Crown minute books
Crown Minute Books are in various ASSI series depending on the circuit. The books cover a number of years and the counties for a particular circuit. The entries for each sitting record the names and offences of those to be tried, and are usually annotated with the plea, verdict, and sentence for each defendant. Our research guides list details of our holdings for each county, you should then consult our online Catalogue for the ASSI series.
There are no personal name indexes to assize court records, and the records themselves are incomplete. Some series have gaps where the records for a particular county have not survived for early periods. The most useful assize records are the indictments, Crown Minute and Gaol Books, depositions and gaol calendars. You may find that some but not all of these records survive for a particular trial.
Indictments
The indictment is the formal charge made against the defendant. It is in a standard form - indeed, pre-printed pro forma indictments to be filled in with the defendants´ name, parish, occupation and offence were being used from the end of the 18th century. They were also usually annotated with the plea, verdict and sentence.
Depositions
Sworn statements of witnesses can give detailed information, full of personal details and background information. Unfortunately, however, in most cases these do not survive.
No surviving records
If no assize records survive for the county, sheriffs´ assize vouchers covering the period from 1714 to 1832 can be consulted in E 389/241-257
. They are incomplete, but can include lists of prisoners tried and transported, accounts for maintenance of prisoners and fees for executions. There are also sheriffs´ cravings in T 90/146-170 covering 1733 to 1822, and in T 64/262 there are a few unlisted bills of cravings from 1746 to 1785.
