Archive of original handwritten documents and case notes from Shropshire Police
from the career of Sgt John Davey, served in Acton Scott, Market Drayton & Newport
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This is a collection of documents concerning PC John Davey of Shropshire Constabulary, from the start of the police career in 1893 to his death in 1919. John Robert Davey was born in Ottery St Mary in Devon, he served in the Military Foot Police in the 1880s, and joined the police in 1893. He was stationed at Acton Scott in 1901, and in 1911 was at Market Drayton. By 1913 he was based at Newport, Shropshire, and died there in 1919.
This collection consists of original documents, both typed with handwritten entries, and handwritten letters etc. They are in varying degrees of condition.
18th July 1893: A handwritten letter from John Davey, then of Ottery St Mary to the Chief Clerk of Shropshire Constabulary, wishing to join the police.
22nd July 1893: An official copy of Davey's birth certificate (1864, Devon).
5th August 1893: An official declaration to the Police that Davey had served in Her Majesty's Army for 12 years.
5th August 1893: A handwritten case note from Davey stating he "understood the boy had been taken in to a workhouse and was too ill to attend trial" (possibly part of a test)
21st July 1893 & 24th July 1893: Handwritten letters responding with details for his application, and a letter from the commanding officer of the military police recommending him for employment.
9th February 1894: A handwritten report from Cleobury Mortimer to the police pay office stating Davey had completed book-keeping and other duties and would be awarded a pay increase.
22nd October 1894: Handwritten letter on police headed paper requesting permission to marry (granted) and a handwritten letter from his fiances employer (Surgeon Major A B Cottell) commending her trustworthiness and sobriety; and subsequent letter from 3rd December asking for leave of absence to get married (approved).
20th October 1895: A brief handwritten note from Devon Constabulary to Shrewsbury Superintendent saying Davey's report was very satisfactory.
1900: A photograph (c1900) of 24 Shropshire constables (with one lady in civvies). Davey is front row, second left, sitting.
11th November 1902: A handwritten statement from David Evans, of 28 Coleham, Shrewsbury who states that he was knocked down by a policeman on a bike, had words, then a lady passer-by joined in and she was struck in the face by a policeman (!). Davey has written underneath that he took the statement.
16th July 1909: A handwritten request from John Davey for a pay increase after 3 years at the rank of 1st Class Sergeant. On the reverse is a typed response demurring about the pay increase.
19th April 1910: A handwritten report from Sgt Davey, reporting PC 92 George Mullard for neglect of duty and unbecoming conduct. Mullard had ignored a complaint from G C Donaldson Hudson, a local JP, about gypsies camping on Goldstone Common and Mullard's subsequent "insolence"... there is a response on the reverse. Then there is a page of handwritten notes form PC 104 William Rowe, taking the story on. This is followed by a five-page handwritten response from PC Mullard (written from Cheswardine) defending himself and signed in front of the Chief Constable, Captain Derriman. (Note: it looks like Mullard was cleared). Finally, two brief handwritten notes between Davey and Mullard saying the gypsies had had left.
4th May 1916: Two typed letters signed, requesting that Davey give the Volunteer Training Corps drill (providing it diesn't interfere with his police duties).
16th December 1918: Five pages of police reports on the misconduct of Jane Brazenell of Coney Lane, Edgmond. She was the wife of Pte H Brazenell, Suffolk regiment, who was stationed away and she had taken in a lodger, Pte W Blackfield of the Labour Company. She became pregnant, Davey believed Blackfield was the "cause of her present condition". Her husband returned, they had a row, and he walked out. It's quite a convoluted story with Major Becke (the then Chief Constable) getting involved and demanding censure of Davey...
3rd May 1919: A handwritten letter from Davey requesting that he be allowed to retire, and subsequent communications on the return of documents.
1st December 1919: A handwritten letter from Sgt Davey's son, Arthur, thanking the Chief Constable for the wreath at his father's funeral. Then there are further letters awarding a pension. By April 1920, Sgt Davey's widow, Mary, is writing to the Chief Constable requesting further assistance, and the reply that they can nothing else to help her.
An interesting collection providing a snapshot of police life in the early twentieth century.
Condition
A lot of the earlier documents from the 1890s are ragged to the edges but remain readable. The later official Police documents are in better condition but have some tear where folded. They all remain in one piece, and are in good readable condition but are in a condition commensurate with age and use.
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