The records of Quarter Sessions are the oldest and main collections of public records belonging to the historic counties of England and Wales. Their existence has led to the creation of county record offices, though this often overlooked by genealogists who use them in their frequent dual role of diocesan record offices, with holding of parish and probate records. (Gibson Guide). Until the sixteenth century, many manorial courts exercised jurisdiction in cases of petty theft, affray, drunkenness, and other minor offences, but from the fourteenth century until 1971 quarter sessions, held in each county by lay justices of the peace, were the main courts at which minor crimes were tried and at which major crimes were heard in the first instance. The courts usually meet quarterly (hence the name) around Epiphany, Easter, Midsummer and Michaelmas. The business of the courts encompassed three main areas: the determining of judicial cases; the administration of local government; and the statutory enrolment and registration of documents not otherwise directly related to the court. Justices were empowered to enforce national political, administrative and religious policy, the criminal law, taxation, rating, the poor law, maintenance of gaols, roads and bridges, regulation of wages, prices and alehouses and the hearing of petitions.
Thomas Henry Ismay of Dawpool.
- date: 1892
Petition of Mary the wife of William Messenger of Parkgate p. Wigton - "a mentinance Out of the State, and not be troublesome to the
Parish nor others". Her husband has lately returned after many years away,
and has sold all his estates "both frehold and Tenenright" worth £300 of which £100 is yet to be
paid, and "gone of[f]"; that he has ignored his wife and son,
"but have Putt all his trust in his Brother", his purchaser; the said
brother John has given her nothing, and has taken £140 from her, and kept the
£100 outstanding. Certified by the signatures of the Vicar of
Wigton and 13 parishioners including William Thomlinson, John Rook, Daniel Ismay,
and 5 Wilsons.
Begins "To the Whorshipfull ...". Surnames include Senhouse,
Rooke, Ker, Kay, Slack,
Lightfoot, Hendrie, Saull, Hayton, Burges, Ismay, Selby, Watson, Askew.
Booker's certificate for
same No. 17 large sheet, flamboyant hand; stolen at 4 a.m. on 1st August from
James Ismay junior's grassing at "Corticall [Corkickle] near this
Town"; belongs to "Thomas Huntington at Moor Whaite
p. Wiggton"; "The Vallue
of this Gelding: £4.0s.0d."; "Given in the 2nd at ½ an our past 9 Evining, To: Richard Taylor" signed. Headed "Whitehaven".
Petition of Joseph Ismay of Wigton - black bay gelding stolen; duly booked. Ordered £4
John Ismay, Wigton
Ref # 448 15th April 1895
John Ismay for Larceny in stealing one counterpane of the value of 5/- the goods and chattels of one John Trimble:- Bound over in five pound for six months
Ref # 368 ????
Joseph Ismay for Larceny in stealing a quantity of coal of the value of five pence the goods and chattels of Allendale Coal Company Ltd:- Fined One Pound plus eleven shillings costs or one month imprisonment.
Ref # 290 1st November 1882
Joseph Ismay, Thomas Caverley, Jonothon Pool and John Ismay for Larceny in stealing one duck of the value of two shillings the goods and chattels of one Wilfred Harris:- Fined eighteen shillings each plus costs of one pound two shillings in default four months imprisonment.
Ref # 128 28th September 1869
Margaret Ismay for Larceny in stealing a five pound note and fourteen shillings and six pennies in copper the monie of one Joseph Longrigg:- Three calendar months imprisonment.
Ref # 96 4th March 1867
Thomas Ismay for Larceny in stealing one spade the property of the Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway Company:- Lockup at Cockermouth for space of 24 hours
Ref # 76 6th March 1865
Mary Ismay for Larceny in stealing 3 1/2 lbs of bacon, 2 1/2 ibs of butter one pot of preserves and a window blind the property of Issaac Parke:- 2 Calendar Months
Easter Session 1882
21st June 1882
James Ismay for cruelty to animals:- Fined six shillings plus costs of ten shillings and six pence.
19th April 1882
John Ismay for cruelty to animals:- Fined four shillings and six pence plus costs of ten shillings and six pence.
No Ismays recorded
No Ismays
No Ismays
Michaelmas Session 1847
Name |
Age |
Offence |
If Tried Sentence or Acquittal |
|
George Milhouse |
15 |
Larceny |
3 Calendar Months Imprisonment each with Hard Labour |
No Ismays
Bill of costs of prosecution of William Ismay for larceny and receiving
Bill of costs of prosecution of William Ismay for larceny