The Corporation: Officers

OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION.

The corporate officers at present are, a mayor, recorder, sheriff, ten aldermen, twenty-four common council, twenty-four electors, two coroners, a town-clerk, undersheriff, sword-bearer, clerk of the chambers, eight chamberlains, eight serjeants at mace (whereof the water-bailiff, who bears the great mace, and the sheriffs' serjeant, are of the number), a water-bailiff, quay-master, gaoler, corn-inspector, town-marshall, town-surveyor, and common cryer. There are, besides, a few other officers, and the constables of the twenty-four wards of the town.

THE MAYOR.

Newcastle was made a mayor town in 36th Henry III. which privilege was confirmed by Edward I. The office of mayor is one of great trust, labour, and dignity. The salary at present is £2000 per annum; besides which, the Mansion-house is kept in repair, and provided with every necessary article of furniture. A state coach and barge are also maintained at the expense of the corporation.

The annual election of mayor is conducted agreeably to the charter of 42d Elizabeth, and that of James I. Each of the twelve mysteries of the town name and present two men. These 24 delegates, called former electors, elect the old mayor and three aldermen. The four thus elected then elect and add to their own body seven aldermen, and one person, who either is or has been a sheriff of the town; or, if they cannot find seven aldermen, they have to elect eight persons who have been sheriffs; or, if they cannot find these, they have to elect eight burgesses. The old mayor and three aldermen, when joined to these eight, are called the twelve first electors. Each of the twelve mysteries next send one of their body, out of which the first electors choose six, who, joined to themselves, make eighteen electors. Each of the fifteen by-trades also choose one of their body, who again choose twelve freemen, out of which the eighteen electors before mentioned choose six, making in all the number of twenty-four electors; which twenty-four, or the greater part of them, elect the mayor, recorder, and other officers. There are, according to this plan, seven elections before the actual election! But all the puzzling intricacy which it exhibits will be found, on examination, a despicable mockery of independence.

All the preceding mayors were assisted by four bailiffs. The last bailiffs were, Laurence Acton, John de Aukland, William Jonson, and Henry de Carliol. But, in 1400, Henry IV. made Newcastle a county of itself, and granted that a sheriff should be annually chosen instead of the bailiffs. Six aldermen were also permitted to be chosen, to assist in the government of the town.—See page 605.

In 1808, Thomas Burdon, Esq. was re-elected sheriff, but, on December 24, was succeeded by Benjamin Sorsbie, Esq. who resigned on the 23d of February following, when George Shadforth, Esq. was elected to that office. His nonage prevented his earlier election, and no other person could be procured. The unusual circumstance of so many gentlemen having been lately re-elected sheriff, arises from the great difficulty experienced in persuading persons to accept the office.

From the great increase of the trade and population of the town, the office of chief magistrate requires extraordinary attention, patience, and decision. It has been proposed to engage a stipendiary magistrate, properly qualified to assist the mayor in deciding on the numerous cases heard in his chamber; as few gentlemen engaged in manufacturing or commercial pursuits can be expected voluntarily to sacrifice a great portion of their time in the public service. The present mayor has been honoured at different times with the thanks of the stewards of the incorporated companies, the committee of stewards, and the auditors, for his meritorious public conduct. The present sheriff is also distinguished for the independence, dignity, and hospitality, which he displays in office.

THE PRESENT ALDERMEN OF NEWCASTLE.

Robert Clayton, Esq. elected alderman in March, 1797, in the room of C. Atkinson, Esq. who was killed by falling down a pit in Scotland.

Thomas Clennell, Esq. elected alderman October 20, 1800, in room of Aubone Surtees, Esq. deceased.

Thomas Smith, Esq. elected alderman June 2, 1803, in room of Robert Shaftoe Hedley, Esq. deceased.

Henry Cramlington, Esq. elected alderman September 24, 1805, in room of Francis Johnson, Esq. resigned.

Isaac Cookson, Jun. Esq. elected alderman September 22, 1807, in room of William Yielder, Esq. deceased.

George Forster, Esq. elected alderman July 9, 1810, in room of William Cramlington, Esq. deceased.

Benjamin Sorsbie, Esq. elected alderman August 8, 1810, in room of Anthony Hood, Esq. deceased.

