One of the largest but least used collections at the Dorset History Centre is the records of the Dorset Quarter Sessions.
The Quarter Sessions were local government and local justice rolled into one until the County Councils were established in 1888 and Magistrates and Crown Courts took over local court cases in 1971. Every English or Welsh county had a Quarter Sessions court and so the records can be found in archives around the country.
The Justices of the Peace sat in the Quarter Sessions courts, four times a year (hence the name of the courts) at Epiphany, Easter, Midsummer and Michaelmas. Usually each session was held at a different place in the county and in Dorset they were held at Blandford, Sherborne, Shaftesbury and Bridport in rotation.
The Justices of the Peace, were local men, often appointed from the gentry or church and presided over the Quarter Sessions courts. They were responsible for civil administration in a county and also dealt with a range of lesser criminal cases such as petty theft, poaching and assault. More serious cases, such as murder, which might result in the death penalty were passed up to the Assizes court which was held twice a year by visiting judges.
The Sessions Order books are a summary record of the business of the court and of the judgements made. They include:
- Information on the appointment of officials (such as constables, coroners, Inspectors of Weights and Measures and customs officials).
- Descriptions of disputes between parishes concerning the settlement and removal of paupers and which parish should be liable for their upkeep.
- Details of disputes over maintenance in bastardy cases.
- Overseeing highway and bridge maintenance
- Inspecting the gaols and lunatic asylums
- Some list of prisoners in the gaol and House of Correction with details of the offences committed.
The Dorset Order Books are available to search on Ancestry from 1625 to 1905.
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Another useful set of records are Alehouse Recognisances or licences. Alehouse Keepers had to enter into a recognisance or bond with the magistrates to guarantee orderly behaviour on his premises. By 1729 these were administered at an annual Special Licensing Sessions.
The Recognizances record the name and parish of the licensee as well as the names of (usually) two people who stood surety for his good behaviour. Usually the innkeepers in the area stood surety for each other so the names are often repeated. From 1753 the inn sign of the Alehouse or inn was also recorded.
The Dorset Alehouse registers are also searchable on Ancestry from 1754 to 1821.
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The Quarter Sessions oversaw the running of the local gaol and house of correction. At each Session there was a return of the prisoners held in Dorchester Gaol. These list both prisoners awaiting trial at Quarter Sessions and Assizes and those already convicted some of whom would be awaiting transportation.
The Dorset Calendars of Prisoners are available on Ancestry from 1754 to 1904. Those for 1785-1852 provide the name of the prisoner and the details of the offences, although not all prisoners appear in these lists.
From 1854 the calendars are a far more detailed including:
- names of the prisoners
- their county of origin, age, trade
- their offence, the verdict and the sentence.
The records of the Quarter Sessions reveal many aspects of life of the people of all ages and backgrounds in the late 18th to early 20th centuries. These are just a few. However, they can be invaluable for researching your family or local history!