John Atkins
Served Surrey Constabulary 1858 -1881
A Victorian Policeman by Christopher Atkins QPM
Taken from the research of Christopher Atkins, late Surrey Constabulary
1858 1 May: PC45 John Atkins was born at Warlingham in Surrey in 1833 moving by 1841 with his family to Jolliffe Row, Merstham. The 1851 Census has him still living there working in the nearby chalk pits as a labourer. He married in 1854 Elizabeth Harbour aged only 19 yet already a widow, her husband dying of TB the previous year.
Joining the Surrey Constabulary on 1 May 1858 John was posted to Dunsfold moving in April 1860 to Compton where five years later he was promoted sergeant, one of the first to hold that rank in the county. In 1878 the family was moved to Frimley. John could not escape what seemed to be the policeman’s curse of drink receiving a reprimand for drunkenness in February 1865 a couple of months after his promotion to sergeant. Retiring from Frimley in 1881 with 23 years service and a pension which was roughly equivalent to that received as a wage by pit labourers.
After retirement he lived at Holmwood working as the Common Keeper for Holmwood Common. When his wife died in 1903 John lived alone at Holmwood moving towards the end of his life to Haslemere where he died in 1917 aged 87. He had eight children two of whom died young.
The following are reports of John Atkins activities as recorded in the Surrey Advertiser. Obviously not all he did was recorded by the press but this does give an excellent example of the type of cases a constable would have dealt with in the early days of the Surrey Constabulary
Appointment Register Surrey Constabulary
1864 21 December[1]: At the County Bench: Seth Hayward was charged with having stolen on the 15th inst a quantity of potatoes the property of Mr Tracey, a farmer living near Godalming. PC Atkins said that at about 3 o’clock on the 15th inst he saw the defendant in company with other men, with a bag containing potatoes. When he saw the police officer he threw down the bag and ran away. He was obviously recognised because PC Atkins waited near the defendant’s house and saw him coming down his back garden with his boots under his arm. He was arrested but denied he stole the potatoes. On being asked if he had anything to say the defendant answered “I have been, I might say, starved to death gentlemen, and I have a wife and two children.” The magistrate said as it was a first offence he would be dealt with leniently and was sent to prison for three weeks. “The prisoner, who looked the picture of misery, was then removed.”
1865 14 January:[2] At the County Bench: Harry Trevors of the Cricketers beer house was summoned for selling after hours. PC Atkins said that on the 27 December he visited the defendant’s house at Farncombe, heard a noise and entered the house finding several people there with glasses before them. It was twenty minutes past eleven. The defendant said it was his custom to give a supper to his friends at Christmas and on this occasion had supplied a leg of pork and beer. The last gallon of beer was drawn at a quarter to eleven. He was ordered to pay 3s fine and 17s expenses.
1865 13 May[3]: At the County Bench: George Martin a points-man of the South West Railway Company was brought up at the Magistrates office by PC Atkins. The constable with a colleague had seen the defendant chasing ducks and on entering the field he found one dead duck in a basket and one in the process of being killed. He was charged with stealing the ducks and said “I cannot think how I could have been so silly as to have done it.” He said it must have been drink but he was not drunk but was under the influence. Remanded on bail for a week when at the later court no evidence was offered and Martin discharged.
1865 3 June[4]: County Bench: John Shiers of Littleton near Godalming was charged with selling a quantity of Beer, he not being duly licensed to sell the same. Working with a supervisor of excise PC Atkins visited premises where the defendant had a license to sell table-beer, which did not entitle him to sell it to be consumed on the premises. The license for this was 5s while the regular licence cost £3.8.3d a year. Fined £5 but intimated that it would recommend to the Board of revenue to reduce to £1.
1865 1 July[5]: County Bench: Benjamin Batson of the Railway Hotel, Farncombe was charged with having kept his house open for the sale of beer after eleven o’clock on 29th May. Police- sergeant Atkins deposed that at 11.25 pm he saw a man and a woman standing at the bar, and a boy with a pint of beer before him. The case was adjourned for a week for a witness to be called who said that the person alleged to be drinking at the bar came in to look for her husband and that the bar had closed at ten to eleven. The bench thought this an exceptional case and dismissed it.
1865 26 August[6]: Charlotte Harvey, Crownpitts, Godalming was charged with selling liquor at a prohibited hour on Sunday in he beer house. PC (sic) Atkins proved the offence and the defendant fined 20s including costs.
