Welsh Journals

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Denbighshire has a numerous collection, deposited in the National Library of Wales (Chirk Castle Collection.) The other fortunate county is Caernarvonshire. The list is in the Quarter Sessions records in the County Record Office, Caernarvon. Though the applications themselves have much repetition indirect information may be extracted when the applicant gives the name of his company commander, or his colonel, and possibly mentions some of the engagements in which he participated. This information can now be supplemented by the Brecknockshire Quarter Sessions Order Book, 1670- 1685. Though the original is kept by the county's Clerk of the Peace, the National Library of Wales have rendered students of the period a service by providing a bound typescript copy.3 The Order Book is valuable as it presents the magistrates' point of view as distinct from that of the maymed soldiers. Entries affecting the pensions are scattered indiscriminately through the Order Book mingling with references to decayed bridges, licensing of ale-houses, care of orphans and all the medley of business which occupied the time of the court. The names of five officers are brought to light. The pensioners roll is headed by Captain Edward Davies and Major Robert Mainwaringe; Colonel John Jeffreys and Captain Edward Games4 are magistrates. One soldier mentions serving in the regiment of Major Charles Hughes, evidently a Brecknockshire man. The military rank of the two magistrates is frequently discarded in favour of 'esquire' which would carry greater prestige in time of peace. Major Mainwaringe and Captain Davies were evidently not eligible for assistance from the Indigent Officers fund of £ 60,000 which Charles II established for their relief.5 Maimed soldiers were not automatically pensioners. Each applicant had first to present a statement and certificate for consideration by the Bench. There was a waiting list. Fresh petitioners continued to apply, their later infirmities doubtless due less to old wounds than to decrepitude attributable to active service. If accepted, a soldier received his place on the roll 'on the next fall' meaning, presumably, a fall out (? due to death). On one occasion the Bench required every petitioner to parade before them for examination, the order adding that the Treasurer was required to suspend payments until stipulation had been observed. Magistrates guarded against malingerers and imposters. All maimed soldiers in the county had to appear before the General Sessions that 'none might receive pension but by sufficient order'. There was an exception in the case of those who because of wounds received 'in the warrs' should 'well deserve' their pension. Only two lists of payments are recorded in the book: one in 1675, the other in 1682. The former contains 37 names, the sum distributed being £ 78. A further nine names and the sum of £ 14 distributed was inserted on a page before the 'first'. The second list contains 36 names