The Charter of 1604

On April 18th 1604, James I granted a new charter and sold the manor to Sir George Whitmore, a Lord Mayor and alderman of London. The village of Dovercourt and the Borough of Harwich were to form one corporate body with a mayor and a common council consisting of eight aldermen (from whom the mayor must be chosen) and 24 'honest and discreet burgesses' known as burgesses. John Hankin was named as the first mayor and served for 1 year, while the rest of the council named in the charter served for life, unless removed by vote of the members. The council filled any vacancies, elected two Members of Parliament, made and enforced by laws, and kept the fines.

There was to be a recorder 'skilled in the laws of England' and 'a discreet and sufficient man' was to be steward. Sir Edward Coke was named as recorder and John Cutting as steward, and with the mayor (or any two of them) heard minor cases of debt, theft, trespass etc involving up to £40 in a Court of Pleas held every Tuesday. The Justices of the Peace, consisting of the Mayor, his immediate predecessor, the recorder and the steward, heard all but the most serious cases at the Quarter Sessions.

There was to be a market every Friday, and two fairs, with a Court of Piepowder to settle cases arising from the fairs.

There were to be two, three or four sergeants at mace to enforce orders and attend the mayor. The borough could have a gaol. A ground rent on property would continue to be paid to the King but after the sale of the Manor these rents went to Sir George Whitmore and his successors.

This charter was confirmed in a Charter from Charles II in 1665 and remained in force until the Borough ceased to exist in 1974.