Criminal records

[bagpuss1971]

I have found an entry in the England and Wales Criminal registers 1791-1892 for what may turn out to be my G G Grandmother - is there any way that I can be sure that it is my G G Nan who was a little naughty?

Apart from the crime and the fact she was acquitted,it states her name,Martha Hunt,the date 7 March 1864,and that it was at Staffordshire. If it is my Martha,she would have been 19.The newspapers at my local archives don't go back that far.
Hunt was her maiden name and she didn't get married until 1871,so that makes sense,but I would love to know if this Martha is my Martha!
Any help would be great!

bagpuss 

[MurphysLaw]

Do you have any idea if the family of martha would know about this story.... is there anyone you can ask about Martha to try and build up a picture of her -

I have been asking my nan a lot of stuff about her late husbands family from the 1800s and she has been a real gem and such a minefield of info... without her brain I wouldnt have got too far... so if you can ask anyone who is still alive who might have a rough idea of the story then just atin bit of info can start you off..

I also suggest you try and look at the National Archive in Kew, London. Most records are fully accessible if you visit but some are available online.... i found more stuff relating to a family story just by typing a name into their search box.... i managed to wrap up a whole story using the file they had on this particular thing.

Google National Arcives and you can have a go at seeing what they have...
let me know how you get on- its all so interesting!!

Murf

[bagpuss1971]

Hi Murf,

Thanks for your input.Now,the first idea you suggested is very interesting - you see,this is my maternal side of the family,my Grandad (Marthas Grandson) passed away three years ago,and his wife,my Nan,lives with us......strange thing is that side of the family is never mentioned!
The info that I have got is from my Mom,and she said that Grandad never had much to do with his family,and Nan won't even mention them! It annoys her so much! I have heard stories from people,all basically say that they hadn't got much and that Grandad wanted to make a life for himself...but that is it.

I just wish that I was as serious about discovering my roots then as I am now - Grandad would have been so interested I may have been able to gain so much more information. It has always bugged me why my Nan doesn't talk about them she must know so much,I wish she would let on!!

I never thought of looking at the National Archives,I will get on with that straight away.

Thanks again!

bagpuss 

[weste]

Try william salt library in stafford.  They have a website and you could perhaps contact them and see what they have if you have n't already.

[bagpuss1971]

  Thank you Weste,have taken a look at their web site,and I will be contacting them,there is also  something else that they may be of assistance with!

bagpuss 

[tervlynia]

I do know that Stafford Records Office have the Quarter Sessions books going back to at least the early 1700s as I sometimes go to a group which helps to transcribe them.  You could go onto Stafford Records Office Web-site and see if any of the Quarter Sessions are on there as some of them are searchable but I don't know what is on there at present.

[missysmum]

Hi Bagpuss,
I know this is an old post, but was wondering if you found a result for Martha Hunt?
This Martha Hunt I believe to be my Gt Gt Grandmother, She gave birth to my Gt Grandfather in the county prison in 1870, his name on his birth cert was Peter Hunt, but was later Christened Peter Danks. I think this was because his father also Peter Danks wasn't at the registering of the birth.
If you think there is a connection I have more information. but I need to write three posts on here before I can PM

[bagpuss1971]

  Hi missysmum,I am just about to pm you, it seems we share the same Gt Gt grandparents! It may take a while because my little man wants to go on it too,but I will certainly do it tonight! 

bagpuss 

[missysmum]

Hi,
I will look forward to talking to you.