The Paths to Crime project will catalogue the QSR (Quarter Session Rolls) from 1831 - 1900. As the project employs 2 part-time cataloguers, it was decided that it made sense for the cataloguers to begin at different points on the timeline.
Therefore, Kathryn is currently working on 1839-1848, and Sharon on 1849-1858 (with 1831-8 being left until the end as the documents are currently held in a different form). So far, the following years have been completed:
1839
1840
1841
1849
1850
1851
Therefore, if your interest is in a particular year or date range, it is worth checking back. Please don't assume that because 1851 had been catalogued that all years prior to that have been.
The earlier years contain a larger number of cases per quarter, and so are more time consuming to input. However, the Volunteers report that the number of cases dealt with at the Quarter Sessions drops dramatically in the 1860s, so we expect progress to be much quicker once we reach that point.
Showing posts with label QSR documents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label QSR documents. Show all posts
Monday, 12 December 2011
Sunday, 27 November 2011
The Accused
If an ancestor appears as the accused in the QSR, you are likely to find a number of documents linked to the case:
Recognizances – these detail the prosecutor in the case and those called to give evidence. Each witness is bound financially to appear, or on occasion by the threat of imprisonment.
Depositions – testimonies of the accuser and witnesses taken before magistrates prior to the crime being indicted. Most cases also feature a Statement by the accused, although it was not uncommon for there to be no comment made.
Indictments - showing the offence, the plea and the verdict. Along side these may sit documents detailing Previous Convictions.
Most quarters also feature a Calender of Prisoners. These detail: When received into gaol, degree of education, prisoner's name, age and trade, and details of the charge against them.
Finally, there is usually a Return of Persons Commited. This shows: Names of the accused, the offence, whether convicted, acquitted or discharged, and the sentence.
Recognizances – these detail the prosecutor in the case and those called to give evidence. Each witness is bound financially to appear, or on occasion by the threat of imprisonment.
Depositions – testimonies of the accuser and witnesses taken before magistrates prior to the crime being indicted. Most cases also feature a Statement by the accused, although it was not uncommon for there to be no comment made.
Indictments - showing the offence, the plea and the verdict. Along side these may sit documents detailing Previous Convictions.Most quarters also feature a Calender of Prisoners. These detail: When received into gaol, degree of education, prisoner's name, age and trade, and details of the charge against them.
Finally, there is usually a Return of Persons Commited. This shows: Names of the accused, the offence, whether convicted, acquitted or discharged, and the sentence.
Friday, 25 November 2011
How are QSR records helpful to the Family Historian?
The QSR are not only useful for finding the criminals in your family. They are rich with other useful details.
For example, you may find an ancestor is a victim of crime. In most cases, the victim then becomes the prosecutor. This means there will be a Recognizance for them. This will tell you their name, job and where they live. If the case proceeds, there will be a Deposition (Witness Statement) for victim. This will give richer details of the events which lead up to and what occurred during the crime. It may tell you to whom they were married, exactly where they lived, who their neighbours were and details of their life style. For example, did they keep chickens, where did they shop, what time they went to work and how they knew the accused.
There may have been other witnesses to the crime. Again there will be a Recognizance in their name and a Deposition detailing their involvement in the case.
Almost every case has a member of the Police force called as a witness. At the time, police constable looked after a local area, and so the same names arise again and again. Excellent news for anyone with a Police ancestor.
Even the family of the Police Officers crop up from time to time. In the case of Elizabeth Bunnage accused of stealing 18 yards of ribbon and 2 caps (QSR1849/3/5/3). Ellen, the wife of John Keating, the local constable in Luton was called as a witness. The deposition details how Ellen was left in charge of Elizabeth Bunnage. When Elizabeth wanted to use the privy she was accompanied by Ellen Keating, who waited outside. On leaving the privy, Ellen Keating found the prisoner had left a bundle down it, which she had to remove with tongs. Elizabeth Bunnage was found guilty and imprisoned in the House of Correction for 3 calendar months.
Other people frequently called as witnesses were the Innkeeper and Licensed Victuallers of the County. Not only did a number of crimes relate to drunkenness, but the public house was often the home to dodgy dealing and dubious meetings.
On the other side of the court were the Jurors and the Justices of the Peace. The QSR include Jury lists for those called to attend Grand and Petty juries of the Quarter Session. These stated the Name, Occupation and Residence of the juror. On occasion, there are letters sent to the court by local doctors, requesting their patient be excused from service due to various ailments.
