BoAr:FNQ:CivilWar

 http://boar.org.uk/ariwxo3FNQ834.htm           Latest edit 2 Sep 2007.   

Interactive version ©2006 R.J.PENHEY


The Bourne Archive


FNQ

Fenland Notes and Queries. Edited by Rev. W.D. Sweeting, Rector of Maxey.

Part 45. April  1900.

This quarterly periodical took the form of a forum in which people sent in questions about the history, ecology and so on of the Fens and the region’s environs and others replied with some sort of answer. Some ‘answers’ seem to have been spontaneous, so qualifying as ‘notes’. Editorial notes in the form [note] are those of FNQ; those in the form [note] are those of RJP.


Seventeenth Century Civil War

834 – Delinquents around Peterborough. – An Ordinance made in Parliament in 1643, relating to the sequestration of the estates of delinquents, declares that those who voluntarily absented themselves from their usual places of abode, or shall go to any of the King’s armies, raised without the consent of both Houses of Parliament, shall be reputed delinquents. This was preceded by an Ordinance of 1642, touching the conversion and application of the estates of certain notorious delinquents towards the supportation [sic] of the great charges of the Commonwealth.

A Committee of the Commons was appointed to manage the sequestration of estates, and to compound with the delinquents. The procedure was by petition, stating the nature and date of the delinquency, with a “particular” of the estate of the delinquent, and certificates of his having taken the National Covenant, and the Negative Oath, or Oath of Abjuration. The estate was valued “as it was before these troubles began.”

Peter Whalley and Edward Budd were sequestrators for Northamptonshire. They returned to the Committee the names of 13 delinquents within the Liberty of Peterborough. These were: – Captain Styles, Walton; Newdigate Pointz, Dosthrup; Dr. Cosin and the Dean and Chapter of Peterborough; Willm Hacke, Peterborough; Matthew Robinson, Longthorpe; John Towers, Bishop of Peterborough; Thomas Dove, Upton; James Carrier, Helpston; John Bourne, Ufford; – Styldolph, Wittering; Robert Dixon, Peterborough; Millicent Pratt, Dosthrup. The last named is noted P. and D., to indicate that he [sic] was a papist. The estates of papists were sold; the income of a delinquent’s estates was sequestrated, and an allowance of one-fifth made for the support of his wife and children.

The records of the Committee throw some light on the history of the royalists above-named.

Robert Dickenson of Peterborough

The Dickenson family were papists or reputed so to be, for when their fines were paid and estates discharged, they appear as petitioners to contract for their purchase. This family had long resided in Peterborough. In 1541, Roger Dickenson was a witness in a suit between Horsman, the crown bailiff of the town, and Abbot Chambers, who was unwilling to surrender the bailiwick. Robert, the delinquent, appears to have been his great-grandson. His petition, dated 23 June, 1646, says “that he was unfortunately drawne [The royalists balloted for service in the field] to beare arms for his Matie and being in Newarke when that garrison was lately surrendered, humbly prays that he may enjoy the benefit of the articles agreed upon the reduction thereof.”

The particular of his estate is as follows:

25 Feb., 1646.     A true perticular of all the estate reall and personall of Robert Dickenson of Peterborough in the countie of Northampton Gent. For wch he desires to compound.

He is seised in ffee to him and his heires of and in two messuages & tenements with thappurtenences lyeing and being in Peterborough aforesaid of the yearly value before these troubles of –– 7li 0 0. [The superscript li is an abbreviation of the Latin libra, pound or librae, pounds, which is also the source of the £ sign in modern use.]

He is seised of a copyhold estate of inheritance of and in eleaven customary of copyhold mesuages or tenements scituate and being in Peterborough aforesd of the yearely value before these troubles of 17li 0 0 out of which the compounder payes yearely to the Dean and Chapter of Peterborough the sum of iiijli [£4].

The compounder hath noe personall estate.

He is indebted unto severall persons by Bond 40li.

There is due unto him in arrears of rent 10li.

This is a true particular of all my estate reall and personal for wch I onely desire to compound to free the same from sequestration  And I doe submit unto and undertake to satisfy such fine as shall be imposed on me by the Committee for composition with Delinquents at Goldsmith Hall in order to the freedom and discharge of my person and estate.

Robert Dickenson.

In 1646, his fine was fixed at £60, one sixth the value of his estate. He is described as of Peterborough and Canwick, co. Linc. He had a brother Henry who served the King three months at Colchester with horse and arms.

