home iconHISTORY HOUSE Essex Places A-Z Essex History Your Ancestors British History Search search icon menu icon

Articles on the History of Essex, Researching your Ancestors, and British History

Essex Police Records 1840 - 1881

Punch cartoon: a Peeler
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 Sm to Sy.

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

Alphabetical list of officers' surnames and places of birth 1840-1881.

A B - Bo Br - By C - Cl Co - Cu D E F G H I J K
L M N O P Q & R S - Sk Sm - Sy T U & V W Y
  • Richard Smart, p.o.b. Hadley Middsx SEAX record
  • William Smart, p.o.b. Sible Hedingham SEAX record
  • Charles Smith, p.o.b. Great Chishall SEAX record
  • Charles Smith, p.o.b. Langham SEAX record
  • Charles Smith, p.o.b. Wiltshire SEAX record
  • David Smith, p.o.b. Campelltown (Campbeltown?) SEAX record
  • David Smith, p.o.b. Campbell Town Scotland SEAX record
  • Ethelbert Smith, p.o.b. Cheltenham SEAX record
  • George Smith, p.o.b. Barnack Northamptonshire SEAX record
  • George Smith, p.o.b. Bishop Stortford SEAX record
  • George Smith, p.o.b. Dunmow SEAX record
  • George Smith, p.o.b. Epping SEAX record
  • George Smith, p.o.b. Loughton SEAX record
  • George Smith, p.o.b. Norwich SEAX record
  • George Smith, p.o.b. Roxwell SEAX record
  • Henry Smith, p.o.b. Wizoe Suffolk SEAX record
  • Isaac Smith, p.o.b. Roydon SEAX record
  • James Smith, p.o.b. Colchester SEAX record
  • James Smith, p.o.b. Eastwood SEAX record
  • James Smith, p.o.b. Mersea SEAX record
  • John Mantle Smith, p.o.b. Woodbridge SEAX record
  • John smith, p.o.b. Kells Co. Meath SEAX record
  • John Smith, p.o.b. Exmouth Devon SEAX record
  • John Smith, p.o.b. New Ross SEAX record
  • John Smith, p.o.b. Co. Sligo SEAX record
  • John Smith, p.o.b. Liverpool SEAX record
  • John Smith, p.o.b. Middlesex SEAX record
  • John Smith, p.o.b. London SEAX record
  • Jonathan Smith, p.o.b. Braintree SEAX record
  • Joseph Smith, p.o.b. Paulfield SEAX record
  • Peter Smith, p.o.b. Longparish Hants SEAX record
  • Samuel Smith, p.o.b. Essex SEAX record
  • Silvanus Smith, p.o.b. Melton Suffolk SEAX record
  • Thomas Smith, p.o.b. Kettering SEAX record
  • Thomas Smith, p.o.b. Rayleigh SEAX record
  • William Edward Smith, p.o.b. Great Holland SEAX record
  • William Smith, p.o.b. Ardley SEAX record
  • William Smith, p.o.b. Aveley SEAX record
  • William Smith, p.o.b. Cirencester SEAX record
  • William Smith, p.o.b. Copford SEAX record
  • Thomas Timothy Smythe, p.o.b. Ashen SEAX record
  • Snazell, p.o.b. Colchester SEAX record
  • Samuel Solman, p.o.b. Cressing SEAX record
  • Raglan Somerset, p.o.b. Stroud SEAX record
  • William Sopwith, p.o.b. Romford SEAX record
  • William Sorrell, p.o.b. Boddenham Kent SEAX record
  • Daniel South, p.o.b. Birch SEAX record
  • John Southgate, p.o.b. Lawford SEAX record
  • William Spalding, p.o.b. Danbury SEAX record
  • Samuel Sparks, p.o.b. Maldon SEAX record
  • Thomas Sparks, p.o.b. Maldon SEAX record
  • William Sparks, p.o.b. Suffolk SEAX record
  • Josiah Sparrow, p.o.b. Doddingham Cambs. SEAX record
  • Josiah Sparrow, p.o.b. Doddinghurst SEAX record
  • Joseph Speed, p.o.b. Windsor SEAX record
