How to Use English Court Records: Difference between revisions
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== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
Court records are official documents concerning civil or ecclesiastical matters. Various types of courts exist in England to handle judicial matters. They include: | |||
*National government courts | |||
*County government courts | |||
*Manorial courts | |||
Most court records identify individuals named in court cases as: | |||
*Defendant. An individual or institution being charged with a crime or being sued by another individual or institution. | |||
*Plaintiff. The individual who initiates a lawsuit. Also called the accuser. | |||
*Juror. An individual who sits on a jury in a court of law. | |||
*Witness. An individual who sees an event happen. | |||
Court records usually do not include birth, marriage, or death information but will provide other valuable information such as family relationships and places of residence. Most researchers use court records after they have investigated other records. Court records are found on both country and county levels. You need to determine which court would have dealt with legal matters in your ancestor's place of residence.<br><br> | |||
== What You Are Looking For == | |||
When you use these records, you are looking for court documents which may provide the following details about the lives of your ancestors: | |||
* | *Ages | ||
*Residences | |||
*Occupations | |||
*Physical descriptions | |||
*Family relationships | |||
*Events in their lives | |||
=== | == Learn about the courts == | ||
For more information about the records of specific courts, see The National Archives leaflets. | |||
===Records | === Chancery Court Records === | ||
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=19 Chancery Proceedings (Equity Suits) before 1558] | |||
* [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID= | |||
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=165 Chancery Proceedings (Equity Suits) from 1558] | |||
* [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID= | |||
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=171 Chancery Masters’ and Other Exhibits: Sources for Social and Economic History] | |||
* [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID= | |||
* [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID= | *[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=288 Chancery: Masters’ Reports and Certificates] | ||
=== Exchequer Court Records === | |||
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=160 Equity Proceedings in the Court of Exchequer] | |||
* [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID= | |||
=== King’s Bench Court Records === | |||
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=177 King's Bench (Crown side) 1675-1875] | |||
* [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID= | |||
=== Records of the Court of Request === | |||
* [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID= | *[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=143 Court of Requests, 1485-1642: a Court for the Poor] | ||
=== Records of the Star Chamber === | |||
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=141 Court of Star Chamber, 1485-1642] | |||
== | === Records of the Court of Wards and Liveries === | ||
* | *[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=151 Court of Wards and Liveries, 1540-1645: Land Inheritance] | ||
=== Assize Court Records === | |||
[[ Category:England]] | *[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=154 Assizes: Criminal trials] | ||
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=156 English Assizes: Key to Records of Criminal Trials] | |||
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=153 English Assizes, 1656-1971: Key to Classes for Civil Trials] | |||
=== Manorial Court Records === | |||
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=150 Manor and Other Local Court Rolls, 13th Century-1922] | |||
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=139 Manorial Records in The National Archives] | |||
=== Others === | |||
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=120 Tracing 19th and 20th Century Criminals] | |||
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=253 Sources for Convicts and Prisoners 1100-1986] | |||
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=173 Supreme Court, Chancery Division: Cases after 1875] | |||
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=187 Supreme Court: Appeal Cases after 1875] | |||
The National Archives does not hold county Quarter Sessions records and therefore does not publish any leaflets about them. Quarter Sessions records are held by county record offices and other county repositories. | |||
== Determine which court to search == | |||
Ask yourself questions, such as the following, to determine which court level to search. | |||
*Did my ancestor own property? | |||
*Was my ancestor a merchant or craftsman? | |||
*Was my ancestor poor? | |||
*Was my ancestor known to have been in trouble with the law? | |||
The answers to these and other questions will help you determine which courts might have records of your ancestor. However, whatever the circumstances of your ancestor's life, you should start on the county or local court level and move up to the national court level. | |||
[[Category:Court records of England]] | |||
Revision as of 12:58, 4 September 2014
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Court records are official documents concerning civil or ecclesiastical matters. Various types of courts exist in England to handle judicial matters. They include:
- National government courts
- County government courts
- Manorial courts
Most court records identify individuals named in court cases as:
- Defendant. An individual or institution being charged with a crime or being sued by another individual or institution.
- Plaintiff. The individual who initiates a lawsuit. Also called the accuser.
- Juror. An individual who sits on a jury in a court of law.
- Witness. An individual who sees an event happen.
Court records usually do not include birth, marriage, or death information but will provide other valuable information such as family relationships and places of residence. Most researchers use court records after they have investigated other records. Court records are found on both country and county levels. You need to determine which court would have dealt with legal matters in your ancestor's place of residence.
What You Are Looking For[edit | edit source]
When you use these records, you are looking for court documents which may provide the following details about the lives of your ancestors:
- Ages
- Residences
- Occupations
- Physical descriptions
- Family relationships
- Events in their lives
Learn about the courts[edit | edit source]
For more information about the records of specific courts, see The National Archives leaflets.
Chancery Court Records[edit | edit source]
Exchequer Court Records[edit | edit source]
King’s Bench Court Records[edit | edit source]
Records of the Court of Request[edit | edit source]
Records of the Star Chamber[edit | edit source]
Records of the Court of Wards and Liveries[edit | edit source]
Assize Court Records[edit | edit source]
Manorial Court Records[edit | edit source]
Others[edit | edit source]
The National Archives does not hold county Quarter Sessions records and therefore does not publish any leaflets about them. Quarter Sessions records are held by county record offices and other county repositories.
Determine which court to search[edit | edit source]
Ask yourself questions, such as the following, to determine which court level to search.
- Did my ancestor own property?
- Was my ancestor a merchant or craftsman?
- Was my ancestor poor?
- Was my ancestor known to have been in trouble with the law?
The answers to these and other questions will help you determine which courts might have records of your ancestor. However, whatever the circumstances of your ancestor's life, you should start on the county or local court level and move up to the national court level.