City of Exeter Police Charge Book, Dec 1850 - Apr 1853

transcribed by

Brian Brassett - Brian.Brassett[at]btinternet[dot]com

Charge Book for 2 Dec 1850 - 11 Mar 1851

Charge Book for 12 Mar 1851 - 19 Jul 1852

Charge Book for 20 Jul 1851 - 16 Oct 1852

Charge Book for 17 Oct 1851 - 30 Dec 1852

Charge Book for 1 Jan 1852 - 29 Apr 1852

Charge Book for 1 May 1852 - 29 Aug 1852

Charge Book for 1 Sep 1852 - 31 Dec 1852

Charge Book for 1 Jan 1853 - 17 Apr 1853

Index for 2 Dec 1850 - 17 April 1853

Here is a transcription of the City of Exeter Police Charge Book and accompanying Index for the period 2 December 1850 - 17 April 1853. (The transcription of the charge book is split into eight parts, because of its length.) These documents are held in the Devon Record Office but, as they have not yet been assigned reference numbers they would need to be specifically requested by name from a member of staff. The documents are normally held at the central storage facility at Marsh Barton so notice for recovery from that facility would be required.

The charge book contains names of malefactors; persons laying the charge; witnesses if any; the arresting and charging officers; justices of the bench; sentence if any imposed.

The alphabetical index contains the names of malefactors appearing within the charge book with in some cases a description of the individual. This includes the age; height; colour of hair; eyes; shape of face, and perhaps if appropriate general supportive data such as injuries; impediments; tattoo's.

The page numbers [No's] quoted refer to the pages of the charge book on which the named malefactor appears. Where the named person is a persistent offender the word 'many' is substituted for the individual page numbers.

Brian Randell, 20 Jan 2003