407,336
edits
England Quarter Session Records: Difference between revisions
no edit summary
(upgraded article with NI) |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
''[[England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[England Court Records|England Court Records]]'' | |||
Quarter Session records started to be kept as early as the 13th century but most from the 16th century. These records dealt with the everyday man. Court was held four times a year. Anyone with a grievance could complain, no matter their social status. A rich variety of records exist, but not for all places and times. Among the records are: | Quarter Session records started to be kept as early as the 13th century but most from the 16th century. These records dealt with the everyday man. Court was held four times a year. Anyone with a grievance could complain, no matter their social status. A rich variety of records exist, but not for all places and times. Among the records are: | ||
| Line 39: | Line 41: | ||
*Various oaths for conformity and allegiance. | *Various oaths for conformity and allegiance. | ||
In 1888 the county councils took the administrative load off the Quarter Sessions but the latter retained their licensing functions. | In 1888 the county councils took the administrative load off the Quarter Sessions but the latter retained their licensing functions. | ||
=== Judicial cases === | === Judicial cases === | ||
| Line 86: | Line 88: | ||
<br>An index is available for Sussex Quarter Sessions criminal convictions 1810-1854 on {{FHL|685400|item|disp=films 1657818-21}}. I found five Jupps and the index gives surname, first name, residence, occupation, age, place of offence, victim, court, date, case number, document reference, plea, committing magistrate, offence, sentence and any comments. | <br>An index is available for Sussex Quarter Sessions criminal convictions 1810-1854 on {{FHL|685400|item|disp=films 1657818-21}}. I found five Jupps and the index gives surname, first name, residence, occupation, age, place of offence, victim, court, date, case number, document reference, plea, committing magistrate, offence, sentence and any comments. | ||
Cases were referred from local petty and borough sessions, where they existed, and the Quarter Sessions heard disputes and claims regarding everything from apprenticeships and soldiers’ pensions to public nuisances. Many types of cases were routed to the new police courts during the 19th century but Quarter Session continued to sit as criminal courts for non-capital offences until 1971. Almost anything can be found in Quarter Sessions since they encompass most human failings. However, capital offences such as murder and treason usually went to the Assizes, and divorce, international relations, probate, and shipwrecks at sea went to special courts. | Cases were referred from local petty and borough sessions, where they existed, and the Quarter Sessions heard disputes and claims regarding everything from apprenticeships and soldiers’ pensions to public nuisances. Many types of cases were routed to the new police courts during the 19th century but Quarter Session continued to sit as criminal courts for non-capital offences until 1971. Almost anything can be found in Quarter Sessions since they encompass most human failings. However, capital offences such as murder and treason usually went to the Assizes, and divorce, international relations, probate, and shipwrecks at sea went to special courts. | ||
=== Court Procedure === | === Court Procedure === | ||
| Line 135: | Line 137: | ||
*East Sussex Quarter Sessions 1810-1854 by the Friends of the East Sussex Record Office.<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Quarter Session Records (National Institute)," ''The National Institute for Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/England_Quarter_Session_Records_%28National_Institute%29.</ref> | *East Sussex Quarter Sessions 1810-1854 by the Friends of the East Sussex Record Office.<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Quarter Session Records (National Institute)," ''The National Institute for Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/England_Quarter_Session_Records_%28National_Institute%29.</ref> | ||
=== Location of Records === | === Location of Records === | ||
Records are housed in county or council offices in England. Few have been indexed but they are usually arranged by date. Some are on film in the Family History Library. Search for your county of interest in the [https://www.familysearch.org/#form=catalog FamilySearch Catalog] for:<br> | Records are housed in county or council offices in England. Few have been indexed but they are usually arranged by date. Some are on film in the Family History Library. Search for your county of interest in the [https://www.familysearch.org/#form=catalog FamilySearch Catalog] for:<br> | ||
| Line 145: | Line 147: | ||
[[England, Kent, Quarter Sessions and Court Files (FamilySearch Historical Records)|England, Kent, Quarter Sessions and Court Files (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | [[England, Kent, Quarter Sessions and Court Files (FamilySearch Historical Records)|England, Kent, Quarter Sessions and Court Files (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | ||
== Examples == | == Examples == | ||
=== Sessions Cases === | === Sessions Cases === | ||
| Line 286: | Line 288: | ||
|} | |} | ||
