VINCENT, Walter I (1631-80), of Truro, Cornw.

Vincent’s grandfather was a younger son of the Battens family. His father was a Royalist in the Civil War, compounding on the Truro articles for £230 13s.10d. Vincent himself, a barrister, took up residence in Truro, and was returned for the borough to the second Protectorate Parliament, the first of the family to sit. He was among the Cornish gentry who met at Truro to demand a free Parliament in December 1659.3Gilbert, Paroch. Hist. Cornw. i. 209; Cal. Comm. Comp. 1926; M. Coate, Cornw. in Gt. Civil War, 308.

Vincent’s record in local government and in Parliament clearly exempted him from the Long Parliament ordinance against the candidature of Cavaliers or their sons at the general election of 1660. Although there was a double return at Truro, his name was on both indentures and he took his seat at once. He was included on Lord Wharton’s list of friends in the Convention, but his only possible committee was to recommend alternatives to the duty on woollen manufactures (23 July). He did not stand in 1661, and was removed from the commission of the peace.4CJ, viii. 12.

Vincent added considerably to his inherited estate, acquiring Trelavan in Mevagissey and Tregavethan in Kea. He was returned for Mitchell at the first election of 1679, and classed by Shaftesbury as ‘doubtful’. He was appointed only to the committee to examine the disbandment accounts, and was absent from the division on the first exclusion bill, though Lord Huntingdon marked him as a court supporter. He was re-elected in August but never took his seat in the second Exclusion Parliament. He died shortly before 7 July 1680, when Sir Peter Killigrew succeeded as recorder of Falmouth. According to family tradition, his death occurred at Exeter while he was on his way to London to take up an appointment as baron of the Exchequer, although there was no vacancy at the time and he was not even a bencher of his Inn.5Gilbert, ii. 324; iii. 324; CSP Dom. 1679-80, p. 540; Boase and Courtney, Bibl. Cornub. 825.