Manchester Police Lookup request

[howebzar]

Hi - I've stumbled across a bit of a mystery in my tree related to my ancestor Squire Wovenden.
Birth 21 JAN 1784 in Batley, All Saints, Yorkshire, England; Death 13 MAY 1853 in Manchester Lancashire

I'm trying to establish exactly when he would have joined the Manchester Police Force, I think it would be between 1834 and 1841, which would tie in with other research.

He was living in Miller St by the 1841 census, and various records show him as a clothmaker/shopkeeper (even a Fishmonger at times) but also a Watchman and Superintendent.

Any light you could shed would be very helpful. I'm planning a trip "op Norf" soon to try to track down gravestones etc.

[mshrmh]

Howzebar - welcome to RootsChat.

I'm not able to do a lookup for you, but here's a link which has information on the early days of Manchester Police & has some names from those times including Squire Wovenden ("unfit" sorry):
http://www.manchester-family-history-research.co.uk/new_page_33.htm

[howebzar]

Thanks for the swift reply and the link to your interesting website which I shall refer to in future for my researches on the Wovendens and Ellisons of Manchester.

I need to collate my Squire Wovenden info, but I'm sure I have seen him referred to on birth certificates & census returns as Watchman and even Superintendent, which seems at odds with "unfit for duty" in 1839. The plot thickens!

TTFN, Steve

[mshrmh]

Steve, here's the link to the Greater Manchester Police Museum's site:
http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/Museum.htm

As I understand it's run by volunteers, but they may have more information, though I think much of what they have is later in date. The site seems to be suffering with broken links, but there are contact details on there - I don't know what, if anything they charge for research.

You may also find him listed in the trade directories for the period which might help track the occupational history (perhaps reflects some health issues to use modern jargon?). In case you've not come across the site there's a wide collection on the Historical Directories site (the Technical FAQs are useful for newcomers):
http://www.historicaldirectories.org/hd/

[howebzar]

Coool - that's my weekend sorted out then!

[uk2003]

2 x Squire Wovenden's on here but not yours  but maybe connected with the unusual first name

www.burialrecords.manchester.gov.uk

Also cannot be found in the old cemeteries connected to the Cathedral - Manchester Collegiate Church Burials
1573-1868

Ardwick Cemetery has long since gone, now part of a school playing field - but the burials records can be found in Manchester, will dig out the link later (I hope)

This was extract from the CD Manchester Policemen Index 1858-1918

Whilst lists of policemen’s names do exist from the 1830s, no useful
information is recorded against them. From 1858, however, a “military” type of
enrolment record was kept which recorded age, place of birth, religion, trade
and whether married or single. It also included a physical description.