Some Early History of the Gloucestershire Constabulary

 
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Anthony Thomas Lefroy 1802-1890      Chief Constable of Gloucestershire 1839-1865

Anthony Thomas Lefroy, son of Limerick born Captain Anthony Thomas Lefroy who served as a Captain at Gibraltar and the Cape of Good Hope, was born in the year 1802 and baptised at Warkworth Parish Church, Morpeth, Northumberland, on the 26th April, 1802. 
Lefroy joined the Irish Police in 1823 at the age of 21.  From 1822 Ireland had an organised system of county constabularies and a single police force, the Irish Constabulary, from 1836.

By the year 1839 Anthony Lefroy had achieved the position of Chief Constable for County Wicklow. The Constabulary of Ireland was a trained and disciplined force under the central control of the government administration at Dublin Castle.  It represented a fresh start in policing and its members served under a strict code, which governed all aspects of their lives, on and off duty.  Elaborate precautions were taken to ensure that they displayed strict impartiality at all times.  Policemen who lived in barracks, were prohibited from serving in their (or their wives’) native areas, and were unable to vote or to belong to any political or religious groups (the exception being the Society of Freemasons). This constabulary was to become a model for a number of police forces throughout the world.

 

Following the successful establishment of the Metropolitan Police in London, the County Police Act 1839  (also known as The Rural Police Act) was passed. The act enabled Justices of the Peace in England and Wales to establish police forces in their counties. It was not compulsory, and constabularies were only established in 25 out of 55 counties by 1856, when the County and Borough Police Act 1856 made their provision mandatory.

The Act allowed Justices of the Peace of any county, in general or quarter sessions, to appoint constables "for the preservation of the peace and protection of the inhabitants" where they felt the existing system of parish constables was insufficient.

 

At a General Quarter Sessions for the County, held at Gloucester on Monday, 4th of November 1839, a discussion took place regarding the formation of a County Constabulary and the appointment of  Chief Constable. 

It is recorded that Lord Ellenborough said that the Magistrates should apply to Colonel MacGregor at the Inspectorate of Constabulary in Ireland, to see if he had anyone serving under him who would be suitable to be recommended for the post of Chief Constable so that there was no chance of its being supposed that the office of Chief Constable was given by acquaintances, by connection with the County, by private intimacy on the part of the Magistrates or otherwise than by the appointment of the very best man. 
The Lord Lieutenant concurred but suggested that a letter should go to the Secretary of State  requesting him to communicate with the heads of London and Irish Police. At the Adjourned General Quarter Sessions held at Gloucester on the  Monday, 18th of November 1839 a minute was approved and recorded agreeing to the establishment and appointment of County and District Constables. 

 

A Testimonial from the head of Ireland's Inspectorate, Colonel MacGregor, recommended  Anthony Lefroy who was 37 years of age and not a military man. 'That he was an extremely gentlemanly man. An Englishman believed from Cumberland and had served in the Irish Police Force for several years to the entire satisfaction of Colonel MacGregor.' 

On the 18th of November 1839 Anthony Lefroy was appointed Chief Constable of Gloucestershire. 

A letter dated 9th December 1839 from the Secretary of State, confirmed the appointment.  Now the Gloucestershire Constabulary was recognised and given the Government's blessing. The County force had been founded only six hours after Wiltshire Constabulary, making it the second rural police force to be formed in Britain.

On December 1st 1839, less than two weeks after his appointment, he had already brought over from Ireland, and placed on the pay-roll, six new superintendents and twelve constables (a thirteenth, Thomas Watson from Co. Armagh, signed on three weeks later).

Lefroy's original plan was to have the County divided into 20 police districts, each being controlled by a superintendent. That idea was forced to change as a high rate of resignations and dismissals took its toll and by 1841 the figure was 14 and in 1842 down to 11.

Before releasing his new recruits into those mainly rural districts they were issued with a uniform and given a brief period of training by experienced Irish officers. The 1839 appointments book shows that 16 of the first 23 constables originated from Ireland, some being brought over by Anthony Lefroy and others sent by Major Browne at Dublin HQ. 

Out of the more senior appointments, at least five of his twenty new District Superintendents, Charles Keiley, Thomas Russell, William McMahon, John Nicholls and Thomas Pilkington were from Ireland and John Dean King was an Englishman from Woolwich in Kent who had served in Ireland and married Deborah Westerman from Leinster in 1839.

We know little of those five officers or their six colleagues. Their ages and origins are not recorded in the Superintendents Default & Commendations book

One of the experienced Irish officers, Charles Keiley, must have been exceptional as he was appointed by Lefroy as the County's first Deputy Chief Constable in July 1840 as well as having to administer the outer Tewkesbury District. He stayed in that post until 1853.

Each superintendent needed a horse to travel between the stations in his district and was given a £40 yearly allowance for its maintenance.

 

The new force's first problem was the existing police station at Cheltenham. In 1831 Cheltenham Town Commissioners had instituted its own police force based on the Metropolitan Police system consisting of an inspector and 25 men with headquarters at what is now John Dower House in Crescent Place, pictured below.

The 1839 Act required town forces to be absorbed into the County policing structure and within a few months the Cheltenham force was disbanded, despite opposition from Town Commissioners and local people.

Because the city of Gloucester already had an independent police force unaffected by the new Act of Parliament, the County Constabulary now had its new headquarters at 1 Crescent Place, Cheltenham. It was here that the administrative machinery of the Force was based, while the 45 men allotted to police Cheltenham went across the road to the Central Police Station. 

The Superintendent there in 1841 was Irish born Thomas Russell and one of his Sergeants were also from Ireland. He was  William Hanbidge born in 1816 at Dunmore, Co. Wicklow who was later a Superintendent at Chipping Campden and Painswick.

