X PatronGerald Cavendish GrosvenorDuke of Westminster, KG, CB, OBE, TD, DLOur ref: JT46/2012William HARPERDear Emma,Thank you for your enquiry, but sadly I am notgoing to be able to assist you in any great detailand to explain the reasons why.Whilst Macclesfield was always part of Cheshire atthe time in question it was in fact policed by itsown police force i.e. Macclesfield Borough Police,this force commenced in 1833 and remainedindependent until 1949 only then did it becomepart of the Cheshire Constabulary unfortunatelynon of its police personal records came with it onthe amalgamation, it is not for the want of tryingby this Museum to trace them all to no availIt is possible that William was in fact prior tobecoming a member of Macclesfield Borough Police amember of the Cheshire Constabulary, the 1841Census shows him resident at Village Cross, Lymm,with his wife Emma and three children and recordedas Head Constable of Macclesfield.Lymm was in fact policed by the CheshireConstabulary in 1841, but again official recordsof the Cheshire Constabulary do not commence until1857, and no records exist earlier than this, so Ihave no way of confirming this. By the time the1851 Census is taken William is recorded as beingthe Chief Constable of Macclesfield Borough Policeand resident at Canal Street, Macclesfield. Whatwe do know is that he was the third ChiefConstable of Macclesfield taking up the positionon the 17th November 1842, leaving around the 1stJuly 1860, the booklet History of MacclesfieldBorough Police states the same. This booklet isvery scarce in fact we think that the only othercopy is within Macclesfield Library howeverbecause I cant assist you in any great detail Ihave attached a copy.The Museum also has access to the BritishNewspaper Archives in London and I have searchedthis morning for any interesting articles I haveattached these also. The first one is from theChelmsford Chronicle Feb 1853, "Daring Robbery atMacclesfield" the second is from the CheshireObserver & Advertiser August 1860 "Burglary" andthe Derby Mercury 20th March 1861this is an interesting article as it shows WilliamHarper of the Griffin Inn, Lower Broughton,Manchester receiving £150 guineas on hisretirement, a wonderful sum of money probably intodays money about £6.500.In April 2010 a lady named Mary Rosbottomshe stated that William was her great greatgrandfather. In August 2010 a gentleman namedcontacted the Museum again seeking informationabout William. Keith stated his wife was the greatgreat granddaughter of William.You may be aware of these two people but if notthen they may hold some missing information. Icannot see either person not being happy toreceive a mail from, that is of course if theyremain on the same email address.I am truly sorry I have been unable to help you inany great detail but at least, by reading the bookyou will get a good in sight to the policing ofMacclesfield at the time William served.If you have any further questions please don'thesitate to contact me. Jim Talbot. Trustee andResearcher, Cheshire Museum of Policing.Museum of Policing in Cheshire,Warrington Police Station, Arpley Street,Warrington. WA1 1LQTel : 01606 36 3848/5803www.museumofpolicingincheshire.org.uk/