Cambridgeshire

Police

History

Notes

Notes on Policing Littleport 1800-1841

| Introduction | A Lighting and Watching Act Force | Parish Constables | Named Constables and Watchmen | The Isle of Ely Constabulary | Littleport lock-up | Lighting and Watching Act 1833 |

Later Career of Thomas Simpkin

With the introduction of the new Isle of Ely Constabulary, the Littleport Police was disbanded. Thomas Simpkin joined the new Isle of Ely Constabulary as P.C.13. At the Isle of Ely Petty Sessions at Chatteris on Sept 28 1841 Charles Dyke appeared, apprehended by P.C.Thomas Simpkin, charged with stealing a Valencia waistcoat and other articles; he was committed for trial. At the same Court, Wm. Stacey, was charged by P.C. Simkin with being drunk and disorderly at Doddington and was admonished and discharged. (Cambridge Independent Press, 2 October 1841 p3) It seems likely that Thomas Simpkin was stationed at Doddington, the birthplace of his son Alfred in 1843.

In February 1848 PC Simpkin was actively involved in investigating a violent robbery at Haddenham. He pursued one of the robbers across three counties and made an arrest. (Bedfordshire Mercury 12 Feb 1848 p3)

In April 1848 the Inspectors of the new Ramsey Lighting and Watching Act Police Force appointed PC Simpkins of the Isle of Ely Police and P.C. Hobbs, late of the City of London Force, to officiate at Ramsey, stating, "We believe from the testimonials presented they will prove two very efficient men, and if well supported by the Inspectors, parishioners and the magistracy we hope soon to see an improvement in the neighbourhood" (Cambridge Independent Press 8 April 1848 p3).

A number of Thomas's cases were recorded in the local press, including:

Isaac Marriott for assault on Thomas Simpkin when in the execution of his duty as Watchman at Ramsey, sentenced to one month's hard labour or pay £1.10.0. (Cambridge Independent Press 20 May 1848)

Ramsey PCs, Simpkin and Cann, praised by the press for the way in which the officers and a number of Special Constables dealt with the possible spread of fire after an arson attack. (Cambridge Independent Press 3 Feb 1849 p3)

PC Simpkins charged Charles Gutteridge with drunkenness at Ramsey Fair and threatening to stab him. Gutteridge bound over to keep the peace (Cambridge Independent Press, 4 August 1849 p4)

In May 1849 The Board of Guardians of the Huntingdon Union, faced with an increase in vagrancy, appointed Joseph Yates PC of Huntingdon and Thomas Simpkin Police Constable of Ramsey as assistant Relieving Officers to deal with applications for relief from beggars and vagrants. (Cambridge Independent Press, 5 May 1849 p2). Later the press published figures comparing the numbers of vagrants relieved during a nine week period in 1848 and 1849. The numbers fell from 857 to 222. PC Simpkin was described as having acquitted himself in this duty in a most satisfactory manner. (Cambridge Independent Press, 14 July 1849 p)

Police officers made enemies enforcing the law, and sometimes this affected other family members. George Simpkin, son of Thomas, charged Henry Moore, Mary More, Maria Proud and Jane Townsend with assaulting him in the gleaning field in 1849. This attack was due to hatred of the officer who had caused Moore to be fined.(Cambridge Independent Press, 8 September 1849 p1 and 15 Sept 1849 p4)

By the time of the next census, 30 March 1851, Thomas, b. 1812 was a Police Constable at Ramsey, Huntingdonshire. His family then comprised:
wife Sarah b 1813 Barnwell
Son Frederick b 1836 Cambridge
Son Alfred b 1843 Doddington
Son Arthur b 1845 March.

In 1853 P.C.Simpkin was appointed by Huntingdonshire Justices as the Superintending Constable of the Ramsey Lock Up with a salary of £70. Simpkin had previously been paid by the Ramsey Watch Committee but his services were transferred to and he was paid for by the County. He acted as Deputy to Superintending Constable Benson of the Hurstingstone Division based at St Ives. In the course of a conversation on this subject between magistrates, "some observations far from complimentary to the inhabitants of Ramsey were made with regard to their treatment of the police generally" ( Cambridge Chronicle, 9 April 1853 p7 and 2 July `853 p7)

In April 1857 when the new Huntingdonshire Constabulary was formed, Thomas Simpkins was not recruited, despite nine years service in Ramsey. At 5 ft 7 inches and aged 45, he did not meet two of the new force's recruitment criteria. The St Ives Bench complimented him on the nine years service he had given in Ramsey (Cambridge Independent Press 18 April 1857 p3 and letter to editor complaining because he had not been allowed to join the new force, Cambridge Independent Press 20 June 1857 p7) As he had lost his employment with the County, Superintendent Simpkin was awarded a gratuity of £30 and "some of the magistrates present spoke very highly of him as an excellent Officer". (Cambridge Chronicle and Journal, 9 May 1857 p7.)

In the 1861 census, a Thomas Simpkin (aged 45 b. St Mary's Cambridgeshire) and his wife Sarah (aged 45 b. Barnwell) were living at Stoke Road, Oundle, Northants, occupation: cemetery porter. This would seem to be the same person despite the difference in ages between the census returns.

Thomas Simpkin died in 1865

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