 |
||||
 HSCC Home 2011 Auction Calendar & News Museum Exhibits Library & Genealogy Record Group Manuscript Group Photographic Group Research Fees CD's Wyman Tavern Education Monadnock Moments Roundtable Forum HSCC Sponsors Museum Store Links Give to HSCC  
|
Record Group Number 40Justice of the Peace RecordsCompiled by Alan Rumrill January 1985 This group contains four record books kept by four different Cheshire County justices of the peace. The items occupy one archive box and encompass the years 1793 to 1841. The books are filed alphabetically by the justices' surnames. The justices involved are: Samuel Slade, Jr. of Aistead; Francis Smith of Plainfield; Sylvester Smith of Surry; and Peleg Sprague of Keene. Justices of the peace are local magistrates who decide minor cases and perform marriages and similar duties. In New Hampshire, justices were allowed to try and determine civil cases. They were also to hear any prosecution or action of a criminal nature which arose in their county, not to exceed certain dollar amount fines and certain time limit imprisonments. More serious cases were taken to police courts. The records in this group came to the Society from various sources. The Francis Smith and Peleg Sprague records came to the Society in 1984 from book dealers Bill Reilly and Peggy Sysyn of Antrim. The other records have been in the Society collections for many years. New Hampshire law stated that every justice was to keep a record, in books kept for that purpose, of all official proceedings before him. This law explains the existence of these records. Box No. 1, Folders 1-4  |
| ||
 | ||||