The Justices of the Peace were men of prominent standing in the area. On being called to become a Justice of the Peace, they would be required to make oaths and declarations that they were for for the role. These documents form part of the QSR.
For example, you may find an ancestor is a victim of crime. In most cases, the victim then becomes the prosecutor. This means there will be a Recognizance for them. This will tell you their name, job and where they live. If the case proceeds, there will be a Deposition (Witness Statement) for victim. This will give richer details of the events which lead up to and what occurred during the crime. It may tell you to whom they were married, exactly where they lived, who their neighbours were and details of their life style. For example, did they keep chickens, where did they shop, what time they went to work and how they knew the accused.
There may have been other witnesses to the crime. Again there will be a Recognizance in their name and a Deposition detailing their involvement in the case.
Almost every case has a member of the Police force called as a witness. At the time, police constable looked after a local area, and so the same names arise again and again. Excellent news for anyone with a Police ancestor.
Even the family of the Police Officers crop up from time to time. In the case of Elizabeth Bunnage accused of stealing 18 yards of ribbon and 2 caps (QSR1849/3/5/3). Ellen, the wife of John Keating, the local constable in Luton was called as a witness. The deposition details how Ellen was left in charge of Elizabeth Bunnage. When Elizabeth wanted to use the privy she was accompanied by Ellen Keating, who waited outside. On leaving the privy, Ellen Keating found the prisoner had left a bundle down it, which she had to remove with tongs. Elizabeth Bunnage was found guilty and imprisoned in the House of Correction for 3 calendar months.
Other people frequently called as witnesses were the Innkeeper and Licensed Victuallers of the County. Not only did a number of crimes relate to drunkenness, but the public house was often the home to dodgy dealing and dubious meetings.
On the other side of the court were the Jurors and the Justices of the Peace. The QSR include Jury lists for those called to attend Grand and Petty juries of the Quarter Session. These stated the Name, Occupation and Residence of the juror. On occasion, there are letters sent to the court by local doctors, requesting their patient be excused from service due to various ailments.
The Justices of the Peace were men of prominent standing in the area. On being called to become a Justice of the Peace, they would be required to make oaths and declarations that they were for for the role. These documents form part of the QSR.
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
What are the Quarter Sessions Rolls?
The Quarter Sessions were locally held courts which met four times a year at Epiphany, Easter, Midsummer and Michaelmas. They had responsibilty for both adminstrative and criminal matters.
It was the role of the Quarter Sessions to hear those cases which could not be dealt with summarily by a Justice of the Peace, but were not severe enough to be heard at the Assizes. The Quarter Sessions dealt with crimes such as: robbery, theft of items and animals, breaking and entering, assault, the passing of false coin, embezzlement, indecent assault and attempted rape, and breach of the peace. In addition, until the establishment of elected County Councils following the Local Government Act 1888, a number of significant administrative functions were also the responsibilty of the Quarter Sessions.
The Quarter Sessions Rolls contained all the documents required for each Session. These were secured on a spike as the Session progressed. At the end the documents were tied together and kept as a roll. The majority of the documents relate to the criminal cases heard and divide into three main types: recognizances, depositions or examinations, and indictments. The rolls may also contain documents relating to:
It was the role of the Quarter Sessions to hear those cases which could not be dealt with summarily by a Justice of the Peace, but were not severe enough to be heard at the Assizes. The Quarter Sessions dealt with crimes such as: robbery, theft of items and animals, breaking and entering, assault, the passing of false coin, embezzlement, indecent assault and attempted rape, and breach of the peace. In addition, until the establishment of elected County Councils following the Local Government Act 1888, a number of significant administrative functions were also the responsibilty of the Quarter Sessions.
The Quarter Sessions Rolls contained all the documents required for each Session. These were secured on a spike as the Session progressed. At the end the documents were tied together and kept as a roll. The majority of the documents relate to the criminal cases heard and divide into three main types: recognizances, depositions or examinations, and indictments. The rolls may also contain documents relating to:
- Roads, bridges and highways - construction, repair and maintenance or 'stopping up'.
- Construction and maintenance of buildings such as the county gaol, local lock-ups and the venues for the Quarter Sessions themselves.
- Swearing in of justices of the peace and other officials
- Supervision of public and private lunatic asylums
- Licensing of public houses
- Poor law - bastardy and removal orders
- The names of county militia officers, coroners, prison visitors, police and prison employees
- Places of worship for Dissenters
- Weights and measures
- Establishment of corn rents
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