PACKER, William (fl.1644-63), of Theobalds, Cheshunt, Herts.

Military: trooper (parlian.), c. 1642; lt. of horse by Mar. 1644; capt. by Aug. 1644; maj. by Apr. 1652 – Feb. 1658, Apr.-June 1659. Dep. maj.-gen. Bucks., Herts. and Oxon. Feb. 1656-c.Feb. 1657.Abbott, Writings and Speeches, iv. 102. Col. 30 June-12 Oct. 1659, 13 Oct. 1659-Jan. 1660.C.H. Firth, ‘The raising of the Ironsides’, TRHS n.s. xiii. 29; Manchester Quarrel, 59; SP28/25, f. 538; CSP Dom. 1651–2, p. 209; CJ vii. 699b, 796a.

Central: commr. law reform, 17 Jan. 1652.CJ vii. 74a; M. Cotterell, ‘Interregnum law reform: the Hale commission of 1652’, EHR, lxxxiii. 692–3. Judge, probate of wills, 8 Apr. 1653. Commr. approbation of public preachers, 20 Mar. 1654.A. and O. Member, cttee. relief of Piedmont Protestants, 4 Jan. 1656.CSP Dom. 1655–6, p. 100. Commr. security of protector, Scotland 27 Nov. 1656.A. and O.

Local: j.p. Herts. 1652–9;Herts. County Recs. vi. 524. Woodstock 1 Apr. 1656–20 Aug. 1660;C181/6, pp. 157, 331. Oxon. 8 July 1656–?Mar. 1660;C231/6, p. 340. St Albans borough and liberty 15 July 1656–18 Sept. 1660;C181/6, pp. 179, 181, 396. Mdx. 3 Oct. 1657–?Mar. 1660.C231/6, p. 376. Judge, relief of poor prisoners, Herts. 5 Oct. 1653. Commr. ejecting scandalous ministers, 28 Aug. 1654;A. and O. securing peace of commonwealth, Bucks., Herts., Oxon. Feb. 1656;TSP iv. 573, 583, 595, 608. oyer and terminer, St Albans liberty 15 July 1656-aft. Oct. 1659;C181/6, pp. 178, 397. Home circ. June 1659–10 July 1660;C181/6, p. 373. sewers, River Lea, Herts., Essex and Mdx 4 Mar. 1657;C181/6, p. 221. assessment, Herts. 9 June 1657; militia, 26 July 1659.I.J. Gentles, ‘The debenture market and military purchasers of crown lands, 1649–60’ (London Univ. PhD thesis, 1969), 318; A. and O.

Civic: freeman, Oxf. Aug. 1656; Hertford Jan. 1659.Oxford Council Acts 1626–65, 213; Burton’s Diary, iv. 251–2.