X PatronGerald Cavendish GrosvenorDuke of Westminster, KG, CB, OBE, TD, DLYour ref: JT50/2012John JOHNSTONDear Ian,Thank you for your enquiry, sadly I don't think Iam going to be of much help and to explain thereasons why. The Cheshire Constabulary was formedin April 1857, and we have a number of recordsdating from day one which include all SeniorOfficers and Constables who took up the position.Prior to this we have a list of officers that didNOT continue their service from the old force intothe new force and John's name does not appear onthis list, this tells me that he must have leftthe force some several years before 1857. Prior toall these records being transcribed and placedinto a database a trawl of the 1841 to 1881 Censuswas undertaken and this was later matched againstthe database. John only appeared on the 1851Census living in Beach Lane, Weaverham, Cheshire,I am assuming you have this record but just incase you don't I have attached it and sadly thisis the only record of him ever having served as aConstable in Cheshire. Taking the information fromthe 1851 Census I did some searching withinCheshire Parish Records for those children of Johnand Elizabeth who were born in Cheshire,unfortunately only Janet and Robert were found andI have attached their respective Christeningentries. Also on the off chance with their firstdaughter Mary being born in Manchester I checkedthe Manchester Police Archives which I have accessto see if John may have served with the Manchesterforce again his name did not appear. The Museumalso has access to the British Newspaper Archivesand again I searched on these for anything thatwould have help but sadly again nothing.In conclusion a petty constable was a localofficial whose origins date back to Anglo-Saxontimes. They were unpaid, and were elected fromlocal men. On the whole they were chosen fromrespectable tradesmen, craftsmen and shopkeepers,not ordinary labourers. They served for one yearonly. Their job was arrest criminals and to carryout instructions passed down from the JPs or theCounty Assize Justices. This could be awkward, asthe petty constable found himself having to reporton, even arrest, his neighbours. For this reason,they often used their discretion in applying thelaw and could get into trouble with higherauthorities as a result. However, most pettyconstables did their duties as best as they could,alongside their full-time employment. It alsomeant that local people were involved in enforcingthe law. If you also read the History of theCheshire Constabulary 'To the Best of Our Skilland Knowledge' which is on the Museum Website thisshould give you a little insight into the earlytimes of policing in Cheshire.I am truly sorry I have been unable to assist you,best wishes Jim Talbot, Trustee and ResearcherMuseum of Policing in Cheshire.Museum of Policing in Cheshire,Warrington Police Station, Arpley Street,Warrington. WA1 1LQTel : 01606 36 3848/5803www.museumofpolicingincheshire.org.uk/