Essex Police Records 1840 - 1881

An early policeman, sometimes called a Peeler or Bobby
Image from Punch, 1845, courtesy of the Harold B. Lee Library on Flickr NKCR
Essex Police Records 1840 - 1881 - officers surnames starting with the letter Br to By.
The first General Force Register listing all the officers is in the Essex Record Office 'ERO' under reference J/P 2/1. It covers the period 1840-1881.
Images of the records are available online, but until now the records have not been indexed by name as the records are arranged by rank and collar number. Now History House has indexed them by name with their place of birth and linked them to the image of their individual record at the ERO. There are over 2000 names on the Register. Some names are repeated as they were promoted through the ranks.
Each record gives name, age, date of joining, height, where born, previous trade, marital status and date and reason for leaving the force.
Some records give health details, grading of their conduct, and disciplinary reasons for discharge. Examples include: having got drunk first night on patrol and again next morning (after one days service!); want of bodily strength; leaving his guard in company with a prostitute; drinking on duty; refusing to transfer; and one was discharged because he was connected with a religious group called the Memonites.
The turnover of staff was quite high in the early years as the force seemed to struggle to find suitable recruits. Many of them were former soldiers born in Scotland and Ireland. This large turnover means that many fall between between census dates and you may be unaware that your ancestor was even in the police force. So it is worth checking the list.
As from 21 January 2016 the Essex Record have changed their system, they now require registration and login to view these records. I suggest that you go through this process first to have their cookie in your browser before clicking on these links. Otherwise they will not work.
For further information on the early years of the force, other resources to research your Essex police ancestors and for records covering 1881 - 1910 see our article Essex Police Records
- John Bradshaw, p.o.b. Maidstone SEAX record
- John Bradshaw, p.o.b. Maidstone SEAX record
- Samuel Bragg, p.o.b. Bocking SEAX record
- George Braybrook, p.o.b. Prittlewell SEAX record
- John Braybrook, p.o.b. Kelvedon SEAX record
- Charles Henry Brazier, p.o.b. Baddow SEAX record
- Cornelius Brazier, p.o.b. Great Baddow SEAX record
- Alfred Brett, p.o.b. West Hanningfield SEAX record
- Henry Brewer, p.o.b. Felstead SEAX record
- Henry Brewer, p.o.b. Felstead SEAX record
- Joseph Brewer, p.o.b. Southminster SEAX record
- William Brewster, p.o.b. Maldon SEAX record
- James Brewster, p.o.b. Stapleford Abbotts SEAX record
- Frederick Bridge, SEAX record
- Frederick Bridge, SEAX record
- George Bridge, p.o.b. Wixor SEAX record
- John Thomas Bridge, p.o.b. Portland SEAX record
- Joseph Bridge, p.o.b. Wixoe SEAX record
- William Bridge, p.o.b. Rochford SEAX record
- William Bridger, p.o.b. Ireland SEAX record
- William Bridges, p.o.b. Ryland Wexford SEAX record
- William Bridges, p.o.b. Ryland SEAX record
- William Bridges, p.o.b. Ryland SEAX record
- William Bridges, SEAX record
- James Bright, p.o.b. Henham SEAX record
- Richard Bright, p.o.b. Stifford SEAX record
- William Bright, p.o.b. Terling SEAX record
- John Brighton, p.o.b. Woodbridge SEAX record
- Thomas Brimstone, p.o.b. Ireland SEAX record
- William Briton, p.o.b. Willingale SEAX record
- Thomas Brooker, p.o.b. Fletching SEAX record
- Charles Brooks, p.o.b. Surrey SEAX record
- Ephraim Brooks, p.o.b. Burlingham SEAX record
- James Brooks, p.o.b. Knutsford SEAX record
- James Brooks, p.o.b. Sandon SEAX record
- John Brooks, p.o.b. Wittlebury Northamptonshire SEAX record
- John Brooks, p.o.b. Kent SEAX record
- John Brooks, p.o.b. Wilto SEAX record
