Rose Ann Webber - Inmate Christchurch Prison

[jcbhydro]

Good Evening All,

Rose Ann Gallaher married Henry Webber in Birkenhead Q1/1878. They had 11 children, 2 of whom died in infancy. The 1st nine kids were born in Birkenhead and the last 2, Nellie(Q2/1900) & Frederick John (Q2/1903) were registered in Southampton.

Rose Ann appears with her husband & family in teh 1881 & 1891 census in Birkenhead, but in 1901 he says he is widowed and is livining in Ichen. However, in the 1911 census Rose Ann reappears as his wife. I believe that Rose Ann was an inmate of Christchurch prison in 1901 and Henry claimed widower status out of embarrassment.

I am anxious to find out why Rose Ann was imprisoned and for how long.

I haven't been able to locate any online Court or prison records for this period and I wonder whether any Roots Chat member could suggest a possible source of such records. Any suggestion would be most gratefully received.

Regards,

John Bennett

[Little Nell]

Hampshire Record Office in Winchester hold the records for Winchester Prison but looking at the catalogue entry, these may not be complete for the period you are interested in.  Since she is listed as a charwoman, you may find a search of the local newspapers brings up a report of the reason for her incarceration.  She cannot have been there long, since she was out in time to have Frederick in 1903.

Nell

[iluleah]

Hi John

I have been looking for 'assizes' and 'calender of prisoners' found lots but not for your lady or the year she was likely to have been charged. There are some links on familytimeline.webs.com under 'Criminals, Convicts & Prisioners' which might be worth searching. If not then TNA is the place to look

Good luck

[jcbhydro]

Thank you Iluleah & Nell for your rapid response to my query.

I realise that Hants Record Office is the obvious place to start but I am unlikely to get there in any time soon.

I had already done a pretty exhaustive search of prisoner calendars etc and just hoped that someone had any alternative ideas.

Regards,

John

[bearkat]

In 1901 Rose Ann WEBBER was an inmate of Winchester Prison which was in the parish of Christ Church not to be confused with the Christchurch, near Bournemouth.