Justices of the Peace meet in Wateringbury(early 18th century)

Post date: Sep 23, 2012 2:41:49 PM

Norma Landau in her book The Justices of the Peace 1679- 1760 (page 210) states that in 1706/7 the justices of the lower portion of the eastern division of the Lathe of Aylesford formed the Tonbridge division , meeting in the Woodgate near Tonbridge, leaving the justices in the remaining portion to form the Wateringbury or West Malling division, which would first meet at the King's Head in Wateringbury but later in Town Malling at the Swan.

In the 18th century Landau notes that petty sessions were the prime fous of judicial power, but ,as they were not required to explain them selves to any higher authority, official archives contain few accounts of petty sessions. No official list detailing boundaries existed but returns of licenses issued at licensing sessions in the western part of Kent which have survived show that 9 petty sessions in West Kent had assumed by 1707 the shape that would last for the rest of the century.

The petty sessions had a strong administrative, as well as criminal, role. They dealt with removal orders, settlement examinations and certificates; poor rates and relief;overseer accounts, bastardy cases; apprentice identures; distraints for taxes or highway rates; appointments of borsholder or constable; land, window or poor taxes; highway orders; surveyor accounts; vagrancy; cattle plague certificates.

Kent archives references quoted are: A.O. Q/SO W Oct2, 1705 and A.O. Q/RLv1/44-45.