Description

Admin History:

Quarter sessions were county courts held by the magistrates (also known as Justices of the Peace) from the 14th century four times a year at Epiphany (Jan-Mar), Easter (Apr-Jun), Midsummer (Jul-Sept) and Michaelmas (Oct-Dec). The work of these courts was varied. They dealt with criminal matters from petty theft to rape. In addition, the Quarter sessions courts also dealt with administrative issues such as licensing and matters regarding the local gaol. More serious crimes were referred on to the assize courts where professional judges could handle them, rather than the Justices of the Peace. Quarter Sessions were abolished in 1972.

Description:

The reason for the creation of these sheets is difficult to ascertain. They seem to have been compiled in order to give a summary for each prisoner, with information entered onto 2 different types of sheets.

Both type of sheets give the name of the prisoner, the date and type of offence (not the date of the hearing), a calendar number, the names of any witnesses and the solicitor. However, whilst one seriesof sheets gives conviction details, the other type does not. This second type of sheet lists the first count on which the prisoner is being held and then lists any previous counts on which that individual had been held. In addition, not all convictions occurred in Hull, with some happening in other places.