Surrey, England, Calendar of Prisoners, 1848-1902

The county of Surrey is located in southeast England near London, and this collection includes a published calendar of prisoners for the courts of Quarter Sessions, as well as some Assize calendars, mostly before 1862. In general, the Court of Assizes, held bi-annually, handled more serious cases including those subject to life imprisonment or capital punishment. The Quarter Sessions, held four times a year, dealt with less serious crimes including those that could not be tried by justices of the peace without a jury in petty sessions. Prisoners were held at Newington Gaol, and the printed calendars can include the following details:

• prisoner’s name and age
• occupation
• name of the accuser
• crime committed and some details about it (e.g., in cases of theft, what was stolen, etc.)
• trial date
• warrant date
• date committed to custody
• magistrate
• verdict
• sentence
• previous convictions