INSOLVENT DEBTORS

Copy documents deposited with the Clerk of the Peace by order of the Commissioners of the Court of Insolvent Debtors.Proceedings for the discharge of insolvent debtors were administered by Quarter Sessions under 21 Geo. II, c.31 (1747-48) and subsequent Acts. A court for the relief of insolvent debtors, under 3 bankruptcy commissioners, was established in 1813 (53 Geo. III, c.102). This court sat in London, but had power to delegate some of its functions to Quarter Sessions. In 1824 the commissioners were empowered to go on circuit, thus supplanting the jurisdiction of Quarter Sessions (5 Geo. IV, c.61, amended by 7 Geo. IV, c.57 (1826)). The clerk of the peace could act as clerk to the commissioners and duplicates of schedules of debts and debtors' books were to be lodged with him; this explains the preservation of these documents with Quarter Sessions archives.