adolescence.

Thirty years war
In 1618 at the age of 16 he volunteered for service in the thirty years war. Serving until 1630 when the english pulled out of the war. It was during his time in the army, that Matthew came into contact with the people who would later be known as the Colonels corps.

King Charles and the Puritans
Matthew had in 1621 married the daughter of a puritan minister and embraced the doctrines of his in-laws. The growing popery of king Charles and his feud with parliament was upsetting to most puritans and Fawkes was no exception. When the civil war eventually erupted in 1642, Matthew and his veteran friends signed up for the parliamentary roundheads, Matthew becoming a Colonel due to his experience in the thirty years war. After the surrender of the king in 1646 Fawkes planned to retire and live out his life in peace with his wife and children.