"RECORDERS of Dorchester",

1565: Christopher HOLE (Source Visitation of Dorset 1565)

14 Jan 1609/10 : Sir George Trenchard (died 1630), resigned

(Info from:- (1). William Whiteway his diary 1618-1635 - Biographical Notes page 182:- Sir George TRENCHARD and (2). Oxford Alumni:-
Sir George Trenchard (1575-1630) Youngest son of Sir George of Wolverton he was educated at Oxford where he matriculated at Magdalen College on 15th Nov 1588 at the young age of 13. A student of the middle temple in 1594 he was MP for Dorset in 1601 and knighted in 1603. He was influential in the County and a significant benefactor of Dorchester and Recorder for the borough, a post which he resigned in 1610. Of puritan views he was removed with Sir John Strangways from his post of deputy lieutenant in 1625. Twice married with one surviving son and six daughters, all of whom made useful marriage connections.

He was descended from a younger branch of the Ashley family, of Wimborne St. Giles, in this county; elected member of parliament for this borough in the 12th and 18th years of James I. and 1st Charles I. and resided in the Priory here. He was called to the degree of serjeant-at-law 15 Feb.1617, and to that of king's serjeant 15 May,1625. Besides the rank he bore in his profession, he was an able and active county magistrate, and presided generally at the quarter sessions for this county from 1625 till his death. He was buried in St. Peter's church here, 31 Dec. 1635.

He was the second son of Robert Rolle, of Steventon, in the county of Devon, esq.; called to the degree of serjeant-at-law 19 May, 1640; appointed chief justice of the upper bench 1646; resigned his patent 1653; and died 1656. His judgment, skill, and advice in all questions of law were sound and excellent, and his arguments plain, learned, and weighty. At the bar he surpassed most others; -and, when he became a judge, his learning and great talents were more conspicuous. He was also a patient, attentive, and observing hearer, excellent qualities in a judge. Great experience rendered business easy and familiar to him, so that he gave despatch, yet without precipitancy or surprise. In short, he was a person of great knowledge and experience in the common law, of profound judgment, singular prudence, moderation, justice, and integrity. His works, which are extant, and bear his name, are "Reports of Cases in the King's Bench," and an "Abridgment of Cases and Resolutions of the Common Law."

(Info from 'Fire from Heaven by David Underdown pages 233/4 :- " People were uneasy about accepting office in so uncertain a political climate, particularly in a town with a notoriously parliamentarian past. The Corporation realised that they needed protectors, so in November 1660 they invested the Lord-Lieutenant of the County, the Duke of Richmond, with the largely decorative title of High Steward. He was not very active and a far more useful patron was the towns M. P. Denzil Holles of Ifield. He was consulted about the choice of a new rector when Gower died and about the replacement of the 'Recorder' William Hussey. When he came home to the friary in October 1661 he was given a lavish welcome of the kind normally reserved for the judges. But he was rarely in Dorchester, and the Corporation normally dealt with him through his steward John Damer. Holles could help to divert reprisals for the town's unfashionable puritan past. By the end of 1661 there were ominous rumblings, including the threat of 'quo warranto' proceedings - which would require the Corporation to show by what warrant the town's privileges were held, in courts that were likely to be distinctly unfriendly. Recorder Hussey was too politically suspect to be of much help, so in December he was asked to resign. Hussey was furious. Ever since knew 'what belongs to order and government' he stormed he had honoured Dorchester as a place scarce admitting a second', and it was a shock to be abruptly laid aside. But he bowed to the inevitable and was replaced by William Constantine. : Info national Archives Prob 11/344)

(Info from Oxford Alumni & National Archives Prob 11/334:- Sir William Constantine of Dorset ( son of Henry Constantine born c1667.) Merley Gentleman deceased) was educated at Queens College where he matriculated on 21 Nov 1628, at the age of 16 (as gent); of Merley Dorset, Barrister-at-law, Middle Temple, 1637, M. P. Poole April-May 1640. 1640 (L. P.) till disabled 4 Sep 1643, bencher 1659, 'Recorder' of Poole and Dorchester, Lent reader 1664, treasurer 1668 , knighted 30 May 1668, father of Henry 1658 and John 1670; Probate Nat Arch 7 Ov 1760 )

