Cheshire Quarter Sessions: Eighteenth Century

Samuel Hall. QJF 146/1/22 (1718)

Northwych Aprill the 25th 1718

Sir
I have neither horse nor [moneys?] to hire one elce I would
have wayted on you my selfe, for haveinge noethinge comeinge in
nor noe way nor meanes to get one peny; I am reduced to a most
miserable estate, and condition, and truely if it had not beene for this
younge woman who was formerly my servant, who by her owne
labour, and industry, both in the goale, and since hath done what was
possible for her to doe towardes my releife, and maintenance; elce I doe beleeve
I had perisht through want of both food, and rayment sometime since; I hope sir,
the pension of four poundes per annum will be continued, I hope neither Master Egerton
nor Master Cholmondeley will be against it, for truely I am an object of charity, and had I
beene continued, in the coroners place I should never have become burdensom to
any one whatever, and now if I have not the charity of honest gentlemen
and my good neighbors, besides my pension: I shall soone be reduced to miserable
want of all thinges necessary to supporte human life; her receipt in my absence will
allwayes be acknowledged by mee for my use sir I humbly request that you will please
together with the worshipfull bench order that she may have one pounde paide her
on my account, which she will carefully bringe to my handes, and I shall for ever acknowledge
your goodnesse and charity towardes mee, and heartily praye for your good successe in this
life, and your aeternall happinesse in the kingdom of glory; (which) shall allways be the
prayers of

Your poore and distressed
servant

Samuel Hall

Samuel Hall. QJF 146/2/58 (1718)

To his majestys justices at the quarter sessions helde at Namptwych
July the 15th 1718

The humble petition of Samuel Hall of Northwych late coroner of the county of
Chester most humbly sheweth:

That I am at this time in most miserable want of all thinges necessary to support humane
life, which constraines mee to flye to you for releife first that you woulde grante an
order for the continueinge of the pension of four poundes per annum for one yeare more
and another order to the inhabitants of the towneship of Great Budworth to paye mee
what you in your mature judgement shall thinke fitt and requisite to maintaine mee, with
the helpe of this four poundes if your goodnesse will continue it, meat drinke and cloathes
chamber and fewill I hope in a yeares time to have effects to come from Virginy both
to paye debts and be sufficient for my maintenance dureinge life I doe not request any
thinge but through poverty and wante, and truely friendes I have none that cares to be
acquaynted with poverty, I am under that constraynt to seeke to your for releefe in this most
deplorable state and condition or perish through want, your aide and assistance
is most humbly required by your poore and distressed petitioner and to be certain
I shall never be wantinge to praye for your good successe in this life and your aeternall
happinesse in the everlasting kingedom of glory

Richard Walthall. QJF 146/3/93 (1718)

Sir
There is an [ill?] rode belonging to this towne
leading from Marshfeild bridge towards
Beame Heath and the high rode betwixt
Middlewich and Namptwich the bridge
is a county bridge, this towne has beene att
trouble aboute itt, and wee desire itt may
be repaired by the county I am

Sir
your humble servant

• Richard Walthall

Wistaston
October the 8th 1718

Daniell Dentith. QJF 166/1/47 (1738)

Aprell the 17 1738 gentele men
may it please your worships I have
guttered five score rood of guttering
in the forist betwixt Hedsbery and
Kelsall in the county of Chesher and
wee have seene it measured whose
names are under ritten

• Henrey Norton
• William Hope
• Jonathan Holland

This from Daniall Dentith
the worke man desireth
the [obgt?] of your charity

Robert Owen. QJF 166/2/70 (1738)

To the honourable his majesties justices of the peace,
at the quarter sessions, held at Namptwich the 11th of July 1738

May it please your honours

It happened some time agoe I had some difference with the
bearer Richard Latham, for which offence he was bound over
to the quarter sessions, and he did appear the last sessions held at
Chester the 17th of April, but unadvisedly went without a certificate
from my hand, for which you thought proper to continue him
bound, but please your honours, I was then and am now of
an opinion, that he has no manner of design against me, neither
do I believe he would doe me any manner of injury or harm
whatever; therefore I humbly beg you would be pleased to
discharge him for the offence, and I shall ever pray for your
honours, who am your most odient and humble servant

• Robert [Owen?]


