407,336
edits
Assize Court Records: Difference between revisions
breadcrumb
(upgraded article with NI) |
(breadcrumb) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
''[[England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[England Court Records|Court Records]]'' | |||
The '''Courts of Assize''', or '''Assizes''', were periodic criminal courts held around [[England and Wales]] until 1972, when together with the [[England Quarter Session Records|Quarter Sessions]] they were abolished by the ''Courts Act 1971'' and replaced by a single permanent Crown Court. The Assizes heard the most serious cases, which were committed to it by the [[England Quarter Session Records|Quarter Sessions]] (local county courts held four times a year), while the more minor offences were dealt with summarily by Justices of the Peace in petty sessions (also known as Magistrates' Courts). | The '''Courts of Assize''', or '''Assizes''', were periodic criminal courts held around [[England and Wales]] until 1972, when together with the [[England Quarter Session Records|Quarter Sessions]] they were abolished by the ''Courts Act 1971'' and replaced by a single permanent Crown Court. The Assizes heard the most serious cases, which were committed to it by the [[England Quarter Session Records|Quarter Sessions]] (local county courts held four times a year), while the more minor offences were dealt with summarily by Justices of the Peace in petty sessions (also known as Magistrates' Courts). | ||
[[Image:Former Assize Court, Devizes.jpg|thumb|right|250px | [[Image:Former Assize Court, Devizes.jpg|thumb|right|250px]] | ||
The word assize refers to the sittings or sessions (Old French ''assises'') of the judges, known as "justices of assize", who were judges of the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice who travelled across the seven circuits (formerly, there were six) of England and Wales on commissions of "oyer and terminer", setting up court and summoning juries at the various Assize Towns. | The word assize refers to the sittings or sessions (Old French ''assises'') of the judges, known as "justices of assize", who were judges of the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice who travelled across the seven circuits (formerly, there were six) of England and Wales on commissions of "oyer and terminer", setting up court and summoning juries at the various Assize Towns. | ||
| Line 18: | Line 20: | ||
#West: Berkshire'''*''', Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Oxfordshire'''*''' | #West: Berkshire'''*''', Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Oxfordshire'''*''' | ||
'''*''' Transferred to Oxford circuit in 1540 | '''*''' Transferred to Oxford circuit in 1540 '''**'''Eventually Middlesex cases were held with the City of London cases at [http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/ Old Bailey] | ||
'''**'''Eventually Middlesex cases were held with the City of London cases at [http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/ Old Bailey] | |||
'''Chart: Assize Circuits and Special Jurisdictions''' | '''Chart: Assize Circuits and Special Jurisdictions''' | ||
| Line 198: | Line 199: | ||
The assize was held twice a year in the “rural” circuits, during Lent and Summer. By the mid-nineteenth century, as the criminal caseload grew, a Winter court was sometimes added. The Home “circuit” held court during the Winter. Judges would be involved in their court cases every winter, then many would travel to the other circuits during Lent and Summer. These courts would take place in towns with a jail known as "gaol" within the county. The circuit court could last up to 5 weeks depending on the number of cases being heard. | The assize was held twice a year in the “rural” circuits, during Lent and Summer. By the mid-nineteenth century, as the criminal caseload grew, a Winter court was sometimes added. The Home “circuit” held court during the Winter. Judges would be involved in their court cases every winter, then many would travel to the other circuits during Lent and Summer. These courts would take place in towns with a jail known as "gaol" within the county. The circuit court could last up to 5 weeks depending on the number of cases being heard. | ||
A few cases each year were referred from the outlying circuit to the Home courts. Most of the records are in Latin until 1733, and they are often abbreviated. | A few cases each year were referred from the outlying circuit to the Home courts. Most of the records are in Latin until 1733, and they are often abbreviated. | ||
=== Content === | === Content === | ||
| Line 207: | Line 208: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
'''Indictments at Huntingdon Assizes 20 Mar 1869'''<br>''John Driskell'' 40 hawker for stealing from the person of Mary Sawyer, one purse containing 20s at St. Neots.<br>''William George Savage'' 25 labourer and ''William Brown'' 27 carpenter for having willfully set fire to two stacks of straw and one stack of hay, the property of John Cullip at Ramsay on 12 Sep 1868.<br>''James Row'' 24 for the abduction of Elizabeth Norwood 16 at Huntingdon.<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Assize Court Records (National Institute)," ''The National Institute for Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/England_Assize_Court_Records_%28National_Institute%29.</ref> | '''Indictments at Huntingdon Assizes 20 Mar 1869'''<br>''John Driskell'' 40 hawker for stealing from the person of Mary Sawyer, one purse containing 20s at St. Neots.<br>''William George Savage'' 25 labourer and ''William Brown'' 27 carpenter for having willfully set fire to two stacks of straw and one stack of hay, the property of John Cullip at Ramsay on 12 Sep 1868.<br>''James Row'' 24 for the abduction of Elizabeth Norwood 16 at Huntingdon.<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Assize Court Records (National Institute)," ''The National Institute for Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/England_Assize_Court_Records_%28National_Institute%29.</ref> | ||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 229: | Line 231: | ||
