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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Suffolk => Topic started by: Keziah2 on Sunday 14 June 15 11:14 BST (UK)
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I am hoping someone may be able to help me trace exactly what happened to John Mickleburgh.
Born in Gissing, Nfk, c1810 he was convicted of murder & sentenced to death in 1852 at Bury St Edmunds from where he went to Ipswich Gaol. I have found something to suggest he may have been transferred to Milbank Penitentiary for life sometime after that. It seems that convicts awaiting transportation went through Milbank. Was he transported or was he hanged?
K
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Northampton Mercury March 10, 1888
Tragic End Of A Murderer
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Kenninghall Workhouse, Suffolk,where an inmate was killed about 12 months ago,has again been the scene of a fatal quarrel,the victim in this case being a man named John Mickleburgh,who was himself 35 years ago sentenced to death for the murder of a girl at Thrandeston Fair. Mickleburgh was an inmate of the sick ward,and among the attendants was a pauper named John Revell Burrows. A quarrel took place between them about a week ago,and Mickleburgh,who was severely beaten,died on Thursday week.
The Thrandeston murder,for which he was sentenced to death,happened so long ago that the circumstances are almost forgotten,but they were brought to remembrance a few months back by some proceedings in the Ipswich Bankruptcy Court. At that time it was reported that Mickleburgh was obtaining an honest living,and in deference to the man's own position,as well as to the feelings of the family,no public notice was taken of the old story. It appears that Mickleburgh,after his sentence was reprieved,and released twenty years later on ticket-of-leave.
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Maureen
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Excellent thank you Maureen.
K
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Information from 'Death Recorded' by Pip Wright.
John Mickleburgh was sentenced to death for the murder at Thrandeston of Mary Baker, his servant & mistress. According to the Suffolk Chronicle, March 20, a pleas for clemency was submitted to the Home Secretary. Reprieved as he was described as suffering from a 'diseased intellect'.(SC 10 April)
No year mentioned in the Suffolk Chronicle extracts.The trial report was in the Suffolk Chronicle 27 March 1852, so assume the other dates are the same year.
Hephzibah
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Death Reg Norfolk?
John MICKLEBURGH, March 1888, Guiltcross, 4b 190
Age 82
1881 he appears to be in Shelfanger, Norfolk, Occp Carpenters Wheelwright, born c 1809 Gissing
I did find him 1851 with Family and Mary Baker as Servant.
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The articles (Britidh Newspapers) I'm reading are a little confusing. Was he actually transported?
1861
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7BH-G1
(Dartmoor Convict Prison)
1871
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VFXW-CVQ
1881
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQMJ-YR7
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Hello Maureen, Hephzibah, Trish
Thanks for all the info - yes I had found a John Mickleburgh 61/ag lab in 1871 boarding in Shelfanger & again in 1881 as found by Trish but didnt pick up on the 1861 Dartmoor Prison entry. YOB & POB seem to fit but then I found the newspaper article that said he went to Millbank from where they are normally transported but it looks like he may not have gone. The other factor was that in 1855 the death of a John Mickleburgh is registered in the Newington RD, which could feasibly have inc Millbank & this threw me a bit.
Thanks to Maureen's earlier post I did a bit more delving & have now found a book "Suffolk Murders" one review quotes "One of the outstandingly fascinating cases recorded by the author, Mark Mower, was that of John Mickleburgh in 1851. Indisputably as bonkers as conkers," bearing in mind he tried to get off of the charge by pleading insanity there seems to be a common thread.
His wife seems to have remarried or at least a Frances (Nunn) is living in Thrandeston in 1861 with the Mickleburgh girls. A marriage seems to have taken place in 1858 Edgar Nunn/Frances Dale.
K
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The articles (Britidh Newspapers) I'm reading are a little confusing. Was he actually transported?
1861
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7BH-G1
(Dartmoor Convict Prison)
Can anyone help me with this please I am still unable to open the link & it sounds very interesting.
K
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Hi,
The link was just to the 1861 census. Sorry it doesn't seem to work. Transcrition is:
1861
Dartmoor Convict Prison
Name: J M
Occ:Farmer
Estimated birth year: 1808
Relation: Prisoner (Institutional)
Where born: Gissing, Norfolk
Piece: 1458 Folio:104 Page:5
Maureen
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Thanks again Maureen - When I searched 1861 CR with a name nothing showed but now searching with just the initials JM brings up exactly what you found. Almost certainly the same man.
K
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His prison service was
Ipswich from 4 Aug 1851 - General Character: Good
Millbank from 19th Aug 1852 - Gen Char: Good
Portsmouth 8th Nov 1853 - Gen Char: Very Good
Dartmoor from 6th Sept 1854 - Gen Char: Exemplary. Prison No: 2601
To Millbank for License 9th Mar 1868
Released under License 11th mar 1868
He is described as
Complexion: Dark
Hair: Dark
Eyes: Hazel
Height 5ft 7ins
Description of person: Dull heavy features, Slovenly gait
Marks: Cut inside left hand, Scar on left arm. Small wart on left side of neck. Moles on body and arms.
General character good but addicted to drinking, formerly a private soldier in 16th Reg of Foot for 3 years. Discharged in approx. 1830's Not intelligent.
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Excellent thank you John Turb :) - could you tell me the source please?
K
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The source was the prison records which are available on one of the commercial websites. I don't like to advertise here!
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Thanks again John your help with this info is much appreciated.
K
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Are you just interested in this one Mickleburgh or others. Have you by any chance found out anything about his wife, Frances. In the 1861 census she is shown as:
Frances Nunn, age 50 married to Edgar Nunn (54) a farmer of 32 acres, along with Frances, 17, Milliner and Kate, 15 Dressmaker both the wife's daughters. The ages don't quite fit with the 1851 census but they are close and I am 99% certain they are the same people.
As John lived until he was murdered in 1888, did she get divorced or did she just live with Edgar Nunn and changed her name or something else, I have no idea, do you?
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Frances remarried in 1858 using the surname DALE - a PM is winging its way to you with more info on my search.
K