Many coroners’ records have been destroyed with most surviving ones from 1750 being at county archives, often with the Quarter Sessions records, and there is a 75-year (formerly 100 years) closure period. Harrison (''Did She Fall or Was She Pushed?'' Genealogists’ Magazine Vol 20 #8, page 280-281) and Beech (''Coroners’ Records''. Genealogists’ Magazine Vol 20 #9, page 618) both provide refreshing insight into obtaining coroners’ records. Gibson and Rogers have provided a finding aid which has an excellent introduction. Local newspapers are often more available and frequently give more detail since witness statements usually no longer exist, although there are many at the City of London Record Office (Clippingdale). Records of inquests handed to the assize justices, those for the Palatinates of Chester and Lancaster, and those for prisoners who died in Kings Bench Prison (mostly debtors) or the Millbank Penitentiary are at TNA. There are some indexes, for example for Sussex 1485-1688 by Hunnisett (''Sussex Coroners’ Inquests 1485-1558.'' Sussex Record Society).<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Examples of Quarter Sessions Cases (National Institute)," ''The National Institute for Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/England_Examples_of_Quarter_Sessions_Cases_%28National_Institute%29.</ref> | Many coroners’ records have been destroyed with most surviving ones from 1750 being at county archives, often with the Quarter Sessions records, and there is a 75-year (formerly 100 years) closure period. Harrison (''Did She Fall or Was She Pushed?'' Genealogists’ Magazine Vol 20 #8, page 280-281) and Beech (''Coroners’ Records''. Genealogists’ Magazine Vol 20 #9, page 618) both provide refreshing insight into obtaining coroners’ records. Gibson and Rogers have provided a finding aid which has an excellent introduction. Local newspapers are often more available and frequently give more detail since witness statements usually no longer exist, although there are many at the City of London Record Office (Clippingdale). Records of inquests handed to the assize justices, those for the Palatinates of Chester and Lancaster, and those for prisoners who died in Kings Bench Prison (mostly debtors) or the Millbank Penitentiary are at TNA. There are some indexes, for example for Sussex 1485-1688 by Hunnisett (''Sussex Coroners’ Inquests 1485-1558.'' Sussex Record Society).<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Examples of Quarter Sessions Cases (National Institute)," ''The National Institute for Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/England_Examples_of_Quarter_Sessions_Cases_%28National_Institute%29.</ref> | ||
=== Gaols === | === Gaols === | ||
| Line 510: | Line 512: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| '''Berkshire Quarter Sessions 1788''' {{FHL|265658|item|disp=Film 0088144}}<br>''John Hobbs in keeping a dog of a very fierce and furious nature to<br>the great danger of the public.''<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Further Examples of Quarter Sessions Cases (National Institute)," ''The National Institute for Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/England_Further_Examples_of_Quarter_Sessions_Cases_%28National_Institute%29.</ref> | | '''Berkshire Quarter Sessions 1788''' {{FHL|265658|item|disp=Film 0088144}}<br>''John Hobbs in keeping a dog of a very fierce and furious nature to<br>the great danger of the public.''<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Further Examples of Quarter Sessions Cases (National Institute)," ''The National Institute for Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/England_Further_Examples_of_Quarter_Sessions_Cases_%28National_Institute%29.</ref> | ||
|} | |} | ||
<br> | |||
=== Parish Officers === | === Parish Officers === | ||
| Line 654: | Line 656: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| '''Essex Quarter Sessions 1827''' {{FHL|110265|item|disp=Film 0853352}}<br>''It is ordered by the Court that the treasurers of this County or one<br>of them do pay to Mr Matthew Gardner the sum of seventeen<br>pounds fourteen shillings and six pence being the amount of his<br>late Bill for repairing the Bridge called Long Bridge situate in<br>Little Coggeshall in the said County, which Bill hath been now<br>produced to and allowed by this Court.''<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Additional Examples of Quarter Sessions Cases (National Institute)," ''The National Institute for Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/England_Additional_Examples_of_Quarter_Sessions_Cases_%28National_Institute%29.</ref> | | '''Essex Quarter Sessions 1827''' {{FHL|110265|item|disp=Film 0853352}}<br>''It is ordered by the Court that the treasurers of this County or one<br>of them do pay to Mr Matthew Gardner the sum of seventeen<br>pounds fourteen shillings and six pence being the amount of his<br>late Bill for repairing the Bridge called Long Bridge situate in<br>Little Coggeshall in the said County, which Bill hath been now<br>produced to and allowed by this Court.''<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Additional Examples of Quarter Sessions Cases (National Institute)," ''The National Institute for Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/England_Additional_Examples_of_Quarter_Sessions_Cases_%28National_Institute%29.</ref> | ||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 837: | Line 838: | ||
|} | |} | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
{{reflist}} | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
[[Category:England|Quarter Session Records]] | [[Category:England|Quarter Session Records]] [[Category:Court records of England]] | ||