1865 23 September:[7] County Bench: Careless driving: John Tickner was charged with negligent driving in the parish of Thursley. Sergeant Atkins deposed that the defendant was in charge of a horse and cart riding on the shafts without reins, and having no control overt the horse. The defendant said “I only got up to get a mouthful of “wittels” Sir. His employer said a more sober, steady man, never was in charge of a horse. The bench ordered the defendant to pay 10s expenses.
1866 24 March[8]: Objections were made to the renewal of the licence for the Arrow, at Compton because the landlord had been convicted of selling liquor out of hours. PC (sic) Atkins gave evidence of a fight at the premises at eleven in the morning last November and witnesses said it was the landlord and his wife. Solicitor Geach said the admissibility of the evidence was deplorable and the magistrates renewed the licence.
1866 5 May:[9]Henry Craven publican, landlord of the Royal Oak at Worplesdon was charged with keeping his house open for the sale of drinks at fifty-five minutes past ten on the morning of Sunday 15th inst. Police-sergeant Atkins proved his case and the defendant was fine £1 including costs.
1866 25 August[10]: Henry Beaghley of Compton was charged with stealing ten gallons of bran from his employer where he had worked for nine years. PS Atkins arrested the prisoner at nine o’clock at night with the barn on his shoulder. The defendant was taken to his employer’s house where he admitted taking the bran and asked for mercy. One month in prison.
1866 17 November[11]: County Bench: Charles Oliver of the Duke of York in Ash was summoned for keeping his house open at improper hours on the forenoon of Sunday 4 November. PS Atkins proved the case and the defendant was fined 40s and admonished that any more such cases might cost him his licence. (Previous offence in May 1866 when he was fined £1)
1866 17 November[12]: County Bench: Fireworks at Compton: Two men were charged with unlawfully firing off squibs at Compton on Sunday 4 November. One pleaded guilty the other denied the offence. On hearing the evidence of PS Atkins on was fined 10s and the other discharged.
1866 1 December[13]: County Bench: Beer-house case: At the county bench at Guildford John Maynard was found guilty on the evidence of PS Atkins of having his house the Royal Oak, Worplesdon open at illegal hours for the sale of beer, and was fined 10s with 18s expenses.
1867 12 January[14]: County Bench: Alleged Poaching: James Strudwick a respectable looking man was charged with being suspected of coming from land where he was trespassing in pursuit of game, having rabbit and six traps in his possession. PC (sic) Atkins gave evidence and was sharply questioned by Mr Champ who appeared for the defence and the case was dismissed.
1867 16 February[15]: Send - Dangerous fire: Outbreak of fire White House Farm belonging to Mr W Street of Manor House Farm, Sutton. The fire occurred in two hayricks which were destroyed. On discovering the fire messengers were sent out to find the owner and to call the fire-engine from Guildford. By quarter past one o’clock the engine was out, four horses from the White Lion yoked in it, and Superintendent MacDonald with twelve men ready to start.
By half past one they were on the spot, distance of four and a half miles. The Superintendent set his men to work in capital style. Fortunately there was a running stream close to the burning ricks, and by means of planks and doors a bay, six feet deep, was speedily made. The engine played on the burning mass for a full two hours, and then the hay-knife was resorted to, and did good service in cutting up the half-burned hay which was left, thus keeping the fire from spreading to buildings where animals were kept and to other ricks. It was half past eight before the brigade had finished their work.
PS Atkins was informed by two boys that shortly before the fire was discovered they met a suspicious looking fellow coming from the direction of the farm, and from their description the sergeant locked up a man who belongs to Ripley. He was soon released. There is little doubt that the fire was accidental but as there is a possibility of it being otherwise Mr Street has offered a reward of £20 for the discovery and conviction of the incendiary.
1867 9 March[16]: County Bench: A Rabbit case: William North a poor looking man was charged with was charged with being suspected of coming from land in pursuit of game. PS Atkins said he arrested the prisoner on the 20th and found on him four freshly killed rabbits and some nets; one had been shot. The defendant said he knocked the rabbits down on the road. He had been out of work for years and had a wife and four children. North was fined 30s including costs – in default one month in prison.
1867 18 May[17]: County Bench: A Serious Charge: Abraham Steadman was charge with entering his widowed aunt’s house at Manor Road, Farncombe during her absence and stealing cash, sovereigns, silver and linen to the total value of £250. The case caused great excitement locally and the accused was tried at the Quarter Sessions in June when he was found not guilty by a jury. John Atkins was involved in the case and the Surrey Advertiser records on the 1 June that he had accompanied the prisoner to his aunt’s bedroom when she denied that she had given her nephew money as he had alleged.
