Early Modern Crime and the Law
Introduction
This website gathers together resources and material from my research on crime in early modern Britain.
Law and Disorder in Early Modern Denbighshire
My PhD research (1999-2002) was primarily concerned with crime and disorderly behaviour in Denbighshire 1660-1730, using the records of Great Sessions and Quarter Sessions.
- The book (£)
- The PhD thesis (PDF)
- The files: a finding aid for documents in the Denbighshire Gaol Files 1660-1730
Background and Resources
Crime from Print to Digital
Old Bailey Online
Since 2006 I’ve been project manager for the Old Bailey Online and its spinoffs.
Pamphlets
- Hanging not punishment enough (1701) (transcript)
Wales and the Law: an anthology
- An English view of Welsh lawlessness, early sixteenth century
- The murder of Grace Jones, 1671 (Monmouthshire)
- The murder of William Powell of Glanareth, 1770 (Carmarthenshire)
Cases in court records and manuscripts
- Edward Mason, manslaughter of Lewis Rowland, 1785 (Cardiganshire)
- Maria Morris, infanticide, 1795 (Carmarthenshire)
- Ithell Jones, housebreaking and theft, 1684 (Denbighshire)
- James Fewtrall, theft from a shop, 1688 (Denbighshire)
- Anne Locker, theft of sheets, 1709 (Denbighshire)
- Judith Evans, theft of cheese, 1764 (Montgomeryshire)
- Samuel Jones, sheep stealing, 1795 (Carmarthenshire)
- Women’s thefts, late 18th century (Carmarthen and Swansea)
- George Frost, seditious libel, 1687 (Denbighshire)
- Francis ap Humphrey, slander, 1681 (Denbighshire)
- ‘Sacheverell’ riots (anti nonconformist), 1710 (Denbighshire)
- Trial of William Owen, smuggler, for murder, 1747 (Carmarthenshire)
Crime, Order and Violence in Seventeenth-century England and Wales: Denbighshire, Flintshire and Cheshire, c.1590-1715
Chester Great Sessions
A few images and transcripts of documents from the Cheshire Court of Great Sessions