Advice on finding out what the crime was

[rosas84]

Hi All,

I have an ancestor who was sent to a reformatory school between 1881 and 1891. I know this because in 1881 she is at home with her family in Eastbourne and in 1891, aged 19, she is in a reform school in London.

I'd really like to find out what she did to be sent to this school. I've tried to find the school to see if they have any records but it would seem that it was a small school and hardly any information or records survive. Someone mentioned that she would have been tried in a magistrates Court type setting.

What would be the best way of finding out her crime? Would it be in newspapers of the day or in court records? Whats the best way to find these? Any advice on how I can research this then I would be very grateful.

Thanks

Amy

[stanmapstone]

It could be in a newspaper, and 19th century newspapers are online to members of subscribing libraries. Why not give her name and someone may be able to have a look for you.

Stan

[rosas84]

Her name was officially Caroline Sharwood b. 1873 Eastbourne, Sussex but by the 1891 census she was using her fathers surname of Haffenden. Her family stayed in Eastbourne until the early 1900's so assume that she would have been 'tried' if thats the right term in the area of Eastbourne.

She disappeared after the 1891 census - there was another thread trying to find her, but alas no luck! Now I am trying to build up a picture of her before she disappeared.

If any more info is needed please let me know. It would be great if anyone could save me a trip to Eastbourne, but if not then any advice about how to go about tracking down the right records would be appreciated - I'm a record office novice!

Thanks in advance 

Amy

[Jeuel]

I would imagine the school's archives might be at the London Metropolitan Archives.

[mc8]

what is the name and location of the reform school?
some schools prepared the pupils for a trade (such as domestic servant) so she may have gone into service from there

there is a birth which I assume is related to your family-Jun 1899 Sherwood  Caroline Alice M     Eastbourne

Hi All,

I have an ancestor who was sent to a reformatory school between 1881 and 1891. I know this because in 1881 she is at home with her family in Eastbourne and in 1891, aged 19, she is in a reform school in London.

I'd really like to find out what she did to be sent to this school. I've tried to find the school to see if they have any records but it would seem that it was a small school and hardly any information or records survive. Someone mentioned that she would have been tried in a magistrates Court type setting.

What would be the best way of finding out her crime? Would it be in newspapers of the day or in court records? Whats the best way to find these? Any advice on how I can research this then I would be very grateful.

Thanks

Amy

[Valda]

Hi

also see the previous topic on the London and Middlesex board for further information on the reformatory

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,542821.0.html


The only Sussex newspaper in the online C19th British Library newspapers is the Brighton Patriot 1835-1839 and petty sessions would only be reported in a local newspaper.

Eastbourne Library

http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/localandfamilyhistory/default.htm

To request a search of them in local historical newspapers you really need a date, as searching newspapers can be time consuming. Searching the actual petty sessions records may very well be quicker. Link to East Sussex Record Office already given - they will charge to search for you, but not for the information on whether the petty session records survive or not, which you will need to know if you plan a visit.


Regards

Valda

[rosas84]

Hi

Thanks for your advice, I wasn't sure which way to go about finding out the reason why she would be at the school, I agree from your comments that the petty sessions would seem to be the easier option, given that I don't have any dates just a ten year window...and that's a lot of newspapers!

I'll also email the London Metropolitan Archives about the school, and see if there is anything there, I did try a few other places but for some reason (probably inexperience) I hadn't thought about emailing them. The school was called the Hampstead Reformatory School for Girls, it closed in 1891 which was the year Caroline was last found.
 
mc8 - not sure whether she is one of mine. This sibling group used both their surnames at different times. There is a possibility it could be, I haven't found Caroline since the 1891 census (when she was using the surname Haffenden)

Thanks

Amy

[toni*]

correct me if i am wrong but if children didn't go to school weren't they sometimes taken and put in a reform school ?

[Valda]

Hi

As given in the link from the previous topic

'Reformatories were established by the Reformatory Act of 1854. The majority were run by licensed voluntary organisations. Magistrates had the power to send children to industrial schools if they were between the ages of 7 and 14 years and were vagrants or had been found begging, were considered out of the parents’ control, or who had committed a crime, but were still under the age of 12. For older children who had committed more serious criminal offences or were repeat offenders, Reformatory schools were established. In 1933, the government took over the running of the remaining reformatories and changed the name of the institutions to Approved schools. '

The school leaving age was raised in 1893 to 11 from 10.


Regards

Valda