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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: KPM on Friday 16 May 25 17:50 BST (UK)

Title: Prison records
Post by: KPM on Friday 16 May 25 17:50 BST (UK)

Hi

I have found one of my relatives was regularly incarcerated in Wandworth prison in the 1850s & 60s.  On each record I've found his description reads "D on shoulder" or "D on left side".  I initially thought this may have been a tattoo, but I've found other prisoners with a similar description.  I'm sure I'm reading this correctly but any idea what this means?

Many thanks
KPM

Title: Re: Prison records
Post by: louisa maud on Friday 16 May 25 17:55 BST (UK)

I will be interested in this topic.

LM

Title: Re: Prison records
Post by: KPM on Friday 16 May 25 18:02 BST (UK)

I've actually just popped it into Co-pilot on a whim and this is what it came up with:

In Victorian prison records, the letter D on the left side of a description often indicated some form of distinguishing mark or detail about the prisoner. This could refer to physical characteristics such as scars, tattoos, or deformities, or sometimes even behavioral classifications like being considered dangerous or disorderly.

I think its probably referring to a letter D in a column rather than the actual words "D on left side".

I'd still be interested to see whether anyone else has a different answer.

KPM

Title: Re: Prison records
Post by: Zaphod99 on Friday 16 May 25 19:53 BST (UK)

Could it just be D for Distinguishing Mark?

Zaph

Title: Re: Prison records
Post by: KPM on Friday 16 May 25 20:15 BST (UK)

It could be. Definitely a possibility.

Thank you 😃

KPM