 

Qualifications, necessary for Superintendents and Constables, as laid down by the Secretary of State.
To be under 40 years of age . To stand 5 feet 7 inches, without shoes. To read and write and keep accounts. 
To be free from any bodily complaint; of strong constitution and generally intelligent. 
No person appointed a Superintendent or Constable who shall be a Gamekeeper, Wood Ranger, Bailiff, Sheriff's Bailiff or Parish Clerk or who shall be a hired servant in the employment of any person or who shall keep or have any interest in any house for the sale of beer, wine or spirituous liquors by retail and if any person who should be appointed a Superintendent or Constable, should at any time after such appointment became a Gamekeeper, Wood Ranger, Bailiff, Sheriff's Bailiff or Parish Clerk or shall act in any capacity or shall sell or have any interest in the sale of any beer, wine or spirituous liquor, such person shall thereupon become and be incapable of acting as such Superintendent or Constable and shall forfeit his appointment of Superintendent or Constable and also all salary payable to him as Superintendent or Constable. 

 

The uniform items issued for the first year were : 

One Greatcoat Cape with Badge 
Coat with badge

Two pairs of trousers 

One pair of shoes 

One Hat 

Rates of pay were laid down as follows:- 
Chief Constables not less than £250 or more than £500 per year 
Superintendents not less than £75 or more than £150 per year 
Constables not less than 15 shillings or more than £1.1.0d. a week 

All gossiping, and especially talking to women, was discouraged and although there was no official meal break, officers were invited to use their top hat to carry a snack around.

The Chief Constable introduced the patrol ticket system where an officer left a ticket with trusted farmers and land-owners on his beat who would sign and date it. This ensured that the constable had patrolled where instructed and that prominent members of the community were aware of it.

 

Constables at Northleach in the 1850s

Accoutrements to be supplied 
A constables staff is to be supplied to each constable and a small Cutlass may be supplied to any constable who is so situated that, in the opinion of two Justices of the Peace of the County, it is necessary for his personal protection in the performance of his duty. The Cutlass to be worn at night only or at times when rioting or serious public disturbance has actually taken place, or upon orders by the Chief Constable who shall, on each occasion of giving such order, report the same and the reason for such order, to any two Justices of the Peace for the County, as soon afterwards as is practicable, who shall immediately transmit the said report to the Secretary of State. 

 

On the 7th of November 1840 the Home Office approved the appointment of the force's first sergeants.

That 38 Sergeants be appointed at £1-2-0 per week each and the Constables who shall in future join the force shall only receive 16s a week subject to future promotion.

That the sergeant shall (with the consent of the committing Magistrate) hire a cart or other cheap conveyance for the removal of prisoners, the Bill for which to be sent to Constabulary Office with the Magistrate's Certificate attached stating that the expense was necessarily incurred, when it will be included in the Constabulary Accounts.

That the following stations be annexed to each Superintendent with the respective Salaries - the alterations if any to take as Vacancies occur.

 

2 Superintendents        £120 & £100     Cheltenham -   Birdlip & Frogmill

1       "                        £100                 Campden -       Moreton & Quinton

1       "                        £100                 Cirencester -    Fairford & Bibury

1       "                        £120                 Dursley -         Wotton & Berkeley

1       "                        £120                 Hanham -        Hambrook & Westbury

1       "                        £100                 Sodbury -         Thornbury & Marshfield

1       "                        £120                 Newnham -      Mitcheldean, Coleford,  Lydney & Hewelsfield

1       "                        £100                 Stow -             North Leach & Great Barrington

1       "                        £100                 Gloucester -     Whitminster, Newent & Ashleworth

1       "                        £100                 Winchcombe -  Tewkesbury & Taddington

1       "                        £100                 Tetbury -          Minchinhampton & Nailsworth

1       "                        £100                 Stroud

That the Salary of every Superintendent of any District constituted as in the said list be greater by £40 than the sum respectively set down and to cover the expence of finding and keeping a Horse and all travelling expence within the County but not his own maintenance while travelling.

 

County of Gloucestershire Constabulary

Return showing increases and decreases in manpower from its formation in December 1839 to October 1880

 

 

 

Chief

 

Supts

 

Inspectors

 

Sergeants

 

Constables

 

Total

 

Increase

 

Remarks

 

1st December 1839

1

19

0

0

230

250

0

Commencement

1st December 1840

1

19

0

40

190

250

0

1st April 1841

1

14

0

40

195

250

0

1st June 1842

1

11

0

55

183

250

0

1st July 1854

1

11

0

55

187

254

4

Borough of Tewkesbury amalgamated

1st September 1859

1

11

0

46

216

274

20

City of Gloucester amalgamated

1st October 1861

1

11

0

43

219

274

0

1st November 1862

1

11

0

44

218

274

0

1st October 1863

1

11

0

44

232

288

14

1st August 1866

1

11

3

41

232

288

0

1st March 1867

1

10

3

41

233

288

0

1st July 1867

1

10

3

42

232

288

0

1st October 1872

1

10

3

42

234

290

2

1st March 1875

1

10

3

43

245

302

12

1st January 1877

1

10

3

43

247

304

2

1st July 1880

1

10

3

44

252

310

6

1st October 1880

1

10

3

44

254

312

2

 

The original plan for 20 police divisions was soon changed to 19 and by 1842 was reduced to 12 as vacancies, resignations, dismissals and modifications in the light of early experiences occurred.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Rules for the guidance of the Rural Constabulary of Gloucestershire  issued by the Chief Constable on 22nd of February 1840.  

 

 

There will be a Daily Parade at nine o'clock in Summer and ten o'clock in Winter when the Superintendent or Constable in charge will strictly inspect the men of the party and see that they are clean and properly shaved and that they never appear out in any other state.

