Civil trials in the English assize courts 1656-1971 - key to records

Introduction
Key

1. Introduction

Although the central common law courts were based in Westminster, it was possible, and indeed usual, for trials in civil disputes to be held locally, under a writ known as nisi prius. In effect this meant that the cases were heard at the next visit of the circuit judges to hold assize courts in the relevant county. Some records of trials held at nisi prius are therefore found amongst the records of the clerks of assize in ASSI classes.

2. Key

County	Date Range	Civil Cases	Other Records
Bedfordshire	1783, 1850-76 1932-43	ASSI 32 ASSI 14	ASSI 34, ASSI 38, ASSI 39, ASSI 15
Berkshire	1803-1971 1854-1890	ASSI 1 ASSI 8	ASSI 4, ASSI 9, ASSI 10, ASSI 93
Buckinghamshire	1783, 1850-76 1932-43	ASSI 32 ASSI 14	ASSI 34, ASSI 38, ASSI 39, ASSI 15
Cambridgeshire	1783-* 1870-90	ASSI 32 ASSI 37	ASSI 34, ASSI 38, ASSI 39
Cheshire	1876-1924 1914-26 1867-1912 1945-70	ASSI 57 ASSI 58 ASSI 60 ASSI 78	ASSI 59, ASSI 63, ASSI 66, ASSI 67
Cornwall	1656-* 1810-1957	ASSI 22 ASSI 28	ASSI 24, ASSI 30
Cumberland	1877-1904 1909-15 1970-71	ASSI 54	ASSI 43, ASSI 46, ASSI 47, ASSI 93
Derbyshire	1932-1943	ASSI 14	ASSI 15
Devon	1656-* 1810-1957	ASSI 22 ASSI 28	ASSI 24, ASSI 30
Dorset	1656-* 1810-1957	ASSI 22 ASSI 28	ASSI 24, ASSI 30
Durham	1938-71	ASSI 41	DURH 19, ASSI 46, ASSI 47, ASSI 93
Essex	1792-* 1870-90	ASSI 32 ASSI 37	ASSI 34, ASSI 38, ASSI 39
Gloucestershire	1803-1971 1854-1890	ASSI 1 ASSI 8	ASSI 4, ASSI 9, ASSI 10, ASSI 93
Hampshire	1656-* 1810-1957	ASSI 22 ASSI 28	ASSI 24, ASSI 30
Herefordshire	1803-1971 1854-1890	ASSI 1 ASSI 8	ASSI 4, ASSI 9, ASSI 10, ASSI 93
Hertfordshire	1792-* 1870-90	ASSI 32 ASSI 37	ASSI 34, ASSI 38, ASSI 39
Huntingdonshire	1783-* 1870-90	ASSI 32 ASSI 37	ASSI 34, ASSI 38, ASSI 39
Kent	1792-* 1870-90	ASSI 32 ASSI 37	ASSI 34, ASSI 38, ASSI 39
Lancashire	1877-1904 1909-15 1970-71	ASSI 54	PL 28 ASSI 46, ASSI 53, ASSI 93
Leicestershire	1864-75 1932-43	ASSI 32 ASSI 14	ASSI 15, ASSI 34, ASSI 38, ASSI 39
Lincolnshire	1932-1943	ASSI 14	ASSI 15
Monmouthshire	1803-1971 1854-1890	ASSI 1 ASSI 8	ASSI 4, ASSI 9, ASSI 10, ASSI 93
Norfolk	1783-* 1870-90	ASSI 32 ASSI 37	ASSI 34, ASSI 38, ASSI 39
Northamptonshire	1864-76 1932-43	ASSI 32 ASSI 14	ASSI 15, ASSI 34, ASSI 38, ASSI 39
Northumberland	1938-1971	ASSI 41	ASSI 43, ASSI 46, ASSI 47, ASSI 93
Nottinghamshire	1932-1943	ASSI 14	ASSI 15
Oxfordshire	1803-1971 1854-1890	ASSI 1 ASSI 8	ASSI 4, ASSI 9, ASSI 10, ASSI 93
Rutland	1864-76 1932-43	ASSI 32 ASSI 14	ASSI 15, ASSI 34, ASSI 38, ASSI 39
Shropshire (Salop)	1803-1971 1854-1890	ASSI 1 ASSI 8	ASSI 4, ASSI 9, ASSI 10, ASSI 93
Somerset	1656-* 1810-1957	ASSI 22 ASSI 28	ASSI 24, ASSI 30
Staffordshire	1803-1971 1854-1890	ASSI 1 ASSI 8	ASSI 4, ASSI 9, ASSI 10, ASSI 93
Suffolk	1783-* 1870-90	ASSI 32 ASSI 37	ASSI 34, ASSI 38, ASSI 39
Surrey	1792-* 1870-90	ASSI 32 ASSI 37	ASSI 34, ASSI 38, ASSI 39
Sussex	1792-* 1870-90	ASSI 32 ASSI 37	ASSI 34, ASSI 38, ASSI 39
Warwickshire	1929-1944	ASSI 14	ASSI 15
Westmoreland	1877-1904 1909-15 1970-71	ASSI 54	ASSI 43, ASSI 46, ASSI 47, ASSI 53, ASSI 93
Wiltshire	1656-* 1810-1957	ASSI 22 ASSI 28	ASSI 24, ASSI 30
Worcestershire	1803-1971 1854-1890	ASSI 1 ASSI 8	ASSI 4, ASSI 9, ASSI 10, ASSI 93
Yorkshire	1877-1904 1909-15 1970-71	ASSI 54	ASSI 15, ASSI 43, ASSI 46, ASSI 47, ASSI 53, ASSI 93

* Records still being added to these series

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Civil trials in the English assize courts 1656-1971 - key to records

Contents

1. Introduction

2. Key

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