Ripon MuseumsThe Yorkshire Law and Order Museums |
 |
 |
 |
Ripon MuseumsThe Yorkshire Law and Order Museums |
|
|
|
The Prison and Police Museum has in its collection a Victorian police truncheon bearing an inscribed brass cap. The inscription incorporates a crown flanked by the letters VR, the number 1, the date 1838 and the name T. SWEETING. It is believed to have belonged to Thomas Sweeting, a police officer serving in Ripon in the mid 19th century, who achieved some level of fame and even notoriety within the annals of the city. Sweeting was one of the four Ripon Police Officers who were sent to arrest the infamous Sinkler Brothers at Stonebeck, near Pateley Bridge, in September, 1831.
Records show that Sweeting was the first person to be married in Holy Trinity Church, Ripon, following its opening in 1827. On the 10th of November in that year he married Beatrice Tuting (the fee was 11/6). He becomes even more interesting as time progresses!
(Click on the truncheon image to view a larger version)
A number of references to Sweeting are recorded in the Ripon Millenary Book: -
1831 - TS (Thomas Sweeting) Police Officer.
1836 - TS appointed Bell Man with a deputy for when he was on duty as a police officer.
An entry in White's Directory for 1837 indicates that Sweeting was living in Finkle Street, Ripon in that year.
Records from the Census returns of 1841 and 1851 indicate that Sweeting was then living in Allhallowgate, Ripon.
It is further recorded in the Millenary Book that in 1846 it was ordered that: -
Thomas Sweeting, the Police Officer of the City and Borough be not allowed in future to leave the precincts of the City and the Borough - except on duties connected with his appointment - without the consent of the mayor or of two aldermen being previously obtained.
Sweeting had obviously done something not to the liking of the mayor, but exactly what is not recorded!
On the 9th of August, 1852, the following "complaints against police officer" - not identified but must have been Sweeting are recorded: -
On the 3rd of October, 1853 "T.S. - presumed to be Thomas Sweeting - borough policeman discharged from his office. He afterwards sued the mayor and corporation for arrears of salary and succeeded in gaining a verdict." He won!
His dismissal apparently followed an unseemly row, but no details of the cause of the row are recorded anywhere so that will have to be left to one's imagination.
... back to top