Parish Constables
Before the advent of regular police forces, policing in
villages was carried out by Parish Constables. These were appointed for
a 12 month period of duty at the local Petty Sessions.
The records of the Petty Sessions held in the Oswestry
Town Council Archives (Ref 1) reveal the names and occupations of parish
constables for Trefonen, Treflach and Nantmawr from around 1856 to
1895. A selection of names for 1890-95 appears below:
Parish Constables
(1890-95)
|
Date of
Appointment |
Name |
Parish |
Occupation |
|
27 March 1890 |
John Ellis |
Treflach |
Provision Dealer |
|
|
Edward Tudor |
Nantmawr, Trefonen |
Labourer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
26 March 1891 |
William Tudor |
Treflach |
Labourer |
|
|
John Carsley the
younger |
Nantmawr |
Labourer |
|
|
Moses Meredith |
Trefonen |
Collier |
|
|
|
|
|
|
31 March 1892 |
William Watkin |
Treflach |
Labourer |
|
|
Robert Parry |
Nantmawr |
Labourer |
|
|
Richard Jones |
Bwlch Cottage,
Trefonen |
Labourer |
|
|
Elias Jones |
Nantmawr |
Rockman |
|
|
|
|
|
|
30 March 1893 |
John Ellis |
Treflach |
Prov dealer |
|
|
John Carsley |
Nantmawr, Trefonen |
Quarryman |
|
|
Henry Goulding |
Trefonen |
Labourer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
29 March 1894 |
Robert Probert |
Treflach Wood |
Labourer |
|
|
Elliot Ellis |
Tytegwch, Treflach |
Stone cutter |
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 March 1895 |
George Swannich |
Treflach Wood |
Labourer |
|
|
William Morris |
Trefonen |
Labourer |
|
|
David Bonner |
Nantmawr,
Llanyblodwel |
Rockman |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parish
constable were appointed to carry out various legal duties including
serving summonses, executing warrants and appearing before magistrates.
For performing these duties they were paid a fee as agreed at the
Shropshire Quarter Sessions in October 1842.
Example fees were as follows (taken from Ref 2):
Parish
Constable Fees (1842)
|
Duty
|
Fee
|
|
For going to serve
a Summons or execute a Warrant |
Sixpence per mile |
|
For each Summons
served |
1 shilling |
|
For each Warrant
executed |
2 shillings |
|
For attending
before the Magistrate |
1 shilling |
|
For each day when
employed on duty |
Not less than 2s
6d, nor more than 5s. |
|
For attending
Assizes or Sessions |
Not exceeding 7s
per day |
|
For attending the
Insolvent Court |
5s per day |
|
Taking charge of
the courts at the Assizes and Sessions |
From 2s 6d to 5s
per day |
|
Giving notice to
Coroners of deaths |
Not exceeding 4d
per mile |
|
Summoning Jurors
for Inquest |
Not exceeding 2s |
|
Each constable
attending the Inquest and making return |
Not exceeding 2s
6d. |
References
1. Details extracted from Oswestry Town Council Petty Sessions
Records held on fiche at Oswestry Library (fiche nos. 314 - 337).
2. “Table
of Fees and Allowances to Parochial Constables” approved in 1842
at Shropshire October Sessions and in Whitehall.
c John P Dixon
2009
|