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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!

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).)

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).)

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).)

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).)

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).