Prison Record of James Fitzpatrick?

[Torwoodlee]

Hello,

  I was wondering if there was a way to obtain a prison record for an individual.  James Fitzpatrick was born in 1852 in Prescot.  He married Margaret Black in 1873 in Prescot.  He murdered his wife and was found guilty of this one month after the census was taken. 
  In the 1881 census, prior to his conviction, he had five children, James, Margaret, Mary Elizabeth, Jane and Peter. We know what happened to a few of the children; they were all adopted out.  Peter went to live with his maternal grandmother and eventually became Peter Black.  Margaret was sent to a Catholic children's home in Wales; she eventually returned and married a William Brennan in Prescot in 1901.  Unfortunately, I don't know what happened to the other three children. 
  The story went national and James was sent to a prison around Gillingham in Kent.  He was given a life sentence of 15 years; he was in the 1891 census, still in prison in Gillingham.  I don't know when he was released or what had happened to him after he was released. 
 

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Borderslass

[Bryn Celyn]

The conviction was for manslaughter and not murder which is why he was not hung.

In the 1891 Census he was on a prison ship at Gillingham.

I think you might need to look at the National Archives: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-place/prisons.htm

[stanmapstone]

You can see a plan of the convict prison at http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii34/batgirlphotos/KHF2/DSCF8351Large.jpg

Stan

[susan hemmings]

There is this from 2012

another member searching for children of James and Margaret

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=595914.0

Susan

[stanmapstone]

You can see the part of the prison on the 1885 Town plan at http://www.old-maps.co.uk/maps.html?coords=576682,169638  it was  closed in 1893. and was demolished in 1897.

Stan

[Torwoodlee]

Hello and thank you for your help.
I'm confused, previously Bryn said it was a prison ship and then Stan says that it was demolished.  Were the ships an overflow from the actual prison?

[Torwoodlee]

I have gone onto the National Archives as well.  When I key in Gillingham, only a link from 1901 to 1909 comes up for burials.  Is it possible to find prison records online or do you have to contact the National Archives directly?

[stanmapstone]

Hello and thank you for your help.
I'm confused, previously Bryn said it was a prison ship and then Stan says that it was demolished.  Were the ships an overflow from the actual prison?

It was not a Prison Ship, it was the prison shown on the map. The prison was demolished in 1897, six years after the 1891 census entry. He would have been transferred to another prison. Prison ships (hulks) were abolished in 1857. I don't know why Bryn said it was a prison ship.

Stan

[stanmapstone]

If you look at the first page of the Enumeration Book you will see that it is HM Convict Prison Chatham Kent, it is in the Civil Parish of Gillingham, which is why it has been corrected.
Stan