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 Q and R.
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
- Richard Quinn, p.o.b. Cork SEAX record
- Frederick Radley, p.o.b. Castle Hedingham SEAX record
- Joseph Radley, p.o.b. Castle Hedingham SEAX record
- Joshua Radley, p.o.b. Castle Hedingham SEAX record
- Josiah H Radley, p.o.b. Castle Hedingham SEAX record
- Josiah Radley, p.o.b. Castle Hedingham SEAX record
- Josiah Radley, p.o.b. Castle Hedingham SEAX record
- Raglan, p.o.b. Somerset SEAX record
- Enoch Raison, p.o.b. Dedham Essex SEAX record
- Enoch Raison, p.o.b. Dedham SEAX record
- Jeremiah Raison, p.o.b. Dedham SEAX record
- Jeremiah Raison, p.o.b. Dedham SEAX record
- Samuel Raison, p.o.b. Dedham Essex SEAX record
- Samuel Raison, p.o.b. Dedham SEAX record
- William Raison, p.o.b. Fobbing SEAX record
- James Ram, p.o.b. Epping SEAX record
- James Randall, p.o.b. Dedham SEAX record
- William Randel, p.o.b. Brent SEAX record
- John Rank, p.o.b. Broomfield SEAX record
- Abraham Rankin, SEAX record
- John Ranks, p.o.b. Doddinghurst SEAX record
- James Ransley, p.o.b. Maulham? SEAX record
- William Ratigan, p.o.b. Mayo SEAX record
- William Rattigan, p.o.b. Mayo SEAX record
- Edward Raven, p.o.b. Steeple SEAX record
- George Raven, p.o.b. Staple SEAX record
- George Raven, p.o.b. Steeple SEAX record
- John Raven, p.o.b. Hockley SEAX record
- William Raven, p.o.b. Coggeshall SEAX record
- Alfred Rawlings, p.o.b. Sandon SEAX record
- John Rayment, p.o.b. Pleshey SEAX record
- James Raymond, p.o.b. Bulmer SEAX record
- John Raymond, p.o.b. Miltown Ireland SEAX record
- William George Rayner, p.o.b. Lambourne SEAX record
- William Rayner, p.o.b. Essex SEAX record
- George Reading, p.o.b. Cherstey SEAX record
- William Redding, p.o.b. Charles Devon SEAX record
- Thomas Redgate, p.o.b. Nerburgh Derby SEAX record
- James Redgwell, p.o.b. Little Bardfield SEAX record
- William Redhouse, p.o.b. Cambridgeshire SEAX record
- Thomas Redin, p.o.b. Barnes SEAX record
- Thomas Redin, p.o.b. Bulmer SEAX record
- Frederick Reed, SEAX record
- Robert Reed, p.o.b. Bath SEAX record
- George Reid, p.o.b. Hatfield Broad Oak SEAX record
- Michael Reihill, p.o.b. Co. Galway SEAX record
- John Reilly, p.o.b. Dunmore SEAX record
- Charles Relf, p.o.b. Chatham SEAX record
- Frederick Relph, p.o.b. Great Harley SEAX record
- John Rendall, p.o.b. Windsor SEAX record
- Mark Revel, p.o.b. Cramborne SEAX record
- Benjamin Reynolds, p.o.b. Berrington SEAX record
- Joseph Rhymer, p.o.b. Brompton Yorks SEAX record
- Joseph Rhymer, p.o.b. Brompton SEAX record
- Joseph Rhymer, p.o.b. Brompton SEAX record
- Joseph Rhymer, p.o.b. Brompton SEAX record
- Charles Richardson, p.o.b. Terling SEAX record
- George Richardson, p.o.b. Bartlow SEAX record
- Peter Richardson, p.o.b. Terling SEAX record
- William Richardson, p.o.b. Maldon SEAX record
- William Richardson, p.o.b. Surrey SEAX record
- Harry Riches, p.o.b. Hoxne Suffolk SEAX record