(Info from Oxford Alumni and Visitation of Dorset 1677:- Hugh Hussey Gentleman was baptised the 11 Jan 1640/1 the 2nd son of Hugh Hodges of Sherborne Dorset gentleman (d. 1673) and educated at Queen's College Oxford where he matriculated on 2 July 1658; Barrister-at-law of Lincoln's Inn 1666, bencher 1685; Recorder and M. P. of Bridport 1685-7; Serjeant-at-law 1686; buried 21 Aug 1693; father of Hugh Hodges born 1666 by his wife Mary the daughter of John Eastmont of Sherborne ).

According to the election lately made, was sworn Recorder of this borough by and before me, Thomas Delacourt, Mayor In the presence of Alex. Gollop, Alexander Havelland, John Oldis, George Lester, Andrew Loder, Richard Churchill.

(Info from Oxford Alumni and 1677 Visitation of Dorset:- Sir Robert Napier son and heir to Robert Napier of Puncknowle Dorset by his 1st wife Anne daughter of Allan Constance of St Brides in London whom he married by licence 12 July 1637. Educated at Trinity college Oxford where he matriculated 1st april 1656; barrister-at-law Middle Temple 1660; licenced to marry Sophia Evelyn of Long Ditton Surrey spinster; knighted 27 Jan 1680/1; created baronet 25 Feb 1681/2. M. P. weymouth and Melcombe Regis 1689-90. Dorchester 1690 til unseated 6th Oct 1690, re-elected 1698-1700; died 31 Oct 1700)

Info from Oxford Alumni:- Richard Wadden Esq son of Richard Wadden of Symondsbury Dorset gent was educated at Oxford where he matriculated at Trinity College on 19th July 1662 aged 16. BA 1666; Barrister-at-law Middle Temple 1676)

Called to the degree of serjeant-at-law 1692; kings serjeant and knighted 1698.

(Info from Dictionary of National Biography & Cambridge Alumni :- Sir John Darnell the elder (d.1706) The son and heir of Ralph Darnell of Loughton's Hope near Pembridge Herefordshire he was educated at KING'S College Cambridge , Adm. at Gray's Inn, Dec. 2, 1662. He was called to the degree of Serjeant-at-law, 1692, and among many other cases defended Peter Cooke charged with conspiring to assassinate the King in 1696. Became King's Serjeant, 1698 and was Knighted, June 1, 1699. In 1702 he was employed on the prosecution of William Fuller, an imitator of Titus Oates and was engaged in the prosecution of John Tutchin the author of the 'Observator' for seditious libel in 1704. In July 1705 his son also John Darnel acted for the Queens Council in the prosecution of Mary Channing at dorchester. He died in Essex Street the Strand London on 14th Dec 1706 and buried in the chancel of St Clement Danes, London.

He was bred to the bar, and of eminence in his profession, which he followed many years. He was elected M. P. for Dorchester 8 Anne (1708/9) for Corfe castle 1 and 8 George I ( 1714 & 1721) and for Poole 1 George II ( 1727).

He was the second son of Robert Browne of Frampton in this county esq, was bred to the law, and became king's council for the east India Company. He possessed great professional abilities, and bore the first rank at the Chancery bar (in which court alone he practiced) for many years. He acquired an affluent fortune, and died at the age of 54. He was particularly noticed and distinguished by the Lord Chancellor Hardwicke who on the news of Mr Browne's death arriving at Lincoln's Inn Hall whilst his Lordship sat there as chancellor exclaimed with much earnestness "Then the world hath lost an honest man, and this court an able advocate." Any addition to such a character given by Lord Hardwicke would be superfluous. He was member for this borough 23 years.

He was also bred to the profession of the law, and of considerable eminence at the Chancery bar.