 

The men are not to be permitted to work at trades nor to engage in private pursuits; their time belongs to the public and is to be devoted to its service

 

The Sheets are to be changed on the first Monday in every Month; the soiled ones  be washed under the directions of the Constable in charge, on the cheapest terms, and the cost paid by the men.

 

No pigs, dogs or birds are to be kept at any of the Station  Houses.

 

The Diary Books at each Station to be regularly and neatly kept, and filled up at night , and produced when called for.

 

The Shirt Collars of the men are never to be seen above their Stocks.

 

The Superintendent, Sergeant or Constable in charge of Stations will be most particular in calling the Roll and seeing that the men are in their Barracks every night, Eight o'clock in Winter and Nine o'clock in Summer, which they are not to quit without permission, unless on duty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From  Instructions for the Constabulary of the County of Gloucestershire  issued by the Chief Constable 1st of February 1840.

 

 

Each man shall devote his whole time to the Constabulary Force.

 

He shall serve and reside wherever he is appointed.

 

Each man is conspicuously marked with the number corresponding with his name in the books so that he can at all times be known to the public.

 

A certain number when so ordered by their officer must sleep in their clothes to be in complete readiness when called on.

 

He shall allow a deduction of one shilling per week to be made from his pay when lodgings are found him.

 

He shall promptly obey all lawful orders which he may receive from the persons placed in authority over him.

 

Each Constable is liable to instant dismissal for unfitness, negligence, or misconduct, independently of any other punishment to which by law be subject. The Chief Constable may also , if he think fit, dismiss him without assigning any reason.

 

He shall not upon any occasion, or under any pretence whatever take money from any person, also he shall not eat nor drink at the expense or on the invitation of any person, whilst on duty, without the express permission of his superior officer.

 

 

 

The 1839 appointments book shows that at least 16 of the first 23 recruits originated from Ireland. To be added are the Superintendents, who were not included in that record, a high proportion of whom were from  Ireland.

 
Edward Birch bn 1806 Castle McAdam, Co. Wicklow. Sponsor A Lefroy. Sgt 1840. Mangotsfield 1851. Pension 1851. Died 1872
William Hanbidge bn 1816. Co. Wicklow.  Sponsor A Lefroy. Sgt Cheltenham 1841, Supt at Cheltenham 1847. Pensioned Supt 1877 after 38 years.
Thomas Hollyman bn 1806 Fennagh, Co. Carlow  Sponsor A.Lefroy Sgt 1840, Constable 1853.  'Died'
Thomas Lee bn 1811 Kilbride, Co. Offaly. Sponsor Major Browne Sgt 1840. Winterbourne 1841. Reduced to Constable 1843. Resigned.
John Lee bn 1813 Clonegal, Co. Carlow. Sponsor A Lefroy. Dismissed 1843 for telling falsehoods to girl he made pregnant.
Andrew McIntyre bn 1809 Antrim. Sponsor Major Browne. Assessment - 'Not sufficiently steady or correct to say Good.  Resigned.
Richard Nicholson bn 1812  Kilbride, Co. Wicklow. Sponsor A Lefroy Sgt 1840, Reduced to Constable 2nd Class 1841. Resigned
John O'Brien bn 1815 Co. Cork. Sponsor Major Browne Constable 1840. Dismissed for living under the influence of alcohol
Robert Porter bn 1807 Baileborough, Co. Cavan. Sponsor Major Browne. Sgt 1840 Wotton-Under-Edge 1841/1851. 23 years service.
Paul Sparks bn 1817 Roscommon. Sponsor Major Browne. Dismissed for drunkenness.
James Stephenson bn 1815 Dublin. Sponsor Major Browne. Constable. Dismissed for striking and knocking down Constable Charwood.
John Sheckleton bn 1817 Annagh, Co. Cavan. Sponsor Major Browne. Sgt 1840, Const 1842, Sgt 1842, Sgt 1851.
Joseph Cockings bn 1805 Bedfordshire, UK Sgt at Frampton in 1841, Mitcheldean 1851
John Dorey bn 1804. Stroud, Gloucestershire Constable 1840. Dismissed for making use of insolent language to Chief Constable.
James Newman bn 1813 Stow, Gloucestershire.  Constable 1840. Resigned.
John Osborne bn 1813 Dintesborough, Cirencester, Glos. Constable 1840.
Peter Budds bn 1814  Kilkenny.  Sponsor Major Browne. Constable.   Resigned
John Sheills bn 1819 Charlestown, Co Louth. Sponsor Major Browne. Sgt 1841/42 Hewelsfield.  Resigned.
Thomas Watson bn 1804 Co. Armagh. Sponsor Major Browne.   Sgt at Fairford 1840-1841. Constable 1843  Resigned 1843?
Charles Bennett bn 1793. Nth Wingfield, Derbyshire. Sponsor Lord Reddesdale. Constable 1840. Dismissed for fighting with Const. Natheson? in street.
Daniel Bolton bn 1802 Cirencester. Recommended by local magistrate. Constable 1840. discharged through ill health.
William Dash bn 1820 Aldingborough, Sussex Constable  Wotton-Under-Edge 1841, Cheltenham 1851, Cirenc. 1861. Grocer 1871
John Morrow bn 1804 St Michaels, Dublin. Recommended by a Glos. Gent. Constable 1840. Dismissed for absenting himself without leave.
William Noonan bn 1807 St. Johns Limerick. Rec. by John Ellis Esq. Berkeley Constable 1840,Sgt 1842, Constable 1843. Resigned.
John Rafferty bn 1811 Castlerea, Roscommon. Rec. by Henry Burnett, Chelt. Constable 1840. Dismissed after it was ascertained he was sacked from Bristol police
John Hacket bn 1809 Pitterdon?, Kilkenny. Rec. by Rev. Smithson Sergeant 1841 and 1842
James Lipsett bn 1820 Arklow, Co Wicklow. Rec. by Samuel Hore Esq. Arklow Sgt 1840. Sgt 1845. Resigned.
William Bailey bn 1807 Cork. Recommended by a Gloucester JP. Constable 1840. Dismissed for fighting with Constable Ford.

