MANCHESTER COURT RECORDS

Do you have any black sheep in the family or any other skeletons in the cupboard? Well this may be the place to look to see if it is possible for me to access to any records that might reveal your relatives life of crime.

ASSIZE COURTS

Serious offences were dealt with by the Assize Courts. Manchester came under the jurisdiction of the Lancaster Assize Court until 1867. It was replaced by the Northern Circuit. Assize court records are held at the National Archive, however it is possible to consult list of persons accused between 1882 and 1964. there are some gaps. The following is an extract from the Manchester Courier from 1825.

John Cronshaw, John Garin, Henry Parkins and Joseph Diggins were charged with having assaulted Mathew Sykes, at the corner of Lever St, Manchester, on the night of the 30th January, and robbing him of his watch.

The prosecutor and a Mr John Campbell, coachmaker, who accompanied him, proved the facts ( which are fully reported in The Courier of the 5th February). A woman named Sarah Bothery, who happened to be standing close by when the transaction took place, proved that it was another man, who is not in custody, that took the watch, but that the prisoners were all of his party, as she believes. Upon further examination, she said, she could not undertake to swear positively that the prisoner Parkins was one of the number. Richard Howcroft, a watchman, and Benjamin Battye, one of the police, proved having taken all the prisoners into custody together. the prisoner Gavin, said in his defence that the man, Thomas Matthews, [who had been sentenced here earlier] was the person who took the watch. The prisoners called some witnesses to character.

Mr Norris recapitulated the evidence, and explained the law on the subject, by which, persons aiding and abetting in the committing of a felony were equally culpable with the person who actually did it, and the question the jury would be to consider, if from the evidence they were satisfied that the prisoners were so aiding and abetting. The jury found all the prisoners guilty.

The learned Chairman in passing sentence on the prisoners, remarked that the crime for which they had been guilty, had increased to am alarming extent, not withstanding the vigilance of the police, and the number of convictions for similar offences. The prisoner, Cronshaw, having been three time before convicted, gave no hope of ever becoming an orderly or a useful member of society. the sentence of the court upon him, therefore, would be, that he be transported for the term of his natural life: and upon the other prisoners, that they be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for the space of twelve calendar months.

MANCHESTER QUARTER SESSIONS

The name of the court implies that the court meet four time a year. In Manchester's case it usually met at least six time per year. These extra court sessions were called the Intermediate Sessions. Sad to say, the bigger the population, the more crimes that were committed. The City of Manchester was first granted itsown Quarter Sessions April 1839 . Prior to that most cases were tried at the Lancashire Quarter Sessions. Most the records of which are held at Lancashire Record Office, although some of the order books are on microfilm at Manchester Central Library. Other limited records for this court are also an Manchester Central Library. Records for the Manchester Quarter Sessions are available from 1839 until 1951. These courts and the Petty Sessions (see below) were under the control of the Borough, and later, the City of Manchester.

This is an example of a Bill of Indictment against a prisoner from the Quarter Sessions Court records held at Manchester Archives from the Sessions dated 14th February 1851.

In the margin, the Foreman of of the Grand Jury had signed to acknowledge that this was a True Bill of Indictment.

Borough of Manchester

THE JURORS for our Lady the Queen upon their Oath present, That Thomas Williams of the borough of Manchester in the County of Lancaster, Labourer on the 26th day of January in the fourteenth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, with Force and Arms, at the Borough aforesaid in the County aforesaid and within the jurisdiction of this Court did tender one piece of false and counterfeit Coin, resembling and apparently intended to resemble and pass for a Piece of the Queen's current Silver Coin called a shilling unlawfully, unjustly, and deceitfully did utter and put off to one Ellen Drake knowing the same to be False and Counterfeit: in contempt of said Lady the Queen and her laws: to the Evil Example of all others in the like case against the Form of the Statute in such Case made and provided, and against the Peace of our said Lady the Queen, her Crown and her Dignity.

MISDEMEANOR No 9

Tried Guilty six calendar months with hard Labour

WS Rutter

Attorney

On the rear side of the bill was a list of witnesses who appeared in this case: Ellen Drake; Ellen Fielden, Thomas Wilson P C; Jane Smith; John Beresford P C and Richard Beswick, Superintendent of Police. I have made a note of his entry in the New Bailey Prison Register on the appropriate page.

ANOTHER good source of information about the courts are the local news papers. Sometimes their reports were not about the actual court cases themselves but rather reports of what some of the Court officials had to say. Here is an example of such a court report from the Manchester Guardian of 17th May 1866. I'll let you make your own mind as to the validity of the Recorder's comments.