Aubone Surtees, Esq. elected alderman in room of Sir Thomas Burdon, Knt. who resigned Oct. 3, 1818.

Robert Bell, Esq. elected alderman April 20, 1820, in room of Joseph Forster, Esq. deceased.

William Wright, Esq. of North Shields, elected alderman September 8, 1823, on the resignation of Isaac Cookson, Sen. Esq.

October 13, 1797, the electors and burgesses of the corporation met at the Spital, for the election of an alderman, in room of Richard Chambers, Esq. resigned; when Alexander Adams, Jonathan Sorsbie, George Lake, William Darnell, and William Kent, Esqrs. were successively elected, but, on their refusing to take the office, were fined 100 marks each. The meeting was adjourned to the 20th of October following, when John Wallis, Esq. was elected. This singular reluctance to accept office arose from an apprehension that the corporation would become insolvent, in consequence of 3d. a chaldron having been deducted from the corporate duty on all coals shipped, by the verdict given in the trial between Sir William Leighton and the corporation.

Isaac Cookson, Sen. Esq. was elected alderman June 1, 1810; but refusing to stand, George Forster, Esq. was at last persuaded to volunteer to the office. On June 30, 1814, Isaac Cookson, Sen. Esq. was elected alderman, in room of John Erasmus Blackett, Esq. deceased. On this occasion, the fine formerly inflicted on Mr. Cookson, for refusing the office, was remitted.

THE RECORDERS OF NEWCASTLE.

The charter of James I. directs that the twenty-four electors, upon the Monday next after the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, "shall elect and nominate one discreet man, skilled and learned in the laws of this our realm, to be recorder of the aforesaid town; although such person so elected, or to be elected to be recorder of the said town, be not a burgess of the said town, to remain in his office of recorder for one whole year then next following, if he the recorder, so elected and nominated, live so long, and well behave himself in the said office." If it "happen that the recorder of the aforesaid town, for the time being, shall depart, die, or be removed from his office, or forsake the said office, that then the aforesaid electors for the time being, or the greater part of them, in the presence of the said mayor, can and may, within twenty days next after such decease, death, or removal, elect another fit person, learned and skilled in the laws, although he be not a burgess of the said town, in the place of that recorder that so died, departed, was removed, or forsook the office of recorder as aforesaid, for the residue of that year then to come, such recorder so newly chosen and elected first taking his oath for the executing his office duly and lawfully." Collier, in his Essay on Charters, page 73, mentions a new charter, given after the above of James I. in 1604, by which the places of recorder, town-clerk, and chamber-clerk, are for life. The salary of the recorder is £59 per annum. (fn. 21)

List Of Recorders.

Robert Fulbury occurs February 26, 1466.

Thomas Tempest occurs next in 1517, and Sir Thomas Tempest in 1536.

"Mr. Caverley, Gent." occurs as recorder in 1588, in St. Nicholas' register.

Sir John Savil, a baron of the exchequer, is named in Queen Elizabeth's charter, granted in 1600.

Sir John Jackson, Knt. occurs in 1609, and again in 1621.

Sir Thomas Riddle appointed about 1622, occurs in 1637.

Sir George Baker was displaced, by order of parliament, on May 26, 1645.

Edward Wright, of Grey's Inn, Esq. succeeded the above.

Mark Shaftoe, Esq. occurs in 1648. He died February 25, 1658.

Sir Robert Shaftoe, Knt. occurs in 1660; made serjeant-at-law in 1664; died May 21, 1705.

Henry Lampton, Esq. occurs as "deputy recorder" in 1685, when the above is called the "late recorder."

Joseph Barnes, eldest son of Alderman Barnes, became deputy recorder by the mandate of James II. December 24, 1687, when Mr. Lampton was removed.

Sir Robert Shaftoe was restored to the office of recorder at the Revolution.

William Davison, of Beamish, Esq. chosen in 1705, but did not act, and soon resigned.

John Cuthbert of Durham, Esq. elected January 18, 1706. He afterwards became serjeant-at-law, and died April 5, 1726.

John Isaacson, Esq. elected January 21, 1725. He died January 3, 1737.

Edward Collingwood, barrister-at-law, chosen February 13, 1737. Resigned in November, 1739.

William Cuthbert, Esq. barrister-at-law, elected November 12, 1739. He died August 29, 1746.

