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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Devon => Topic started by: GPS Hella on Tuesday 23 November 10 13:35 GMT (UK)

Title: Military Executions Devonport/Plymouth
Post by: GPS Hella on Tuesday 23 November 10 13:35 GMT (UK)

Hello,

I am looking for a list of executions held at Devonport. The executed persons must have been Naval soldiers as far as I know, most of them were hanged.

Any ideas where I could find such a list?

Thank you,
GPS Hella

Title: Re: Military Executions Devonport/Plymouth
Post by: Priscilla on Tuesday 23 November 10 13:38 GMT (UK)

Suggest you contact:
Plymouth & West Devon Record Office
Unit 3
Clare Place
Plymouth PL4 0JW
Tel: 01752 305940
email: pwdro[at]plymouth.gov.uk

They are a very knowledgeable and helpful team.

Title: Re: Military Executions Devonport/Plymouth
Post by: GPS Hella on Tuesday 23 November 10 16:24 GMT (UK)

Thank you, Priscilla.

I suppose that there is no way around the local archives  :-\ ::) I couldn't find anything online, yet.

Title: Re: Military Executions Devonport/Plymouth
Post by: Priscilla on Tuesday 23 November 10 16:38 GMT (UK)

I think the hangings took place during the French Revolution.

Title: Re: Military Executions Devonport/Plymouth
Post by: GPS Hella on Tuesday 23 November 10 17:16 GMT (UK)

Something like that, I guess. Napoleonic wars I'd say. They were also imprisoned in Princetown, Bodmin, etc. and some of them also executed.

BTW ... I've received a speedy reply from the Plymouth records office, saying that the records should be in Kew. So I called Kew and was told that they should be in Exeter... That's what I am doing now, writing a mail to the Exeter archives. Fingers crossed  :)

Title: Re: Military Executions Devonport/Plymouth
Post by: scrimnet on Tuesday 23 November 10 20:39 GMT (UK)

Do you mean the Spithead/Nore Mutiny??

http://www.nmm.ac.uk/researchers/library/research-guides/the-royal-navy/research-guide-b8-the-spithead-and-nore-mutinies-of-1797

Immortalised by "The Men They Couldn't Hang" in the song "The Colours"

Title: Re: Military Executions Devonport/Plymouth
Post by: GPS Hella on Wednesday 24 November 10 16:16 GMT (UK)

Hello Scrimnet,

no, I don't think it was them, unless they were imprisoned in Devonport.

It is not easy (or is it just me  ??? ) to find anything about the Naval Prison in Devonport. The prison is now known under the name Hangman's cell, as far as I know.

I got a few answers from several archives, so next week I will go to the library of Plymouth and dig around a bit. Meanwhile I also have a few request running for the archives of Kew, where a lot of military records are being kept.

Title: Re: Military Executions Devonport/Plymouth
Post by: terrymo on Wednesday 24 November 10 20:01 GMT (UK)

Hi

Just to let you know that the library in Plymouth is closed for refurbishment until 1st December.  I would hate for you to have a wasted trip.


Mo

Title: Re: Military Executions Devonport/Plymouth
Post by: krissy on Thursday 25 November 10 00:02 GMT (UK)

try this link its doesnt say much but shows a pic of the execution chamber in the dockyard at devonport where they hung french soldiers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5291286.stm
krissy

Title: Re: Military Executions Devonport/Plymouth
Post by: GPS Hella on Thursday 25 November 10 11:30 GMT (UK)

Thank you Krissy,

I didn't know this article, yet.

Greets,
Hella

Title: Re: Military Executions Devonport/Plymouth
Post by: Bilge on Thursday 25 November 10 11:48 GMT (UK)

have you checked here?

http://www.naval-history.net/

Title: Re: Military Executions Devonport/Plymouth
Post by: Bilge on Thursday 25 November 10 11:49 GMT (UK)

have you checked here?

http://www.naval-history.net/

Title: Re: Military Executions Devonport/Plymouth
Post by: GPS Hella on Thursday 25 November 10 18:07 GMT (UK)

Hi Bilge,

no I didn't... but I certainly will now!  ;D

Thank you!
Hella