Report Book Gallery of Sergeant Farmer
This report book is dated 1867 and was used by Sergeant Abraham Farmer to report on incidents that happened in his patrol area. This leather-bound book is entirely hand-written using dip pen and black ink, with final outcomes written in red. We believe it was written by Sergeant Farmer having seen his signature on his daughter’s marriage document.
At the time the book was written, Plymouth had its own Borough Police and Sergeant Farmer’s patrol area looks to be concentrated near Charles Church. He would be checking on ‘beats’ ensuring constables were on duty, dealing with and reporting incidents. As you look through the pages, it gives an idea of the era of Victorian Britain and social issues in 1867. Plymouth Borough Police, at that time under Superintendent Frederick Wreford, were dealing with high levels of criminality in public houses, as well as poverty and disease.
Abraham Farmer was born in Carhampton, Somerset, in 1829 and joined Plymouth Borough Police on 4th November 1863 as a Supernumerary (probationer) and reached full status as a Constable on 28th January 1864 under Chief Constable Colonel Vivian. At 5ft 9½in (1.765m), Abraham was just above the height limit of five feet nine inches. He was 33 years old on joining, he was married to Frances, and had previously worked as a journeyman brickmaker, railway ganger and labourer.
Abraham was highly commended by the Watch Committee in January 1867 for his vigilance in arresting a felony suspect and was promoted to Sergeant, and this object is his first report book. Further promotions followed: 1879 promoted to 3rd Class Inspector; 1884 promoted to 2nd Class Inspector and in 1885 promoted to 1st Class Inspector.
On the 1881 Census, Abraham was listed as an Inspector living in 1 Devonshire Cottages in Plymouth, also, his son Henry was listed as a Police Constable living at the same address. In the same year whistles became standard police issue. Inspector Abraham Farmer retired on 4th February 1888 after over 24 years of service and received a pension. He died in Plymouth in 1903 and had been living with his daughter Elizabeth and her husband Samuel who was also a police constable.
Sources used with thanks: Mark Rothwell; British Police History UK; Ancestry.