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Archiver > SOG-UK > 2001-11 > 1004969625


From: "Caroline Gurney" <>
Subject: Re: [SoG] parishes
Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2001 14:13:45 -0000
References: <hACNhKAb1d57Ewoy@tdrake.demon.co.uk>


Barney wrote:

> I went to a lecture by a high court judge about 10 years ago in which he
> gave dates as to when the office of Justice of the Peace came into
> existence. I recall that he said that JP was one of the oldest legal
> offices in existence in England and that it began some time in the 13th
> century or possibly earlier, but it was definitely a Norman
> introduction.

According to Terrick FitzHugh's "Dictionary of Genealogy", "Originally
called Keepers of the Peace, these magistrates were appointed by a
commission under the Great Seal, to keep the peace within a stated
jurisdiction. The justices first acquired their name, and the power to try
major offences, under a statute of 1361."

John Richardson's "The Local Historian's Encyclopaedia" sheds further light:
"Keepers of the Peace were appointed to each county in 1277 and 1287. In
1361 the Keepers became Justices with power to hear cases as well as to
bring them."

Gill Shaw's original query was about Overseers, Constables & Surveyors. Both
the above books have detailed entries on all three of these offices. I find
them indispensable works of reference & I hope they are both available from
the SOG bookshop :-)

Caroline Gurney
Portsmouth
or



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