Humphrey Walrond

Humphrey Walrond (c. 1600 – c. 1670), was Deputy-Governor of Barbados.

Walrond, born about 1600, was the eldest son of Humphrey Walrond of Sea in the parish of Ilminster, Somerset, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of John Colles and Anne (née Thynne) of Barton, Somerset. He must be distinguished from his first cousin, Humphrey, eldest son of William Walrond of Islebrewers, who entered at Wadham College, Oxford, on 8 May 1618, was demy of Magdalen from 1618 to 1624, fought on the royalist side in the civil war, and compounded in 1646, having "come in" on the Oxford articles

Humphrey Walrond of Sea succeeded to the family estates on his father's death on 17 Feb. 1620–1. He sided with the royalists when the civil war broke out, but, according to the statement in his petition to compound, he accepted no commission from the king, and used his influence to protect those well affected to parliament from royalist soldiers; for this conduct he was robbed by the king's soldiers and driven into the garrison at Bridgwater. He appears, however, to have held the rank of colonel, though his name does not occur in Peacock's Lists, and after the Restoration he made his services in the royalist cause a claim to the favour of Charles II. He was given up as a hostage when Bridgwater surrendered to Fairfax on 23 July 1645, and was lodged in the Gatehouse, London. His petition to be allowed to compound, dated 28 Oct. 1645, was granted, and on 26 June following he was fined £350. On 20 March 1646–7 his wife petitioned that the estate might not be let to other tenants, as she was endeavouring to collect the fine; this also was granted, as was Walrond's request that his eldest son George might be included in the composition. On 3 Feb. 1650–1, however, the committee learnt that Walrond had sold his estate and gone to Barbados.

Walrond had actually reached Barbados in 1649, either with or preceded by his brother Edward, a lawyer. The island had hitherto enjoyed immunity from civil strife, but the execution of Charles I and arrival of many ruined cavaliers gave the Walronds an opportunity, which they were not slow to use, of turning "Little England", as Barbados was called, into a rallying point for the royalist cause. Their first step was to procure the dismissal from the island treasurership of Colonel Guy Molesworth and put in his place Major Byam, a nominee of their own. Their next project, a league with the royalist Bermudas, was thwarted; and, to alarm the cavaliers in Barbados, they spread a report that the Roundheads intended to put them all to the sword. They then procured an act of the Barbados assembly compelling every one to take an oath to defend the king; but the governor, Philip Bell, was induced to postpone its promulgation. The Walronds thereupon collected an armed force and marched on the "Bridge", as Bridgetown was then called; the governor was warned, but after arresting Humphrey Walrond, he weakly released him, and granted practically all that the insurgents demanded. Charles II was proclaimed on 8 May 1650.

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