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 P.
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
- James Pack, p.o.b. Rochester SEAX record
- Robert Pack, p.o.b. Suffolk SEAX record
- Frederick Packington, p.o.b. Lambeth SEAX record
- George Page, p.o.b. Boxted SEAX record
- Thomas Page, p.o.b. Brighton SEAX record
- William Page, p.o.b. Dunmow SEAX record
- William Page, p.o.b. Witham SEAX record
- Ebenezer Pagram, p.o.b. Stondon SEAX record
- Samuel Pain, p.o.b. Castle Engaine SEAX record
- Thomas Bowlin Paine, p.o.b. Stone Kent SEAX record
- Philip Pallant, p.o.b. Walsham Suffolk SEAX record
- Frederick Palmer, p.o.b. Coggeshall SEAX record
- George Palmer, p.o.b. Henfield SEAX record
- James Palmer, p.o.b. Great Totham SEAX record
- Patrick Palmer, p.o.b. Co. Tipperary SEAX record
- Robert Palmer, p.o.b. Shenfield SEAX record
- James Pareth, p.o.b. Burnham SEAX record
- George Parish, p.o.b. Roydon SEAX record
- James Parish, p.o.b. Theydon Bois SEAX record
- Charles Parker, p.o.b. Bradwell SEAX record
- Henry Parker, p.o.b. Stratford Suffolk SEAX record
- Joseph Parker, p.o.b. Braintree SEAX record
- Samuel Parker, p.o.b. Ryde SEAX record
- William Parker, p.o.b. Deal Kent SEAX record
- George Parmenter, p.o.b. Becking SEAX record
- John Thomas Parmerter, p.o.b. West Hanningfield SEAX record
- Robert Parr, p.o.b. St Georges in the East SEAX record
- James Parrish, p.o.b. White Notley SEAX record
- James Parslow, p.o.b. Kingston SEAX record
- Samuel Parsons, p.o.b. Middlesex SEAX record
- William Parsons, p.o.b. Norfolk SEAX record
- Joseph Partridge, p.o.b. Kelvedon SEAX record
- John Passfield, p.o.b. Great Bardfield SEAX record
- William Paterson, p.o.b. Dumfries SEAX record
- William Paterson, p.o.b. Dumfries SEAX record
- Robert Pattance, SEAX record
- John Patten, p.o.b. Pebmarsh SEAX record
- Thomas Patten, p.o.b. Pebmarsh SEAX record
- Ernest Pattipie, p.o.b. Maldon SEAX record
- W H Luard Pattison, p.o.b. Witham SEAX record
- W H Luard Pattison, p.o.b. Witham SEAX record
- W H Luard Pattisson, p.o.b. Witham SEAX record
- Thomas Mitchell Paul, p.o.b. Bath SEAX record
- Edward Paven, p.o.b. Steeple SEAX record
- Jonathan Pavitt, p.o.b. Upminster SEAX record
- George Pawsey, p.o.b. Great Bearton Suffolk SEAX record
- John Pawsey, p.o.b. Great Henny SEAX record
- Alfred Payne, p.o.b. Ingrave SEAX record
- John Payne, p.o.b. Bretham Suffolk SEAX record
- William Peachey, p.o.b. Abberton Essex SEAX record
- William Peacock, p.o.b. Brightlingsea SEAX record
- William Peacock, p.o.b. Hadnam SEAX record
- John Peagram, p.o.b. Margaretting SEAX record
- John Peagram, p.o.b. Margaretting SEAX record
- John Peagram, SEAX record
- John Peakall, p.o.b. Bethnal Green SEAX record
- John Peakall, p.o.b. Bethnal Green SEAX record
- Alfred Pealey, p.o.b. Croydon Cambs. SEAX record
- William Pearce, p.o.b. Stanford Rivers SEAX record
- Richard William Pearman, p.o.b. Maldon SEAX record
- Andrew Pearson, p.o.b. Earls Colne SEAX record
- John Pearson, p.o.b. Bethnal Green SEAX record
- Aaron Pease, p.o.b. Billericay SEAX record
- Aaron Pease, p.o.b. Rayleigh SEAX record
- John Peck, p.o.b. Dublin SEAX record
- John Peck, p.o.b. Dublin SEAX record
- George Peel, p.o.b. Cressing SEAX record
- James Pendergast, p.o.b. Co. Mayo SEAX record
- James Pepper, p.o.b. South Weald SEAX record
- James Pepper, p.o.b. South Weald SEAX record
