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Appendix B, St Ives Householders Nominated to Serve as Parish Constables, by year, 1842-1858

The following annual lists of nominations for the post of Constable in the Parish of St Ives draws on information from local newspapers and the minutes of the St Ives Vestry.

1842

This was the first year of operation of the Parish Constables Act 1842. Under this new Act the Justices set a date for a special petty session for the appointment of Parish Constables, they then issued a precept to the local overseers requiring them to nominate householders to be appointed as Constables. At the Special Session, the Justices selected from these nominations and appointed Constables for the year ahead.

The press reported on the first of these new sessions which took place on 7 November 1842 and listed all the nominations received, not just for St Ives, but for most of the Parishes in the Hurstingstone Hundred.

“This being the day named for the appointment of Parish Constables, for this Hundred, the following persons were elected for the different parishes.

Colne, Thomas Charter and Thomas Farey, Constables; and Benjamin Smith and Barlow Bluff were appointed as substitutes to act, (in case of any vacancy occurring by the demise or other incapacity of either of the before named Constables), until the time of appointment in the ensuing year.

Warboys: William Samworth, Thomas Bedford, Holmes Broughton, and John Gifford, (all farmers); Thomas King, Benjamin Ashley, Kingston, Noble, and Oliver Dring, substitutes.

Abbotts Ripton: Ellington and George Curtis Constables, William Pack and Thomas Whiteman substitutes.

Houghton cum Witton: John Bridgeford and John Luke James, constables, Josh Morton and Thomas Toon substitutes.

Hartford: Henry Bedford and Riley Clark Constables: Josh Pryor and George Papworth substitutes.

Great Stukeley: Robert Galier and John Throstle Constables, Josh Cunington and Robert Wormsley substitutes.

Little Raveley: Peter Martin Constable and John Murfin substitute.

Oldhurst: Robert Gething and John Rowell constables; Edward Bentley and Mark Richards substitutes.

Bluntisham: Joshua Beldam and John Lee constables; William Barnet and William Cousins substitutes.

Earith: William Reeve and William Bedford constables; Thomas Bidwell and Henry Key substitutes

Somersham: William Behag* and Josh Briggs constables; Barlow Pedley*, Thomas Wilson substitutes.

Holywell with Needingworth: Thomas Hixs* and William Sandifer Constables; Henry Day, Thomas Cranfield substitutes

Little Stukeley: Stephen Lucas and Edward Newbold constables; William Knighton and William Whyman substitutes.

Woodhurst: George Dring and Charles Wales Constables; William Dring substitute

Upwood: R Wright and T Clark Constables; Anthony Clark and Barnabas Brighty substitutes.

Great Raveley: William Brighty and William Ingle Constables; Richard Masters and John Foster substitutes.

Ramsey: John Potts, Simon Fitzjohn, William Avery, William Abbott, Isaac Groom.

Mereside [sic] and John Phillips.

Ramsey Hern: constables: J. Cox, T. Lavender, E. Stevens, Daniel Rose and Henry Pope, substitutes.- [sic]

Bury: John Ray and George Panell Constables; George Shelton substitute.

Pidley: Thomas Ford* and William Bedford Constables; James Green and John Smith substitutes

St Ives: Hume Burgess*, T.Alderton, Jacob Stevens, William Ingle, William Sadler, Charles Culpin, Henry Golding and Henry Cope Constables.

Wistow: Thomas Mitchell and William Shepherson, Constables; James Butler and William Foreman substitutes.

King's Ripton: Thomas Granville and William Nichols Constables.

Wyton: William Wilson and G Thackray Constables; G.Eady and F.Fyson substitutes.

The Broughton overseers were fined 20 shillings each for not attending .

The persons against whose name an * is placed are to be paid a yearly salary by the parish out of the poor rates. The constables appointed are to attend on Monday next to be sworn in.

In summary, according, to this press report, paid Constables in the Hurstingstone Hundred were:
Somersham: William BEHAG and Josh BRIGGS constables, Barlow PEDLEY substitute,
Holywell with Needingworth: Thomas HICKS
Pidley: Thomas FORD
St Ives: Hume BURGESS
(Cambridge Independent Press, 12 November 1842 p3)

Then in the press the following week:

“The constables of the Hurstingstone Hundred, appointed last Monday, attended this day to be sworn in; in some cases they were allowed to find substitutes. They were all particularly cautioned that whenever a party or person was taken into custody they were not to be allowed anything other than bread and water, unless ordered by a medical man, especially beer, spirits or wines. (Cambridge Independent Press - Saturday 19 November 1842 p3)

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1843

St Ives Vestry meeting, 9 March 1843, Messrs Alderton and Burgess, who were appointed constables, were asked to use their efforts to do away with the public nuisance of porters, watermen and others congregating at The Cross much to the annoyance of respectable residents.
(Cambridge Independent Press, 18 March 1843 p3)