• [Test?]


• Jeffery Houghton

Samuel Dixon. QJF 186/1/81 (1758)

County of
Chester to wit

To the worshipful his majesty's justices of the peace to be
assembled at the court of quarter sessions to be holden at
Nantwich in and for the said county on Tuesday the tenth
day of January 1758

I Samuel Dixon of Stockport in the said county grocer do hereby
humbly testify his said majesty's justices of the peace that Robert
Barns of Stockport aforesaid cordwainer hath made me a full
satisfaction and recompence for an assault comitted upon me
which he was to have answered at the said court and therefore I the
said Samuel Dixon do hereby humbly request the said justices to
discharge Thomas Fletcher of Cheadle Buckley in the said county
innkeeper and Robert Gorton of Salford in the county of Lancaster
brewer from their recognizance for the said Robert Barns's
personall appearance at the said court and that the said Robert
Barns may be acquitted of the said offence as witness the
hand of the said Samuel Dixon this seventh day of January
in the year of our lord 1758

• Samuell Dixon

Signed in the presence of

• John Brentnall

Samuel Dixon. QJF 186/3/93 (1758)

Stockport July 10th 1758

To the honourable the bench assembled at the
quarter sessions at Northwich Cheshire

The affair betwixt James Ashton hatter and
myself we have agreed betwixt us and therefore
I pray that he may be discharged and no further
proceedings to be had thereon

• Samuel Dixon


• Wittnes


• John Brentnall

Thomas Goulden. QJF 186/4/103 (1758)

We request a licence for a house of John Johnson's
for devine worship, standing in the parish of Moberley
now in the posession of Thomas Goulden tenant

Joseph Allen. QJF 206/2/12 (1778)

To the honourable the chairman and the rest of his
majesty's justices of the peace at the general
quarter sessions of the peace held for the county of
Chester at the castle of Chester on Tuesday the twenty
eighth day of April 1778

The humble petition of Joseph Allen a debtor confined in
the goal of the castle of Chester aforesaid

Most humbly sheweth

That your petitioner hath had the county allowance of weekly
bread stopt from him ever since the last general quarter sessions
of the peace for the said county of Chester on the suggestion that
he hath a competency sufficient without it in regard to which your
petitioner sets forth that though he hath an estate in the said county of
Chester yet hath a son that is chargeable to him and that the yearly taxes
repairs and other incident charges straitens him highly not being
able to maintain himself half a year having no money for that purpose
and none could he expect in the city would trust so long for provisions
as he is a prisoner etc.

That your petitioner humbly conceives himself aggrieved
that a foreigner of a noble family stileing himself Count Mondreuil
a Frenchman should be allowed the county bread and your petitioner
though a native of the county of Chester aforesaid and under the distressed
circumstances above related should be debarred from the same.

Your said petitioner therefore humbly prays the honourable
bench of justices to take the premisses into consideration
and after mature deliberation he doubts not of being
restored to the county allowance of bread and your said
petitioner (as in duty bound will ever pray etc.

Joseph Allen

Richard Daviss. QJF 206/2/174 (1778)

The humble petition of Richard Daviss of
Over Whitley in the parish of Great Budworth and county of
Chester having had the misfortune of having lost two cows
which was all he had for the support of his family and being
not of years to undergoe the hardship to work for more and
therefore is obliged to ask benevolence of all such good and
well disposed Christian people as he shall present this to
in order to enable him to purchase some more and it shall
be the earnest desire of my soul to solicite the almighty to
bestow it double upon you which is all at present that I am
able to do