  • Joseph Speed, p.o.b. Windsor SEAX record
  • Robert Spencer, p.o.b. Barking Essex SEAX record
  • Thomas Spicer, p.o.b. Shoebury SEAX record
  • Samuel Spiller, p.o.b. Billericay SEAX record
  • Charles Spinks, p.o.b. Thetford SEAX record
  • John Spinks, p.o.b. Wymondham SEAX record
  • Robert Spooner, p.o.b. Rainham SEAX record
  • Thomas Spooner, p.o.b. Wickford SEAX record
  • Walter Harry Spooner, p.o.b. Downham SEAX record
  • William Spooner, p.o.b. Tollesbury SEAX record
  • Alfred Spratt, p.o.b. Fordwich SEAX record
  • William Spurgeon, p.o.b. Bury SEAX record
  • Abel Squinell, p.o.b. Hitcham SEAX record
  • Edward St.Clair, p.o.b. Oxford SEAX record
  • Henry Stacey, SEAX record
  • John Staden, p.o.b. Sundridge SEAX record
  • William Staggs, p.o.b. Southminster SEAX record
  • William Staines, p.o.b. Chelmsford SEAX record
  • Frederick Standingford, SEAX record
  • Thomas Staples, p.o.b. Knockholt Kent SEAX record
  • Frederick Starkey, p.o.b. Marylebone SEAX record
  • William Stedman, p.o.b. Bures SEAX record
  • John Steed, p.o.b. Great Waldingfield SEAX record
  • Richard Steer, p.o.b. Dartford SEAX record
  • Richard Steer, p.o.b. Dartford SEAX record
  • Richard Steers, p.o.b. Dartford SEAX record
  • David Stevenson, p.o.b. Ardleigh SEAX record
  • Thomas Steward, p.o.b. Leigh SEAX record
  • George Stewart, p.o.b. Butsbury SEAX record
  • George Stewart, p.o.b. Butsbury SEAX record
  • George Stewart, p.o.b. Taddingstone SEAX record
  • David Stickley, p.o.b. Hornchurch SEAX record
  • Frederick Stock, p.o.b. Barnston SEAX record
  • James Stoken, p.o.b. Norwich SEAX record
  • Joseph Stokes, p.o.b. Witham SEAX record
  • Henry Storey, p.o.b. Templeport Cavan SEAX record
  • John Stowe, p.o.b. Great Horksley SEAX record
  • John Street, p.o.b. St Osyth SEAX record
  • George Strutt, p.o.b. Braintree Essex SEAX record
  • George Strutt, p.o.b. Braintree SEAX record
  • Robert Stuck, p.o.b. Marylebone SEAX record
  • James Sullivan, p.o.b. Bristol SEAX record
  • James Sullivan, p.o.b. Ireland SEAX record
  • ** Surrey, p.o.b. Little Burstead SEAX record
  • William Surry, p.o.b. High Roothing SEAX record
  • Henry Sutch, p.o.b. St. George's Hanover Square SEAX record
  • William Suttle, p.o.b. Bury St Edmunds SEAX record
  • Charles Swainstone, p.o.b. Hertford SEAX record
  • George Sweeting, p.o.b. High Easter SEAX record
  • William Sweetman, p.o.b. Southampton SEAX record
  • William Sweetman, p.o.b. Southampton SEAX record
  • George Swinscoe, p.o.b. Shelford Notts SEAX record
  • George Swoart, p.o.b. Sandwich SEAX record
  • James Syer, p.o.b. Kirby Essex SEAX record

    • More articles on the History of Essex, Researching your Ancestors, and British History

    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.

    1921 Census Findmypast

    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.

    Search Essex parish registers on Ancestry

    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.

    Help me find my ancestors - example search

    Looking for pictures to add to your family tree album?

    Southminster

    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.

    Essex Postcards on Ebay
    Cross Cut Lawns. Lawn care in Essex.