Christopher Fawcett, Esq. barrister-at-law, appointed September 3, 1746; resigned 1753.

Edward Collingwood, of Chirton, Esq. had been made an alderman, but was re-chosen recorder on the resignation of Mr. Fawcett.

Christopher Fawcett, Esq. re-appointed, on Mr. Collingwood's resignation, December 6, 1769.

Robert Hopper Williamson, Esq. barrister-at-law, succeeded Mr. Fawcett in 1794.

TOWN-CLERKS OF NEWCASTLE.

In the charter, 42 Queen Elizabeth, it is said, "Whereas the town of Newcastle upon Tyne is a town of merchants, a mart or market of great fame, and filled with a multitude of merchants, dwelling therein, and of others, as well home-bred thither flowing, and there expecting their trade of merchanting, and thereupon it is necessary to order and establish a certain order within the said town, and the speedy recovery of debts to merchants, &c. due. (fn. 22) The queen appoints William Jackson, gentleman, to be her first and then modern clerk, for taking recognizances of debts, within the said town, to enjoy the same during his life; and after his death, the mayor and burgesses, &c. are empowered to prefer to the said office another of the burgesses of the said town, to be the queen's clerk (as before), and to continue so long as it should please the mayor, &c. And shall have a seal, in two pieces, for sealing the said recognizances; the mayor to have the custody of the greater piece, and the clerk to have the custody of the lesser piece of the said seal; so that if a merchant or any other shall be made a debtor, he may come before the mayor and clerk of recognizances, and before them acknowledge his debt and day of payment. And the said mayor and clerk may do and dispatch all other things, which by the statute aforesaid are requisite, The said mayor and clerk are to have such wages, fees, rewards, and emoluments, for the execution of the said office, as any other mayor and clerk of recognizances, of any other town or city in England, lawfully and of right hath or receiveth."

William Jackson, Gent. 1660.

Robert Clavering.

Claudius Delavall.

Robert Delavall.

Thomas Riddle occurs in 1637; knighted by Charles I. in May, 1639; surrendered about 1645.

William Greene, doctor of civil laws, succeeded Sir Thomas Riddle.

Edward Man, merchant, appointed by parliament on Greene's death, May 26, 1645.

John Blaikston, Esq. chosen February 14, 1655. He surrendered

Mr. Bowes, town-clerk, occurs June 10, 1661.

Robert Marley, son of Sir John Marley, mayor, chosen June 14, 1662, on the surrender of Blaikston.

William Jennison, Gent. elected May 6, 1675, on Marley's resignation.

John Douglas, Gent. elected September 27, 1699. Jennison surrendered.

Joshua Douglas elected April 13, 1709. His father, John Douglas, resigned.

George Cuthbertson, Gent. elected October 4, 1742, Mr. Douglas having surrendered.

George Cuthbertson, Jun. chosen December 17, 1750, his father having vacated the office.

William Gibson succeeded February 28, 1756, on Mr. Cuthbertson's death. (fn. 23)

Nathaniel Clayton, Gent. elected in July, 1785; resigned on December 23, 1822. (fn. 24)

John Clayton, Gent. succeeded his father, N. Clayton, Esq. on the same day. (fn. 25)

CORONERS.

The burgesses of Newcastle were, in 1253, by charter of Henry III. granted the liberty of choosing fit and proper persons to be coroners, and who were to be sworn in full court. By the charter, 42d Elizabeth, they are directed "to make a return of all juries, inquisitions, pannels, attachments, and inquests, by them taken," before the mayor, recorder, and aldermen of the town; and to attend them at all gaol deliveries, and execute the precepts of the said mayor, recorder, and aldermen, in the same manner and form as any sheriff of the realm of England. (fn. 26) The coroners for the present year (1827) are, Mr. William Fife and Mr. George Bulman.

THE UNDER SHERIFFS, OR SHERIFFS' AND CORONERS' CLERKS.

CLERKS OF THE CHAMBER.

This ancient office is held by a free burgess, who is chosen annually by the twenty-four electors. By the charter of the 42d Elizabeth, the "clerk of the chamber for the time being, or his deputy, shall and may have power and authority, in the presence of the chamberlains of the said town for the time being, or two of them, from time to time, as occasion shall require, to exhibit and administer such corporal oaths to whatsoever pilots, masters of ships, mariners, and every of them, arriving at the port of Newcastle, as he hath heretofore been used or accustomed to exhibit and administer." The salary of the chamber-clerk is £400 per annum.

