Petty-sessions case papers, 1859–1914
When we research our ancestors, we typically turn to the sources that document the key events in their lives – namely records of births, marriages and deaths.
The papers provide a glimpse into stories that might have otherwise been lost
However, sometimes our forebears were caught up in more unusual incidents, resulting in their personal details being recorded in places you might not expect. Much like forensic evidence, their involvement in a crime – whether as a felon, victim or innocent bystander – may have left a trace that survives to this day.