1867 24 August[18]: County Bench: Breach of licence Godalming: Rose and Crown licensee charged by PS Atkins with keeping his house open at unlawful hours on a Sunday. PS Atkins visited the premises at fifteen minutes past ten in the morning when there was a man in the parlour with a pint of beer and a newspaper. The defence said that the person in the house had just brought some plants for the defendant and had quite accidentally omitted to shut the door. The beer in the pot was waste beer. A previous conviction was proved in March 1866 and he was fined 2s and 18s costs. The defendant said the bench must have the coat from his back. The magistrate said if he did not pay on Monday morning a distress warrant would be issued. The defendant left the court saying he had no goods.
1872 6 April[19]: County Bench: Theft of Grass: Two men were charged with stealing grass on the 27th at Wanborough Common. Police Sergeant Atkins saw the prisoners and a lad piling up grass and asked them if they knew they were doing wrong and was told they were taking it to feed a horse and cow. He had a large quantity pulled from the enclosed common with half an acre of grass taken away. The bench ordered the defendant to pay 1s damages, £1 fine and 18s costs or a fortnight’s imprisonment.
[1] Surrey Advertiser 24.12 1864
[2] Surrey Advertiser 14 1 1865
[3] Surrey Advertiser 13 5 1865
[4] Surrey Advertiser 3.6.1865
[5] Surrey Advertiser 1.7.1865 and 1 .7.1865
[6] Surrey Advertiser 26 .8.1865
[7] Surrey Advertiser 23.9.1865
[8] Surrey Advertiser 24.3.1866
[9] Surrey Advertiser 5 .5.1866
[10] Surrey Advertiser 25.8.1866
[11] Surrey Advertiser 17.11.1786
[12] Surrey Advertiser 17.11.1866
[13] Surrey Advertiser 1.12.1866
[14] Surrey Advertiser 12.1.1867
[15] Surrey Advertiser 16.2.1867
[16] Surrey Advertiser 9 .3.1867
[17] Surrey Advertiser 18.5.186 7; 1.6.1867
[18] Surrey Advertiser 14.8.1867
[19] Surrey Advertiser 6.4.1872
Served Surrey Constabulary 1858 -1881
A Victorian Policeman by Christopher Atkins QPM
Taken from the research of Christopher Atkins, late Surrey Constabulary
1858 1 May: PC45 John Atkins was born at Warlingham in Surrey in 1833 moving by 1841 with his family to Jolliffe Row, Merstham. The 1851 Census has him still living there working in the nearby chalk pits as a labourer. He married in 1854 Elizabeth Harbour aged only 19 yet already a widow, her husband dying of TB the previous year.
Joining the Surrey Constabulary on 1 May 1858 John was posted to Dunsfold moving in April 1860 to Compton where five years later he was promoted sergeant, one of the first to hold that rank in the county. In 1878 the family was moved to Frimley. John could not escape what seemed to be the policeman’s curse of drink receiving a reprimand for drunkenness in February 1865 a couple of months after his promotion to sergeant. Retiring from Frimley in 1881 with 23 years service and a pension which was roughly equivalent to that received as a wage by pit labourers.
After retirement he lived at Holmwood working as the Common Keeper for Holmwood Common. When his wife died in 1903 John lived alone at Holmwood moving towards the end of his life to Haslemere where he died in 1917 aged 87. He had eight children two of whom died young.
The following are reports of John Atkins activities as recorded in the Surrey Advertiser. Obviously not all he did was recorded by the press but this does give an excellent example of the type of cases a constable would have dealt with in the early days of the Surrey Constabulary
Appointment Register Surrey Constabulary
1864 21 December[1]: At the County Bench: Seth Hayward was charged with having stolen on the 15th inst a quantity of potatoes the property of Mr Tracey, a farmer living near Godalming. PC Atkins said that at about 3 o’clock on the 15th inst he saw the defendant in company with other men, with a bag containing potatoes. When he saw the police officer he threw down the bag and ran away. He was obviously recognised because PC Atkins waited near the defendant’s house and saw him coming down his back garden with his boots under his arm. He was arrested but denied he stole the potatoes. On being asked if he had anything to say the defendant answered “I have been, I might say, starved to death gentlemen, and I have a wife and two children.” The magistrate said as it was a first offence he would be dealt with leniently and was sent to prison for three weeks. “The prisoner, who looked the picture of misery, was then removed.”