- James Richmond, p.o.b. Maidstone SEAX record
- Richard Rickaby, p.o.b. Newby Yorks. SEAX record
- George Riddle, p.o.b. Halstead SEAX record
- William Riddle, p.o.b. Bungay SEAX record
- William Riddle, p.o.b. Bungay SEAX record
- Robert Ridgewell, p.o.b. Sible Hedingham SEAX record
- Thomas Ridgewell, p.o.b. Chelmsford SEAX record
- Albert Ridley, p.o.b. Wingfield Berks SEAX record
- Henry Willington Riem, p.o.b. Arbroath SEAX record
- James Robertson, p.o.b. Wingfield Norfolk SEAX record
- Charles Robinson, p.o.b. Ireland SEAX record
- Charles Robinson, p.o.b. Ireland SEAX record
- Charles Robinson, p.o.b. Ireland SEAX record
- Henry Robinson, p.o.b. Saxham SEAX record
- James Robinson, p.o.b. Colchester SEAX record
- John Robinson, p.o.b. Fingringhoe SEAX record
- Thomas James Robinson, p.o.b. Aldgate SEAX record
- Thomas Robinson, p.o.b. Aldgate SEAX record
- William Robinson, p.o.b. Leigh SEAX record
- William Robinson, p.o.b. London SEAX record
- William Robinson, p.o.b. Sligo SEAX record
- Thomas Rochester, p.o.b. Lambeth SEAX record
- George Rodgers, p.o.b. Faversham SEAX record
- Joseph Rodgers, p.o.b. Sutton SEAX record
- Thomas Rodgers, p.o.b. Plymouth SEAX record
- Thomas Rodwell, p.o.b. Hoxne Suffolk SEAX record
- William Rogers, p.o.b. Burnham SEAX record
- William Rogers, p.o.b. Burnham SEAX record
- William Rogers, SEAX record
- James Rogerson, p.o.b. Kirkbright SEAX record
- James Rogerson, p.o.b. Kirkcudbright SEAX record
- James Rogerson, p.o.b. Kirkcudbright SEAX record
- George Rolf, p.o.b. Boreham SEAX record
- Mark Rolfe, p.o.b. Springfield SEAX record
- George Rolleston, p.o.b. Bickley SEAX record
- Andrew Rome, p.o.b. Dumfriesshire SEAX record
- Andrew Rome, p.o.b. Dumfriesshire SEAX record
- George Romney, p.o.b. Dalton Lancs SEAX record
- William Root, p.o.b. Messing SEAX record
- James Rose, p.o.b. Kingston SEAX record
- John Rough, p.o.b. Huntley SEAX record
- Timothy Rowan, p.o.b. Co. Clare SEAX record
- Timothy Rowan, p.o.b. Co. Clare SEAX record
- George Rowbery, p.o.b. Barton Essex SEAX record
- Edward Bloomfield Rowe, p.o.b. Rochford SEAX record
- William Roy, p.o.b. Colchester SEAX record
- Robert Rudland, p.o.b. Great Chesterford SEAX record
- James de la Rue, p.o.b. South Ockendon SEAX record
- Harry Ruse, p.o.b. Sturmer SEAX record
- David Rush, p.o.b. Suffolk SEAX record
- William Rushen, p.o.b. Witham SEAX record
- John Russell, p.o.b. Southwark SEAX record
- William Russell, p.o.b. Danbury SEAX record
- John Rust, SEAX record
- George Rutledge, p.o.b. Boreham SEAX record
- George Rutledge, p.o.b. Boreham SEAX record
- George Rutledge, p.o.b. Witham SEAX record
- George Ruttledge, p.o.b. Boreham SEAX record
- John Ryan, p.o.b. Limerick SEAX record
- William Rye, p.o.b. Lambeth SEAX record
- John Ryman, p.o.b. Westminster 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
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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.