Anyone else found criminals?

[Gillg]

When you read the Gaol Records it's frightening to see what severe sentences were given for petty crimes.  Just compare them with today's slaps on the wrist! I can't imagine what kind of Hard Labour my little 9 year old had to carry out, poor chap.

Gillg

[emmsthheight]

Hi Gillg

Thank you for the fascinating site!  As you say, very sad.  At least some things have moved the right way.  A great resource for anyone studying the topuc with a class.

Lucky you, though.  Fancy finding a photo, too.

Best wishes

Emms

[Gaille]

When you read the Gaol Records it's frightening to see what severe sentences were given for petty crimes.  Just compare them with today's slaps on the wrist! I can't imagine what kind of Hard Labour my little 9 year old had to carry out, poor chap.

Gillg

I found a 'twig' on my tree ...........................sentanced for Burglary ................ to DEATH !

[Gillg]

Emms

Apparently the little chap is so appealing that his photo has been used in several books by local historians as well as that particular site.  I hadn't realised that photos were taken of criminals as early as 1876.

Gaille

I've been studying Gaol Registers lately, and have found several examples of extreme sentences being commuted, for example someone who was condemned to death had the sentence commuted to transportation for life.  Another person had his sentence to transportation for 7 years commuted to be served on the prison hulks.  So maybe your twig was spared the gallows.

Gillg

[SooCatt]

I have a 14 year old ancestor who was sentenced to 1 month's hard labour for stealing a pint of sherry from his employer.  A 48 year old man who was with him at the time had his sentence commuted from hard labour to merely 'being detained' because of health reasons - seemed a bit unfair to me.

Mind you young Thomas never got into any trouble again.

 

[uk2003]

My Gt,Gt Gf died in prison charged with larceny in 1886 I have the full coroners report about his death, it's really sad to read.

[bernardf]

grandfather served 3 years in trenches, Paschendale etc., and tried to commit suicide some years after - this was apparently a crime and he was cautioned by the Lancs Cief Constable for it.  he tried again some years later and was successful (Newspaper report that he'd never been the same since he came back from France.).  The past really is another country - so glad I don't live there.

[A and E]

My Grandfather William, George, Henry Wright married at the age of 18 and went to France in World War 11. He returned in 1918 after suffering Shell Shock and  lived with his wife who was several years older than himself. He went up to Middlesbrough to find work and after two months married another woman. As a result she was pregnant when his legal wife went searching for him. William was arrested and sent for trail at York Assizes and sentenced to 9 months for bigamy. The headlines in the press read , Remarkable Case at York Assizes. Youth had two wives at 20.
Sorry to say I cannot find which prison he was sent to or what became of him after discharge. The baby, my Mother was put up for adoption and she died in 1975 never knowing her Birth name or reason`s for being adopted.
I have found the legal wifes Grandchildren from her second marriage but no one has ever heared about the bigamist.