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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Scathelock on Friday 21 April 23 15:54 BST (UK)

Title: Kings Bench Middlesex
Post by: Scathelock on Friday 21 April 23 15:54 BST (UK)

I hope I'm ok posting this here. On 21st June 1774 David Wait, an ancestor, was a prisoner in the King's Bench. Is it possible to access the records of this? The British Library have digitised the minutes 1774-1776 but those are from the Caribbean. Are they anywhere else?

Title: Re: Kings Bench Middlesex
Post by: Bookbox on Friday 21 April 23 20:35 BST (UK)

He was imprisoned for debt, not as a criminal. Have you looked in the London Gazette?

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/11468/page/9

The records for debtors in this prison are not online for the relevant date. They are held at the National Archives, Kew (series PRIS 4, PRIS 8, PRIS 10 etc.). They are not indexed online. You would have to go and search in person, or have someone go on your behalf.

Here's the relevant Research Guide ...
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/bankrupts-insolvent-debtors/

Note - the prison was in Southwark, Surrey (not Middlesex).

Title: Re: Kings Bench Middlesex
Post by: Scathelock on Saturday 22 April 23 10:04 BST (UK)

Thank you so much for your help and advice with this enquiry Bookbox. I did find the mention of David Wait appearing before the Kings Bench in the London Gazette and this prompted my eagerness to find out more.

I will now need to find someone to search those archives at Kew.

Many thanks for your kind help.