1865 14 January:[2] At the County Bench: Harry Trevors of the Cricketers beer house was summoned for selling after hours. PC Atkins said that on the 27 December he visited the defendant’s house at Farncombe, heard a noise and entered the house finding several people there with glasses before them. It was twenty minutes past eleven. The defendant said it was his custom to give a supper to his friends at Christmas and on this occasion had supplied a leg of pork and beer. The last gallon of beer was drawn at a quarter to eleven. He was ordered to pay 3s fine and 17s expenses.
1865 13 May[3]: At the County Bench: George Martin a points-man of the South West Railway Company was brought up at the Magistrates office by PC Atkins. The constable with a colleague had seen the defendant chasing ducks and on entering the field he found one dead duck in a basket and one in the process of being killed. He was charged with stealing the ducks and said “I cannot think how I could have been so silly as to have done it.” He said it must have been drink but he was not drunk but was under the influence. Remanded on bail for a week when at the later court no evidence was offered and Martin discharged.
1865 3 June[4]: County Bench: John Shiers of Littleton near Godalming was charged with selling a quantity of Beer, he not being duly licensed to sell the same. Working with a supervisor of excise PC Atkins visited premises where the defendant had a license to sell table-beer, which did not entitle him to sell it to be consumed on the premises. The license for this was 5s while the regular licence cost £3.8.3d a year. Fined £5 but intimated that it would recommend to the Board of revenue to reduce to £1.
1865 1 July[5]: County Bench: Benjamin Batson of the Railway Hotel, Farncombe was charged with having kept his house open for the sale of beer after eleven o’clock on 29th May. Police- sergeant Atkins deposed that at 11.25 pm he saw a man and a woman standing at the bar, and a boy with a pint of beer before him. The case was adjourned for a week for a witness to be called who said that the person alleged to be drinking at the bar came in to look for her husband and that the bar had closed at ten to eleven. The bench thought this an exceptional case and dismissed it.
1865 26 August[6]: Charlotte Harvey, Crownpitts, Godalming was charged with selling liquor at a prohibited hour on Sunday in he beer house. PC (sic) Atkins proved the offence and the defendant fined 20s including costs.
1865 23 September:[7] County Bench: Careless driving: John Tickner was charged with negligent driving in the parish of Thursley. Sergeant Atkins deposed that the defendant was in charge of a horse and cart riding on the shafts without reins, and having no control overt the horse. The defendant said “I only got up to get a mouthful of “wittels” Sir. His employer said a more sober, steady man, never was in charge of a horse. The bench ordered the defendant to pay 10s expenses.
1866 24 March[8]: Objections were made to the renewal of the licence for the Arrow, at Compton because the landlord had been convicted of selling liquor out of hours. PC (sic) Atkins gave evidence of a fight at the premises at eleven in the morning last November and witnesses said it was the landlord and his wife. Solicitor Geach said the admissibility of the evidence was deplorable and the magistrates renewed the licence.
1866 5 May:[9]Henry Craven publican, landlord of the Royal Oak at Worplesdon was charged with keeping his house open for the sale of drinks at fifty-five minutes past ten on the morning of Sunday 15th inst. Police-sergeant Atkins proved his case and the defendant was fine £1 including costs.
1866 25 August[10]: Henry Beaghley of Compton was charged with stealing ten gallons of bran from his employer where he had worked for nine years. PS Atkins arrested the prisoner at nine o’clock at night with the barn on his shoulder. The defendant was taken to his employer’s house where he admitted taking the bran and asked for mercy. One month in prison.
1866 17 November[11]: County Bench: Charles Oliver of the Duke of York in Ash was summoned for keeping his house open at improper hours on the forenoon of Sunday 4 November. PS Atkins proved the case and the defendant was fined 40s and admonished that any more such cases might cost him his licence. (Previous offence in May 1866 when he was fined £1)
1866 17 November[12]: County Bench: Fireworks at Compton: Two men were charged with unlawfully firing off squibs at Compton on Sunday 4 November. One pleaded guilty the other denied the offence. On hearing the evidence of PS Atkins on was fined 10s and the other discharged.
1866 1 December[13]: County Bench: Beer-house case: At the county bench at Guildford John Maynard was found guilty on the evidence of PS Atkins of having his house the Royal Oak, Worplesdon open at illegal hours for the sale of beer, and was fined 10s with 18s expenses.
