Genealogy Chat

Nell, Thanks for your reply, I didn't think it would be easy. My problem is this: Thomas Doe b. approx 1849 London - marriage cert in 1868 states father as John (deceased) - but the only birth certs I've found are 1847 & 1849 both Poplar both to the same parents, Thomas Doe & Mary Stevens, assume first boy died in infancy. Have also found Thomas Doe jnr with wife & children on later census, also with parents Thomas & Jane!!!! One of the reasons I can think that Thomas jnr put father as John(deceased) on marriage cert was that maybe Thomas snr was in prison & son embarrassed! Only other reasons I can think of is that Thomas snr went away to war & was presumed dead (although this doesn't explain change of name) OR that father & son had fallen out, which I can't see how I'm going to find THAT out!! Any other suggestions gratefully received, have just tried finding them on 1861 look up on records board but nothing conclusive. Di

Di If you don't know where or when, unless he was a notorious murderer you are going to find it tough. I found some of my relatives in Gloucester gaol - the gaol register index is online at the record office website. They sent me photocopies of the entries for a few £ - it gives the date they were imprisoned, detailed description of their physical appearance, behaviour, crime and the outcome of the trial. Kew has lots of records of assizes, but its a bit of a complicated job to find stuff UNLESS YOU HAVE A DATE! Do you have any idea when/where - is this relative on a census anywhere for example? nell

Hi, Does anyone know how you go about researching prison records? I am not even sure he was in prison or where if he was, so its a long shot I know. Thanks for any info Di