Sir Richard Brooks knight and baronet £ 5
The Reverend Master Silvey vicar of Great Budworth 2
Master Henry Hough churchwarden 2
George Eaton esquire at the pool 2
The Reverend George Taylor 1
The Reverend Thomas Townson 3
The Reverend Master Heber 2 6
John Reynolds 1
John Jackson 1
The Reverend Master Owen 2
Master Jeffer Hart 1
William Tilly 1
Mathew [.owles?] 1
Peter Wright 1
John [Stanton?] 1 6
Peter Leigh 1
William Hatton 0 6
Nathan Hyde 0 6
[illegible] Leigh 1 0
[...am?] Hulton esquire 1 0
[illegible] Moston 0 6

Thomas Leigh 0 0 6
John Ridgway 0 1 0
William Leigh 0 0 6
Thomas Hill Lymm 0 0 6
William Cross 0 0 6
John Leigh esquire 0 2 0

George Downing. QJF 206/3/205 (1778)

To the worshipful William Clowes esquire one of his majestys justices of the
peace for the county palatine of Chester.

The [humble?] petition of George Downing

Sheweth
that your petitioner George Downing was on the twenty eighth day of
January 1778 and still is a prisoner in the actual custody of the keeper or
goaler of his majestys goal or prison within and for the liberty of the
hundred of Macclesfield in the said county at the suit of James Wilson for
twelve pounds debt besides costs of suit.

That your petitioner hath annexed to this his petition a true copy of the
schedule or account containing his intended discovery of his real and
personal estate to be sworn to at the next general sessions of the peace
for the said county according to the directions of an act of Parliament
passed in the eighteenth year of the reign of his present majesty intitled
"An Act of the Relief of Insolvent Debtors and for the Relief of Bankrupts
in Certain Cases"

Wherefore and to the intent that your petitioner may be admitted to
take the benefit of the said act he humbly prays that you will be pleased to
grant your warrant under your hand and seal to be directed to the goaler or keeper of the aforesaid
goal or prison strictly to charge and command him to bring him
personally before his majestys justices of the peace at the next general
sessions of the peace for the said county in order that he may be admitted to take
the benefit of the said act. And your petitioner shall as in duty bound for ever
pray etc. Dated the second day of July 1778.

George Downing

Randle Bennett. QJF 206/4/112 (1778)

Cheshire. To his majesty's justices of the
peace to be assembled at the next
general quarter sessions of the
peace to be held at Knutsford in and
for the county of Chester on Tuesday
the 6th day of October 1778.

These are humbly to certify that an agree=
=ment hath been this day made between me
Randle Bennett of Ludworth in the county
of Derby miller and James Graham (otherwise Grime) late of
Mottram in Longdendale in the said county of
Chester chapman respecting an assault and
battery committed by him on me, and for which
I indicted him at the last general quarter
sessions of the peace for the said county of
Chester, and of which assault and battery I do
hereby acquit and discharge him so far as in
me lieth, and do further humbly request that
the recognizance which the said James Graham
(otherwise Grime) hath since entered into for his
appearance and prosecuting his traverse to the said indictment
may be discharged. Given under my hand this
3d day of October 1778.

• Randle Bennett


• Witness


• Thomas Nicholson

John Nunns. QJF 226/2/85 (1798)

To the worshipful his majesty's justices of the peace acting
in and for the county palatine of Chester assembled at the
quarter sessions held by adjournment at Chester in and
for the said county palatine on Tuesday the twenty
fourth day of April one thousand seven hundred and
ninety eight.