 

The Recruits from the Dublin Metropolitan Police

 

 

At least eleven of Lefroy's Irish recruits came from the recently formed Dublin Metropolitan Police and were recommended by Major Browne. 

An un-armed unit, it had replaced the old Dublin Police Force (1786-1836). 

The information in the table below was kindly passed by Jim Herlihy via Jeff Lowndes. Jeff is researching his Gloucestershire Constabulary ancestor, another Irishman, Superintendent Thomas Russell, who served at Cheltenham in the early 1840s.

Dublin Sergeants Charles Keilley and Thomas Pilkington, who joined the Gloucestershire Constabulary as Superintendents and were involved in its early administration, both appear to have joined the DMP as sergeants and gave their previous occupation as clerks.

James Budds only remained in Gloucestershire till August 1841 and then resigned. 

Thomas Lee was made a sergeant in 1840 but resigned in 1843 after being reduced to constable. 

Andrew McIntyre was made a constable but resigned after a few months. He rejoined the DMP in October 1840.

John O'Brien was also only with the Gloster force a few months and was dismissed for "living under the influence of liquor". 

Robert Porter was made a sergeant in 1840 and remained to collect his pension in 1864. 

John Sheckleton was also made a sergeant in 1840 and remained with the force until his resignation in the 1850s. 

John Sheils (Sheills) was made a sergeant in 1841 but resigned in July 1842 to become a game-keeper in the Forest of Dean. 

Paul Sparks was made a constable but was dismissed for drunkenness in October 1842. He rejoined the DMP in June 1843.

James Stephenson, also a constable, was dismissed for "striking and knocking down Constable Charlwood".

Charles Keilley joined as a superintendent and was promoted to Deputy Chief Constable in 1840. His career ended in disgrace in June 1853 when he absconded with the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury's pay cheques.

Thomas Pilkington,  who had already served 13 years with the Irish Constabulary before joining the DMP, was a superintendent with the Gloucestershire force until his death in 1846.

 

Author Jim Herlihy is considered an expert on the military history of Ireland and has published several books including:
 The Dublin Metropolitan Police. A Complete List of Officers and Men, 1836-1925.
The Dublin Metropolitan Police: A Short History and Genealogical Guide.
The Royal Irish Constabulary: A Complete Alphabetical List of Officers and Men, 1816-1922.
Royal Irish Constabulary Officers, A Biographical and Genealogical Guide, 1816-1922.

 

 

 

Name

DMP no.

Age

Trade

Home Parish

Joined

History with Dublin Force
             

Budds  Peter

712

23

None

St. Canice's,  Kilkenny

1/12/1837

 Constable 1st Class 18/1/1837. Previously 7 years Constabulary. Resigned 29/1/1839

Keilley  Charles

952

25

Clerk

Dublin

9/2/1838

 Joined as Sgt. Resigned 11/12/1839

Lee  Thomas

321

28

Labourer

Kilbride, Kings Co.

1/12/1837

 Sgt 12/4/1839. Previously Turnkey at  Kings County Gaol. Resigned 5/12/1839

McIntyre  Andrew

291

28

Shoemaker

Antrim

1/12/1837

 Sgt 16/2/1838. Previously 2 years in militia. Resigned 1839. Rejoined DMP Oct 1840-Feb 1843

O'Brien  John

948

23

None

Innishannon, Cork

5/1/1838

 Constable 2nd Class. Previously with Old Dublin Force 5 months. Resigned 5/12/1839

Pilkington  Thomas

173

32

Clerk

Killenuny, Galway

1/12/1837

 Sgt 1/1/1837. Had 13 years previous service with constabulary. Resigned 11/12/1839

Porter  Robert

1440

30

Labourer

Loughgilly, Armagh

12/10/1838

 Constable 2nd Class. Had 11 years previous service with constabulary. Resigned 5/12/1839

Sheckleton  John

1387

23

Labourer

 Ardagh, Meath

31/8/1838

 Constable 2nd Class. Joined Glos. Police 1/12/1839.

Sheils  John

192

20

Labourer

Charlestown, Louth

15/12/37

 Constable 1st Class. Resigned 11/12/1839

Sparks  Paul

2782

20

Labourer

Elphin, Roscommon

29/10/1838

 Constable 2nd Class. Resigned 5/12/1839. Rejoined DMP 23/6/1843. Resigned DMP 22/5/1844

Stephenson  James

790

23

None

Balbriggan, Dublin

1/1/1838

 Joined as Sgt. Previously with Old Dublin Force 5 years. Resigned 5/12/1839

 

            

 

 

19th Century Bull's- eye lantern in the Tetbury Police Museum

It is believed to have belonged to PC John Tawney (born 1841) who served at Chipping Campden in the 1860s.  The display notice indicates that it was recovered in 1887 after an accident in which the constable had suffered a broken leg and was treated by Bristol's Doctor W.C Grace the famous cricketer. PC Tawney was stationed at Oldland, Keynsham in the 1880s.  

For the Victorian policeman this oil lantern was a very vital piece of equipment. Including carrying handles modified to fit on a belt, and a ground-glass lens, it not only served as a light source, with the amount of light varied by simply turning its chimney, but was a personal heater in the winter and a stove for his "cuppa". It could also be used as a defensive weapon and signaling device. 

