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Archiver > STEER > 2004-11 > 1099340137


From: "John Steer" <>
Subject: Re: [STEER] Walter SHERE - seventeenth century delinquent
Date: Mon, 1 Nov 2004 20:15:37 -0000
References: <000801c4bf7a$1faf3d30$980c883e@your904q9zk0ar>


A Delinquent was one who had taken the side of the Royalists in the English
Civil War, which in 1648 was not long over. Although this civil war was
between Parliament and the Monarchy it was largely about religious freedom
for the recusants who dissented from the official protestant Church of
England and were known later as dissenters. The term recusant had applied
to the Catholics but one thing that could unite the English then was their
fear and hatred of these 'papists'. Catholics preferred, if anything, the
Royalists and the Puritanism of the Church after the war was very
anti-catholic, which is why 'papists and delinquents'.are spoken of in the
same breath.

I can't remember hearing of "The Committee for Compounding" (asleep in
lessons probably) but it was "The Committee for Compounding with
Delinquents", which drew up lists of people who were to be fined, or if they
defaulted had their estates sequestered though there was an effective
appeals procedure. After years of war the control of the Delinquents seems
to have been through financial penalty and even seen as a source of revenue.

Most likely this Capt. Walter SHERE will have more records referring to him
that could together show whether he was a SHERE or a STERE. I suspect not,
in the secretary hand of the day the H would have been lower case which
would not easily have been read as a 't', but their 'h' doesn't look like an
'h' today. Alternatively the secretary could be hard of hearing.

John Steer, Dorking, England

> I wondered if this chap was really a STEER. I imagine delinquent meant
refusal to accept the rule of parliament.
>
> Capt. Walter SHERE of Bridgevel is listed as a notorious delinquent and
very violent in the 1648 return made by Robert SPRY who was solicitor to the
County Commissioners for Devon, north division. SPRY wrote as follows:-
>
> April 6 1648, Plymouth
>
> Robert SPRY, solicitor to the County Commissioners for Devon, north
division
>
> To the Committee for Compounding
>
> On your order for a return of the names of the notorious delinquents in
the various counties, I speedily prepared it, but ten times more might have
been done had the county commissioners divided themselves according to
ordinance; for in 200 parishes, of 50 miles long, the committee have not sat
14 days these 2 years, which has been a great remora in the service, and a
burden to the country and all honest people willing to give information. I
have often spoken to them, but they say they want committee men for this
north division. I beg you to remove this obstacle by appointing some.
>
> Also a list of Papists and delinquents sequestered in North Devon since
the happy reducement of the county to the obedience of Parliament in May
1646 (I don't have details of this list)



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