Perth Prison

[Isabel H]

Amy

Perth was a general prison and housed offenders from all over Scotland. Local newspapers might offer a better chance of finding out why your William Thomson was there. What other information do you have about him? Where was he from?

Isabel

[amycargill]

Hi Isabel,

Unfortunately, I have no access to local papers, much as I would love to get over there to look!

My ancestor's name was William Thomson, born about 1829 in Arbroath, St Vigeans Parish.  I believe him to be the son of William and Elizabeth Thomson who lived at West Gremsby in the 1841 census.  At age 14 he was listed as a flax dresser apprentice. 

In 1861 he is found in the household of Matilda Monro at Rosebank, Rattray, Perthshire, listed as son-in-law.  He is then found in 1871 in the Persh Prison.  His occupation was give as powerloom tenter.  In 1881 he is out again and living at 33 Sydney Street.  In 1891 he is at 39 Sydney Street and his occupation is given as flaxdresser. 

This is pretty much all that I know of him.  He was apparently not actually married to Matilda Menmuir's daughter, Ann, although they had a child, William T. Menmuir who was born in 1860.  Ann married George Cargill in 1868, assumably after William went to prison.

Thanks!
Amy 

[Isabel H]

I'm slightly confused ... are Matilda Monro and Matilda Menmuir the same person, or two different peple?
I looked in the Newspaper index in Perth Library, but did not find this William Thomson. I then started trawling through the "Perthshire Advertiser" working back from the date of the 1871 census through 1870, but still no mention of him. It's a slow job, and I have just realised I should probably have started a couple of years earlier, but don't worry, I found other things of interest to me, so it was time well-spent!
However, the library assistant suggested it would be better to contact NAS who hold the Convict Journals for Perth Prison (Ref. HH21/47/ ).  Give them the details you posted here, as that gives a reasonable time period to check. The earliest records available date from Nov. 1867 -  it's worth a try.

[amycargill]

I'm sorry!  Yes, Matilda Munro and Menmuir are the same depending on the records you look at.  Sometimes she even uses both names. 

Thank you so much for checking but can you tell me...what is the NAS?

Thanks,
Amy
Pennsylvania, US

[Isabel H]

NAS is National Archives of Scotland. www.nas.gov.uk/.

[amycargill]

Thank you. I had no idea!

[amycargill]

Ah, once I got into that site I realized I have been there before.  This is the site that is set up like a fortress that you cannot get through.  I finally did find the catalogue listing for the records I am interested in but it looks like I would need to employ a professional searcher to find that one record.  I have emailed them but have little hope of receiving any assistance. 

Unfortunately I don't have the ability to visit the facility myself.

Amy
Pennsylvania, US

[Jojo52]

Hi everyone,

I have an interest in this record as well... please could you help me gather the same information? I noticed it was a few years ago but any help would be appreciated

I will see if I can make the messages work as well.

Thanks in advance

Jodie

"I also found an ancestor in Perth Prison in the 1851 Census - Alexander Black aged 48 b1803 Liberton, Edinburgh.  Unfortunately I too have been unable to find any information on why he should be there, he died in January 1878 in a Pit Accident in Fife.

Grandma

Hi Grandma

There is an Alexander Black  junior,on NAS online,possibilty it could be your Alexander as sentence date fits with census date.
Fiona

[GrandmaSheila]

With the help of others I found this:
25th September 1850 - High Court, Perth
Alex Black Junior 20 coal hewer of New Forresters Row, Townhill Colliery, Dunfermline Alex Black Senior 47 coal hewer of same address:
Mobbing and Rioting 15 months in Perth Prison