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Transcribed by Kay & John Collins 2005
Calendars of Prisoners

At Northamptonshire Record Office there are several Calendars of Prisoners, for the Quarter Sessions and for the Assize Courts.
There is not a full run of records, but the information may throw light on some of the people who seemed to have disppeared.
Most of the lists do not give home parish, so these are the whole calendars as found at NRO.

INDEX
to these 3 lists
Adams - Young
Awaiting Trial in
Northampton Town Gaol
1784
Transferred from Sheriff to Sheriff
in Northampton Town Gaol
1814
Awaiting Trial in
Northampton Town Gaol
1827
1826-1881 The index was created from the surviving lists of prisoners to be brought to trial. Some are from the Quarter Sessions, some from the Assizes, and a few listings were reprinted with the verdict and sentences added. From 1826-1841 those remaining in gaol and the House of Correction at the start of the Court Session are listed before those standing charged, and those held in the Borough Gaol are at the end of the later Assizes lists. Occupations are usually given after 1837. The County Gaol was closed in 1879 and prisoners were transferred to the Borough Gaol (later renamed HM Prison, Northampton).

In the lists of those being tried we have indicated the date detained and if in gaol or out on bail, the charge, the case number, court and month, the sentence (if given) and the year, the first two witnesses or victims (if named) and the parish where the crime was committed.

There is not a full run of these papers - click here for a list of those surviving.

Not all give the same information but all indicate the level of education by specifying the level of ability to read or write.

Two lists are printed here, the first is those on trial with the witnesses or victims and the other all criminals remaining detained in gaol or the House of Correction (no distinction is made in most of the lists), with an index of all names.

In the index the codes are:
C
charged to appear
R
remaining in gaol from earlier conviction
W/V
witness or victim

Sometimes there is a little more detail of the crime committed in the Calendars and newspapers may well give even more information.

Transcribed by Kay & John Collins 2005 ©

NRO Ref: V.2237 (originals in X328 & X6696)
Key
 
Acq
Acquitted
await
awaiting trial at the Assizes
boro'
Borough Gaol
D
Judgement of Death recorded 
Del
Delivered by Proclamation
discharged
often for 'want of prosecution'
disturb Chapel
disturbing the Dissenter's Chapel service
gaol
County Gaol
gaol fine
gaol until fine paid  - perhaps also to find surety for keeping the peace
gaol HMp
goal until Her Majesty's pleasure be known
HL
Hard Labour - usually in House of Correction
HofC
House of Correction (where specified)
ill - next
ill now but to appear next sessions
kp
to keep the peace for term specified after release
NB
No Bill (no case to answer or no evidence given)
no surety
refusing to find surety
not assisting
not assisting Constable in execution of his duty
Pte
Private (soldier)
+R
and then to Reformatory
+S
and term of supervision
Sol
Solitary confinement
T
Transported
Term
 
d
days
m
months
w
weeks
y
years
Level of Education
R
reads only
R+W
reads & writes
N
neither reads nor writes
Imp
reads & writes imperfectly
Well
reads & writes well
Sup
superior education
Note: Case numbers may change from first list to final list  (final listing numbers are given)
Some are misnumbered so a number may appear twice in the same list
Where the accused is appearing for more than one charge, the same case number is used
1826-1881
By Year
Index of Names
1826 - 1836
Abbey - Bannister
1837
Barber - Blunt
1841
Boaz - Byrnes
1854
Cadbury - Connor
1855
Cook - Driver
1856
Duckett - Foxley
Francis - Gurney
1859 & 1860
H M Postmaster - Hobson
1861 & 1862
Hodges - Joice
1871 - 1881
Jolly - Lloyd
Remain in Custody
Lock - Mitton
Part 1 1826-37
Mobbs - Payne
Part 2 1837-41
Peach - Rixon
 
Roadknight - Slym
 
Smart - Sutton
 
Swan - Vorley
 NRO Ref: V.2237
(originals in X328 & X6696)
Wade - Wetherall
Wheeldon - Young




The Northamptonshire criminal system is described
in a book entitled “Guilty M’Lud” by Richard Cowley.



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