Quarter Sessions: Justices of the Peace
The following source list was originally available only on paper in one of the West Yorkshire Archive Service offices. It may have been compiled many years ago and could be out of date. It was designed to act as a signpost to records of interest on a particular historical subject, but may relate only to one West Yorkshire district, or be an incomplete list of sources available. Please feel free to add or update with any additional information. |
Also see Justices of the Peace and Magistrates
Justices of the Peace (JPs) were appointed by royal commission. On appointment a JP was (and still is) inscribed by name on the Commission of the Peace for the county (see below for West Riding records). Prior to 1906 JPs were required to fulfill a property qualifaction and an oath of office had to be taken before a JP was allowed to act upon his duties.
The original role of a JP was mainly administrative, however it soon became more judicial with the introduction of obligatory magisterial duties in the nineteenth century.
The records of the Justices of Peace in the West Riding Quarter Sessions include:
- Commissions of the Peace (ref. QJ1-31) 1655, 1660-1974
These are the royal commissions upon which the names of JPs were inscribed. 31 commissions in the usual form of letters patent under the great seal survive, dating from the mid-seventeenth century and 1956. These Commissions were returned to the Lord Chancellor's department when it was necessary for new names to be added.
- Oaths of Office (ref. QJ32-41) 1811-1973
Registers of JPs oaths, renewing oaths and other public official's oaths.
- Qualification oaths (ref. QJ42-52) 1745-1906
As JPs were required to own property it was necessary for a qualification oath to be sworn before they could commence their duties. This restriction was abolished in 1906.
- Magistrates' Undertakings (ref. QJ53-72) c1940-c1970
Once nominated JPs were required to sign an undertaking relating to the performance of their magisterial duties.
For additional information about JPs oaths and declarations see ref QE29.