Stella Fox (stella.b.fox @t btinternet.com) of Ely, Cambs, writes: I am trying to find out more about WILLIAM ISGATE sometimes written ESGATE. 

He was born in Hilgay Norfolk and became a policeman.
In 1859 he was a police officer in Hatfield.
In 1881 he was police superintendent in Watford {Estcourt Road}
In 1891 he was retired and living at 5 Grover road Watford.

I am interested in his police service as we know nothing about this.

We know he had 3 wives (Mary Ashby, Elizabeth Stanley, and Mary Winefride Hayward, my Great Grandmother) and 6 children

William b.1871
Theresa b. 1874
Hilda b. 1876.  She was my Grandmother
Alfred b. 1877
George b. 1880
Edward b. 1881

I started by checking the book 150 years policing in Watford District & Hertfordshire County, but it is not indexed and I could find no information on your ancestor. However the book contains some useful background and I note that in May 1881 the Hertfordshire County Constabulary included 5 Superintendents at £120 per year. At that time Police Constables received between 21s. 6d. and 27s. 5d. with 2 shillings being deducted for married police constables living in County owned houses. They were allowed one rest day a quarter.

I also checked my press files, which contains selected cuttings mainly related to Sandridge and found a case in 1899 where an Inspector Isgate had given evidence of a case at Sandridge. I have added this to Old News under the title Stray Pigs at Sandridge.

In addition Police Superintendent Isgate, Watford, was listed as contact in a police appeal for witnesses following the murder of Edward Anstee at Marshalswick, Sandridge, in 1880.

There are web page for Hatfield and Watford

If you can add to the information given above tell me.

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