St Ives Vestry Minutes 19 March 1843 (Hunts Archives KHP72/8/1/2) list the householders nominated for appointment as Constables in the coming year as:
Hume Burgess and Thomas Alderton, (both fit to be paid, to undertake the same duties as the previous year and to be paid 10 shillings per week)

Jacob Stevens
James Field
Joseph Finding
Elwin Arnsby
Henry Golding
Henry Cope
Robert White
Robert Nobbs
Thomas Bert Ulph
Thomas Earl

“This day constables under the new act were appointed for the several parishes in the division of Hurstingstone”. (Cambridge Chronicle, 15 April 1843 p3)

1844

On Thursday morning last a vestry meeting was held at St Ives for the purpose of revising the list of Constables when, with two or three exceptions the same parties were re-elected. The meeting also resolved that there would be no paid Constables in future. The attention of the proper authorities should be directed to the state of The Cross especially on Sunday afternoons and evenings.
(Cambridge Independent Press, 17 February 1844 p3)

From St Ives Vestry Minutes 15 February 1844 (Hunts Archives KHP72/8/1/2). The following persons present were nominated as eligible persons to serve the office of Constable for the following year
Thomas Alderton
William Sadler
Henry Cope
William Ingle
Henry Golding
Joseph Finding
John Marsh
George Clark
Lot Arnsby
Joseph Tolliday
William Whaley Jnr
William Osborn Peck
Resolved that no paid constables be nominated.

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1845

Mr Fyson overseer of Woodhurst was fined 20s for not attending with the constable's list, pleaded he did bring it but arrived after the Magistrates had broken up. The Overseers of Gt Raveley and Warboys were similarly fined. (Cambridge Independent Press 29 March 1845 p1)

From St Ives Vestry minutes 13 February 1845 (Hunts Archives KHP72/8/1/2), the following were nominated to serve as Constables:

Thomas Alderton
Hume Burgess
Henry Cope
Robert Noble
George Ingle
George Clark
William Giblett
John Marsh
Joseph Tolliday
Joseph Finding
William Butler
John Edwards

1846

From Vestry Minutes the following were nominated to serve as Constables for the year ahead. (Hunts Archives KHP72/8/1/2)

Thomas Alderton
Hume Burgess
Henry Cope
George Ingle
George Clark
Charles Woollard
James Fields
John Marsh
Joseph Finding
Joseph Tolliday
Frederick Mutton
John Edwards
In the minutes, the first five names have ticks against them. Does this suggest these five were the only nominees actually appointed as constables?

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1847

From St Ives Vestry minutes 10 February 1847 (Hunts Archives KHP72/8/1/2), Nominated as Constables were:

William Matthew Gimber
Thomas Alderton
Hume Burgess
Henry Cope
James Furman
James Fields
A.C.B.Green
F Mutton
Joseph Mumby
George Allen
William P Mattock
Roger Attwood

1848

From St Ives Vestry minutes 12 February 1848 (Hunts ArchivesKHP72/8/1/2) the following were nominated as Constables for the year ahead.

Henry Cope
Hume Burgess
Thomas Alderton
James Fields
Joseph Bentley
James Jeffs
George Clark
Roger Attwood
Henry Durvile
Frederick Mutton
Robert Everitt
William Goodsy

The previous Thursday a vestry meeting was held at St Ives for the nomination of constables. “Several of the old officers were reinstated upon the list and the business finished with despatch”.
(Cambridge Independent Press, 19 February 1848 p3)

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1849

From the St Ives Vestry Minutes, (Hunts Archives KHP72/8/1/2), the following were nominated as Constables for the year ahead.

Henry Cope
Thomas Alderton
Hume Burgess
Joseph Beetles
George Seekings
Henry Clayton
Charles Cannam
John Anderson
Roger Attwood
Charles Woollard
William Giblett
Joseph Tolliday

1850

From St Ives Vestry minutes 14 February 1850, (Hunts Archives KHP72/8/1/2), the following were nominated as Constables for the year ahead.

Robert White
William Whelham
Jacob Stevens, Grocer
John Noble
Charles Woollard
John Anderson
George Johnstone
Henry Hardy
Hume Burgess
Thomas Alderton
George Clark
Roger Attwood

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1851

“At a vestry meeting held in the parish church of St Ives, Feb 20, the following persons were proposed and seconded to fill the offices of Constables for the ensuing year. The appointment takes place next week”

George Johnstone, draper
Henry Perry Dumvile, grocer
Andrew William Bell, schoolmaster
John Norris, cordwainer
Frederick Waldock, Butcher
Thomas Breese, coal merchant
George Barley Beetles, accountant
George Allen, Architect
Thomas Mason, Bricklayer
Richard Salmon, painter
Charles Frederick Wootten, builder
Thomas Begbie, Gardener.
(Cambridge Chronicle, 22 February 1851 p6)

Also list from Ives Vestry minutes 20 February 1851 (Hunts Archives KHP72/8/1/2)

1852

“St Ives Petty Sessions - considerable time spent dealing with the constables' lists”.
(Cambridge Independent Press, 20 March 1852 p3)

From St Ives Vestry minutes 19 February 1852 (Hunts Archives KHP72/8/1/2), the nomination for Constables for the year ahead was:

William Gifford, Sadler
Reuben Smith, tailor
Henry Ekins, butcher
George Hyde, stonemason
George Jackson, Waterman
William Burgess, butcher
George Skeeles.

