Genealogy Chat

There's always a thread about different crimes commited but not really sure of what they are. How many of you guys have criminals in your tree? How do you find them? I've not come across any yet so maybe I'm just lucky or I'm not looking in the right place. Gypsyjoe

Hi Joe, Ive not come across any in my tree as yet, i did have a link to a prison in london cant remember the name now, it was the one that mary bryan had been in. Remembered, its newgate i think lol

Gypsy I found most of mine in the first instance by looking at the A2A website (access to archives) but there are a number of websites devoted to prison records, criminal cases, executions etc. Have a good Google around while you are waiting for someone to add specific web addresses on here! Olde Crone

I would say you are unlucky I would love to find some real criminals in my Tree, like others on here.Its funny how it would have been embarassing then but very exciting now, how times change !!!!!.

Yes Val my tree is looking boring so far, rather disappointing, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for witches. Gypsyjoe

I did find my Grandfather spent time in prison with Christie, but that was only for taking a large Bet (he was a Bookie) not putting the bet on but spending the money, hardly exciting stuff is it ???

I found a very distant one on my tree by chance. I'd been looking for his death entry for ages and then I saw one for his name but in an area that nobody in his family were from (Medway). I took a chance on it since I couldn't find any other options...and lo and behold, it was him - he died in Gillingham Prison in Kent in 1875. Sometimes it pays to take a gamble with those certs! Once I had that info I was able to trace him at the prison on the 1871 census (hadn't found him before because I'd been searching in London as all his family were in Clerkenwell) Unfortunately, I've not been able to find out what he was in there for :( Just remembered another distant ancestor was transported to Australia for involvement in the Swing Riots of the 1830s!

In 1834 one of my Holden's was murdered by his wife (arsenic poisoning) for which she was hung at Lancaster Castle Snowdrops

I haven't quite found the link to my tree yet but one of my 'maybes' was executed for starting the great fire of Wymondham Norfolk in which 300 properties were destroyed She was hanged from the church tower along with 2 men and another woman. Caroline

Snowdrop I understand the murdering of a Holden perfectly! LOL! She should have got a medal. Olde Crone

The only criminal I have in my tree so far is my GGgrandmother in Australia, who seems to be a bigamist who got away with it. It says on her marriage certificate to her second husband that she was a widow, but her first was still alive. I'm just waiting for his death certificate to come through, but I'm 99% sure I'm right. If I've got the right person, he also married bigamously. There's also a soldier who went AWOL several times during WWI, but I wouldn't really call him a criminal.

I have relatives who seem to have done quite a bit of poaching. Later on the family became richer and one member became a local magistrate. I found the details on the A2A site. I have not fitted him on the tree but a distant relative in Australia sent me details of someone who was transported for stealing a sheep. (thread nudged). I also came across a poor lad who died after falling down a mineshaft while being chased by a farmer for stealing apples. (details from a local history book killed in a coalmine).

Oh dear, apologies to Heather, Merry, Nell and Jess but I just HAVE to repeat this: I have a James Holden, who, along with his cousin Fish Fish, was sent to prison for stealing FISH! OC

Sorry OC but that sounds 2 fishy to me!!!!! Snowdrops

Try this site for prisoners of Aylesbury jail. Found one of my husbands ancestors aged 14 imprisoned for stealing sugar. www.buckscc.gov.uk/bucks_prisoners/index.htm Some even have photos. Great site. Gill

I have one my G Great Grandmother. I couldn't find her in 1861 but did find someone with initilas fitting in Kirkdale gaol someone found her with full name and dates matching on a2a. and I was able to get copies of the bill of costs for the court case. 2 cases of larceny in 1860. They were £7 each about £800 each in todays value. Don't know what she stole but the witness' were a milliner and a bazzar keeper. So wonder if it was a bonney new hat. And who paid the solicitors bill? On the census it says occupation prostitute. My Grandfather was born around his time (no known father) so maybe that is why they said she was a prostitue if she was pregnant with no husband. they were cruel in those days. I was told by family that his father was lost at sea before they could marry but don't know if this was true. But with not being able to find her in 1841/51 I don't know where she was and what she could ahve been doing certainly the family looked to be orphaned with some of the siblings living with other relatives. So was this the way she had to earn a living. Who knows who my G Great Grandfather was maybe some rich man having a bit of a good time. Or perhaps she had some awful time while in prison. If I could find his birth cert. That could help but it looks like it may not have been reg and on his marriage it has fathers name blank. Can't get hold of the prison records either. So now am at a standstill on why she was there. Do you know I really feel sorry for her. Think she must have had a bit of a rough time. Still she then met a widower who took on her and her young son and it looks like they lived happily ever after. The strange thing is her brother was a local vicar and though my Grandmother spoke often of him she never mentioned her grandmother. Whom she must have known as a child. Germaine x

I found my criminal relative when I couldn't find him on the 1851 census. I noticed two of his children were in the workhouse on the 1851 census, so I went along to Norfolk Record Office and looked up the workhouse records and discovered the reason the two boys were in the workhouse was because their father had been transported!!! He was transported to Australia for seven years for larceny (he stole some wool)! To discover criminal ancestors you need to think laterally when they disappear suddenly. It could be that they are in prison, transported, left the country or are in a lunatic asylum! Cheers, Horatia