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The Bridgnorth Bailiff List

The Bailiffs were the elected governors of the town of Bridgnorth in pre-Victorian times. They were justices of the peace, justices of the court of record, returning officers for parliamentary elections, and the senior of the two acted as coroner for the borough. According to the 1793-1798 British Universal Directory:

"[Bridgnorth] is governed by two bailiffs, elected yearly out of the 24 aldermen, who are such as have gone through all the offices of the town, by a jury of 14 men; together with 48 common councilmen, a recorder, town clerk, &c."

(The "&c" referred to in the quote consists of two chamberlains, two bridgemasters, a deputy clerk, sergeants at mace, and other officers.)

This mode of government continued up until the end of 1835, when the Municipal Reform Act came in to being and sought to put an end to the elitism and cronyism which were prevalent in Municipal Corporations up and down the country. As a result, beginning in January 1836 the town of Bridgnorth was governed by a Mayor, assisted by four Aldermen and twelve Councillors. Elections thereafter were held anually on the 9th of November, rather than on St. Matthew’s Day (21st of September) as had previously been the case.

Procedure for the Election of Bailiffs in Bridgnorth

The actual Bailiff election process is very well explained by this excerpt, found in the original papers of the Rev. Mr. Richard Cornes, Minister of St. Mary Magdalene c1739, and re-quoted in an 1851 directory of the town:

"It is governed by two Bayliffs, with the Burgesses in Common Hall assembled. The Bayliffs are annually chosen out of 24 Aldermen upon St. Matthew’s Day after the following remarkable manner. The Court being met, the names of twelve Aldermen (seniors of those that are there present, and who have not been callers for three years before), being separately wrote upon small scroles of paper all of the same size, and rolled up close by the Townclerk, are thrown into a large purse, which being shut, well shaken, and tossed by the two Chamberlains, standing upon the Chequer (a large square table in the middle of the Court, encompassed with Seats) is afterwards held open betwixt them before the Bayliffs, whence each Bayliff according to seniority putting in his hand takes a scrole by which the callers are fixed, who, immediately mounting the Chequer, alternately call the jury out of such persons as are burgesses, and then present in court, to the number of fourteen. These being all sworn neither to eat nor drink until they, or twelve of them, have made choice of two fitte persons (who have not been Bayliffs for three years before) to serve the office of Bayliffs for the year ensuing, are locked up together till agreed, which hath often occasioned very long and tedious ffastings, (in 1739 they fasted 70 hours) even to the prejudice of their health. However, when they are agreed, they make report of the persons they have elected, and they are sworn into office upon Michaelmas day. (The Bayliffs for the time being are Justices of the Peace and Lords of the Manor for the Town and Liberties...)"

(Source: Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological Society, vol. IX., ii, Feb. 1886, p. 193+.)

In 1793, the jury fasted for an even longer time of 74 hours! (My 5-times-great-grandfather was on the jury that year, and I have a sneaking suspicion that his belligerence might have been a contributing factor to the delay.) The process does not appear to have changed much over the years, as a list included in the Bailiff Election Records from around 1652 outlines exactly the same procedure.

Why are the Bailiffs' names useful?

Quite apart from whether your ancestor actually was a Bailiff or not, the names of the Bailiffs are frequently stated in Bridgnorth documents (and also on the front of Bridgnorth Town Hall!). This means that they can often be used to date those documents on which no year is mentioned. Some of the Burgess Admission Certificates and also some of the entries in the Bridgnorth Burgess Book have been dated in exactly this way.

Sometimes a change of Bailiff can have a direct impact on the lives of people in the town. For example, by their refusing to renew an ale licence which had been previously granted. (My 5-times-great-grandfather again.)

How is the Bailiff List compiled?

The Bailiff List which can be searched on this website effectively lists the Bailiffs (and sergeants at mace) by year. It consists of the entries in "A List of the Bailiffs of Bridgnorth", augmented by the "Bailiff Election Records" in order to take the list up to the last election in 1834. These records are explained below.

A List of the Bailiffs of Bridgnorth

This little book lists the Bailiffs of Bridgnorth and their Sergeants at Mace. Where something unusual has happened in a particular year, such as the death or removal of a Bailiff in office, it is also noted here. The list appears to have been originally compiled in 1810, listing the Bailiffs from 1559 and the Sergeants at Mace from 1565. A later hand has added the names of the Bailiffs up to 1819 but has accidentally repeated the entry for 1816, making the later entries one year out.

The information in the book has been cross-checked using the Bailiff Election Records (see below) and the Great Leet Books where possible, in order to catch any mistakes. It should be noted that the dates in the list are the dates of the election itself, even though the majority of their term of office would have been in the following calendar year.

The Bailiff Election Records

With the exception of a small gap between 1712 and 1723, the original records of the Bailiff elections from 1634 to 1834 still exist and can be found at Shropshire Archives. The loose sheets have been bound together into one large book, approximately in date order.

The information and format does vary slightly from year to year, but in general, the 24 Aldermen are listed, along with other court officials. The Callers are noted (usually for the last three years) and also the names they call to be on the jury. Finally, the names of the Bailiffs chosen are mentioned, and sometimes their sergeants at Mace.

The Great Leet Books

Original records of the Bailiff elections going back much earlier than 1634 can be found scattered through the three Great Leet Books. Most of the other records in these books also mention the names of the then-current Bailiffs, allowing their names to be cross-checked with the main list. You can read more about the Leet Books here.

Notes

The following table shows the reference numbers of the various Bailiff Records as used by this site, by Shropshire Archives, and (where known) by the Family History Library:

Record Name	Reference Number
	Shropshire Archives	Bridgnorth Lists	Family History Library
The Bailiff List	BB/B/1/1/6	BLF	---
Bailiff Election Records	BB/B/1/1/7	BER	( Film 1911882 / 1911883 )

Note: The film numbers I have listed for the Family History Library may not be correct, as I have not seen the films myself. They are taken from the online catalogue, and appear to be referring to the same sources that I have used.

To search the Bailiff List, click .

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