One manufacturer was Hiatt & Co. (Birmingham) who also produced the figure of eight handcuffs displayed below.

 

 

The pistol pictured above belonged to Constable Joseph Peacock. It appears to be a personal possession as it is inscribed with his initials. During Joseph's time with the Gloucestershire police his Chief Constable circulated the instruction below.

 

 

Joseph Peacock's initialed pistol

 

 

 

 

Figure of Eight handcuffs standard issue. Also called the Irish Eight. Extensively used by the Metropolitan Police from around 1832 and the Royal Irish Constabulary. These were made by the famous manufacturer of manacles, Hiatt & Co. (Birmingham) Ltd

 

 

The question of arming the police arose in 1842 and although the original Home Office Rules provided for cutlasses to be available for issue, the Chief Constable was very clear on the question of his men carrying firearms:- The Superintendents will inform the Sergeants and Constables of their districts that on no account or under any pretence whatever will they be allowed to carry pistols or other firearms with them when on duty and the first man reported for so doing will be instantly dismissed.   Chief Constable 24th September 1842 

Truncheons, staffs and whistles displayed in the Tetbury Police Museum.

Senior officers of London's Metropolitan Police in 1864.

 

The first major scandal

One of the first  Irish superintendents, Charles Keiley, was appointed by  Lefroy as the County's first Deputy Chief Constable in 1840.

Charles Keilley's previous experience as a clerk and his 22 months as a Sergeant with the Dublin Metropolitan Police had probably made him a useful administrator . His salary was increased from £120 as Superintendent to £140 exclusive of allowances.

He had brought his wife Mary Ann and their three children from Ireland and settled at St. George's Place, Cheltenham. By the time of the 1851 census they had added four more children to the family.

On the 21st of June 1853 the new force was to have its first major scandal when it was discovered that Charles Keilley had cashed a cheque for £485 pounds from the County Treasurer and absconded with the month's wages and expenses for the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Divisions.

On the 22nd, Lefroy, obviously assuming that Keiley and family would leave the country, telegraphed the information to Southampton, Bristol, Liverpool, London and Birmingham. He then advised Purnell, the Chairman of the Quarter Sessions. Purnell told him to also telegraph Hull, Holyhead and Glasgow and that "If you have no policeman of sufficient acuteness in your own town you had better employ a London detective officer as you are responsible for the deficit."

The UK's nationwide inland telegraph service was a comparatively new form of communication and had originated with the railway network. It was first demonstrated on the Great Western Railway in 1839 and was mainly under the management of the railways and a few private companies until the Post Office was granted its monopoly in 1870.

The Quarter Sessions agreed to offer a reward of £100 for Keilley's apprehension but despite continual surveillance of his ex-residence and a number of other investigations he disappeared without trace.

Luckily for Lefroy it was decided by the Quarter Sessions that he was not to be held liable for the losses as it was recorded that in 1839 he had requested the appointment of a paymaster.

An outcome of this incident was that henceforth all senior officers were to find sureties for themselves, the Chief Constable £1000, the Deputy £500 and Superintendents £100.

It also resulted in the setting up of a re-organised Police Committee comprising of a total of thirty four magistrates drawn from all twenty police districts to meet before each Quarter Sessions to receive the accounts, returns of offences and the Chief Constable's quarterly report.

Lefroy's appointment of Edward Wilkinson, who had joined the force in 1853, as Deputy Chief Constable at £180 per annum was confirmed in April 1854, but he was dismissed in July 1855 for taking improper liberties with a policeman's wife, and replaced by John Nicholls (1821-1867) one of the original officers from Ireland who came over with Lefroy and signed up as a Superintendent on the 1st of December 1839.

 

 

 

The Superintendents of the Gloucestershire Constabulary will so arrange the duty at the different stations in their Districts that each man will have one whole night's rest in the week except when anything extraordinary should occur.         Chief Constable  8th July, 1856

 

 

Two police officers and the death in 1843 of Llewellyn Alley at Tetbury.

 

On October the 4th 1843 in Tetbury, the night of the Mop Fair, a tragic incident occurred that resulted in two Gloucestershire police officers, James Bick and William Jones being committed to the County Gaol.

Mop fairs, where local youths and girls were hired as farm hands or for domestic service, had been held since the 18th century around the ancient Chipping Steps and were one of the highlights of Tetbury's year.

Herefordshire born Constable James Bick was 23 years old and had joined the Gloucestershire Police in December 1840. His colleague was 25 year old William Jones from Upleadon near Newent.

The deceased was Llewellyn Alley (35)  a local born shoemaker who lived at Combers Mead in Tetbury. He had married Alice Harris in 1832 and by 1843 the couple had four children, all under the age of eight. At that time Alice was pregnant with their fifth child who she later named after his father.

Llewellyn's 25 year old younger brother, Sergeant Richard Alley, was one of the first recruits to join the Gloucestershire police in January 1840 and was at that time serving at Wotton-under-Edge police station.

 

 

Gloucester Journal  December 16th 1843 - notes from the magistrate

 
 

Gloucester Journal 14th of October 1843. Bick's name wrongly spelt.

Chipping Steps 1876 (Chipping means market in old English.)

 

James Bick was apparently released on bail and when the prosecution was dropped he rejoined the police on the 15th of November 1843.

He served at Withington  and was promoted to Sergeant in 1846 and posted to Berkeley. By 1851 he was married with two children. Bick was promoted to Superintendent in April 1853 and served at Stow. 

He was dismissed in 1860 for telling falsehoods to the Chief Constable and some financial irregularities. His disgrace was added to at the Dursley Petty Sessions on the 13th of October 1860 when he was summoned by Miss Emily Smith for being the father of her illegitimate child and an order for payment of one shilling and sixpence a week was made against him. Emily was the daughter of Dursley surgeon Edward Smith and according to the later census returns stayed single. Her illegitimate child, born in 1860, was also named Emily.

