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Soham Police - The Soham Police Charge Book, 1848-1855

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Soham Police Force - The Cast List

The Cast list is divided into two main parts: The Soham Police Force 1848-1851 and the Newmarket Division of the new Cambridgeshire Constabulary 1852-1855, Unless stated otherwise dates shown against names are the first and last days when they appear in the Charge Book.

The Soham Police Force 1848-1851

Superintendent Robert Hornsby

An experienced former Metropolitan Police Officer. Prior to working at Soham he had served as a parish constable, possibly Superintending Constable, at Speen, Berkshire as a Parish Constable at Ixworth Suffolk and as an Inspector with the West Suffolk Constabulary. Hornsby was the most active of the Soham Officers and it is his name which most prominently features in the charge book from May 1848 until 6 March 1850. There is then a gap until 19 June 1850 by which time Hornsby would appear to be at odds with the other officers of the Force, taking one of their prisoners from the Cage and allowing him to escape. There is a brief re-appearance with two prisoners charged with theft on 28 December 1851, perhaps timed to impress the new Cambridgeshire Constabulary as they were hiring staff. Cambridge Chronicle 10.1.1852 lists Robert Hornsby as a Sergeant in the new Cambridgeshire Constabulary Caxton Division. In 1852 be became a Superintending Constable in the Toseland Dividion of the Huntingdonshire Constabulary. In 1854 Hornsby was prosecuted for fiddling his expenses and was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labour. He was released early from gaol on health grounds, after which no trace has been found of him or his family. This link will take you to supplementary information on the career of Robert Hornsby.

PC William Eade (11.5.1848 - 11/1/1849)

Could have been William Eade age 34 b. 1817 at Framsden Suffolk, Grocer, living at Mill Corner, Soham, in the 1851 census
wife Hannah, age 34, b.1817 Framsden Suffolk,
Dau Theresa age 9, b.1842 St Lukes London
Dau Virginia age 4, b.1847 Lavenham, Suffolk
Son David William age 2, b.1849 Soham

1861 Census, William Eade, Yeoman, age 44 and son David W. Eade, age 12 living at Water Side Soham

1841 census Soham, Robert Heagren, age 20 the son of John Heagren, baker
Press items showing continued relationship with Robert Hornsby after leaving the Soham Force. This included the incident in June 1850 when Hornsby removed a prisoner from the Cage and put him in Heagren's charge, from which he escaped as Heagren napped. (Cambridge Chronicle and Journal - Saturday 22 June 1850 p2). Then in November 1850 Heagren gave evidence (later proved false) supporting allegations by Hornsby that the current police were drinking after hours in a local hostelry. (Cambridge Independent Press, Saturday 9 November 1850 p3.)

1851 census Robert Heagren b. 1818 Soham, Castle Street Cambridge, in the county gaol, debtor
1861 census Robert Heagren, 42 b. 1819 Soham, Red Lion Square Soham, tailor
wife Mary A 42, b.1819 Soham dressmaker
son Robert P. b.1841 Soham.
dau Elizabeth P b.1851 Soham
dau Alice P b.1855 Soham

PC Sentance (26.2.1849 - 13.7.1849)

PC Pidgeon (21.3.1849 - 10.8.1849)

PC Vawser (10.8.1849 - 3.10.1849)

Cambridge Independent Press - Saturday 27 October 1849 p4
James Barley 21 charged with assaulting PC Edward Vawser a Constable of Soham, in the execution of his duty. Barley was one of a large rowdy crowd exiting the White Hart in Church Street. The crowd tore up some railings and Barley struck the officer with a piece of rail. Vawser fired a pistol loaded with a blank cartridge and the crowd went away. Barley was convicted and sentenced to six weeks imprisonment with hard labour. There is nothing in the newspaper report suggesting that the officer using a firearm was unusual or an issue of any importance.This raises the question - Were the Soham Police Force officers routinely armed or expected to carry a firearm?

PC Bedmore (5.9.1849 - 26.11.1849)

PC John Smith (November 1850)

PC Alfred Felton (22.7.1851 - 6.1.1852), On 6.1.1852 appears as a defendant, obtaining money under false pretences described as "late police officer"

Could this be Alfred Felton, police constable, living at East Side, High Street, Blakeney, Norfolk in 1851 census b 1817 Shropshire,
married, wife Elizabeth b 1821 Balderton Nottinghamshire,
son Joseph b 1847 Balderton,
daughter Mary b 1849 Balderton
son Alfred b 1851 Blakeney.

