South Petherton Squared Circle

The entire shown below has a QV 3d jubilee cancelled with a "SOUTH PETHERTON" squared circle dated  was sent by the South Petherton Undersheriff to Winscombe R.S.O. via Taunton and Weston-super-Mare.

As it indicates on the front it is a Jury Summons for William Yatman Esq, for him to serve on the General Quarterly Session Grand Jury in April 1897 at the Wells Town Hall.

The entire has the handstamp of the "SHERIFF OF SOMERSET" on the reverse to authenticate it.

A Grand Jury was used to determine whether a criminal indictment would be issued.  They were first used in England in 1166, set up by Henry II and were employed in England until 1933.  A grand jury is so named because it had a greater number of jurors than a trial jury (also known as a petit jury).