On the 1871 census James Bick was recorded as a carpenter and living with his wife Olivia at Cheltenham.

 

His colleague William Jones rejoined the Force in January 1844. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1845 but resigned in 1848 and moved to Swansea.

 

Llewellyn's brother Sgt Richard Alley stayed with the Gloucestershire Constabulary and was a sergeant serving at Painswick, Stroud, and Chipping Sodbury. By 1881 he was a sergeant at Newent and died there in 1883. 

 

 

 

 

 

William Spire  1809-1872  

William Spire from Buckland near Laverton joined the newly formed Gloucestershire Constabulary on the 2nd of March 1840. He was a farm labourer and married to 30 year old Elizabeth Clark from Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire. By the time the couple were stationed at Marston Sicca in 1840 they already had three surviving children. His fourth child, Jabez, was born there in 1842 the same year William was made a sergeant.  Marston, now in Warwickshire, was then a part of Campden Rural District.

By 1845 he was stationed at Dursley and another son, James, was born that year. Tragically his wife Elizabeth died two weeks after the birth and the children were taken into the care of his parents at Laverton.

He was then posted to Stow-on-the-Wold and it was there that in he appears to have suffered with a heart defect as the result of an incident in which he had energetically chased a gang of young men after they had caused a disturbance. William apparently did not ever fully recover and on the 1st of March 1848, after eight years service, he was discharged from the Police Force with a gratuity 'in consideration of his ill-health'.

The 1851 census records him living at Buckland, near Laverton with his 5 children and his occupation described as 'tea dealer'. It was not till 1862 that he remarried.

(The Gloucester Archives hold the Fairford Duty Book 1843-1844 (Archive Ref Q/Y/2/4/73). Sergeant William Spire is referred to from page 1, 12/02/1843 and continues as such until Friday 11/08/1843. From Sunday 12th August he is simply Constable William Spire. The final entry for William is dated 18/08/1843 - "At 6.15am Constable William Spire No.225 proceeded for Cirencester with the whole of his appointments by order of the Superintendent") from Janice Boakes a descendant of William Spire.

The extracts below are from a rather long drawn out obituary that appeared  in the Gospel Standard, the Baptist magazine, in 1873. The notes in italics are mine.

 

 

William Spire 1809-1872.      Born in the hamlet of Laverton, Gloucestershire, he was very powerfully convinced of his state as a sinner when about seventeen years of age.  His elder brother, Jeremiah, was brought to the feet of Jesus about the same time as he was; and the two brothers worked, read, prayed, and had sweet fellowship together in the things of God, though their views of doctrinal truth were not very clear at this time.

He soon began to preach in his native village; and there are many living witnesses of the power and unction of his ministry in those early days, both at Laverton and in the surrounding neighbourhood.  

The Arminians, however, soon got hold of him and he was left to drink deeply into their errors.  He became a Primitive Methodist preacher, and married one of their female preachers, who was the mother of his seven children, five of whom are now living, and two died in infancy.  As his wife’s health became delicate, she gave up preaching, and settled down to the duties of her household.

William was at this time left to take a step which he deeply regretted in after life, and which he viewed as the cause of all his subsequent trials and afflictions for twenty-four years.  He entered the police force, and became an active and efficient officer, but suffered great loss in soul matters, and fell into a sad state of backsliding from the heart of the Lord.  

The Lord appears to have followed him with a chastening rod in various ways; but the most severe stroke was the death of his dear wife, (1845) leaving him with five helpless babes, the youngest only a fortnight old.  He was at that time stationed at Dursley, but his parents were both living at Laverton.  They were each of them in receipt of a life annuity, which enabled them to send for the motherless babes and take charge of them, William contributing all he could towards their support.

The time now arrived for the Lord to set His hand the second time to recover this poor wandering sheep from the mountains of error.  

He removed from Dursley, and was stationed at Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire.  One day, being on his round of duty, he passed Mr. Roff’s little chapel, and read over the door “Ebenezer”.  He enquired what kind of people met there, and was told it was an Antinomian who preached there; and he felt a desire to hear what the man had to say.  The effect of Mr. Roff’s ministry will be best seen by an extract from his own writings.

During the time he was stationed at Stow, some young men were making a disturbance in the street, and in his zeal to apprehend them, William ran so fast, and continued running so long that he injured his heart in so serious a manner that he was laid on the bed of affliction for many months, and was a sufferer to the day of his death, which was for twenty four years.  He was obliged to leave the police force and return to his native village to his parents, who were already burdened with his little family.  Here in this school of affliction, the Lord led him about and taught him, and showed him much of the hidden evils of his heart.  His experience during this period of his life was very deep and sound, which may be gathered from the various scraps of poetry which he wrote from time to time; but I regret to say that he has left no other account of his experience, or of the many trials through which he passed.   * He was discharged from the Police Force with a gratuity on the 1st of March 1848 in consideration of ill-health.

William’s father was an upright and honourable man, and very religiously inclined, but a staunch churchman.  At first he did not approve of his son’s altered views and feelings, but at length, chiefly through the means of the “Gospel Standard”, he was led into a deep and experimental acquaintance with those sacred truths which were so dear to William’s heart, and he died (1854) rejoicing in the same.  His annuity dying with him, his afflicted son with his family and widow, removed to the cottage in which he ended his days, the rent of which was paid by a relative.  Poor William’s cup of sorrow was not yet full, for in about two years after the death of his father, his mother also died, (1855) and her annuity ceasing also, he was left to struggle on in the depths of poverty and affliction with his youthful family.  His affliction was so great that he did not walk the length of the village street for nine years.

