Genealogy Chat

So I found out today that an ancestor of mine was in prison during the 1881 census. Previously I have found his children scattered around and wondered why. So, where can I find more information about why he would have been in prison? He was incarcerated at 'Her Majestys Convict Prison' Portland, Dorset. For the record he was born in London, and the rest of the family was living in London in 1881.

Have you tried putting ''prison'' in the thread-search? I'm pretty sure this topic has been raised a number of times and that there's quite a bit of useful info already around. Christine

Yes, this is quite a common question. You need to find the prison register, which should be in the county records office. Once you know when he was admitted you can look for possible newspaper coverage of his crime and/or trial. nell

have you tried googling the name of the prison, it may tell you what sort of prison it was

gavin i just googled porland convict prison dorset and a website came up hope it helps

Try the Black sheep site it has a list of prisons on there and you can search by name for the respective prision. Web sit is http://www.blacksheepancestors.com/uk/portland_page.shtml Gwen

Thanks for the advice. I'll be trying all these right now.

Its funny, but I usually google for eveything before anything else, but this time was so excited to find him, I couldn't think of anything. Anyway, the top link on google looks promising (institutions'com) but links on the page are broken. Also blacksheep website doesn't seem overly helpful. Doing a search finds that quite a few members here have ancestors in exactly the same prison. Also, I went to national archives records and it looks like they do have lists of prisoners but only up to 1876 (as far as I can see). But worth a visit to see.

after transportation to Australia was stopped people who commited a relativly serious offence were sentantced to Penal Servitude, which was a type of Hard Labor, Rock Breaking etc, which could not be carried out in the local Gaol, so people were sent from all over the country to serve their sentance at Portland, Dorset or Gillingham, Kent

National Archives in Kew has: HO8 Home Office: Convict Hulks, Convict Prisons and Criminal Lunatic Asylums: Quarterly Returns of Prisoners 1824-1876 Sworn lists of convicts on board the convict hulks (until 1861) and in the convict prisons (from 1848). Criminal lunatic asylums are included from 1862. Give particulars as to their ages, convictions and sentences, health, behaviour, etc. I think 1876 might be a little too early for my ancestor, but worth a try, especially since Kew is a lot closer than Dorset!! ;)

If your ancestor lived in London and if his offence was committed in London then the LMA (London Metropolitan Archives) may have something about his trial - its worth asking. Cheers, Horatia

You might even find his mugshot on the National Archives site. Do have a look.