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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Hampshire & Isle of Wight => Topic started by: Winterbloom21 on Wednesday 08 June 22 19:07 BST (UK)
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I'm looking for a report of a murder trial held at the Hampshire Assizes in Lent 1814. Can anyone tell me whether full records are available, and if so, where they can be accessed? Thanks.
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Think it might be at the National Archives under ASSI 21
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Records of the Hampshire Assizes (Western Circuit) are held at the National Archives.
For 1814 there are Crown Minute Books, Gaol Books and Indictments (no Depositions). You will not get a transcript of what was said in court, such as you find in the Old Bailey Proceedings. You may want to read their standard research guide for more information on what the records contain …
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/criminal-trials-assize-courts-1559-1971
You cannot order copies of the assize records from TNA unless they are name-indexed in Discovery (the online catalogue). Instead, you will need to search at TNA in person, or have someone go on your behalf.
Hampshire Archives claim to have indexed the names of assize prisoners in their online catalogue. They also have Calendars of Prisoners, newspapers and other court records – see here …
https://www.hants.gov.uk/librariesandarchives/archives/popular-records/courts-justice
Often newspapers are the best source of information on the assizes, especially for murder trials.
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Thank you very much, both. I've got the bare bones of it from the newspaper records. I was hoping, as you say, to get something like the Old Bailey transcripts, but it seems that is not the case, which is disappointing. Ah well.