Genealogy Chat

I've just found my first criminal ancestor. My great great grandfather William Garnham who appeared, up to the 1881 census, to be a successful businessman and who disappeared after that. Discovered via the black sheep index that he spent several years locked up in Pentonville Prison. My question is - are the prison records available, either on-line or at a record office somewhere. Would like to know what happened to him. Sue

Hi Sue http://www.blacksheepancestors.com/uk/pentonville (replace * with .) The above is one of the sites I found. I thought it may be useful for you. If you google Pentonville prison records you will find lots of sites to visit Good luck Ann

Sue What's the black sheep index and where would I access it please? I have a couple of 'invisible' relatives and it's something I hadn't really thought of! Denise

Hi Denise The address I was trying to add to my reply for Sue was actually the blacksheep site. I will try again! http://www.blacksheepancestors*com/uk/Pentonville

Hi Denise and Ann, The website address I used for the black sheep index was http://www.lightage.demon(.)co(.)uk/ Someone mentioned this site on GP a couple of weeks ago so I thought I'd try it out to search for some of my more illusive ancestors. I had been trying to establish why my great grandmother, seemingly the daughter of a successfull businessman, ended up living in a pub and working as a barmaid - I now know why! I wasn't aware of the other site so will have a look there. Many thanks Sue

Having done some googling for prison records I came across this which I will certainly be following up and which might be of interest to others with similarly dubious ancestors. 1805-1892 Registers of all persons in England and Wales charged with indictable offences showing the results of the trials, the sentences in case of conviction, and dates of execution of persons sentence to death; some of the registers contain personal information respecting the prisoners. Held at: The National Archives, Kew Hope this helps Sue

That looks VERY interesting Sue. Wots the web address plz. :) Ann

Hi Ann, Unfortunately the records themselves are not on-line. I will have to go to Kew to look for them. Fortunately I was planning a visit there in the not too distant future as I wanted to check another rellies records as he was in the Metropolitan Police in c1890. This policeman rellie married the daughter of the one in Pentonville - I wonder if he knew? I got the information on the records from the following site www.nationalarchives(.)gov(.)uk Sue

Wow, that's intriguing Sue. Yes, the mind boggles over that one. Thanks for the archive site...I will have a look. Regards Ann

Some prison records are available from local records offices. My 3x great grandfather was in Gloucester Gaol inthe 1850s. I discovered his name in an index on the Gloucestershire Records Office website and ordered his prison record from them. I didn't know what he had done until the record arrived but it made fascinating reading. He tried to murder his wife (fortunately my poor 3x great grandmother survived) but he was acquitted due to insanity. He was locked up for his own and others' safety and died in the prison. I then managed to get the newspaper reports of the incident and of his trial from the same records office. So you might not have to go to Kew. Sue