Grand Jury Book

The earlier part of the book is taken up principally by minutes of general meetings of the magistrates of the three divisions of the county, who met under various Acts relating to the management of county gaols and the transportation of felons. The magistrates examined the keeper's accounts, and fixed the sums to be levied by county rates (7/14 by Lindsey, 4/14 by Kesteven, and 3/14 by Holland). Minutes of magistrates meetings not entered after 1794. (but see 2/2 below); copies of keeper's accounts (which do not appear in 2/2 below) not entered after 1797. (These accounts sometimes give felons' names, but not debtors')

p. 1. Agreement of magistrates with Clement Wood, keeper, for maintenance of felons and debtors, 14 May 1741

p. 37. Accounts in future to be laid before the grand jury at each Lincoln assizes, and signed by those who are justices; orders then to be made at each sessions for the county treasurers to pay their respective portions. 4 Aug. 1747

p. 41. Grand jury present the need for a gallery in the county hall for their own use. Cecil Wray, foreman. Lent 1759

p. 63. Clement Wood instructed to pay the coroner's fee of £1 for inquisitions taken in the Castle. 7 Aug. 1754. Vere Bertie, foreman

p. 71 Grand jury investigates the neglect of Mrs. Rebecca Hussey's charity for poor prisoners. Her estate is the subject of pending chancery proceedings. 15 July 1755

The gentleman of the Grand Jury are to make enquiries after the missing lease of the Castle from the duchy of Lancaster

p. 79 Isaac Wood succeeds Clement Wood as keeper, appointed by the high sheriff, Mar. 1760

p. 80. Samuel Reynardson reports to the Grand Jury at the Lent Assizes on the renewal of the lease and Mrs. Hussey's will. 8 Mar. 1756. At the same meeting Coningsby Sibthorpe reports on the repair of the castle walls, presented by the grand jury at the previous assizes

p. 85. The grand jury having presented that repairs are necessary to the castle walls, the magistrates charge the three divisions with the sum of £50 in the usual proportions. 16 July 1755

pp. 86, 87. Further presentments re repairs, Lent and Summer 1756

pp. 88, 89. Summary accounts re above

p. 91. Grand Jury present the great grate, the womens' grate, and the three bedlams. 9 Mar. 1758

p. 94. Collections made by Grand Jury for bailiffs, felons and debtors, 1757-65

p. 95. Arrangements for paying the costs of the renewal of the lease, and for lodging the counterpart with one of the trustees (on behalf of the county) named in the lease. 4 July 1756

p. 95. A further £30 ordered for castle repairs, 23 Mar. 1757

p. 102. Mr. Sibthorpe and Mr. Monck thanked by the grand jury, foreman Sir Cecil Wray, for supervising the castle repairs for several years past. 14 Mar. 1759

p. 110. A further sum of £30 to be raised for the repair of the castle walls. 9 Mar. 1763

p. 118. The sheriffs' bailiffs petition the high sheriff and grand jury that they may be allowed to wear the same livery at the assizes for more than one year. 26 Mar. 1764

p. 144. copy of letter from Samuel Reynardson to Mr. Wood relating to Mrs. Hussey's will, 8 Aug. 1757

p. 152. Grand jury, foreman Brownlow Cust, present that 'the County Gaol is in a very ruinous condition and not fit either for the safe or healthy custody of the prisoners'. 25 Mar. 1774

p. 155. Paul Parnell appointed surgeon under the Health of Prisoners Act (14 Geo. 3) 10 Aug. 1774

p. 156. An influential meeting of magistrates desires William Burrell Massingberd to 'write to Mr. Carr of York to take a view of the Castle of Lincoln and make a plan for erecting a new gaol'. 10 Aug. 1774. Meanwhile Benjamin Bromhead and Dr. Best are to arrange for the turnkey house to be propped up

p. 160. Resolution that the foreman of the grand jury ask the county Members (Bertie and Pelham) to obtain an Act vesting the castle in the county, as a preliminary to 'erecting a gaol for the use of the county for ever'. 1 Aug. 1775

p. 174. Grand jury desire the magistrates to pay Carr £50 on account for his plans. 29 July 1780

p. 180. Carr to be paid a further £47. 5s. in satisfaction of his account. 31 July 1781

p. 181. The grand jury request the county members to investigate the powers of the duchy of Lancaster to alienate possessions without an act of parliament

[The lease has again come up for renewal.]

