| Description | These files contain the writs of summons, bills of indictments, and jurors' and constables' presentments relating to cases tried at Quarter Sessions. From c.1660 there are lists of persons bound to appear with notes of cases and occasional orders estreats of fines. From the late sixteenth century, in addition to these records relating the Court in Session, the files include much material relating to the administrative work of the justices including the poor law functions of the magistrates in Quarter Sessions. These include records relating to the administration of the City Gaol, House of Correction; the repair of highways; lists of the city police from the early 19th century; miscellaneous accounts and vouchers; sacrament certificates (QRR); declarations against trans sub-stantiation (from 1673); registration of non conformist meeting houses (from 1689); and from the late seventeenth century, friendly societies; freemasons; and printing presses. There are also some accounts and assessments relating to the training of the Militia from 1705. The files also contain coroners' inquests from the mid sixteenth century to 1927.
Each meeting of quarter sessions produced one file. Since the mayor was the chief justice in the city, sessions records also appear on mayors' files (MF) and in some mayors' books (MB). In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, some administrative work of the justices, in particular relating to the poor law, was carried out by the Assembly and is therefore recorded in the Assembly minute books (AB).
Until the late 1620s these files also contain writs, indictments, depositions and examinations relating to cases in the Crownmote Court, but after this date these documents are mainly found in the Mayors' Files. The 16th and early 17th century Mayors' Files also contain many Quarter Sessions records.
Calendar entries have been made for documents in files QSF/1-QSF/7, QSF/9-QSF/22, QSF/24-QSF/56, QSF/70, QSF/90. |