530 Pomeroy v Wolston

530 POMEROY V WOLSTON

Thomas Pomeroy of Ingsdon, co. Devon, esq v Anthony Wolston of Newton Abbot, co. Devon, innholder

October 1639 - June 1640

Abstract

Pomeroy, a captain of a trained band, complained that Wolston gave him the lie in the presence of several gentlemen in September 1639 at Newton Abbot, Devon, telling him that 'he was a base fellow, and a base captain'. Process was granted on 12 October 1639 and both parties entered bonds; but no further proceedings survive. [For Pomeroy's prosecution of another man for a similar offence at nearby Wolborough, Devon, also in September 1639, see cause 529].

Initial proceedings

6/40, Petition

'Your petitioner, being at Newton Abbot in the county at Devon, in the moneth of September last past, in the company of divers gent. and others of good quality, and in conference together, one Anthony Woolston of Newton, inholder, pressed into theyr company, and (without any just provocation given) reviled your petitioner with most uncivil speeches, gave your petitioner the lye, and told him that he was a base fellow, and a base captain, your petitioner being a captayn of a trayne band within the county.'

Signed by Joseph Martyn

Petitioned that Woolston be brought to answer.

Maltravers granted process on 12 October 1639.

6/39, Plaintiff's bond

14 October 1639

Bound to appear 'in the Court in the Paynted Chamber within the pallace of Westminster'.

Signed by Joseph Martyn.

Sealed, subscribed and delivered in the presence of Humphrey Terrick.

5/107, Defendant's bond

10 June 1640

The defendant was described as of Newton Bushel, co. Devon, dyer.

That he was to 'appear in the Court in the Painted Chamber within the Pallace of Westminster'.

Signed by Anthony Wollston.

'Sealed, subscribed and delivered to Mr Thomas Payne procurator of the councel of Exon. in the presence of Thomas Johnson, Joannes Barnes, Geo Trosse'.

Signed Tho. Payne'.

Notes

Possibly a relative of the Hugh Pomeroy who was knighted and a royalist in arms during the civil wars.

P.R. Newman, Royalist officers in England and Wales, 1642-1660: A biographical dictionary (London, 1981), p. 300.

Barbara, daughter of Thomas Pomeroy of Ingsdon, esq, was contracted to marry Arthur Seccomb alias Thorne of North Petherwin parish, co. Devon. She later married a son of Philip Southcott.

F. T. Colby (ed.), The Visitation of the County of Devon in the year 1620 (Publications of the Harleian Society, 6, 1872), pp. 255, 268.

Documents

• Initial proceedings
  • Petition: 6/40 (12 Oct 1639)
  • Plaintiff's bond: 6/39 (14 Oct 1639)
  • Defendant's bond: 5/107 (10 Jun 1640)

People mentioned in the case

• Barnes, John
• Howard, Henry, baron Maltravers
• Johnson, Thomas
• Martyn, Joseph, lawyer (also Martin)
• Payne, Thomas
• Pomeroy, Barbara
• Pomeroy, Thomas, esq
• Seccomb alias Thorne, Arthur
• Southcott, Barbara
• Southcott, Philip
• Terrick, Humphrey
• Trosse, George
• Wolston, Anthony, innholder / dyer (also Woolston, Wollston)

Places mentioned in the case

• Devon
  • Ingsdon
  • Newton Abbot
  • Newton Bushel
  • Wolborough
• Middlesex
  • Westminster

Topics of the case

• civil war
• denial of gentility
• giving the lie
• insult before gentlemen
• military officer
• royalist
• trained band