p. 187. Grand jury request the county Members to secure a new lease. March 1784

p. 189. Mr. Lumby to erect a carriage house for the high sheriff. March 1788

p. 190. The grand jury recommend the summoning of a general magistrates' meeting to determine the use of each part of the gaol building, 'now almost completed' and to settle the additional allowance to the gaoler (in lieu of profits from sale of liquor). 8 July 1788

p. 191. Note by Charles Chaplin, foreman of the grand jury, that the magistrates met according to the above resolution, and that an annual meeting of magistrates in race week was agreed upon. 18 Mar. 1789. Mr. Wood the gaoler 'dangerously ill'. [NB. No keeper's accounts entered between 1782 and 1788. No accounts for rebuilding of gaol]

p. 192. Mr. William Lumby, the gaoler, requests the grand jury to excuse him from presenting his accounts. 28 July 1789

p. 194. Grand jury (foreman Charles Chaplin) recommend to the magistrates a plan submitted by Sir Joseph Banks for improving the passage from Castle Hill to the gate of the Gaol. Lent, 1790

p. 196. The grand jury to pass the gaoler's accounts, with the exception of a new charge for the maintenance of militia deserters, which is 'left for the general meeting of the magistrates to arrange as they may think proper'. Charles Chaplin, foreman. 10 Mar. 1790

p. 203. The grand jury (foreman Sir J. Nelthorpe) accept Mr. Paul Parnell's offer to surrender part of his frontage to widen the road leading to the castle, on the condition that the alterations to his premises under Banks's plan are defrayed by the County. 9 Aug. 1791

pp. 205 ff. Minutes of a meeting of magistrates of the three divisions under the chairmanship of Sir Joseph Banks, 7 and 11 Sept. 1790, at which regulations for the new gaol were recommended for adoption by the three divisions

Gaoler's duty and allowances defined; proper records to be kept; a chaplain to be retained at £50 p.a., and a surgeon at £20; system of visiting by magistrates established; provision for four solitary cells, with a chapel over; separation of different classes of prisoners insisted upon

pp. 212-13. Lumby's account presented in September 1791 [previously presented in March, up to March 1791]

pp. 228ff. Copy of further resolutions entered into by a general magistrates' meeting, chairman Banks, 6 and 7 Sept. 1791. Further copies follow of the meetings of 1792, 1793 and 1794, with Lumby's accounts for 1793/4, 1794/5, 1795/6 and 1796/7

p. 244. Fees paid to gentlemen serving on special juries to be put into a fund for liberating insolvent debtors. 7 Mar. 1796

p. 252. A circular enclosed from the county Members for Yorkshire, relative to their bill to empower certain courts to order expenses attending prosecutions for misdemeanours to be paid out of the county stock. They would like to know the opinions of the magistrates assembled at the ensuing assizes. London, 15 Mar. 1798. Signed W. Wilberforce and H. Lascelles

The grand jury request the Lincolnshire county Members to 'give their particular attention' to the bill. 20 Mar. 1798, Charles Chaplin, foreman

p. 254. At the request of the high sheriff [Thomas Burton Shaw], the grand jury pledge themselves to take the lead in raising local contributions to the Mansion House Fund for the defence of the country. Lent, 1798

p. 265. At the request of the judges, the grand jury present to them a list of persons proper to serve the office of high sheriff. 3 Aug. 1802. (Similar lists recorded for 1805, 1806, 1808, 1809, 1810, 1811, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815, 1816, 1817

In 1818 the grand jury decline to give a list, 'in consequence of former lists not having been attended to'. Further lists for 1822 and 1823 only)

p. 278. The grand jury recommend the magistrates to consider the provision of accommodation for the judges 'suitable to the dignity of their situation and the honor of this extensive county'. Resolution to be laid before the next annual meeting

2 Aug. 1808. (Sir J.W. Gordon chairman)

pp. 279 ff. Copies of the minutes of the annual meeting on 22 Sept. 1808, and of the resolutions passed at the special meeting chaired by Charles Chaplin on 14 Oct. It is decided that a bill be obtained to enable the money for building judges' lodgings to be raised, and at the same time to regulate the way in which the magistrates of the three divisions conduct the business of the county gaol. A committee to be formed to promote the bill, and also to enquire how the three ridings of Yorkshire manage their joint affairs

A further meeting on 9 Nov. learns that the three ridings of Yorkshire 'do not sit in one common sessions but that they hold sessions for the three ridings at the Castle of York, which is locally situate so as to allow of the sessions being held there for the three ridings'. It is resolved therefore to insert a clause in the proposed bill allowing the three divisions to adjourn their sessions to Lincoln. The drafting of the bill and the application to parliament to be attended to by the clerks of the peace

A further meeting on 5 Jan. 1809, again chaired by Chaplin, receives and approves a plan to purchase a site on Castle Hill, but does not proceed further due to the small attendance of magistrates. (Those from outlying parts of the county, as well as the three clerks of the peace, have been prevented from attending by the 'impassable state of the roads'.)