8 January 1852 Alfred Felton was convicted of obtaining 7/6 from Maria Fuller at Soham under false pretences, age 34 b.1818, married with 4 children (UK Prison Commission Records 1770-1951, register of felons at Chesterton Gaol). Employed on treadmill and shoe making. Ex policeman and boot maker. Sentenced to 15 months hard labour, 3 months solitary, 14 days at a time. Discharged from prison 7 April 1853.

PC John Bass (21.2.1850 - 29.5.1851)

In 1848 PC Bass is mentioned in connection with two cases at Whittlesey, (Cambridge Independent Press, Saturday 26 August 1848). Then in 1949 "Whittlesey The Police. We are sorry to understand that police constable Bass will leave this place in a short time. Some disagreement between himself and the police sergeant is said to be the cause. If we may be permitted to speak in praise of one officer more than another, we must now do so in favour of this man. We consider him a most efficient servant, and have still to trust that those in power will yet preserve him to this place (Cambridge Independent Press, 1 December 1849 p3). So it seems likely that this was an Isle of Ely officer who moved to the Soham force.

There is a charge missing from the Soham Charge Book, alleging that, on 30 May 1850, PCs Bass and Dalton untlawfully assaulted Mr Waller Mills King, miller and farmer. The two PCs were convicted and fined. This is the report of the case from the Cambridge Chronicle 8 June 1850 p2

SOHAM. Curious Charge, At the Petty Sessions held at the Crown inn, on Friday 31st ult, before J.D.Merest and W. Layton Esqs, Joseph Dalton and John Bass, the two constables of this parish, appointed by the Inspectors under the Lighting and Watching Act, were brought up by warrant charged with unlawfully assaulting Mr. Waller Mills King, miller and farmer on the preceding night. It appeared from the evidence given that Mr. King, who did not think these constables performed their duty by night, determined on following them with a person named Scrivener, on their beats, and did follow them at some distance behind for about two hours, when the defendants (in consequence of some foul language which had been used by Mr. King to them which they thought justified them in apprehending him), took hold of Mr. King for the purpose of putting him in the cage; but he requested bail, and the defendants led him to Mr. Mainprice, auctioneer, one of the inspectors, who got up (it being by this time nearly two o'clock in the morning), and ordered the constables to release him. The defence was that Mr. King was drunk and used foul language to the defendants, but the former did not appear to be the case from the evidence, although some strong language was used by the complainant: and the magistrates told the defendants that if the complainant was drunk it would not have authorised them in apprehending him, unless he was creating a disturbance, which did not appear from the testimony of the five witnesses who were examined to be the case; and indeed, in that case, neither they, nor any of the inspectors, had authority to discharge a prisoner before taking him to a Magistrate. The defendants were each fined £2 and 12s. costs, and allowed till the 3rd inst. to pay the same.

1851 census at Causeway, Soham, John Bass age 37 police constable, b.1841 Folkestone Kent.
wife Sarah Bass age 40 b. Lydd Kent,
daughter Margaret Ann Bass age 12 months b.1850 Soham.

In 1861 living at Belle Vue Fields, Folkestone Kent, a painter and glazier journeyman, with
wife Charlotte b 1815 Lydd Kent and
daughter Margaret Ann b 1851 Soham

PC Joseph Dalton (8.2.1850 - 19.6.1850)

See also entry above for PC Bass.

Cambridge General Advertiser 23 October 1850 p2 records Martha Dalton, wife of Joseph Dalton, police constable of Soham, was indicted for stealing a farthing's worth of turf the property of John Murfit. No counsel appeared for the prosecution but the taking by the prisoner was clearly proved. Mr Naylor having addressed the jury for the prisoner, they found her quilty and she was sentenced to a week's imprisonment

Eleven officers over four years in a force of two to three tends to support the description of the force by an anonymous Soham resident in 1851

After a few months, the inspectors found the men appointed were not equal to their duties; although the large sum of £300 per annum was voted for three men! Well, what did the inspectors do? Turn them out and appoint fresh ones at a reduction of salaries. Even the newly appointed men did not prove satisfactory; consequently a sweeping discharge took place and only two were appointed, reducing the original amount to £170; thus in little more than two years effecting a saving of £130 per annum; and the returns of the County Gaol will at once show whether the newly appointed men have been active or negligent, they having ruffled a nest of the very worst." (Cambridge Independent Press Sat 11 January 1851 p3).