SWORD-BEARERS. (fn. 29)

King Richard III. by his letters patent, dated January 25, 1391, granted to William Bishopdale, then mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne, and to all his successors in office, to have a sword borne before them, in honour of the town. The annual salary formerly attached to this office was £20, with £1, 13s. 4d. for inviting the judges, and £5, as a gratuity; but now the sword-bearer receives a fixed salary of £55 per annum.

LIST OF SWORD-BEARERS.

THE WATER-BAILIFFS.

This is an office of great credit and trust. He is to prevent all defaults against the haven and river of Tyne; to seize to the use of the mayor and burgesses of Newcastle, all such merchandises as are conveyed on shore in suspected places; and to look after, preserve, and maintain the royalties, privileges, and liberties of the port of Tyne, and is allowed a deputy to assist him in the execution of his very extensive duty. His title was anciently "The Serjeant of the Water." He is sworn at his admission to his office. It was the duty of this officer to bear the mace before the mayor and corporation in their solemn processions; but another person was lately appointed to be mace-bearer. The annual salary of the water-bailiff was formerly £6, 10s. At present, it is £100; and he receives, besides, £100 for the office of harbour-master, which he also holds.

LIST OF WATER-BAILIFFS.

ASSISTANT WATER-BAILIFFS.

QUAY-MASTERS.

This officer is appointed by the corporation of Newcastle, to attend on the Quay or wharf there. He is to prevent any damage being done to the Quay; to appoint the births or stations of ships; to assess or rate by the ton such ballast as shall be cast by warrant directed to him into any keel or boat upon the new Quay, out of ships stationed there; to indorse on the said warrant the number of tons and due casting of them without damage to the river, after which the said warrant to be returned into the ballast-office. Brand says, "While that part of the town-wall that ran along this Key was standing, he had the charge of its numerous water-gates. Several fees are paid to this officer for what is called the groundage of ships, besides a stated salary from the corporation." The present stated salary is £80 per annum.

TOWN-MARSHALS.

The corporation keeps an officer called the town-marshal, who performs duties which were anciently executed by the marshals of the armies, or of justices itinerant. (See page 604.) The income of this officer, arising from salary, gratuity, and notes of invitation, was variable. The whole, last year, amounted to £125, 9s. 6d. The present active marshal is also inspector of weights and measures, keeper of the imperial standard, (fn. 31) and superintendent of police, with a fixed salary of £150 per annum.

List Of Town-Marshals.

TOWN'S SURVEYOR.

This officer has many important duties to perform, which require both skill and diligence. His salary, at present, is £200 per annum, to which a gratuity of £50 is usually added.

MACE-BEARER.

The mace was anciently a heavy weapon, used by cavalry or ecclesiastics, who were not permitted to carry swords. It is now a highly ornamented emblem of the authority of the chief officer of a corporate body, before whom it is carried on state occasions. The annual salary of this officer is £5.

There are eight serjeants at mace, including the water-bailiff and sheriffs' serjeant. Seven of these serjeants constitute the police establishment of the town, and are paid £225 per annum. (fn. 33) They are occasionally assisted by the constables of the twenty-four wards of the town.

WHIPPER AND HOUGHER.

This is one of the inferior officers appointed by the corporation of Newcastle. He seems to have been called "hougher," from his duty in former times, to cut the sinews of the houghs of swine that were found infesting the streets. He is also the executioner of felons. Alexander Robinson was appointed to this office by the common council, September 25, 1705, to be "common executioner in hanging of felons, putting persons in the pillory, clearing the streets of swine, and to doe and perform all other matters belonging to the place and duty of hougher." Thomas Bearman, the present whipper and hougher, receives an annual salary of £4, 6s. 8d. exclusive of fees.

There are many other officers appointed by the corporation, such as Collector of Port Dues,—Land Agent,—Viewer,—Gamekeeper,—Corn Inspector,—Inspector of Manufactories,—Weigh-house Keeper,—Toll Collector on Quay,—Warder of the Castle,—Impounders,—Knolt Herds,—Steam Boats Regulator,—Bellman, or Common Cryer,—Court Keeper,—Door Keepers, &c. &c. (fn. 34)