- Joseph Percival, p.o.b. Burnham SEAX record
- James Percy, p.o.b. St Pancras SEAX record
- James Percy, p.o.b. Feltham SEAX record
- Robert Percy, p.o.b. Chelmsford SEAX record
- Stephen Perdrian, SEAX record
- William Perfect, p.o.b. Merton Surrey SEAX record
- Abraham Perkins, p.o.b. Warwickshire SEAX record
- Charles Perry, p.o.b. Stebbing SEAX record
- Thomas Perry, p.o.b. Wildersham SEAX record
- George Petchey, p.o.b. Rayleigh SEAX record
- Stephen Peters, p.o.b. Bristol SEAX record
- Stephen Peters, p.o.b. Bristol SEAX record
- James Pettican, p.o.b. Thorpe SEAX record
- Robert Pettican, p.o.b. Mount Bures SEAX record
- Robert Pettican, p.o.b. Bures SEAX record
- John Pettit, p.o.b. Hedingham SEAX record
- Arthur Fuller Pettitt, p.o.b. Great Tey SEAX record
- Elijah Pettitt, p.o.b. Mount Bures SEAX record
- George Pettitt, p.o.b. Bottisham Cambs. SEAX record
- Thomas Philips, p.o.b. Newtownbarry Wexford SEAX record
- William Philips, p.o.b. Great Clacton SEAX record
- James Phillips, p.o.b. Isle of Wight SEAX record
- William Philpott, p.o.b. Finchingfield SEAX record
- Samuel Picket, p.o.b. Rochford SEAX record
- Stephen Pidgeon, p.o.b. Wakefield Yorkshire SEAX record
- John Pilley, p.o.b. Moulsham SEAX record
- George Pilling, p.o.b. Stopford SEAX record
- William Piper, p.o.b. Prittlewell SEAX record
- Alexander Pitt, p.o.b. Calcutta SEAX record
- Tom George Pitt, p.o.b. Hornchurch SEAX record
- William Pittingale, p.o.b. Halton SEAX record
- Herbert Pittock, p.o.b. Manningtree SEAX record
- George Pitts, p.o.b. Roxwell SEAX record
- Robert Pleasance, p.o.b. Colchester SEAX record
- Joseph Pledger, p.o.b. Baddow SEAX record
- Henry Plume, p.o.b. Kingston SEAX record
- Thomas Poel, p.o.b. Dublin SEAX record
- Arthur Polley, p.o.b. Birch SEAX record
- George Polley, p.o.b. Birch SEAX record
- Hayell Polley, p.o.b. Brightlingsea SEAX record
- William Pooley, p.o.b. Woodbridge Suffolk SEAX record
- Frederick Porter, p.o.b. Colchester SEAX record
- Stephen Porter, p.o.b. Brentwood SEAX record
- William Porter, p.o.b. Wickham SEAX record
- John Postlethwaite, p.o.b. Keswick SEAX record
- Charles Potte*, p.o.b. Ixworth Suffolk SEAX record
- R William Potter, p.o.b. Rayleigh SEAX record
- Thomas Poulter, p.o.b. Felsted SEAX record
- Thomas Poulter, p.o.b. Felsted SEAX record
- Arthur Poulton, p.o.b. Hatfield SEAX record
- Charles Poulton, p.o.b. Heybridge SEAX record
- Isaac Poulton, p.o.b. Hatfield Peverel SEAX record
- James Poulton, p.o.b. Hatfield SEAX record
- John Poulton, p.o.b. Hatfield Peveral SEAX record
- George Poultow, p.o.b. Hatfield Peverel SEAX record
- John Povey, p.o.b. St. Pancras SEAX record
- Herbert Cook Powell, p.o.b. Bromley SEAX record
- Robert Poynter, p.o.b. Bradwell SEAX record
- John Prance, p.o.b. Lindsell SEAX record
- Charles Pratt, p.o.b. Harlow SEAX record
- Phillip Pratt, p.o.b. Cambridge SEAX record
- William Prentis, p.o.b. Great Bardfield SEAX record
- William Prentis, p.o.b. Bardfield SEAX record
- Henry Price, p.o.b. Bushley Worcs. SEAX record
- John Prior, p.o.b. Little Easton SEAX record
- William Prior, p.o.b. Sutton SEAX record
- Thomas Pritchard, p.o.b. Chelmsford SEAX record
- Charles Pryke, p.o.b. Orford SEAX record
- William Puxley, p.o.b. Wix SEAX record
- Baxter Pyman, p.o.b. Great Clacton 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.