About this time his marriage with his second wife took place. * He married school teacher 40 year old Caroline Minchin in 1862.  The circumstances which let to this remarkable event I shall not enter into… It will be enough to say that both were fully persuaded that their union was approved by the Lord.

Soon after this the supplies dropped off one by one, and he was left alone in the work.  It was soon made manifest that he had not laboured in vain, as several persons were deeply wrought upon.

In 1863 he was again laid aside on the bed of affliction, and brought apparently to the very gates of death.  He was favoured with great enjoyment during this affliction, but as the state of his poor hearers troubled him, being left as a sheep without a shepherd.  Mr. Lovesey preached to them a few times, but his other engagements made the task a difficult one, as he had so far to walk

Soon after William’s recovery, Mr. De Fraine of Lutterworth came to see him, having heard of him through a friend to whom his ministry had been much blessed.  The thought struck Mr. De Fraine that if his poor afflicted brother could leave home, the change would be useful to him, both in body and mind.  He accordingly invited him to supply for him at Lutterworth.  It was a great undertaking for a man in his weak state of health; but the Lord enabled him to go, and to preach in a way that was very acceptable to the Lord’s people.

From this time his travels began; for he received many invitations to preach from various parts of the country, and was enabled to travel hundreds of miles to preach the gospel which was so dear to his heart.  What he was as a preacher I need not describe, as he was well known, and much beloved by many of the churches in connexion with the “Gospel Standard.”

After he began to go out to preach, his health improved and he became much stronger than he had been for many years previously.  And now the subject of baptism was laid with power upon his mind.  He had both believed and preached it for several years, but could not see how he could practise it on account of his feeble state of health; but when the Lord’s time came it was brought about to the honour of His blessed Name, and to the comfort and encouragement of his poor and needy children in this place.

As there was no church at Laverton, the candidates for baptism could not come before the church in the usual way to relate their experience; but William gave it out that a meeting would be held, and those who felt a desire to come forward and declare what the Lord had done for their souls were at liberty to do so.  At the first meeting he gave a very sweet account of the Lord’s dealings with his own soul, and then four more persons told what the Lord had done for them.  After this another meeting was held, at which six more came forward, among whom was his wife, his youngest daughter, his son-in-law, and a nephew of his wife’s, all expressing their desire to follow the Lord in His appointed ordinances.  Mr. Gorton kindly consented to baptise them all, except Mrs. Spire, who had been baptised twenty years before.  

They all went to Milton-under-Wychwood in July, 1866, and Mr. Gorton baptized them with some of his own friends; in all sixteen.  It was a day long to be remembered by them all.  Many fears were entertained respecting William, knowing how very dangerous anything like a shock to the body would be in his state; but prayer was offered up for him continually, and the Lord brought him through wonderfully; so that he was enabled to preach the same day.

He now formed a little church in his own house, and I trust I can say the Lord has been with us hitherto.

In June 1868, seven more came forward to declare what the Lord had done for their souls, among whom was his eldest daughter, who was the first person to be baptised by him.  Her husband, who is one of the deacons of our little church, had been baptised before at Milton.

I must come now to the closing scene of the life of this dear servant of Christ.  His health had been declining greatly during the last year; but he was able to fulfil all his engagements up to November 10th., when he preached at Milton and returned home the next day.  He was very poorly when he left home; but on his return we thought he was a little better.  He was, however, taken seriously ill on the Wednesday, with a severe attack of bronchitis.  The dropsy also, with which he had been afflicted for several months, now began to make rapid advances.  He soon became quite prostrate, and the doctor pronounced the case hopeless.  From the first his sufferings were so great that he could not bear much conversation, and, at times, could scarcely bear anyone to go near him.

His doctor many times remarked what a patient sufferer he was, and said that his affliction had been enough to kill twenty ordinary men; his heart, lungs and other vital parts being dreadfully diseased , as well as having the dropsy.  He was quite worn out by fatigue and suffering, not being able to rest on his bed for above three weeks.  It was a great trial to him to be obliged to sit so long in his chair, especially as he felt unable to hold up his poor head, and could not even lean back on his pillow on account of his heart.

His mortal remains were interred in the churchyard of his native parish.  The services of the clergyman and the tolling of the bell were not required.  His family and the members of the little church followed him to the tomb.  Mr. Lovesey conducted a short service outside the churchyard in the presence of about 150 spectators.  They sang a hymn, and then, in solemn silence, entered the graveyard and deposited the precious remains in their last resting place, to slumber in the dust until the Lord shall appear.  “Then they that sleep in Jesus God will bring with Him.

Gospel Standard 1873

 

 



 

With reference to the Circular Order of the 29th October, 1841, relative to evidence given by Constables in Courts of Justice, I have again to call the attention of the Superintendents to this important part of their duty, as it appears that at the present Assizes one of the Judges felt it necessary to reprimand Superintendent King and Constable Powell for asking a prisoner questions, which lead to a confession of guilt, and I wish it to be clearly understood by every member of the Constabulary Force that they have no right to ask a prisoner any question or to hold out any threat or promise that may induce them to say anything prejudicial to themselves, but should merely hear any voluntary statement which the prisoner might wish to make, and of which the Constables would be most particular to take down in writing.   Chief Constable 15th August, 1842 

 

 

An Incident at Iron Acton

A Circular Order issued on the 8th April, 1840 concerns the over-zealous performance of duty. 
The Superintendents in charge of Districts will direct the constables under their command not to interfere with drunk persons unless they are incapable of taking care of themselves or in case they should be creating a riot or breach of the peace, but on no account should they detain any drunken person when proceeding quietly to his home.