The humble petition of John Nunns
manager of a company of comedians

Sheweth
that by an act of Parliament made in the twenty
eighth year of his present majesty's reign it is enacted "that it shall and
may be lawful for the justices of the peace of any county, riding, or liberty in
general or quarter sessions assembled at their discretion to grant a licence
to any person or persons making application for the same by petition for the
performance of such tragedies, comedies, etc, as then were or thereafter should
be acted performed or represented at either of the patent or licensed theatres
in the city of Westminster or as shall in the manner prescribed by law have
been submitted to the inspection of the Lord Chamberlain of the Kings household
for the time being at any place within their jurisdictions or within any city
town or place situate within the limits of the same for any number of days not
exceeding sixty days" under the regulations and restrictions in the said
act set forth

Your petitioner therefore humbly prays that a
licence may be granted to him for the performance of
tragedies, comedies, etc, within the town of Namptwich in
the said county palatine of Chester as by the said act is directed
for thirty nights in the months of July and August next

The minister, churchwardens and principal inhabitants of Church Lawton. QJF 226/2/86 (1798)

To his majestys justices of the peace for the county
palatine of Chester assembled at the general quarter
sessions of the peace held at the castle of Chester in
and for the said county on Tuesday the twenty
fourth day of April in the year of our lord one
thousand seven hundred and ninety eight.

The humble petition of the minister
churchwardens and others, principal inhabitants
of the parish of Church Lawton in the said
county palatine of Chester

Sheweth that the parish church of Church Lawton aforesaid being a very
ancient structure is become so ruinous that the inhabitants of the said
parish cannot with safety assemble therein to attend divine service, and
that notwithstanding the inhabitants have from time to time laid out
several considerable sums of money in repairing the said church yet
the same is so greatly decayed by length of time that it is absolutely
necessary that the whole should be taken down and rebuilt except the
steeple part thereof. That Thomas Sherwin of Burslem and David Leak
of Norton near Burslem in the said county of Stafford builders, able and
experienced workmen have carefully viewed the said church
and made an estimate of the charge of taking down and
rebuilding the body of the said church, which upon a moderate
computation amounts to the sum of one thousand seven hundred and
seventeen pounds eight shillings and four pence exclusive of the old
materials which sum the said inhabitants are not able to
raise amongst themselves and therefore incapable of undertaking
so great a work without the charitable assistance of
well disposed Christians.

Therefore your petitioners humbly pray on behalf of
themselves and the other inhabitants of the said
parish of Church Lawton that your worships will be
pleased to certify the truth of the premises to the Lord
High Chancellor of Great Britain in order to obtain
a brief to enable them to take down and rebuild
the body of the said church

And your petitioners shall ever pray etc

• L Wetenhall rector
• Robert Cox
• James Cox
• church
  wardens
• John Lawton
• John Cartwright
• John Morris
• Robert Paddey
• Samul Pointon
• John Hall
• John Lowe
• John Burgess
• John S. Bate
• inhabitants
  of
  Church
  Lawton

The justices of the peace of Cheshire. QJF 226/2/87 (1798)

To the right honorable Alexander Lord Loughborough
Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain.

We whose names are hereunto subscribed his majesty's justices of the peace for the county
palatine of Chester assembled at the general quarter sessions of the peace held at the castle of Chester in and
for the said county palatine on Tuesday the twenty fourth day of April in the thirty eighth year of the reign of
our most gracious sovereign lord King George the third do humbly certify unto your lordship that it
this day appeared to us in open court upon the petition of the minister churchwardens and inhabitants of
the parish church and parish of Church Lawton in the said county that the parish church of Church Lawton
aforesaid being a very ancient structure is become so ruinous that the inhabitants cannot with safety [illegible]
assemble therein to attend divine service and that notwithstanding the inhabitants have from time [to time?]
laid out several considerable sums of money in repairing the said church yet the same is so greatly [decayed?]
by length of time that it is absolutely necessary that the whole should be taken down and rebuilt
except the steeple part thereof. The truth whereof was made appear to us this day in open court [not?]
only by the before mentioned petition and by the allegations of the inhabitants of the said parish but also
upon the oaths of Thomas Sherwin of Burslem and David Leak of Norton near Burslem in the county of Stafford builders [able?]
and experienced workmen who have carefully viewed the said church and made an estimate of the charge
of taking down and rebuilding the body of the said church which upon a moderate [computation amounts?]
to the sum of one thousand seven hundred and seventeen pounds eight shillings and four pence (exclusive of the old materials [which sum?]
the said inhabitants are not able to raise among themselves being mostly tenants at rack rents [laborers and?]
other working people and heavily burdened with poor and therefore incapable of undertaking so [great a work?]
without the charitable assistance of well disposed Christians we therefore recommend the case of [illegible]
inhabitants to your lordship to the intent that your lordship will be pleased to grant unto the inhabitants of the
said parish his majesty's most gracious letters patent under the great seal of Great Britain empowering them to
ask and receive the charitable contributions of all his loving subjects throughout such part of Great Britain as to your
lordship shall seem most meet and convenient in order to enable them to take down and rebuild the body of the [said church?]

