Jeaffreson , John Cordy , 1831-1901 , barrister, author and archivist

Jeaffreson , John Cordy , 1831-1901 , barrister, author and archivist

John Cordy Jeaffreson (1831-1901) was a barrister at Lincoln's Inn. He also tutored in classics and lectured on English Literature. After receiving tuition in palaeography from Sir Thomas Duffus Hardy he became one of the inspectors of ancient writings under the Commissioners on Historical Manuscripts, 1874.

Jeaffreson was a prolific author of both fiction and history. Some of his works include: Novels and Novelists, from Elizabeth to Victoria, 1858; A Book about Doctors, 1860; The Life of Robert Stephenson, CE, FRS, 1864; A Book about Lawyers, 1866; A Book about the Clergy, 1869; The Annals of Oxford, 1871; A Book about the Table, 1875; A Young Squire of the Seventeenth Century, from Papers (AD 1676-1686) of Christopher Jeaffreson, of Dullingham House, Cambridgeshire, 1878; The Rapiers of Regent's Park, 1882; The Real Lord Byron, 1883; The Real Shelley, 1885; Lady Hamilton and Lord Nelson, 1888; The Queen of Naples and Lord Nelson, 1889; and Victoria, Queen and Empress, 1893.

The Custos Rotulorum (Keeper of the Rolls) was responsible for the care of the county records. Appointed (since the fourteenth century) in the Commission of the Peace (see MJP/C), he was a leading justice, unpaid and holding the post for life; and from the seventeenth century usually also holding the office of Lord Lieutenant of the county. His Deputy was the Clerk of the Peace who was in practice the actual keeper of the records, and who drew up, registered and oversaw the storage of the records.

Biographical information from 'JEAFFRESON, John Cordy', Who Was Who, A & C Black, 1920-2008; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007 (available online).