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English Law in 1860

English Law in 1860

Posted: 26 Jan 2015 3:52AM GMT
Classification: Query
English Law - Sued and Committed
From the London Gazette, August 28, 1860
Court for Relief of Insolvent Debtors
George Adolphus Adams sued and committed as G. A. Adams, formerly of 11 Grange Road Kingsland and late of No.3 Howard Road, Stoke Newington, Grocer, both in Middlesex, Wholesale Milliner, and Commisson Agent.
I would really appreciate it if someone could tell me what this means, and what would have happened to Mr. Adams?

Sally in Canada

Re: English Law in 1860

Posted: 26 Jan 2015 10:35AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Sally

It means that Mr ADAMS was an insolvent debtor, i.e. an individual who owed money to creditors and did not have the means to pay his debts. At that time, only traders (those who bought and sold things for a living, as opposed to craftsmen who made things and sold them) could file for bankruptcy. Other debtors could be imprisoned indefinitely until they (or, more likely, a family member) had paid up, their creditors relented or they could persuade the Court for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors that they had absolutely no assets which could be used to defray the debt.

The "sued and committed" bit simply means that the court dealt with him as "George Adolphus Adams" but the name on the paperwork was " G A Adams".

Hope this helps

Caroline

Re: English Law in 1860

Posted: 26 Jan 2015 11:29PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Caroline: Thank you so much fo your answer to my query. George is my great grandfather and my grandmother who was born in Jan 1864 probably never saw him as I found him in New Zealand and it states on his death certificate that he had lived there for 35 years, which means he left England in 63/64.I always thought he had died, but could find no record of his death, as his wife had remarried in 1867. Consequently he left or was forced to leave his wife and seven children in England and started a new life in NZ. Genealogy certainly brings out lots of family secrets. Thanks again. Sally
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