 

20th April, 1840. It having come to my knowledge that unnecessary and severe treatment was used by the constable at Dursley on the 17th inst., while conveying a prisoner to the Station House. The Superintendents will instruct their men that when a prisoner or prisoners are taken into custody particularly when drunk, the Constables are on no account to use unnecessary force. It appears to me that in this case three men could have taken the prisoner to the Station House without using the force complained of. I am perfectly aware there may be cases in which force is necessary but it must be used with great discretion on the part of the constables. 

 

 

 

 

Gloucester Journal  October 21st 1843

Sgt Alfred Whiting was born at Burford, Oxfordshire around 1818. He remained with the Gloucestershire Police as a sergeant until 1849.

Constable Thomas Chandler was born at Stroud around 1814. He joined the force in May 1842 and was dismissed after being gaoled for this offence.

The register records that PC 236 was Cheltenham born 27 year old Edward Charlwood.

 


    

    Joseph Peacock 1819-1891

Joseph Peacock was born in 1819 at the village of Oldland in the parish of Bitton near Bristol. He was originally destined to be a tailor and was apprenticed at both Mangotsfield and Abergavenny but apparently, in each employment, did not get along with his masters. 

He decided to sign up with the newly formed Gloucestershire County Constabulary and his name appears in the register as their 245th recruit on the 2nd of March 1840. His height was 5 feet, eleven and a half and he was recommended by the Rev. John Gaskin of Kingswood.

It was the Chief Constable's policy not to deploy his officers in their home district and Joseph found himself in 1841 stationed at the other side of the County in the village of Ashleworth a few miles north of Gloucester. Here he was trained by one of the experienced officers Lefroy brought with him from his own former constabulary at County Wicklow, Ireland. He was Sgt  Edward Birch who was born in 1806 at Castle McAdam, Co. Wicklow and was the first recruit recorded in the Register.

During 1841 Joseph was transferred to Prestbury, a mile north of Cheltenham, and in the area containing the famous race-course.

While there he met his future wife, shoemaker's daughter, 20 year old Eliza Ann Millard.

They were married at Prestbury Parish Church in January 1842 and one wonders if at this point he was considering leaving the police force as their marriage certificate records  his occupation as 'tailor' even though still employed as a police officer.

 

He appears to have been a good 'peeler' and after moving to Barton St. Michael's, the Outer Gloucester station, (the City of Gloucester was still being policed by its own separate City police force at that time) he was promoted to Constable 1st Class in February 1843. His son James was born there during the same month. 

 

The Birmingham force had come into existence during the same month in 1839 as its Gloucestershire counterpart and both forces were suffering from similar problems with a high number of dismissals and resignations. Both were also regularly advertising for new recruits. 

Joseph Peacock resigned from the Gloucestershire Constabulary on the 1st of August 1844 and joined the Birmingham force on the 4th of September. 

In 1850 he was promoted to Sergeant and subsequently rose to the rank of Inspector. 

He and Eliza had eight children, seven were born in the Birmingham area.

He retired in 1883 at the age of 63 after serving with a completely unblemished record for 39 years.

His family now have a log book of his activities around 1879 and some newspaper clippings all of which make extremely fascinating reading.

 

 

 

Birmingham Police Court Friday April 10, 1863

A Sad Occurrence

A man with a wooden leg, named James Gameson, by trade a turner, and residing in Rea Street, was charged with having stolen from the premises of his employers, Messrs. Griffiths and Browett, Bradford Street, a quantity of metal, and also with having attempted to commit suicide whilst confined at the Police Station.  It appeared from the evidence that in consequence of some information he received, Jeremiah Faulkner, a person in the employment of the prosecutors, stopped the prisoner on the previous day as he was leaving his master’s  premises.  On examining a can the prisoner had with him, the witness found it contained a quantity of metal, which belonged to the firm just mentioned.  He gave him into custody.  After the prisoner had been locked up about an hour, Inspector Peacock was alarmed by hearing Gameson making a strange noise, and his wooden leg rattling against the cellar door.  In order to ascertain what was the matter, Mr Peacock at once sent an officer, who found the prisoner hanging by his braces, which were twisted around his neck, and fastened to the bars of the ventilator over the door.  He was quite insensible.  On hearing what had taken place, the Inspector immediately ran to the spot, and, with the assistance of an officer named Chattaway, cut down the unfortunate man.  Mr Jordan, surgeon, was fetched, and in the course of a few minutes the prisoner was restored to consciousness.  After that, however, he was seized with a fit, in which he remained for a considerable time.  On charging him with attempting to destroy himself, the prisoner told Mr Peacock that he had no recollection whatever of what had taken place.  The prisoner, who had been in the service of Messrs. Griffiths and Browett for twenty three years, was strongly recommended to mercy by his employers.  Under these circumstances, Gameson was, after an address from the Bench, sentenced to six months’ imprisonment only.  Mr Walter prosecuted.

 

 

 

My sincere thanks to Sue Chipperton for the photographs and Chris Hughes for her valuable assistance with Joseph's profile.

 

 

 

 

Sources

Gloucester Archives - Q/Y/1/1 1839 Police Register

Gloucester Archives - Q/Y/1/3/1 Joining book.

Gloucester Archives - Q/AP25 Report on Stations 1857

Gloucester Archives - Q/Y/2/4/99 Hewelsfield Station Diary 1840-1843

Author Jim Herlihy

The History of the Gloucestershire Constabulary 1839-1985 by Harry Thomas

 A Forest Beat, The Forest of Dean Police 1839-2000  by Geoff Sindrey and Ted Heath

 The Gloucester Journal 

 Sue Chipperton

 Chris Hughes   

 National Archives census returns.

Dance Family
Bint Family
626 Squadron
Gloster Peelers

 

Lord, let me be the person my dog thinks I am!

tom.bint@tiscali.co.uk