This evening’s talk followed the theme of police ancestors complimenting the branch visit to the Kent Police Museum in August.
Dr Anne Logan teaches Criminology at the University of Kent. She started with a brief introduction about early Policing such as the Parish Constable and Day and Night Watches, who were forerunners of police in England. She went on to give details of the legislation which set up Police Forces in the 19th century. Starting in London with the Bow Street Runners or Peelers named after Sir Robert Peel’s various laws such as the Metropolitan Police Act of 1829, and in Ireland the Peace Preservation Act 1839. Also Municipal Corporation Act 1835 and the County and Borough Corporation Act of 1856 were mentioned.
Anne gave two case histories in which she described researching two 19th century Policemen. One being her own ancestor from Darlington and the other her husband’s Irish ancestor who was in a Police Force in Devon. Both served most of their adult life with one dying as he approached retirement and the other shortly after retiring. Obviously long serving policemen will give the best evidence as there are more chances of them cropping up in records. Unfortunately, there are many problems with available sources, even some official sources give wrong names and ages. Plus records are often incomplete or missing. Although, as they were public servants there are many chances of them turning up in the records that various authorities’ make.
Early policemen were always on duty and had to appear in uniform at all times making them on duty 24/7. Newspapers are a good source to check especially court reports as policemen giving evidence are usually named. Plus policemen are named who fell foul of the law themselves by drinking on duty etc.
Anne suggested researching family and friends and the area in which your police officer ancestor lived and worked. What was it like in his day, which may throw a light on his conditions of service and wages.
Online sources recommended: FMP and Ancestry, Censuses, Church registers, Newspapers and the Irish Constabulary which are at Kew but available by subscription from FMP and Ancestry.
Offline sources recommended: Borough and County Councils, Watch Committee, Police History Publications, Buildings e.g. Police stations, Gravestones, Family heirlooms and photographs. Watch Committee Book, Police Personnel Register.
About the Speaker: Dr Anne Logan is a historian specialising in 19th & 20th century British social history and women’s history. She has been a lecturer at Kent since 2001 and is currently an Emeritus Reader in Social Science. Anne is widely published with many articles and books about her main research interests of, gender, criminal justice policy-making and social work in the period 1900 to 1960.
Report by: Tricia Baxter - Hon President, Canterbury Branch of Kent FHS.