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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
Seventeenth
Century Civil War
834 – Delinquents around
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
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
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
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
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
Thomas Styles
The Styles family occupied a good
position in the
“I Margaret Styles of Werrington
within the diocese of
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
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
Dated
the xxiiijth day of July, Anno Dni 1649
Pr
Godfridum Wildbore clicum
Pacis libertatis
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,
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