A meeting on 20 Jan. approves the draft bill and petition, but on legal advice the clause relating to adjourned sessions is left over for separate legislation. Commissioners appointed for carrying out the provisions of the bill - Cracroft, Francis Chaplin, Henry Hutton and Illingworth (Lindsey); Charles Chaplin and Sibthorp (Kesteven); and Partridge and Caparn (Holland)

p.285. In consequence of two recent escapes from the gaol, the grand jury, on receiving information from the high sheriff, recommend the visiting magistrates to attend to the repair of the castle walls. 7 Aug. 1810

p. 289. A meeting of Lindsey Quarter Sessions, held at the County Hall 3 July 1812, adopts rules and regulations for the county gaol. Approved and signed by judges at Summer assizes, 1812. (copy attested by John Merryweather, keeper)

p. 310. Lent 1831. Three gentlemen appointed to visit the gaol. Sir John Trollope, foreman. (These appointments of visitors are recorded to 1874)

p. 311. A meeting of the magistrates and grand jury assembled at the March assizes (9 Mar. 1831), chaired by Trollope as foreman, thanks Major General W.A. Johnson for his exertions in reforming the office of high sheriff, and appoints a committee to assist him in his proceedings (Sir E.F. Bromhead, Lt. Col. Cracroft, William Hutton, and Henry Handley). (Johnson's evidence to the 1830 select committee is reproduced, and Johnson adds further comments in a letter to the magistrates and grand jury dated 4 Mar. 1831.)

p. 327. Copy of the deed of grant of Lincoln Castle, 16 Nov. 1831. [See Co. C. 1/1/2 above.]

p. 335. A meeting of the sheriff's committee, 3 Feb. 1832, orders Johnson's further proceedings (especially his memorial to the chancellor of the exchequer about justices' wages) to be printed and circulated among the 'magistrates, past sheriffs, grand jurors and other nobility and gentry connected with the county'. The Court of Gaol Sessions to consider the payment of Johnson's legal costs by the county and the clerk of gaol sessions to enquire about proposed legislation. Following this committee meeting, another meeting is chaired by the high sheriff at the Lent assizes, 6 Mar. 1832. This meeting adopts a petition to the House of Commons praying for a reform of the financial aspects of the office of sheriff generally, and a further petition dealing specifically with the question of justices' wages. The meeting also recommends to future sheriffs that before convening county meetings they should require undertakings from the requisitionists to defray the costs involved

p. 356. The grand jury at the Lent assizes, 11 March 1834 (foreman Sir John Trollope) thank Johnson for his part in procuring the Act regulating the office of high sheriff passed in the last session of parliament

p. 360. Minutes of a 'general meeting of the justices for the three divisions of the county of Lincoln, assembled in gaol sessions at the Castle of Lincoln', 30 Mar. 1837. The meeting, convened by Brownlow as lord lieutenant, at the request of the grand jury at the late assizes, is to protest about the Wisbech Central Assize Bill, which proposes to rate a part of Holland for the purpose of erecting a gaol, sessions house, etc., at Wisbech. Various motions stress that Holland has already contributed to the various county undertakings at Lincoln; that 'Lincolnshire is governed by statutes and customs especially applicable to counties consisting of ridings and divisions, against which no complaints or dissatisfaction have ever been expressed by any party'; that to suffer the loss of one extremity of the county might establish a precedent; and that 'anything like an approach to a departmental division of the country ought to be deprecated and resisted'

p. 366. The visiting justices come across a basket full of convicts' bones. 22 July ? 1845

p. 376. The sheriff presents Mr. Hopkinson's gift of books. Lent assizes, 1864 (R.C. Nisbet-Hamilton, foreman)

p. 383. The last entry concerns the death of Sir C.H.J. Anderson, a frequent foreman of grand juries. 28 Nov. 1891

At end, copy of the lease of the Castle from the duchy of Lancaster, 26 June 1756. (Renewed 1784)

Also at end, a table of gaoler's fees and prison regulations, 24 Jan. 1733

(Another page torn out)