We are, may it please your lordship,
your lordships most obedient servants

• [R?] [illegible] [chairman?]
• [illegible]
• [illegible]
• [illegible]

William Hay. QJF 226/3/8 (1798)

Dear Sir,
will you be good enough to let me
know whether any application was made to the
quarter sessions for leave to have one or more methodists
congregations in Dukenfield. I hope not, but it has
just been told me that there was. Should any such
be made in future, and it is not matter of course to
grant them, I could wish that on no account such
liberty was given. The number of methodists is very
small in the place, and we are within a quarter of a
mile of Ashton where there is a regular methodist
meeting house; which is regularly attended so that
there is no occasion for introducing one into this
place. With many apologies to you for the trouble I am
giving you, I am, dear sir
your ever sincerely

• [William Hay?]

Dukenfield
16 July 98

Benjamin Ellis and other creditors of John Ellis. QJD 2 (1798)

To the right honourable Alexander Lord Loughborough Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain.

In all humble manner complaining sheweth unto your lordship your orator Benjamin Ellis of the city of Chester
ironmonger

As well for himself as for all other the creditors of John Ellis of the city of Chester wine merchant

That whereas the said John Ellis
using and exercising the trade of merchandize by way of bargaining exchange
bartering and chevisance seeking his trade of living by buying and selling upon just and good causes for wares and merchandizes to him sold and
delivered and also for ready money to him lent being indebted unto your orator in the sum of one hundred pounds
or upwards of late (that is to say) about since did become bankrupt within the several statutes
made against bankrupts to the intent to defraud and hinder your said orator and others his creditors of their just debts and duties to them due and owing (that is
to say) within the statute made in the Parliament begun and holden at Westminster the second day of April in the thirteenth year of the reign of Elizabeth late queen of
England concerning bankrupts and within the statute made in the Parliament begun and holden at Westminster aforesaid the nineteenth day of March in the first year of
the reign of the late King James the first of England France and Ireland and of Scotland the seven and thirtieth intituled An Act for the Better Relief of Creditors against Such as
Shall Become Bankrupts and also within the statute made in the Parliament begun and holden at Westminster aforesaid the nineteenth day of February in the one and
twentieth year of the reign of the [said late?] King James the first of England France and Ireland and of Scotland the seven and fiftieth intituled An Act for the Further Description of a
Bankrupt and Relief of Creditors against Such as Shall Become Bankrupts and for Inflicting Corporal Punishment upon the Bankrupts in Some Special Cases and also within
the statute made in the fifth year of the reign of his late majesty King George the second intitled An Act to Prevent the Committing of Frauds by Bankrupts
or within some or one of them in tender consideration whereof may it please your lordship to grant unto your
orator his majesty's most gracious commission to be directed to such and so many wise honest and discreet persons as to your lordship shall seem meet authorizing them
thereby not only concerning the said bankrupt his body lands tenements freehold and customary goods debts and other things whatsoever but also concerning all other
persons who by concealment claim or otherwise do or shall offend touching the premises or any part thereof [contrary?] to the true intent and meaning of the said statutes to do
and execute all and every thing and things whatsoever as well for and towards satisfaction and payment of the said creditors as towards and for all other intents and purposes
according to the ordinance and provision of the same statutes and of any other statutes in force concerning bankrupts and your orator shall ever pray and so forth.