General Chat

Have you looked for james after 1852 ? Betting you have but not found him as yet

Some Asylums only listed inmates by initials

It's fantastic when you find a *cough* 'character' in your tree.

:-D :-D :-D :-D

Officially, that is.
Though personally I think he was just a very unhappy, grumpy, misunderstood lout!
I have often pondered on what became of my g g granddad George's brother, James.
In the same year (1851) George left Buckinghamshire and went to London to become a Metropolitan Policeman, his younger brother James was on trial for trying to derail a train.
The newspaper report tells of James boiling potatoes by the railway line, and shouting out to a group of passing children, that he intended derailing the train and stealing from it - but if they told anyone, he'd throw them in the pond!!

He got 2 years for putting a load of junk on the track. Fortunately the train was going 'flat out' (40mph) and ploughed through the debris.

James was sent to prison in February 1852, and in March was sent to Peckham House Lunatic Asylum. I have so far been unable to find out if he was ever released, or if he died in there.