SARGER, Walter (by 1488-1535), of Wells, Som.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-1558, ed. S.T. Bindoff, 1982
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1512
1515
1523

Family and Education

b. by 1488 s. of John Sarger (d.1490/91) of Taunton ?by Isabel. m. by June 1507, Maud, da. of Nicholas Trappe of Wells, at least 2 ch.4

Offices Held

Auditor, Wells 1509-d., constable 1510-11, member of the Twenty-Four, 18 Sept. 1511-d., master 1511-12, 1516-17, 1523-4, keeper, altar of St. Catherine 1515-17, rent collector 1523-4; commr. subsidy, Som., Wells. 1523.5

Biography

Walter Sarger came from a family of Taunton, where his father, or perhaps his uncle, John Sarger the younger, had been constable between 1470 and 1485. This John Sarger’s elder brother and namesake appears to have been a rich man; he died leaving a large quantity of silver and plate to his son Walter, his daughter Anastasia and his brother whom he appointed executor.6

Nothing is known of Walter Sarger’s inheritance other than in these goods. In September 1509 he was admitted to the freedom without an entry fine because he was married to the daughter of a freeman, and two years later he joined the governing body of the Twenty-Four but paid 20s on refusing to undertake the office of rent collector. Sarger’s first term as master began in the autumn of 1511, and he was elected to Parliament on the following 9 Jan. He also sat in the Parliament of 1515, doubtless in accordance with the King’s letter to Wells requesting the return of the same two Members as before, and again in 1523. For his service at Westminster and the Blackfriars on each of these occasions he received the city’s usual payment of 12d. a day. For the subsidy of 1523 he was assessed (as living in the High Street) on goods valued at £50.7

Sarger must have died shortly before 5 July 1535, the date on which another citizen was chosen to fill his place among the Twenty-Four. A deed of 1544 describes him as late tenant of 12 acres of land belonging to the manor of Wookey.8

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: M. K. Dale

Notes

  • 1. Wells act bk. 2, p. 266.
  • 2. Ibid. 2, p. 280.
  • 3. Ibid. 2, p. 312.
  • 4. Date of birth estimated from admission as freeman. PCC 37 Milles, 21, 34 Bennett; CPR, 1467-77, p. 72.
  • 5. Wells act bk. 2, pp. 257-382 passim; LP Hen. VIII, iii.
  • 6. PCC 37 Milles; Som. Arch. and Nat. Hist. Soc. lv. 54.
  • 7. Wells act bk. 2, pp. 254-312 passim; E179/169/156.
  • 8. Wells act bk. 2, p. 382; T. S. Holmes, Wookey, 57.