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1853

From the minutes of the St Ives Vestry meeting 3 March 1853 (Hunts Archives KHP72/8/1/2), – the Constables nominated for the year ahead were:

William Burgess, butcher
Thomas Matthews, hair dresser
Richard James, coach maker
James Freeman, sheep jobber
Richard Brown Skeeles, carpenter – crossed out
William Tall, shopkeeper
John Baker, cordwainer
Frederick Waldock, butcher
John Saint, bricklayer
John Austin, cordwainer
William Harris baker
Thomas Breese, waterman
Edward Woollard, carpenter

From the local press – the persons nominated as Constables in their report of the vestry meeting at St Ives:

William Burgess,
Thomas Matthews,
Richard James,
James Freeman,
Richard Brown Skeeles,
William Tall,
John Baker,
Frederick Waldock,
John Saint,
John Austin,
William Harries and
Thomas Breese.

(Edward Woollard not included in press report).
(Cambridge Independent Press, 5 March 1853 p3)

St Ives Petty Session – the day for overseers to verify lists of Constables
(Cambridge Independent Press, 2 April 1853 p1)

1854

Minutes of the St Ives Vestry 23 March 1854 (Hunts Archives KHP72/8/1/2), proposed and seconded for Parish Constable for the year ensuing were

William Harvey
Alfred Elson Brown
William Corbett
John Bullard
Thomas Begbie
George Stafferth Clark
Robinson Noble
Frederick Waldock
John Saint
George Forester Smythe
George Housden
William Stafford

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1855

Parish Constables, at a vestry meeting held in the parish church at St Ives on 22 Feb for the appointment of Parish Constables - the following were proposed and seconded for the year ahead:

Richard James, coachmaker
George Robb, robe maker
George Barley, baker
Allpress Ashton, gentleman
William Seward, hairdresser
Alfred Baker, tailor
Richard Skeeles, carpenter
George Forester Smythe, attorney's clerk
Ebenezer McKenzie, cabinet maker
George Hide, stonemason
Wm Plyor Waldock, ironfounder
Henry Golding, chairmaker
Joseph Dean, waterman

(Cambridge Chronicle 24 February 1855 p6)
And Vestry Minutes 23 February 1855 (Hunts Archives KHP72/8/1/2),

1856

St Ives Vestry meeting 21 Feb 1856, appointment of Constables - following proposed and seconded: Occupations taken from the press report, not shown in the Vestry minutes.

Mr Richard James, police officer
William Adams, merchants clerk
William Papworth, Woolcomber
Thomas Phillips, fishmonger
Joseph Child, dyer
John Rider, grocer
William Hewson jun, pork butcher
George Norris, shoemaker
Allpress Ashton, gentleman
Ebeneezer McKenzie, cabinetmaker
William Thompson,, whipmaker
Joseph Tolliday, bootmaker
(Cambridge Chronicle, February 1856 p7)

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1857

Public vestry meeting held in the Parish Church of St Ives on Thursday 12 Feb for the appointment of Parish Constables for the year ensuing. The following were proposed and seconded for Constables:

Mr Richard James (New Police)
Mr Allpress Ashton, gentleman
Mr Ebeneezer McKenzie, cabinet maker
Mr Joseph Tolliday Jun, shoemaker
Mr William Bays, gardener
Mr George Norris, shoemaker
Mr James Meadows, carpenter
Mr John Cole, Baker
Mr William Breeson, tailor
Mr Thomas Mason, bricklayer
Mr Reuben Ginn, lawyer's clerk
Mr Richard Salmon, painter
(Cambridge Chronicle, 14 February 1857 p7

1858

At the St Ives Vestry Meeting on 11 February 1858 the following were proposed and seconded for the as Parish Constables for the ensuing year:

Mr Richard James, police officer
Mr James Meadows, carpenter
Mr John Cole, baker
Mr William Breeson, tailor
Mr Reuben Ginn, articled clerk
Mr Richard Salmon, painter
Mr Frederick Marshall, draper
Mr Benjamin Lyon, fellmonger
Mr James Michael Rowell, veterinary surgeon
Mr James Kenward, draper
Mr Charles Styles, baker
Mr William Scrub, grocer

(Cambridge Chronicle 13 February 1858 P7)

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