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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: Dartmoor on Saturday 10 February 18 14:41 GMT (UK)

Title: Wandsworth Prison inmate 1901
Post by: Dartmoor on Saturday 10 February 18 14:41 GMT (UK)

Please can you help find my grandfather? Where can I search for more information on his prison records?

He was George Samuel DAVIES born 22 OCT 1870 Wandsworth, London, England
He was said to be in prision due to breaking "the breach of promise" - calling off an engagement. This seems to be him on the 1901 census:

George Davies 33
abt 1868
Prisoner
Birth Place: Walworth, Surrey, London
His Majestys Prison Wandsworth
Piece: 488 45 23 1

Any help much appreciated, thank you!

Title: Re: Wandsworth Prison inmate 1901
Post by: chempat on Saturday 10 February 18 16:21 GMT (UK)

This emerged from a google search, but is 10 years out-of-date, so try a search for yourself to see what you can find:

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=326157.0

Information here:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/d0cbdc1e-f297-4488-9acf-1da291f28f76

Title: Re: Wandsworth Prison inmate 1901
Post by: Dartmoor on Sunday 11 February 18 22:31 GMT (UK)

Thank you!  I'll look into this...

Title: Re: Wandsworth Prison inmate 1901
Post by: ShaunJ on Monday 12 February 18 12:57 GMT (UK)

As far as I am aware breach of promise was a civil matter, not a criminal offence. You could be sued for damages but you wouldn't go to prison for it.

Title: Re: Wandsworth Prison inmate 1901
Post by: ShaunJ on Monday 12 February 18 14:07 GMT (UK)

Looking at your previous threads I see that George was a barber. I wondered if this was him, reported in the South London Press, 4 September 1908:

Title: Re: Wandsworth Prison inmate 1901
Post by: ShaunJ on Monday 12 February 18 14:14 GMT (UK)

More on the 1908 case from the same paper, 11 September 1908 (page 7)