Military Executions Devonport/Plymouth

[GPS Hella]

Hello,

I am looking for a list of executions held at Devonport. The executed persons must have been Naval soldiers as far as I know, most of them were hanged.

Any ideas where I could find such a list?

Thank you,
GPS Hella

[Priscilla]

Suggest you contact:
Plymouth & West Devon Record Office
Unit 3
Clare Place
Plymouth PL4 0JW
Tel: 01752 305940
email: pwdro[at]plymouth.gov.uk

They are a very knowledgeable and helpful team.

[GPS Hella]

Thank you, Priscilla.

I suppose that there is no way around the local archives  I couldn't find anything online, yet.

[Priscilla]

I think the hangings took place during the French Revolution.

[GPS Hella]

Something like that, I guess. Napoleonic wars I'd say. They were also imprisoned in Princetown, Bodmin, etc. and some of them also executed.

BTW ... I've received a speedy reply from the Plymouth records office, saying that the records should be in Kew. So I called Kew and was told that they should be in Exeter... That's what I am doing now, writing a mail to the Exeter archives. Fingers crossed 

[scrimnet]

Do you mean the Spithead/Nore Mutiny??

http://www.nmm.ac.uk/researchers/library/research-guides/the-royal-navy/research-guide-b8-the-spithead-and-nore-mutinies-of-1797

Immortalised by "The Men They Couldn't Hang" in the song "The Colours"

[GPS Hella]

Hello Scrimnet,

no, I don't think it was them, unless they were imprisoned in Devonport.

It is not easy (or is it just me  ) to find anything about the Naval Prison in Devonport. The prison is now known under the name Hangman's cell, as far as I know.

I got a few answers from several archives, so next week I will go to the library of Plymouth and dig around a bit. Meanwhile I also have a few request running for the archives of Kew, where a lot of military records are being kept.

[terrymo]

Hi

Just to let you know that the library in Plymouth is closed for refurbishment until 1st December.  I would hate for you to have a wasted trip.


Mo

[krissy]

try this link its doesnt say much but shows a pic of the execution chamber in the dockyard at devonport where they hung french soldiers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5291286.stm
krissy