Cambridgeshire Constabulary - New Police - Newmarket Division

We do not have any information on the posting and ongoing deployment of these officers - this is a listing of the officers who appear in the Charge book between 1852 and 1855. Date shown are the first and last days of their charges.

Superintendent Anthony Brown
The first appointed Superintendent for Newmarket Division, but replaced within months by John Marson

Superintendent John Marson
One of the original senior officers of the new county constabulary, first posted to Bottisham, then to the Newmarket Division; appears in the Soham Charge Book 13 July 1852 - 18 December 1855

Sgt John Hockett

Sgt William Foster (1.6.1852)

Acting Sergeant Robert Mansfield 21.6.1853, Inspector 19.11.1855 - 1.1.1856

Acting Sergeant Rushforth Barker (13.9.1853)

Sergeant Richard Harvey (25.7.1854)

PC 1 Archibold Ferguson (13.7.1852 - 4.12.1853)

PC 2 Charles Miller (3.5.1852) then William Lane (14/9/52) then William Avey (1.2.53 - 29.3.1853)

PC 4 Yeo (23.11.1852 - 22.2.1853)

PC 8 Isaac Ling (8.8.1854 - 20.11.1855)

PC 10 Frederick Smith (16/5/1854), then Thomas Howe (30.1.1855 - 20.11.1855)

PC 18 John Shaw (3.2.1852 - 3.3.1852)

PC 22 Joseph Hamey (19.4.1853 - 27/12/1855)

PC 23 George Franklin (21.1.1852 - 3.5.1852)

PC 26 Thomas Curtis (11.5.1852 - 7.12.1852) then Richard Peak (8.3.1853 - 12.6.1855) then William Vince (20.11.1855), then Charles Willis (7.12.1855 - 20.12.1855)

PC 27 William Foster (20.1.1852 - 1.6.1852) and Acting Sgt (1.6.1852)

PC 29 Fletcher (31.3.1852)

PC 30 James Carlow (6.7.1852 - 4.12.1855)

PC 32 J,W, Bromley (3.2.1852 - 2.11.1852)

PC 33 George Ames (14.9.1852 - 4.9.1855)

PC 35 George Blaydon (22.3.1853)then J Cook (3.5.1853 - 13.9.1853)

PC 36 William Askham (3.2.1852 - 4.3.1852), then J Coote (21.10.1855 - 11.12.1855)

PC 37 Joseph Neal (17.2.1852), then Robert Mansfield (21.6.1853 - 17.1.1854)

PC 38 William Isgate (18/4/1854)

PC 40 Michael Skeels (31.7.1852 - 16.11.1852)

PC 41 William Valentine (21/3/1854)

PC 43 John Chaplin (3.5.1853 - 6.8.1853) then William Watkinson 17.11.1853)

PC 44 John Finch (1.6.1852 - 8.12.1852)

PC 46 William Goss (28.10.1853)

PC 47 Edward Jackson (28.12.1852 - 25.9.1855)

PC 48 J H Fitch (19.9.1854)

PC 49 Rushforth Barker (15.3.1852 - 24.1.1854)

PC 50 Francis Banks (3.2.1852 - 9.3.1852), then William Brown (25.10.1854 - 13.10.1855)

PC 53 Henry Jaggard (23.7.1852 - 15.11.1853)

PC 55 Phillip Pallant (12.3.1852 - 23.3.1854) Acting Sgt 25/5/1854, then Donald McLean (18.5.1855 - 4.9.1855)

Parish Constables

Joseph Horsley, Soham, (19.5.1848)

Jas Allington, Isleham (20.1.1852 - 6.4.1852)

Alfred Felton, Soham (22.7.1851 - 6.1.1852)

Anthony Holcombe, Chippenham? (29.12.1851)

Francis Norman, Ashley (12.7.1853)

Charles Bailey, Cheveley (1853, charge No 95)

John Everett Faircliff, Burwell, (27.3.1855)

Magistrates

James Drage Merest The Moat

Robert Tebbit High Street

William Layton, Soham

Alexander Cotton Landwade Hall

John Dobede Soham Place, Maltster (Pigots 1839)

Samuel Yate Benyon (1801-64) Stetchworth

Rev James Thomas Bennet MA (1796-1868) Rector of Cheveley

Poor Law Officials and Relieving Officers

John Kidd, Soham (27.6.1848)

John Seaber

Charles Clark, Master of the Newmarket Union

John Fletcher Relieving Officer Soham 13.8.1855

William Fletcher, Relieving Officer, Stetchworth 9.1.1855