MANCHESTER INTERMEDIATE SESSIONS

The sessions commenced yesterday before the Recorder H. W. West Esq. There were also present Alderman Wallert and Messrs W.R. Callender and F. Morley. The calendar contained the names of 27 prisoners, of whom 24 are charges of felony and the other three for misdemeanours. Of these 15 can read and write, six can read only, and six have no education. In charging the Grand Jury the RECORDER said he was happy to congratulate them on the state of the calendar. There was only a small number of cases to be brought before them, and those cases seemed to him to be of a very ordinary character. He trusted that that condition of things might not be accidental, but that it might really indicate an improvement in the conduct and morals of the inhabitants of this city. But having congratulated them on the state of the calendar, he regretted to be obliged to make one general observation. He could not at all congratulate them of the state of health in this city. Many persons thought that all sanitary care of the people at large could only be taken by the Legislature. He was not of that opinion. Though the Legislature might do much, yet it was quite clear that gentlemen in their position might also to much to ameliorate the condition of the people in all ways. He thought it the more necessary to call their attention to this subject, although he would do very briefly, reserving to himself, the right to go into the matter more at length on any future occasion; because there was no reason to suppose that during this year we might be invaded by cholera. They prayed against it every day, and in the churches on Sunday, and a special prayer had been ordered to be made in the consequences of the fears which were entertained by those who understood the subject, that the cholera might be about to invade this country. He did not think it was necessary for him to point out any special provisions which ought to made with regard to the care of this city and its health, but he could not help mentioning that persons who were by education, wealth and their position in society, raised above the lower orders, were able to do much. He would forbear suggesting the method which each of them might adopt; but he was quite sure that they and all persons in their position in life would do their utmost, both in enforcing amongst their own men, in their factories and the dwellings of those people who lived round about them and near them, the common rules of prudence. Drunkenness was a great cause of ill health, and he might without flattery say that generally speaking the educated classes of this country set a good example to the lower orders. Sobriety was a matter of great importance, but they must also bear in mind that the lodgings of the working classes and the poor, and all matters affecting their morals, health and cleanliness were also matters about which considerable care should be taken. If any took such steps as might appear to them to be desirable in their own spheres to improve the condition of the lower orders, because they could not conceal themselves from the fact that disease did chiefly arise amongst the lower orders, and propagated itself with much greater rapidity amongst them , than amongst the upper classes, he thought that much good would be done, and that they would assist in improving the condition of Manchester. From the returns which had recently been published, and which had been commented upon in the newspapers, this city appeared to be in a condition very inferior to London, which was not supposed to be in a very healthy state. It was unnecessary for him on that occasion to go into this question at any greater length, because probably they were practical men, and would be able to deal with the matter by inspecting their own premises and the dwellings of the persons who were employed by them, and to do this with very great effect. -The Grand Jury dismissed to the performances of their duties. During the day a second court was held before Mr W. H. Higgin, the deputy recorder.

There was no other news of these Intermediate Sessions published in this edition, or in the following day's edition. As a former print worker, I also find this article interesting from a typographical point of view. Unless some of the names are spelt incorrectly, there are no spelling mistakes in the body of the text. That was certainly unusual for The Guardian of the 1970s and 1980s. Another point mildly worth making is that there are no paragraph breaks, probably in an attempt to cram as much text as possible into the small number of pages that made up the newspapers at this time.

MANCHESTER CROWN COURT

The Assize Court and the Manchester Quarter Sessions were replaced by the Crown Court. Lists of prisoners are available from 1956 until 1960.

MANCHESTER PETTY SESSIONS

Also known as Magistrates or Police courts. These courts met on a daily basis dealing with civil matters such as adoption, child maintenance and illegitimacy or bastardy as it was more commonly known. They also dealt with misdemeanours and felonies. In more serious cases, people were committed to higher courts. Some records from 1839 until 1970 are available, but a great source of information are the local papers. Here are some extracts, again from the Manchester Courier of 1825.

Ann Battye, charged with stealing a ham from a shop, into which she went, on pretence of buying something, was committed.

Matthew Shaw, the brewer at the Bull's Head Inn, in Manchester, in Market St, was charged with having taken some articles of wearing apparel, and money to the amount of 5s. 3d. out of the hostler's box at that inn. A person named Goodall proved that the prisoner left a bundle with him, and the prosecutor identified the contents of the bundle as the articles he had lost. The Prisoner was committed.

A man who stated himself to be an inhabitant of Withington, was charged with having been found in the most stupid state of intoxication, lying in the streets on Saturday night. He had on his person a letter, which explained the nature of his errand. When asked what he had to say for himself, the poor man was very much abashed, and acknowledged his "misconduct", as he termed it: alleging, as his excuse, that he, some years ago, had the misfortune to have his skull fractured, and that since then, very little drink was sufficient to render him totally insensible. The worthy magistrate told him, that was a strong reason why he should abstain from dinking at all, and after some further admonition, ordered him to be discharged: recommending to him at the same time to make all possible haste home, as his friends and neighbours would be dragging the rivers for him, under the supposition that he was lost. Our readers will be surprised to learn that this most expeditious messenger was dispatched to fetch a midwife to a woman in labour.

The applications for warrants and summonses were this day as numerous as usual: but there was no other case of the least interest before the Bench.

MANCHESTER COUNTY PETTY SESSIONAL DIVISION

These courts were under the jurisdiction of Magistrates. They came into existence in 1868 after the population of Manchester and Salford had increased dramatically. The hearings were held at the Strageways Court. As time went by the area of the courts jurisdiction increased to include areas outside the Cities of Manchester and Salford. Lancashire Record Office hold the records for this division.

MANCHESTER COURT LEET

This was only abolished in 1846. Until this date Manchester was under the control of the Lord of the Manor. It was the ancient Court for the Manor of Manchester. The records from 1552 until 1846 have been published and copies are held at Manchester Archive and Local Studies.

BOLTON AND SALFORD SESSIONS

Male Felony Registers are available for the above courts from Jan 1863 to Dec 1872. They contain similar information as that included in the Strangeways registers but are for those who committed serious offences. Through exhaustive research of this register, I have discovered that it was in fact the Felony Register for the New Bailey Prison and Strangeways Prison. In it were found the records of the men who were charged with the murder of Charles Brett. Three of these men were executed and were later to be known by some as The Manchester Martyrs.

Other courts existed. I have not included them here due to lack of space and availability of their records. Either they have not survived or are closed.

SOURCE; MANCHESTER ARCHIVES AND LOCAL STUDIES

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Last update: 16th July 2008