General game certificates c1850

[Jackiemh]

Has anyone any idea on what sort of hunting would be covered by these certificates? I think they were either introduced or amended around 1839 in England. They cost 4 pounds and 10 pence each with an additional duty of 10% and names of the holders were listed in newspapers.
 I have found a distant relative who held one in 1847, 1854 and 1856.

Jackie

[Guy Etchells]

Just about any animal or bird but the most common were
Small game : small birds, such as the thrush and quail, snipe, pigeon.
Winged game : goose, duck, woodcock, grouse, pheasant, partridge.
Ground game : squirrel, hare, rabbit.
Big game : mainly deer but other large animals were included. 

If it moved the certificate provided a licence to shoot it!

Cheers
Guy

[Jackiemh]

Thanks for that. I had a feeling that it covered quite a lot and was quite expensive for the time.
Jackie

[hanes teulu]

The Game Law Act 1831

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Will4/1-2/32/enacted

see clause II

Had a look at Hansard where it was proposed the clause should also include "rabbits, woodcocks,snipe, quails, landrails** and conies".

** Pointed out to the proposer it should be "waterrail".

[andrewalston]

My ggg gf and one of his sons were gamekeepers and were listed in the newspaper lists. Their licences appear to have been paid for by their employers - Lords of the Manor in both cases.

They also appear in the "Gamekeepers' Books" for Lancashire. Each Lord of the Manor could register a single gamekeeper, who would be responsible for the whole of their estates. Anyone else employed on their shoots would just be an "assistant".

[GrahamSimons]

I was led to this a few months ago when I spotted my local Sainsburys was licensed as a dealer in game under the Act....

[Jackiemh]

Thanks everyone for your input.
I bet Sainsburys paid alot more that the original 4 pounds odd!
Jackie