The National Archives, being the national repository for central government's accumulated documents, holds a vast number of court legal papers dating back centuries. Happily (or unhappily perhaps for those involved) there exist among the masses some papers that relate to Jacombs, whether they be the accused, victims, witnesses, character referees or indeed the legal counsel.
County record offices have a huge number of local area court records such as those for quarter sessions, courts leet and manorial barons' courts which all dealt with local matters.
The cases below come from a variety of sources are are mostly summaries of the proceedings. Further details and a fuller description of each case can usually be found by consulting the original source for which references have been given alongside each entry. This first batch of entries provides a nice variety of proceedings. It doesn't include any cases where the accused was a Jacomb, but does include two cases which resulted in the accused being sentenced to death!
Updated 30/07/2008
7 further cases from the Old Bailey have been added to the existing list. These include cases where the guilty were variously sentenced to death, transportation or a whipping!
Borough of Leicester Quarter Sessions
1710, April 17th.
A Samuel Jacomb, fellmonger, along with his wife, Jane, appeared before
the court in connection with discharged recognizances. (Source: Chinnery, G.A., ed., Records of
the Borough of Leicester (Leicester: Leicester University Press, 1974). vol VII, p.66.)
Old Bailey 1674-1834
The full texts of the proceedings noted below are well worth a read at the Proceedings of the Old Bailey website.
1724, August 12th.
A John Mackfedre was found guilty of assaulting a Mr. Henry Jacomb, attorney,
at Thaves Inn. He was sentenced to a year in prison, a fine of 20 Marks
and to find sureties for his behaviour for 3 years.
(Source: Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, 08 June 2006), 12th August 1724, trial of John Mackfedre (t17240812-45).)
1730, February 28th.
Stephen Dowdle was indicted for stealing a gold watch and a diamond ring. Dowdle had turned informer upon being accused of the theft. A Mr Jacombs appeared in his position as Justice's Clerk to confirm that evidence provided by Dowdle had led to a number of other criminals being caught. Since Dowdle had provided information and the goods had been recovered through his arrest, a Justice in court recommended Dowdle 'might be recommended to His Majesty's Mercy'. Instead he was sentenced to death! (Source: Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, 30 July 2008), 28th February, 1730, trial of Stephen Dowdle (t17300228-24).)
1730, July 4th.
A Madam Jacomb was mentioned in the trial of Susannah Miller for pickpocketing a gold watch case from Katherine Chambers. Chambers said after being jostled when was boarding a coach, she was made aware the case was missing by Madam Jacomb. Found guilty of a lesser charge of felony, Miller was sentenced to be whipped. (Source: Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, 30 July 2008), 4th July, 1730, trial of Susannah Miller (t17300704-1).)
1744, January 13th.
Ann Rowe stood accused of stealing sheets, aprons and a waistcoat from Benjamin Pennever. Rowe admitted to having pawned most of the items, but had sold one of the sheets to Mrs Jacomb in Marshall-street. Guilty, Rowe was sentenced to be transported for 7 years. (Source: Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, 30 July 2008), 13th January, 1744, trial of Ann Rowe (t17440113-26).)
1767, October 21st.
A Josiah Jacome appeared as a character witness for the accused, a Moses
Matthews, who was indicted with his wife, Elizabeth, for stealing a variety
of household goods from a Charles Forward with whom they were lodging in Westminster. (Source: Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, 08 June 2006), 21st October 1767, trial of Moses Matthews, otherwise Burton, and Elizabeth his wife (t17671021-42).)
1776, May 22nd.
John Storer was indicted for making an arsenic-laced 'horse-ball' and then giving this to a horse owned by Samuel Whitbread Esq., poisoning the horse and killing it. A Robert Barnes appeared before the court as the 'shopman' of Messrs. Clark and Jacomb, chemists in Barbican, who sold the arsenic used to a colleague of Storer. (Source: Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, 30 July 2008), 22nd May, 1776, trial of Ann Rowe (t17760522-42).)
1780, April 5th.
A James Grant was found guilty of stealing a cambrick handkerchief and stock (total value 8s.) from a Charles Jacomb. Grant was a servant to Charles' brother, John Jacomb. He was fined 1s.. (Source: Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, 08 June 2006), 5th April 1780, trial of James Grant (t17800405-23).)
1783, June 4th.
James Grant and William Smith stood accused of breaking and entering the house of a Mary Jacomb in Lawrence Pountney Hill, and the theft from the property of a large amount of silver kitchen and tableware including silver candlesticks, spoons and basins. Both of the accused were found guilty and sentenced to death! (Source: Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, 08 June 2006), 4th June 1783, trial of James Grant and William Smith (t17830604-30).)
1784, April 21st.