*[http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/ www.oldbaileyonline.org.uk]- Almost 200,000 criminal trials at London’s central criminal court. | *[http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/ www.oldbaileyonline.org.uk]- Almost 200,000 criminal trials at London’s central criminal court. | ||
The absence of continuity and the decentralization of the itinerant court reflected in the compilation and custody of its records. As early as 1325, it was necessary to order that the rolls of the circuit judges be submitted to the Exchequer. Ten years later, it was law to surrender the records of each Michaelmas Term. Strict observance of these laws is doubtful. In the fifteenth century, it appeared that circuit records were handed from one presiding judge of the circuit to the next judge. However, gaol delivery records are numerous in the fourteenth and some of the fifteenth century. But in 1470, the records cease. It appears that the circuit rolls remained in the custody of the clerks of assize, and their survival became hazardous. Many clerks seemed to have adopted a radical solution: circuit records should be retained no longer than was required for current business. Most of the Midland Circuit records have virtually been exterminated. Almost all of the Elizabethan assize records for all circuits have been destroyed by accident and clerical weeding, except for the Home Circuit. There are not enough extant records between 1600‑1650 to give a clear idea of the working of assizes. Even after that date, when indictment files and related documents begin in series, all classes are broken or riddled with gaps. A list of the assize records, arranged by circuit, available in the Public Record Office (now [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ The National Archives]) is printed in their "Information leaflet number 26" (see below), and in a section of ''Tracing Your Ancestors in the Public Record Office ''(see below). You can also find research guides to assize records on [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/researchguidesindex.asp The National Archives] website. | The absence of continuity and the decentralization of the itinerant court reflected in the compilation and custody of its records. As early as 1325, it was necessary to order that the rolls of the circuit judges be submitted to the Exchequer. Ten years later, it was law to surrender the records of each Michaelmas Term. Strict observance of these laws is doubtful. In the fifteenth century, it appeared that circuit records were handed from one presiding judge of the circuit to the next judge. However, gaol delivery records are numerous in the fourteenth and some of the fifteenth century. But in 1470, the records cease. It appears that the circuit rolls remained in the custody of the clerks of assize, and their survival became hazardous. Many clerks seemed to have adopted a radical solution: circuit records should be retained no longer than was required for current business. Most of the Midland Circuit records have virtually been exterminated. Almost all of the Elizabethan assize records for all circuits have been destroyed by accident and clerical weeding, except for the Home Circuit. There are not enough extant records between 1600‑1650 to give a clear idea of the working of assizes. Even after that date, when indictment files and related documents begin in series, all classes are broken or riddled with gaps. A list of the assize records, arranged by circuit, available in the Public Record Office (now [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ The National Archives]) is printed in their "Information leaflet number 26" (see below), and in a section of ''Tracing Your Ancestors in the Public Record Office ''(see below). You can also find research guides to assize records on [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/researchguidesindex.asp The National Archives] website. | ||
=== Definitions === | === Definitions === | ||
| Line 276: | Line 278: | ||
*[http://217.154.230.218/NR/rdonlyres/43C352A8-3F2A-4B20-83A4-26070196B9DE/0/39ABRIEFGUIDETOTHEMIDDLESEXSESSIONSRECORDS.pdf 'Sessions Records for the City of London and Southwark'.] London: London Metropolitan Archives. Information Leaflet Number 40. | *[http://217.154.230.218/NR/rdonlyres/43C352A8-3F2A-4B20-83A4-26070196B9DE/0/39ABRIEFGUIDETOTHEMIDDLESEXSESSIONSRECORDS.pdf 'Sessions Records for the City of London and Southwark'.] London: London Metropolitan Archives. Information Leaflet Number 40. | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
{{reflist}} | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
{{featured article}} | {{featured article}} | ||
[[Category:Wales]] [[Category:England]] | [[Category:Wales]] [[Category:England]] | ||