by Chester County, Pennsylvania, Constable Docket Book, 1818-1824

[30 Day Return Guarantee] Price: $2,500.00

Book Description

small folio, original half calf, marbled paper covered boards, very worn, corners worn through, spine mostly chipped away, boards scuffed and worn, some water staining, otherwise good, 173 pages manuscript entries written in ink. This docket book contains cases #247 thru #972, dated April 1818 through January 1824. The docket covers the 13th District Court of Chester County as the constables in the cases all appear to be from the area that court covered in the northern areas of the county (East & West Nantmeal.) The ledger contains 726 cases over the course of five years and ten months, covering the terms of various constables. Constable "G. Griffith" who is listed on the cases from April 1818 to April 1820, is probably Griffith Griffith (b. 1756-1774; d. 1823), of East Nantmeal, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Upon the expiration of Griffith's term the constable position was briefly taken over by John King (approx. 50 cases), then duties seem to have been shared by Andrew Kirkpatrick and Joseph Aikins for the term of April 1820 to April 1822. The docket book ends with John Wynn and John Wampole as constables. Occasionally other individuals fill in from time to time. Andrew Kirkpatrick, like Griffith, was listed in the U. S. Census as living in East Nantmeal, with John Wynn and Joseph Aikins (Akens) living in West Nantmeal. A typical leaf in the docket book contains between four to six case entries on each side. Each case is divided into three columns, with the first column listing the case number, the parties involved, and the expenses of the court. The second column lists the constable involved, the date and time of case, further information on the continuance dates if appropriate. The last column has a summary of the case and how the case was to be resolved, or how it was resolved or not. The cases are primarily civil cases involving disputes of less then $100.00, a small claims court if you will. There is much social and genealogical history that can be gleaned from the reading of the cases. Some of the more interesting cases involved the constables themselves taking individuals to court in order to obtain fees for work previously performed in their duties as constable. There are a number of cases, which were decided for the plaintiff because the defendant failed to appear, and one firm "Good & Jones" took a number of people in town to court in order to recover goods that were credited to them, but that they failed to pay for. The Docket Book also includes two contemporary broadsides pasted down on the inside covers of the book. The inside front board has a carrier's address entitled, News Boy's Address, to the Patrons of the American Republican, January 1, 1820, -Almanac included. McDonald, Checklist of American Newspaper Carriers' Addresses, 934. The broadside on the rear paste-down is entitled, Magistrate's Fee Bill. It is probable that this "News Boy's Address" for the patrons of the American Republican referred to the weekly paper which was begun in Downingtown by Charles Mowry, entitled the Temperance Zone in 1808. The next year the paper's name was changed to The Downingtown American Republican. The Magistrate's Fee Bill broadside that is pasted in the rear is not dated, but it is assumed also to be ca. 1820 and printed locally in Chester County. It is printed in double column and lists the various fees charged by the magistrate, which appear to be both general and civil costs. A typical cost reads as follows: .

Bookseller Terms of Sale

Terms and Conditions of sale: All items are guaranteed to be as described. Items may be returned within ten days of receipt. Payment must accompany order. Unless other arrangements are made, all invoices are due upon receipt. Institutions and libraries will be billed. The usual trade discounts are extended to dealers upon a strictly reciprocal basis. As usual a telephone order is advised to reserve any item of interest. Shipping is generally done via UPS; please give a street address when you order. Please add $ 3.85 to cover shipping and handling expenses for the first item ordered, after which please add $ 1.75 per item. Additional books may be found on the internet at www.mbamericana.com & www.ilab-lila.com