Thomas Styles

The Styles family occupied a good position in the Liberty. Margaret Styles was grandmother of the Captain. On July 17, 1656, she made her will: –

“I Margaret Styles of Werrington within the diocese of Peterborough bequeathe my soule to Almighty God and my body when it plesyth God to buried in the common berying place in Peterborough [cemetery. This was at the east end of the Cathedral.]  Item I bequeath to Thomas Styles my son and xls [£10] and my freeholde at Helpston. My best brorde cloth to the highe aulter in Werrington.”

The Captain’s fine at one-sixth of his estate, according to Newark Articles, was fixed at £242 10s., more than his “particular” seems to warrant: –

A particular of the estate of Thomas Styles of Paston in coy Northampton for which he desires to compound.

He is seised of an estate taile of certaine lands and tenements in Paston aforesaid worth yearly 30 0 0.

And is seized for two lives of certain other lands there held by two several leases thone of the Bishop of Peterborough and thother of the Dean and Chapter there worth over and above the rents the yearly sum of 20 0 0.

And holds certain lands of his own life as tenant by the curtesie in Spaulding in coy Lincolne of the yearly value of 35 0 0.

And is seised of an estate in the fee of certain lands in the parish of Weston in coy Lincoln of the yearly value of 20 0 0.

And as to the petitioners estate in Lincolneshire the Committee refuse to suspend the sequestration upon suggestion that he is a papist albeit yr petnr was never indicted convicted or suspected thereof as may appear by these affidavits and certificate.

These are to certifie all whom these may concerne that Thomas Styles of Walton gent. Was before these unfortunate distracted tymes a gentleman of qualitye livinge amongst us and a true professor of the Protestant Religion and a just exerciser thereof both in publique and private wch he exprest in his dutiful service everie Lords day and in the religious education of his familie and in wch true religion we doe verilie believe the sayd Thomas doth firmly in his conscience mayneteyne.

In witness whereof being requested we could doe no lesse but certifie under our handes this instant tenthe day of September 1646.

Robert Laxton minister ibidem [in that place]                   Robart Henson

Willm Sumner                                                              John Woodfine

John Wildbore                                                              John ffoster [ff is an archaic way of writing the capital F.]

Gregory Styles Jur                                                      Edward Prier

Willm Pryer                                                                              the mark x of ffrancis Sutton

John Stevens

There is a peculiar jurisdiction for the Liberties of Peterborough commonly called Borough Socon. And the Justices of Peace within the said Liberty have tyme out of mind hadd Commissions of the Peace Oyer and Terminer and Goale Delivery. And Thomas Styles of Walton within the said Liberty in the county of Northampton gent. Hath not for the space of nine yeares past either binne convicted presented or complayned of for Recusancy.

                              Dated the xxiiijth day of July, Anno Dni 1649

                                                Pr Godfridum Wildbore clicum

                                                                        Pacis libertatis Peterborough prdt. [prædictis = aforesaid]

The Pratts of Overton and Whittlesey

Millicent Pratt, a papist, anticipated the sequestration of his estate by sale. He held Whaplode Manor and lands at Whittlesey, at Cherry Orton and at Dogsthorpe. His estate came before the omittee in the petition of Anthony Pratt the younger, of Whittlesey, who was seized in the fee of lands and rents to the yearly value before the wars of £13 17s., and was posessed of a horse and wearing apparel to the value of £11. He had bought the land from Millicent Pratt, but his title was called into question by Robert Edwards, of Stibbington, who in his petition, 1665,

Begs the discharge from sequestration of copyhold lands called ”Caules Croft,” in Whittlesey surrendered 12 years ago, when petitioner was imprisoned at Huntingdon for debt, to Milicent Pratt of Orton, for payment of petitioner’s debts, but Pratt having got posession neglected to pay the debts and suffered him to be in prison 3 years till his release was procured by others.

The Committee made an order for the parties to try the title at law; and the papist deeming it prudent to keep out of the way, Edward’s claim was allowed and the sequestration discharged.

There are several references and reports about this estate; an example shows how searching an enquiry was made to check the evasion of delinquents.

To the Honble. Commrs. For Compounding &c sitting at

                              Haberdashers Hall, London these present [S.P. Interreg., Comm. For Delinquents, 136.] ---

