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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Su on Monday 28 April 08 10:06 BST (UK)
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I heard on the radio this morning that the Old Bailey Court trial transcripts dating back to the 1600's are now free on line. There are over one hundred thousand court cases i.e. Doctor Cripin etc.
The gentleman who was on the programme said that it would be of great interest to family historians as it would inform them of witnesses, and police and what they had to say in evidence.
the site is www.oldbaileyonline.org
I have just tried it and it's great.
Su
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I was amused to hear John Humphreys ask why people might be interested.
He's evidently not come across many Family History researchers and their insatiable quest for information ;D
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The site has been there for a long time, but the recent good news is that they have greatly expanded what is available online. Previously, it cut out about 1834 as I recall.
MarieC
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The site has been there for a long time, but the recent good news is that they have greatly expanded what is available online. Previously, it cut out about 1834 as I recall.
Sorry Marie, I didn't realise it had been online for some time. I only heard it on the John Humphreys prog this morning and thought it was something new.
Su
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No matter, Su - now that you've found it, enjoy!! ;D ;D ;D
I'd been waiting eighteen months or so for them to put more on so I could search for my missing London ancestor. Disappointment - he didn't fall foul of the law at the Old Bailey, so I'm still looking!
MarieC
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Hi Su,
Everybody must be on it, I cannot get on the link now. Maybe server is down.
Tom
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Hi Tom
It's probably all the folk like me who heard it on the radio yesterday ;D Keep trying, I'm sure you will get on soon.
Kind regards
Su
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keep trying Tom, the site has a note saying that due to the volume of use it is much slower than usual and some features are not available. I have only just got on after several hours trying.
Carolyn
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Always happens when a site is upgraded and expanded! ::) Glad I got in early and did my searching - even if it yielded no results!
MarieC
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Argh! How annoying - there's a result in the list of hits, for my g-g-grandfather (a witness, I hasten to add, not a defendant!) but I can't view the actual proceedings! :P :-\
Oh well, at least I know it's there. I thought I'd be safe searching this time of day, with the UK in sleep mode, but obviously didn't count on all the other Aussies and Americans doing the same as me ;D
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Very interesting stuff. I had to look during my lunch hour at work (probably when most people are either sleeping or working), and it was all fascinating stuff. Found seven items of interest ranging from trial for "simple larceny" through to what for me is the far more telling trial for "bigamy". Very happy. :)
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I've been waiting ages for the final set of records to be added, and was delighted it got coverage on Radio 4 and I'm pretty sure also on BBC Breakfast.
I've known from a couple of newspaper reports that a Florence Stevenson took a theatrical agent to court in April 1894, and was hoping that it was the mysterious "Great Aunt Florence" (see picture, left). In the end it wasn't her, though it did lead me to find her, though the mystery still remains unresolved.
What I did find on oldbaileyonline was my great x3 grandfather appearing as a witness in a trial for bigamy. Some scoundrel had married and then after "several quarrels" split up with his sister, and had then gone on to marry again. Said scoundrel got 18 months imprisonment.
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Been around for years but they added some extras recently hence the "Big News". Very good site, unfortunately none of my lot on it or is that a good thing.
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Thanks Su!
I searched it a few years ago with no joy...just tried again & BINGO!! One of mine was the victim of a pickpocket in 1847.
Debbie :)
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Historic Old Bailey Trials go online – including those of the Suffragettes, Dr Crippen, and Oscar Wilde - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7365879.stm
Should make some interesting reading!
John
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Nice one John.
http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/
Its been running at a crawl for the last few days but it seems faster today. Lots of interesting reading.
Paul
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Hi,
I have managed to get on the site, but not able to see transcripts of trials. Is there a secret? Anybody been able to get to the actual trials so far?
Tom
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Thanks for posting the link, Paul - now why didn't I remember to do that? ::)
John
Another article about this site, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7361701.stm, a few cases are mentioned, including:
In 1835 John Alberson was indicted for breaking into the Lambeth home of his former employer, stealing coats, trousers, waistcoats and handkerchief, a pair of gloves and a memorandum book. Found guilty of burglary, he was sentenced to death - at the age of just 13.
In 1853 Richard Pardenton and Joseph Woods were accused of dangerous driving, in operating a railway engine in an "incautious" manner.”
A final comment from the article: “One of the highlights of the website is the ability to search for crimes, criminals and locations mentioned in trails via an interactive map of the capital.
Moderator comment: topics merged
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No secret. Search for name(s) and click on the hyperlinks in the results.
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Hi,
I have managed to get on the site, but not able to see transcripts of trials. Is there a secret? Anybody been able to get to the actual trials so far?
Tom
I tried a few times over the course of yesterday, and eventually got to see them - I think the site is just a victim of its own success at the moment, and although the searches seem to work and throw up results, you can't always view the results...just keep trying!
Prue
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Hi,
I have managed to get on the site, but not able to see transcripts of trials. Is there a secret? Anybody been able to get to the actual trials so far?
Tom
Tom, I just got on- had to be a bit imaginative with surname spelling but it is the convict I sought. He pinched 4 waistcoats in London in 1787- transportation and 7 yrs.
I got the transcript of the trial by clicking on the hyperlink when his name came up in the search results. There is also an image that is a hyperlink that if clicked on takes you to the actual facsimile of the trial's record.
And thanks Su, for drawing this to our attention.
charlotte