Historical information

This book was used for ceremonies by a parish officer or justice of the peace. It is the second volume in a series of five.
Richard Burn was born in Westmorland. He matriculated at The Queen's College, Oxford in 1729. He was not awarded his B.A. until 1735, three years after he left the university to accept a position as schoolmaster at Kirkby Stephen in Westmorland. Burn then entered the Church of England, and in 1736 became vicar of Orton in Westmorland. He was a justice of the peace for the counties of Westmorland and Cumberland, and devoted himself to the study of law. In 1762, after Burn had attained notoriety as a legal scholar, the University of Oxford awarded him an honorary LL.D. He was appointed chancellor of the diocese of Carlisle in 1765, an office which he held until his death aged 86.
Burn's Justice of the Peace and Parish Officer, first published in 1755, was for many years the standard authority on the law relating to justices of the peace. It has passed through some 30 editions, half of which appeared after Burn's death. (info. Wikipedia)

Significance

This book was was for many years the standard authority on the law relating to justices of the peace and is a useful research tool.

Physical description

A book with a rough brown leather cover,