England Additional Examples of Quarter Sessions Cases - International Institute

Parish Officers

Appointments of parish officials, as well as scrutiny of their reports and their accounts fell to the county clerk and magistrates.

All adult males took their turn as unpaid parish officers, and were reimbursed for expenses. An important advantage to holding such an office for a year was that it conferred the right of settlement in the parish, and the holder could not be evicted later if he fell on hard times.

Berkshire Quarter Sessions 1795 Film 0088145
John Elisha of Shinfield, farmer, is appointed one of the Chief
Constables of the Hundred of Charlton in the room of [taking over
from] Thomas Toms.

Kingston, Surrey Quarter Sessions 1793 Film 0993053
Persons qualified to serve the office of Tithingman for the parish of Windlesham in the stead of James Lane.

Joseph Chapman - shopkeeper
Richard Dale - carpenter
*Edward Hammond - yeoman

Bromley Petty Sessions 3^rd May 1784
Present: John Cator esq., Benj. Harene esq. Film 2145577

The persons whose names are hereunder written were appointed
Overseers of the Poor of the respective parishes under which they are hereafter named (viz)

Bromley	Keston	St. Pauls Cray
Will^m Lascoe	John Wiffen	Phillip Mosyer
George Shorter	Tho^s Chapman	Edw^d Everest

Beckenham	Hayes	St. Mary Cray
William Langlands	Will^m Bath	Chris^r Farrant
George Barringer	Will: Spencer	Tho^s Chapman

Chelsfield	West Wickham	Orpington
John Hills	Edwd Hudson	John Glover
Edw^d Everet	John Cooper	W^m Youmans

Knockholt	Bexley	Cudham
James Collins	William Burr	Bath^w Jackson
Will^m Firminger	William Phipps	Anth^y Crane

North Cray	Down	Footscray
John Bannister	John Smith	Rob^t Woodmass
Rob^t Eves	Edw^d Elliott	John Curteis

Farnborough	Chislehurst
Geo: Whiffen	Stephen Brooker
Stephen Cook	Saml Rush esq.

Parish Officers’ Reports Faversham Borough Session Files Film 1851039
October 14 1794
John Benstead made diligent survey of meats and found them sweat and good for mans body and not very fatt at times in the market
Presenter of Butchers John Benstead.

1798
Wee the Ale Conners have made sirch and found on Sep 11 at the
House of W^m Feakens at the Flowerdeluce, the Bear [sic - beer]
very week stale and thick, not fit for the body of men.
Likewise in Sep 12 at the House of Wm Black at the Herliquin the
bear was so week thick and sower wee could not drinck it at all.
Heny Anderson, Tho^s Haywood X his mark

October 23 1784
The Presenter of West Street having a complaint made to him by
Mr Rich^d Spratbrow that road before his door being raised so high
when it rains causeth the filth to drean in to the well which makes
it unfit for serves. Tho^s Sibon junior.

Roads and Bridges

Sessions records contain matters relating to the creation and maintenance of the main roads and bridges.

Berkshire Quarter Sessions 1799 Film 0088145
Philip Mate of Thatcham, keeper of a turnpike gate fined 40/- for
taking a greater toll than he was authorized.

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|- | Essex Quarter Sessions 1827 Film 0853352
It is ordered by the Court that the treasurers of this County or one
of them do pay to Mr Matthew Gardner the sum of seventeen
pounds fourteen shillings and six pence being the amount of his
late Bill for repairing the Bridge called Long Bridge situate in
Little Coggeshall in the said County, which Bill hath been now
produced to and allowed by this Court.
|}

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Information in this Wiki page is excerpted from the online course English: Court Records-Criminal, Civil and Ecclesiastical offered by The International Institute of Genealogical Studies. To learn more about this course or other courses available from the Institute, see our website. We can be contacted at wiki@genealogicalstudies.com

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The original content for this article was contributed by The International Institute of Genealogical Studies in June 2012. It is an excerpt from their course English: Court Records-Criminal, Civil and Ecclesiastical by Dr. Penelope Christensen. The Institute offers over 200 comprehensive genealogy courses for a fee ($).