(Info from Oxford Alumni:- The son of John Floyer of St Giles in London arm. He was educated at Oxford matriculating at Balliol College on 15th March 1763 at the age of 18 of Upway in Dorset Barrister-at-law; Lincolns Inn 1769; died s.p.1789)

He applied himself early to the study of the law, and was called to the bar; but, after a few years' practice, on succeeding to a considerable estate on the death of his uncle Denis Bond, esq. (the preceding Recorder), he quitted a profession, which, had he pursued, he was qualified to adorn. He was a man of extensive erudition, blessed with a retentive memory and accurate judgment, and of inflexible integrity. He was particularly skilled in the best Greek and Roman authors, and well grounded in the knowledge of the laws of his country, which he read and studied, although he had relinquished the profession. The advantages which this town enjoyed from the exercise of his various endowments will be long remembered, and his resignation of the office, on account of illness, was universally regretted. On his resignation the Corporation unanimously chose for his successor his second son.

Appointed king's counsel in March, 1795, M. P. for Corfe Castle from 1800 to 1807, appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury 1801-2-3, one of His Majesty's Privy Council 23 Nov. 1803, Vice-President of the Board of Trade 8 Feb. 1804, and Judge-Advocate of the Army 1806.

(Info from parish registers for Steeple in Dorset and Oxford Alumni:-Nathaniel was born (according to the Alumni) on 1st November 1754 and baptised at St Michael's church in Steeple in Dorset on 16th June 1755 the second son of John and Mary Bond. He was educated initially at Winchester and then Oxford at Magdalene College which he entered at easter 1772. Adm. at the Inner Temple, Feb. 2, 1773. Called to the Bar, 1779. Bencher, 1795. Kings Council, 1793. Recorder of Dorchester, 1781-1806. M. P. for Corfe Castle, 1801-7. Commissioner of the Treasury, 1801-3. P. C., 1803. Vice-President of the Board of Trade, 1806. Judge-Advocate General, 1806. Of East Holme, Isle of Purbeck. Died unmarried Oct. 8, 1823. Buried at Steeple, Dorset (15th) . Brother of John (1771). (Inner Temple; Masters of the Bench.)

For many years chairman of the quarter sessions of this county, appointed 29 Dec. 1806, on the resignation of N. Bond, esq. He was the son of Charlton Wollaston, M.D., F.R.S., physician to the Queen's household, by Phillis sole daughter and heir of Samuel Byam, of the island of Antigua, esq. She married secondly James Frampton, esq. of Moreton, by whom she became grandmother of the present Henry Frampton, esq. Mr. Wollaston was born Feb. 16, 1765, educated at Winchester and Cambridge, entered of St. John's College, and proceeded B.A. 1786 and M.A. 1789. He was called to the bar at the Middle Temple in 1809, and practiced on the Western circuit and at the Dorsetshire Sessions until he was appointed deputy to the Right Hon. N. Bond Judge Advocate-General, which office he held, with great advantage to the public service, until the conclusion of the war. He succeeded the late right hon. N. Bond as recorder of Dorchester, and the late Thomas Pickard, esq. as chairman of the quarter sessions. He resigned the one office at the passing of the Municipal Corporations Act, and the other, to the great regret of his brother magistrates, and of the public generally, in consequence of a failure of health. Died 21st, aged 75, and was interred 28th Feb. 1840, in the Frampton vault at Moreton, where lie the remains of his mother." ⁽¹⁾

"HIGH STEWARDS".

1467/8: 17 Edw. IV. John Mawyn (Mohun), esq.
1610: by letters patent, Lodowick, Duke of Richmond.
9 Nov. 1660: Honorable Charles, Duke of Richmond and Lenox.
1684: Thomas Freke, esq.
22 Dec. 1701: John, Duke of Newcastle,
23 July, 1711: Thomas Strangways, esq.
3 May, 1714: Thomas Strangways, esq. his son, on decease of his father.
14 Dec. 1726: Robert Browne, esq.
1734: Robert Browne, esq. his son, on the death of his father. He died April, 1757, and was succeeded by
29 April, 1757: The Right. Hon. Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury,
14 Dec. 1771: the right hon. Joseph Lord Milton, Earl of Dorchester.
26 Feb. 1798, the hon. Cropley Ashley Cooper, afterwards Earl of Shaftesbury, in the room of the Earl of Dorchester then lately deceased.

This office, like that of Recorder, was abolished at Dorchester, under the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act.