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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Durham => Topic started by: Tufty64 on Monday 09 July 12 11:57 BST (UK)

Title: How do I find out if my Gr Great grandfather was in Durham Jail?
Post by: Tufty64 on Monday 09 July 12 11:57 BST (UK)

While searching for my Gr, Gr Grandfather, Thomas Casey on the 1881 census I found his parents and 3 siblings in 25,Spring Garden Lane Bp Wearmouth Sunderland. I also found a Thomas Casey (bricklayer) of about the correct age in Durham Elvet prison. I have since bought his wedding certificate for 1882 and his address is given as 35, Spring Garden Lane Sunderland and occupation Mason. From the spring Gaol delivery of 1880 Thomas Casey was sentenced to 18 cal months. If this is the correct Thomas Casey then he could have done his 18 months and married. I have noticed that bricklayer and mason can be interchangable and the family address at 25 and his marriage address of 35 Spring Garden could be due to renumbering or him renting a few doors from the family. I have tried looking in the Newcastle Courant but could only find an article saying he was going for trial.
What I need is a home address or next of kin from the prison records. A relation has written to Durham Jail but not recieved a reply after about 3 months. How can I prove or disprove wether this is a skeleton in my closet.
Any help would be gretly appreciated.
Thanks, Mark

Title: Re: How do I find out if my Gr Great grandfather was in Durham Jail?
Post by: stanmapstone on Monday 09 July 12 12:13 BST (UK)

You would be better contacting Durham County Record Office, not the prison, as they are unlikely to have records from then.
For example http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=032-q_1&cid=2-5&kw=durham%20prison#2-5
Stan

Title: Re: How do I find out if my Gr Great grandfather was in Durham Jail?
Post by: Tufty64 on Monday 09 July 12 12:39 BST (UK)

Thanks for the quick response Stan. I have sent of an email query to them and they say they will respond within ten days.

Mark

Title: Re: How do I find out if my Gr Great grandfather was in Durham Jail?
Post by: lewis1c on Thursday 19 July 12 12:42 BST (UK)

If the full sentence was served this would take him up to 14 October 1881.

My family lived in the area of Spring Garden Lane at the time and they seem to have a different address on every document I've looked at so families did move around a lot in that area, with guest houses and rooms rented out from houses.

There's a few Thomas Caseys in Sunderland at the time, so with a check on the census forms for all of them you should be able to eliminate the some of them, though this is only circumstancial evidence.