From the records of the Vestry (Parish Council) of Wedmore, Somerset (under the jurisdiction of the Wells Quarter sessions.)

"No. 101.-May 23, 1798. We whose names etc. do consent and agree that a rate or assessment be forthwith made at 8 pence per pound value (amount to £200) for the purpose of making a road leading from Cocklake bridge to James Bartlet's or Yeo bridge, by Order of the Quarter Sessions; and that Thomas Swearse and William Rickard be appointed Collectors of this Rate. John Barrow, E. Edwards, Joseph Wollen, William Stone, Robert Tyley, William Taverner, William Barrow, William Brown, jun., William Pople, Benjamin Banwell, John Wall, James Leigh his mark.

No. 112.-June 26, 1804. At a Vestry held pursuant to notice given in the Church the Sunday and Sunday senit before for the purpose of taking into consideration the state of the Poor house presented as out of repair at the last Epiphany Sessions held at Wells; Resolved unanimously that the aforesaid Poor house be immediately put in compleat repair, and that Mr. Edward Edwards (being present and having assented thereto) be appointed to superintend the repairs, employ workmen, and order and inspect into all the materials necessary for the same. Ordered that the said Mr. Edward Edwards be reimbursed his expenses out of the Poor's rate. And that Mr. Melliar be employed to apply to the Court of Quarter Sessions for a respit and whatever might be further requisite to prevent any future law expances. J. D. Parsons, Gabriel Stone, William Barrow, Benjamin Tyley, E. Edwards, William Batt, John Norman, Stephen Champeny, William Brown, George Green, William Norman, Simon Tincknell, John Stone, John Sprake, Edward Counsell, Joseph Redman's mark, John Carver, William Pople, George Day's mark, George Gast's mark, William Banwell, John Day, Abraham Dyer, Benjamin Banwell, Henry Harvey, John Wall, William Seaman's mark, John Champeney, John Taverner, Michael Duckett, David Morgan, George Comer's mark, John Glanvile.

No 130.-March 3, 1815. At a Vestry meeting held in the Parish Church of Wedmore to consider the ill state of the Poor houses, the notice delivered to the Churchwardens and Overseers by John Barrow, Esq., J.P., respecting the dilapidated state of the houses provided for the use of the poor and of the bedding and other things there provided for the poor, and of his intention to certify to the next General Quarter Sessions of such houses, bedding, etc., in order that the Sessions may make such order as shall seem meet; and the said John Barrow having summoned the said Churchwardens and Overseers to appear at the same Sessions to answer his complaint the above-said notice and summons having been fully taken into consideration, Resolved unanimously that the Churchwardens and Overseers do take such steps as shall seem proper to defend themselves and the Parish against such complaint; and we do hereby authorize them to take such steps accordingly. William White, Benjamin Tyley, Thomas Stephens, E. Edwards, William Barrow, John Duckett, Henry Harvey, John Glanvile, George Clap, John Poole, John Stone, James Durston, John Wall, John James, Abraham Dyer, Jeffery Harvey, David Morgan, Arthur Phippen, John Taverner, Richard Banwell."

Bridgewater, Somerset, was also host to a Quarter sessions. I found this:

"There was a prison in Bridgwater c. 1210, (Footnote 43) probably in the castle. A prison was claimed by both the Crown and Roger Mortimer in 1280. (Footnote 44) The gaol was mentioned in 1352, (Footnote 45) 1481, (Footnote 46) the mid 17th century, and 1728. (Footnote 47) Its condition was severely criticized by John Howard in 1789. (Footnote 48) The building, on the south side of Fore Street, had an imposing rusticated classical frontage; it was closed and demolished in 1875. Cells were built at the police station in High Street, and in 1911 at the new station in Northgate. (Footnote 49) A lock-up called the Cockmoyle prison was mentioned in 1575. (Footnote 50) It was later said to be part of an inn of the same name, and in 1687-8 was called the borough bridewell. (Footnote 51) The lock-up was evidently on an upper floor over a lane between High Street and the churchyard, since it was known as the higher prison in the 17th century and Upper Bow in the 18th. (Footnote 52) In 1729 the quarter sessions established a bridewell for the borough and parish, probably an extension to the town's prison, and set up a whipping post there. (Footnote 53) From: 'Bridgwater', A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 6: Andersfield, Cannington, and North Petherton Hundreds (Bridgwater and neighbouring parishes) (1992), pp. 192-206. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=18640. Date accessed: 25 September 2005."

From the Quarter Sessions records at Norwich, Norfolk (and therefore probably of more interest to Mr Crawford than to Sir Walter :-(

"11.10.1808 Resolved at Norwich Quarter Sessions that the next General Sessions "take into consideration the expediency and propriety of providing a Lunatic Asylum..." under the provisons of the 1808 County Asylums Act

More about the Poor Rate and Quarter sessions in the County of Devon, and therefore of interest to Sir John Middleton:

"ASSESSMENTS, RENTAL, &c. - The annual rental of the land in Devon assessed to the property tax in 1811, was £1,217,547, but the annual value of real property, (land, buildings, &c.,) was assessed to the same tax in 1815, at £1,897,515. The parochial assessments of the county in 1823, amounted to £227,425, of which £175,412 was levied on land; £47,461 on dwelling-houses, £2624 on mills and factories; and £1927 on manorial profits. In 1803 the parochial assessments amounted to £179,359, of which £148,565 was expended on the poor. In 1821, these assessments amounted to £272,939, of which £234,097 was expended on the poor. In 1839, after the foundation of the large unions, and the erection of extensive workhouses, the sums collected in poor rates in the county amounted to £2l4,500. The County Rates are levied in Devon on a valuation made under a special act of parliament passed some years ago. They amounted in 1800,to £7031; in 1810, to £23,519; in 1830, to £12,783; in 1838, to £18,459; and in 1849, to upwards of £24,000, exclusive of Exeter, and the boroughs having separate quarter sessions, viz., Barnstaple, Bideford, Dartmouth, Plymouth, Devonport, Tiverton, and South Molton - the latter of which is not a parliamentary borough. The quarter sessions for the county are all held at Exeter, where two assizes are held yearly, for the county, and two for the City. (See page 62.)"

Lastly, see http://www.exclassics.com/newgate/ng346.htm for a lurid account of a court case at the Middlesex Quarter sessions of 1777….