- Arthur Brown, p.o.b. Nacton Suffolk SEAX record
- Arthur Brown, p.o.b. Great Totham SEAX record
- Benjamin Brown, p.o.b. Woodham Mortimer SEAX record
- Charles Brown, p.o.b. St Andrew Holborn SEAX record
- Frederick Brown, p.o.b. Wangford SEAX record
- George Brown, p.o.b. Castle Camps SEAX record
- James Brown, p.o.b. Taunton SEAX record
- John Brown, p.o.b. Great Bradfield SEAX record
- John Brown, p.o.b. Little Braxted SEAX record
- John Brown, p.o.b. Chillingham SEAX record
- John Brown, p.o.b. Coggeshall SEAX record
- John Brown, p.o.b. Gillingham SEAX record
- Robert Brown, p.o.b. Great Totham SEAX record
- Thomas Brown, p.o.b. Grays SEAX record
- William Brown, p.o.b. Romsey Hants SEAX record
- William Brown, p.o.b. Chelmsford SEAX record
- William Brown, p.o.b. Finchingfield SEAX record
- William Brown, p.o.b. Hockenham SEAX record
- James Bryant, p.o.b. Earls Colne SEAX record
- Charles Bryce, SEAX record
- Edward Buck, p.o.b. Newport SEAX record
- Frederick Buck, p.o.b. Kings Lynn SEAX record
- John Buck, p.o.b. Fyfield SEAX record
- Robert Buck, p.o.b. Springfield SEAX record
- Benjamin Buckingham, p.o.b. Westerfield SEAX record
- Anthony Buckley, p.o.b. Co. Mayo SEAX record
- Arthur Bull, p.o.b. Wakes Colne SEAX record
- G I Bullimer, p.o.b. Suffolk SEAX record
- William Bullurn, p.o.b. Woodbridge Suffolk SEAX record
- William Bundock, p.o.b. Brightlingsea SEAX record
- James Bunnell, p.o.b. Poplar SEAX record
- Frederick Bunting, p.o.b. Thaxted SEAX record
- Russell Burke, p.o.b. Yarmouth SEAX record
- Walter Burke, p.o.b. County Mayo SEAX record
- George Burley, p.o.b. Fermannah SEAX record
- George Burrell, p.o.b. Colchester SEAX record
- Thomas Burrell, p.o.b. Reigate SEAX record
- Samuel Burrells, p.o.b. Sternfield SEAX record
- Walter Burrows, p.o.b. Cold Norton SEAX record
- William Burrows, p.o.b. Latchingdon SEAX record
- William Burton, p.o.b. Holt Norfolk SEAX record
- William Burton, p.o.b. Holt Norfolk SEAX record
- Henry Bush, p.o.b. Brandham Suffolk SEAX record
- Frederick Butcher, p.o.b. Gosfield SEAX record
- Henry Butcher, p.o.b. West Thurrock SEAX record
- Henry Butcher, p.o.b. Gosfield SEAX record
- Mark Butcher, p.o.b. Gosfield SEAX record
- Thomas Butcher, p.o.b. Billericay SEAX record
- William Butcher, p.o.b. Weathersfield SEAX record
- Charles Butler, p.o.b. Little Easton SEAX record
- Edward Butterfield, p.o.b. Great Warley SEAX record
- William Byatt, p.o.b. Stebbing SEAX record
- Albert Byford, p.o.b. Little Saling Essex SEAX record
- Samuel Byford, p.o.b. High Laver SEAX record
1921 Census now on Findmypast
The 1921 census which gives details of almost 38 million individuals is now available on Findmypast. Start now to discover your ancestors. At the moment access is pay-per-view.
Find your Essex Ancestors in the Parish Registers
The Essex Record Office 'ERO' are custodians of the parish registers of Essex. Ancestry.co.uk have now transcribed the entire collection of Essex parish registers. Search now on Ancestry for your Essex ancestors. Then on the results page click on ‘request image’ and you will be taken to the ERO website where you can purchase an image of the relevant page.
Visit our Parish Registers of Essex page for more information.
Find your Ancestors in the Newspapers
Newspaper archives are now a very important source of information for researching your family tree.
Try our example search to help you discover if your ancestors are in the British Newspaper Archive.

Looking for pictures to add to your family tree album?

Ebay is a good source of old images of Essex towns and villages. If you're looking for pictures to add to your family tree album, then try one of the auctions, or there are several 'Buy It Now' shops offering postcards which have been touched up and improved - so if you're unsure about bidding, try these.
Link below already formatted for Essex and Postcards.