A William Jacomb appeared as a witness in the trial of John Pettitt and John Ayres who were accused of burglary. William had gone to hear some singing in St. Martin's Le Grand, but instead heard a window shatter and watched as two boys reached through and stole a flute and two fifes [an instrument similar to a piccolo] before scarpering. William alerted the occupants and followed the two accused. (Source: Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, 08 June 2006), 21st April 1784, trial of John Pettitt and John Ayres (t17840421-23).)
1807, October 28th.
John King, alias Benjamin Gibbs, stood accused of the theft of 6 wether sheep from George William Jacomb and a Mr. Woodward. King took the sheep from Willsdon where they were grazing to a butcher to be killed and taken to market, however after killing the sheep the butcher had his suspicions raised about the sheep and alerted the authorities. The accused was found guilty and sentenced to death! (Source: Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, 08 June 2006), 28th October 1807, trial of John King, alias Benjamin Gibbs (t18071028-3).)
1825, October 27th.
Henry Upton was indicted for a fraud against John and William Jacombs, ribbon manufacturers of Nuneaton. He was accused of taking delivery of ribbon from the Jacombs's warehouse in St. Michael, Wood Street in the name of his employers, but without their knowledge or authority. He was found not guilty. (Source: Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, 08 June 2006), 27th October, 1825, trial of Henry Upton (t18251027-205).)
1825, October 27th.
Henry Upton was indicted for a further fraud, this time against John Bradbury, Jeremiah Greatorex and John Teale, in Aldermanbury. He was accused of taking delivery of crimson silk shawls from their warehouse in the name of Sewell and Cross (his employer), but without their knowledge or authority. Mr Jacombs is referred to in passing. He was found guilty and sentenced to be confined for four months. (Source: Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, 30 July 2008), 27th October, 1825, trial of Henry Upton (t18251027-206).)
1830, December 9th.
Sarah Jacombe, a widow of Old Street Road, was victim in the theft of a trunk, boxes, clothes and other goods. John Melvey and his wife Eleanor were indicted for the crime.
He was found guilty and was sentenced to transportion for 7 years, his wife was found not guilty. (Source: Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, 08 June 2006), 9th December 1830, trial of John Melvey and Eleanor his wife (t18301209-109).)
1860, August 13th.
17 year-old Alfred Jacombe stood accused of stealing 4l. 10s. from his master, William Langham. Jacombe pleaded guilty and was sentenced to be confined for 6 months. From other records Alfred would appear to be the son of hairdresser, William Jacomb. (Source: Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, 30 July 2008), 13th August, 1860, trial of Alfred Jacombe (t18600813-676).)
1877, October 22nd.
James Sinclair, George Ryan and Isaac Bled stood accused of stealing eight bales of wool from their employer, the London and St Katherine' Dock Company. Frederick Charles Jacomb, wool-broker from Jacomb, Son & Co. appeared, explaining his firm had sold four of the bales in their sale of 10th September. (Source: Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, 30 July 2008), 22nd October, 1877, trial of James Sinclair, George Ryan and Isaac Bled (t18771022-784).)
Middlesex Sessions
1822, December.
A Philip Jacomb, packer, of 32 Weymouth Terrace, Hackney Road provided
bail along with another packer, William George, of 3 Savannah Place, Essex
Street, Shoreditch, for a Joseph Tucker who was accused of assault. (Source: LMA
ref. MJ/SP/1822/12/033.)
Central Criminal Court
1906, October.
An Albert Edward Jacomb and Josiah William Jacomb, both printers, appeared
before the New Court charged with "making and printing and procuring
for the purpose of sale, divers (sic) obscene books and unlawfully selling
a certain obscene book." The book that led to this predicament was
entitled 'Womanhood. A Book for Ladies. By Medicus'; its content was in
essence a handbook on women's health. By today's standards it cannot be
considered explicit or gratuitous. But at the time in post-Victorian England
the authorities considered it obscene. In their trial at the Old Bailey
the brothers were forced to admit the book was obscene. However, highlighting
the difficulty of proving this from what the prosecution and defence had
said, especially since he admitted he had not studied the book, the Common
Serjeant could only say "As far as I can see it should not be put
into the hands of anybody who could buy it, but I do not see anything
which is in itself likely to corrupt." Nevertheless Albert and Josiah
were bound over in the sum of £50 for good behaviour and "to
insure their not publishing either this book or anything of the kind.".
(Source: TNA ref. CRIM 10/96 p.763-4.)
Director of Public Prosecutions, Nuneaton
1922, February 2nd.
Printer Charles Jacombs appeared before the Director of Public Prosecutions for not having attached an imprint to a number of circulars he had printed which were entitled "The Colliery Masters' Ten Commandments to the Miners". The prosecution alleged they were designed to "stir up dissaffection" amongst the high percentage of miners within the area. He was fined 10 guineas including costs. (Source: The Times 03/02/1922, p.6, col.F). |
Top
