Quarter Sessions: West Riding Treasurer

The following source list was originally available only on paper in one of the West Yorkshire Archive Service offices. It may have been compiled many years ago and could be out of date. It was designed to act as a signpost to records of interest on a particular historical subject, but may relate only to one West Yorkshire district, or be an incomplete list of sources available.

The earliest formal appointment of a treasurer recorded in the order books was in 1702, and from 1728 he was a salaried (although never full-time) officer of the court. The two major series in the records of the treasurer are the accounts and county rate estreats.

Further information about the collection of West Riding Treasurers' records can be found on the WYAS catalogue:

Accounts of the Treasurer (ref. QD2/1-111) 1717-1889

The volumes of annual accounts, which began as a simple chronological record of payments from county funds made by the West Riding Treasurer, gradually developed into a detailed statement of county finances accompanied by a record of the administrative business undertaken by magistrates, transforming the volumes into what were effectively yearbooks of the quarter sessions.

Annual Accounts (ref. QD2/112-115) 1844-1883

These formed the basis for the published accounts of the Treasurer.

Other General Accounts (ref. QD2/116-135) 1868-1888

These comprise two ledgers 1868-1888; two rough cash books 1868-1874; and sixteen guard books containing vouchers 1868-1886.

Militia (ref. QD2/136) 1813-1815

A volume of copy-orders for the reimbursement of the Treasurer for maintenance paid to the families of men from other counties serving on behalf of West Riding townships.

House of Correction (ref. QD2/137-138) 1817-1818

Tradesmens' accounts and ten monthly statements of expenditure returned by the governor.

Bridges and Public Buildings (ref. QD2/139) 1820-1868

An indexed account book itemising expenditure. See also records of the West Riding Surveyor (ref. QD3).

County Constabulary (ref. QD2/140-150) 1858-1889

Includes ledgers from 1868 and records of police pay arranged by division and later also by rank of officer 1868-1889 etc.

Cattle Plague (ref. QD2/151) 1866-1868

An account book of compensation claimed paid under an Act of 1866. See also records of the Clerk (ref. QD1/414-416) and Committees (ref. QC9).

Expenses of Prosecutions at Assizes and Quarter Sessions (ref. QD2/152-171) 1868-1886

Twenty volumes containing fully itemised accounts for payments made for prosecutions at the quarter sessions and the assizes at York 1869-1876 and Leeds 1869-1886.

Petty Sessions Fees and Fines (ref. QD2/172-181) 1872-1887

Quarterly returns stating details of the parties and of fines costs and fees. Records survive for Pontefract and the Upper Osgoldcross divisions, fourth quarter 1872; Pateley Bridge and Claro divisions, fourth quarter 1878; and Barnsley and Staincross divisions 1886-1887.

Maintenance of Asylum Patients (ref. QD2/182-184) 1879

Accounts for the second and third quarters of 1879 survive for Wakefield and the South Yorkshire asylums, listing the few patients chargeable to the West Riding only.

Licensing Act: Compensation Account (ref. QD2/185) 1905-1948

Records of the compensation paid to owners of license premises when licenses were not renewed following the Licensing Act of 1904. See also Licensing Committee (ref. QC11), Clerk of the Peace (ref. QD1/417-441) and petty session division records.

County Rate Estreats and Summaries of Estreats (ref. QD2/186-424) 1726-1818

County rates were raised by the issue of an estreat (that is, a copy of the order of the court requiring a rate to be levied) and a warrant to the high constable of each wapentake. The estreat and warrant was signed by several justices and issued with an attached table itemising the sum to be collected from each township. Orders were usually made at the Christmas and Midsummer quarter sessions. The constable was instructed to return the sum due at the next quarter session, when the estreat was endorsed with the receipt of the Treasurer. There are summaries of the amount of county rate to be raised 1726-1818, and returned estreats 1728-1818.

Additional information can also be found in the Committee records.