Abstract:
The thesis looks at the gentry involved in county government in Herefordshire
during the reign of Charles I, then examines the effects of the Civil War
and studies the changes in the personnel of the administration during 1646-61. Herefordshire's economy, largely based on agriculture, was restricted by
geographical isolation and transportation problems. The county contained a large
Catholic minority. Puritanism was less widespread. The administration was controlled by twenty-five or so of the wealthier
families. These county gentry were often linked by marriages, and most of their
families had medieval roots in the shire. In 1640 they were united against the
King over the issues of Ship Money and the Council of Wales. By 1642 they had
divided along religious lines, with the majority supporting the King and the
established Church against a Puritan minority in the county on the side of
Parliament. Herefordshire was mostly under Royalist rule until the close of 1645, when
Hereford fell to Parliament's forces. The Presbyterians controlled the local
administration during 1646-8. A number of lesser gentry were now taking part in
county government, a trend that continued during the 1650s. Presbyterians were
removed from the administration in 1649, and a further purge of county government
in 1653 consolidated the authority of a radical Puritan minority, backed by
troops garrisoned at Hereford. After 1653 a gradual return of Presbyterian county gentry took place in the
local administration, although the radicals regained their dominance temporarily
after the fall of the Protectorate in 1659. The collapse of Army rule at the end
of 1659 led to the Presbyterians seizing control, and they supported the
Restoration in 1660. This was followed by a return of Royalists to county
government.