Gentlemen

We findinge incumbrances uppon the whole estate of Millicent Pratt lyeing in Orton Waterville als [alias or aka] Cherry Orton sequestered for his recusancy and delinquency did in obedience to or [our] instructions suspend ye rents in ye tennants hands according as we menconed in or returnes sent up to yor honrs. Since wch we findeing nothing done by them in order to yor allowing of the said incumbrances did about 3 months after summon the tennants and occupiers of ye sd estate to pay in their rents according to or instructions for that purpose. Upon which sumons Mr. Anthony Pratt one of ye sd tenants and occupiers appeared to us and pretended [claimed]  that there had bene an endeavor to cleere the sd estate and alleged ye reason why it could not be effected was because or sd return could not be found with you and then engaged that in case ye said incumbrances were not allowed of by yor honors and an order obtained for that purpose and delivered to us within one month then next following, he the sd Anthony Pratt would pay both ye Michs rent 1650 and Lady day rent 1651 for ye whole estate notwithstanding wch engagement ye sd Anthony hath failed to procure such order or pay such rent. We did therefore uppon ye 12 of this present february repaire to ye sd Anthony Prats house in Orton afsd and seized  all such cattle as we found ther uppon ye ground for ye arrears of 3 halfeyears expired at Michs last, amd are about to let ye tilth and pease land forthwith least ye season of ye yeare should be lost according to ye 32 clause of or first instruccons doe also returne you ye name of ye said Anthony Pratt for one who hath neglected and refused to pay ye money due to ye Common Wealth but by this way of compulsion. And for as much as since the seizure and renewall of ye said goods Mr. Millicent Pratt of Rutland brother of the sd Anthony with some or [other] persons doe lay claime to part of the said cattle pretending [claiming] that they were put there to joisting [dialect word for gistment, the taking in of cattle for pasture in exchange for a fee (OED see joist v 2. See also gisement 1)], We humbly crave yor direction whether if upon good testimony theis proving the cattle so claimed to be theirs we may deliver them ye same again or whether wee ought to sell them (the whole distress so taken not amounting to ye arrears). Thus, we entreat you wd be pleased to resolve us with what speed you may ye cattle, in the interim lyeing undisposed of. Gentn, we here confess a mistake in or returning this estate of Mr. Millicent Pratt, formerly mencioning it to lye in Orton Longville and also in ye particular and ye vallew thereof; all wch we hope to amend in or next returne wch we intend and shall endeavor to accomplish accord to the tenor of yor lre and craving yor pardon we subscribe orselves.               Your most obedient servants

John Leete.    Richd Pigot. 

Huntingdon

Febry ye 18 1651.

It is not recorded that any fine was imposed on Mr. Pratt. He had some interest in the Committee, for their county valuer, Mr. Daniel Reading, had become, with Anthony Pratt the elder, a joint owner of Whaplode Manor by purchase from Millicent Pratt. This position of Mr. Reading accounts for the following letter: --

To his much honord ffrend Mr. Reading at his house

                        Jourdanes Hall these present ------

Sir,

I haveing beene much bound to you for many former favousrs I cannot well satisfie you as yet according to my mind being disturbed by the sequestrators nd tenants of my land I have compounded for lying in Wittlesea and though I have fully payed (as you know and by your help) the whole composition for the sayd lands and in due time and for that end had an order out of the court for the freeing of the same wch I have not only shewed but delivered to them wch they not only disobey but hold me from the profits of hte same. My humble entreaty to you si that will you advise my father what is best to do in it as also to doe me what favour you can that i may injoy my right and if I live. I shall not onely requite you but rest as I am bound                       your obliged servant

Anthoney Pratt.

I have busines that I cannot come to myself as yet but betwixt this and the next terme I will waite on you. I have sent you my order and their warrant upon my former order; from Cherry Orton Hall, this 27 of April 1651.

John Bourn.

Delinquents were not safe when their estates were discharged by the Committee for Compounding. They might be assessed by the Committee for the Advance of Money. This Committee was established by Parliament in 1642 for the purpose of furnishing the sinews of war. They were to obtain loans of money for the public service. Repayment was guaranteed by the public faith of the Kingdom with 8 per cent. Interest. The assessments were made on 1/20 of real and 1/5 of personal estate, were enforced by distress, and sold ”by the candle.” Party distinction was ignored at first, but after 1645, only delinquents were assessed. The orders of this Committee are preserved. In May, 1651 they made this order: ---

In the case of John Bourne of Ufford gent. Concerning an assessment upon him for his 20th part upon perusal of the perticuler of his estate and calculating the sum the 20th part doth amount unto the some of fifty five pounds. It is ordered that he do within fourteen days pay to Mr. Dawson our treasurer the sum of twenty one pounds, he shall then have a comission into the country to examine him to his debts according to course and he do make proof of what he hath paid for his 5th and 20th part in the country which shall be defaulted.

Notes on others of the delinquents will be given in a subsequent Part. [This appeared as article 860, in Part 47: October 1900. RJP]

L. Gaches.

 [There are chronologies of events nationally and nearer Lincolnshire, which might be useful in providing a context for the above information.]


This thread continues in FNQ860   FNQ