Spencer CURTIS 1841 Dover jail

[SeaAnemone]

I have discovered my ancestor Spencer CURTIS was in Dover Jail in 1841.

Does anyone know how I access records for his time there, if any exist?

[JJen]

Hi,

Was Spencer from Essex?

April 17th Halstead Petty Session -

Spencer Curtis along with John Harrington were fully committed to the Convict Gaol for stealing 6 bushel of beans from a farm at Alphamstone.

Criminal Register records his sentence as one year. So perhaps not the Spencer you are looking for or equally he re-offended.

JJ

[SeaAnemone]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

No, he was from Sussex.

Would have probably been in there for smuggling!

[JJen]

There is another newspaper article which is of interest 

Trewman's Exeter Flying Post or Plymouth and Cornish Advertiser Thursday, June 18, 1835

A galley and four men in Pevinsey Bay, Sussex were found to have on board 160 tubs of spirits, a quantity of tobacco and other bale goods. The crew, one of whom is the celebrated smuggler Spencer Curtis were taken and lodged in Lewes Gaol. So that could be why he was in Dover prison in 1841

He calls himself a mariner on the 1841 

JJ

[SeaAnemone]

Wow JJ
Thanks for that
A celebrated smuggler, I definitely need to do further research