1867 12 January[14]: County Bench: Alleged Poaching: James Strudwick a respectable looking man was charged with being suspected of coming from land where he was trespassing in pursuit of game, having rabbit and six traps in his possession. PC (sic) Atkins gave evidence and was sharply questioned by Mr Champ who appeared for the defence and the case was dismissed.
1867 16 February[15]: Send - Dangerous fire: Outbreak of fire White House Farm belonging to Mr W Street of Manor House Farm, Sutton. The fire occurred in two hayricks which were destroyed. On discovering the fire messengers were sent out to find the owner and to call the fire-engine from Guildford. By quarter past one o’clock the engine was out, four horses from the White Lion yoked in it, and Superintendent MacDonald with twelve men ready to start.
By half past one they were on the spot, distance of four and a half miles. The Superintendent set his men to work in capital style. Fortunately there was a running stream close to the burning ricks, and by means of planks and doors a bay, six feet deep, was speedily made. The engine played on the burning mass for a full two hours, and then the hay-knife was resorted to, and did good service in cutting up the half-burned hay which was left, thus keeping the fire from spreading to buildings where animals were kept and to other ricks. It was half past eight before the brigade had finished their work.
PS Atkins was informed by two boys that shortly before the fire was discovered they met a suspicious looking fellow coming from the direction of the farm, and from their description the sergeant locked up a man who belongs to Ripley. He was soon released. There is little doubt that the fire was accidental but as there is a possibility of it being otherwise Mr Street has offered a reward of £20 for the discovery and conviction of the incendiary.
1867 9 March[16]: County Bench: A Rabbit case: William North a poor looking man was charged with was charged with being suspected of coming from land in pursuit of game. PS Atkins said he arrested the prisoner on the 20th and found on him four freshly killed rabbits and some nets; one had been shot. The defendant said he knocked the rabbits down on the road. He had been out of work for years and had a wife and four children. North was fined 30s including costs – in default one month in prison.
1867 18 May[17]: County Bench: A Serious Charge: Abraham Steadman was charge with entering his widowed aunt’s house at Manor Road, Farncombe during her absence and stealing cash, sovereigns, silver and linen to the total value of £250. The case caused great excitement locally and the accused was tried at the Quarter Sessions in June when he was found not guilty by a jury. John Atkins was involved in the case and the Surrey Advertiser records on the 1 June that he had accompanied the prisoner to his aunt’s bedroom when she denied that she had given her nephew money as he had alleged.
1867 24 August[18]: County Bench: Breach of licence Godalming: Rose and Crown licensee charged by PS Atkins with keeping his house open at unlawful hours on a Sunday. PS Atkins visited the premises at fifteen minutes past ten in the morning when there was a man in the parlour with a pint of beer and a newspaper. The defence said that the person in the house had just brought some plants for the defendant and had quite accidentally omitted to shut the door. The beer in the pot was waste beer. A previous conviction was proved in March 1866 and he was fined 2s and 18s costs. The defendant said the bench must have the coat from his back. The magistrate said if he did not pay on Monday morning a distress warrant would be issued. The defendant left the court saying he had no goods.
1872 6 April[19]: County Bench: Theft of Grass: Two men were charged with stealing grass on the 27th at Wanborough Common. Police Sergeant Atkins saw the prisoners and a lad piling up grass and asked them if they knew they were doing wrong and was told they were taking it to feed a horse and cow. He had a large quantity pulled from the enclosed common with half an acre of grass taken away. The bench ordered the defendant to pay 1s damages, £1 fine and 18s costs or a fortnight’s imprisonment.
[1] Surrey Advertiser 24.12 1864
[2] Surrey Advertiser 14 1 1865
[3] Surrey Advertiser 13 5 1865
[4] Surrey Advertiser 3.6.1865
[5] Surrey Advertiser 1.7.1865 and 1 .7.1865
[6] Surrey Advertiser 26 .8.1865
[7] Surrey Advertiser 23.9.1865
[8] Surrey Advertiser 24.3.1866
[9] Surrey Advertiser 5 .5.1866
[10] Surrey Advertiser 25.8.1866
[11] Surrey Advertiser 17.11.1786
[12] Surrey Advertiser 17.11.1866
[13] Surrey Advertiser 1.12.1866
[14] Surrey Advertiser 12.1.1867
[15] Surrey Advertiser 16.2.1867
[16] Surrey Advertiser 9 .3.1867
[17] Surrey Advertiser 18.5.186 7; 1.6.1867
[18] Surrey Advertiser 14.8.1867
[19] Surrey Advertiser 6.4.1872
