Reference
QSR1879/1/4
Title
Recognizances
Date free text
October 1878 to January 1879
Production date
From: 1878 To: 1879
Scope and Content
Printed forms filled in with ink. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a recognizance as ‘a bond or obligation entered into and recorded before a court or magistrate, by which a person engages himself to perform some act or observe some condition (as to appear when called on, to pay a debt, or to keep the peace); also a sum of money pledged as a surety for such performance and rendered forfeit by neglect of it.’ They contain little information other than the names, places of residence and occupation of the people involved. Each prosecution for minor crime can have up to three recognizances attached to it i.e. binding the person bringing the prosecution, binding the witnesses who are to give evidence and binding the supposed perpetrator if on bail etc. Amounts for sureties are usually between five and forty pounds and are often about £20 for the main people involved and £10 for witnesses or people standing surety for the main people. For example in a recognizance for bastardy the supposed father is usually bound for £20 and the surety (often a family member or employer) for £10.
Level of description
file