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Lawlessness in Brompton-on-Swale
- Peter Hodgson
- Dec 19, 2024
- 9 min read
As mentioned previously, the North Yorkshire County Records Office in Northallerton holds an extensive collection of records relating to the area dating back to medieval times. There is also a significant amount of information available online via their website which is searchable: https://archivesunlocked.northyorks.gov.uk/CalmView/default.aspx
There are a quite a few references to Brompton in relation to the "Quarterly Sessions". These were courts of law held four times a year and typically held at the county or borough town. They date back to the middle ages and were established in England by Richard II in 1388. These courts heard charges for lesser crimes (those not subject to long prison terms of capital punishment). Courts of Assizes heard the more serious crimes. The "Courts of Sessions" were typically presided over by a Justice of the Peace or a circuit judge, who would travel from place to place holding such courts. Local "upstanding men of good character" would be summoned to form juries (no woman was allowed to serve on a jury in England until 1921). Other officers of the court (clerks, constables, bailiffs etc.) were drawn from the local gentry. In most cases. there was an initial hearing and if there was deemed sufficient evidence, a trial would be set for the following quarter session.
Later in the 18th Century, it became apparent that once-a-quarter courts were just insufficient and "Petty Sessions" were introduced. These were more local and presided over by two magistrates and dealt with minor offenses - often punishable by a fine. Although it refers mainly to trials at the old Bailey - there is a good article here about trials in this period: Link.
It notes:
Eighteenth-century criminal trials were very different from modern ones. They were quick, and typically pitted the testimony of victims and witnesses directly against the response from the accused. Until late in the century, lawyers were rarely present. Despite the fact the odds were stacked against defendants, a remarkably large number of defendants were acquitted, or convicted on a reduced verdict, reflecting the considerable discretion exercised by jurors.
The table below covers references to Brompton-on-Swale held on the North Yorkshire County Archive and spans 1685 to 1811. While its not a complete record by a long way, about 3 dozen cases over 126 years doesn't seem too bad.
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