Saltley Reformatory

No. in Admissions Register:	137
Date of admission:	19 January 1858
Whence received:	New Bailey Prison, Salford
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Perfect vision?	Yes
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Sound intellect?	Yes
Use of all limbs?	Yes
Had cow or small pox?	Says smallpox but seems doubtful
Particular marks:	Several on right wrist; 3 small moles on right arm
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	Says not
Age last birthday:	13
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	King Street, Water Street, Bolton
Parish to which he belongs:	Darwen, Blackburn, Lancashire
Customary work and mode of life:	Has been a piecer in a factory for about 3 years
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	-
Writes:	-
Cyphers:
General ability:
Offence:	Stealing a coal box containing 7 lbs of bones
Circumstances which may Have led to it:	Evil companions
Date of sentence:	30 December 1857
Where convicted:	Bolton General Quarter Sessions before R B Armstrong, Esq, Recorder
Sentence:	21 days prison, hard labour, 5 years at Saltley
Where imprisoned:	-
Previous committals and convictions:	-
Father's name:	James Berry
Occupation	-
Residence:	-
Mother's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	Dissipated
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	Mother
Survivor married again?	No, but a woman named Mary Ann Jones has lived with him for 7 years
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents:	-
Parents' wages:	13s per week
Weekly amount parents will pay:	-
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	L H Mitchell, Governor, New Bailey Prison, Salford
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:
When and how left the Reformatory:	Emigrated to Sydney, Australia on 12 Jul 1861 aboard the Stornaway

Notes:

2 January 1858 There is a very brief report of his offence in the Bolton Chronicle Saturday 2 January 1858 p.7 col.5: Thomas Chadwick, 10, James Drake, 13, and Joseph Berry, 13, stealing, 1st December, a coal box and 7 pounds of bones, the property of Thomas Marsden. - Each twenty-one days imprisonment, and five years to a Reformatory.

8 March 1860 absconded with Clifford [boy 132]. Returned alone 11 March.

6 June 1860 ditto with boys 112 and 153 [Boyes and Wilson]. Was to have emigrated to Sydney.

8 June 1860 brought back by the Walsall police.

1 November 1860 The Reformatory Minute Book reports: 728. A letter was read from Mr Lloyd, Mayor of Birmingham, offering to send 4 boys within the next 6 months as emigrants to Australia at his cost, exclusive of outfit and enclosing the requisite Emigration Order.

729. Mr Humphreys then recommended the following boys for emigration: West (121), Oswald (124), Berry (137) and Miller (129).

Resolved: that steps be taken to obtain the consent of the parents of the boys for their emigration before deciding on the question.

18 December 1860 The Reformatory Minute Book states: 736. Mr Humphreys reported that he recommended Beaton [boy 147] and Drake [138] for emigration instead of West [boy 121] and Miller [129] and that he had received the assents of Beaton's father and of Oswald's mother [boy 124] and Berry's parents had disappeared and that although Drake's mother disapproved of the proposed emigration, Mr Sidney Turner had, on enquiry into the case, sanctioned the boy being allowed to follow his own choice in the matter.

Resolved: that the above four boys be allowed to emigrate and that the necessary outfit be provided.

10 July 1861 "I acknowledge that I emigrate to Sydney of my own free will and am thankful to the Committee of the School for allowing me the privilege of going. [signed] Joseph Berry"

12 July 1861 sailed from London in the Stornaway for Sydney with boys 138 James Drake], 147 [Hector Beaton], 152 [John Abberley]

16 July 1861 The Minute Book states: 791. On reading Minute 736 and subsequent Minutes down to Minute 780, it was reported that the final selection of boys to complete the number for emigration had fallen upon Pennefather [boy 120] and Abberley [boy 152] and that accordingly, Pennefather, Brittain [boy 111], Lowe [boy 151], and Oswald [boy 124] had gone to Canada, and that Abberley, Drake [boy 138], Beaton [boy 147], and Berry [boy 137] had gone to Sydney since last meeting of the Committee.

26 January 1862 Had a letter from. Working for William Rowe, blacksmith, East Kempsey, McAuley (?) River, Sydney

6 August [1862?] had a letter from his master saying he was drowned while bathing.

John Housby - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	526
Age:	13
Whence received:	Stafford county Prison
Description:
Complexion:	Pale
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Visage:	-
Particular marks:	Scar centre of forehead
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission and term:	14 January 1875 5 years
Late residence:	Stafford
Parish he belongs to:	Stafford
Customary work and mode of life:	Shoemaker
Whether illegitimate:	Not
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing 2 knives
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence, by who and court:	14 December 1874, Stafford Borough Court, J Shallcross and W W Gibson
Where imprisoned:	Stafford County Prison
Sentence:	1 month prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	None
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	John Housby
Occupation:	Shoemaker
Mother's name:	Jane Housby
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Kind
Character of parents	Good
Parents' wages:	From 30s to 40s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	13 Clark Street, Stafford
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

None

James Smith [269] - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	269
Date of admission:	21 December 1863
Whence received:	Stafford
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Hazel
Perfect vision?	Yes
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Sound intellect?	Yes
Use of all limbs?	Yes
Had cow or small pox?	Cowpox
Particular marks:	Cut in corner of left eye and in centre of forehead
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	Not apparent
Subject to fits?	Not
Age last birthday:	13
Illegitimate?	-
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Stafford
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	-
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing door keys
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Loss of parents and having no home
Date of sentence:	21 November 1863
Where convicted:	Stafford Petty Sessions
Who prosecuted:	-
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	1 month, 3 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	Assault (7 days)
Father's name:	Dead
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Mother's name:	Dead
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	-
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	-
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	7 Jun 1866 Emigrated to Canada

Notes:

28 November 1863 There is a report of the theft in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 28 November 1863 p.7 col.4: A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER.-James Smith. a boy twelve years of age, was charged with stealing eight door-keys, the property of Mr. Joseph Jones Heath. It appeared that the prisoner had been employed by the contractor who is carrying out some repairs at Holly Cottage, and that he got Into the house on Sunday afternoon, and stole the keys from the bedroom doors. He pleaded guilty, and Superintendent Oswell stating that he bore a bad character, and had twice previously been charged with felony, the bench committed him to gaol for one month, and ordered that at the expiration of that time he should be confined in a reformatory for three years.

7 June 1866 Emigrated to Canada

October 1867 Unknown

December 1869 Unknown

John York - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	816
Age:	14
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Pale
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Brown
Height:	-
Particular marks:	Pock marked
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Slender
Date of admission:	27 May 1886
Late residence:	14 Short Street, Walsall
Parish he belongs to:	Walsall
Customary work and mode of life:	Iron worker
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Wilful damage
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	14 May 1886; J Newman and John Day; Walsall Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	14 days in prison, 3 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	3
Length:	1) 6 days, 12 strokes; 2) 20 days; 3) 20 days
For what:	1) Felony; 2) throwing stones; 3) throwing stones
Father's name:	John York
Occupation:	-
Mother's name:	Sarah York
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Father
Survivor married again?	No
Parents' treatment of child:	Well treated
Character of parents	Respectable woman in good health
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	Lately buried her husband. Cannot afford to pay anything
Parents address:	14 Short Street, Walsall
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Chief Constable, Walsall
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

15 May 1886 There is a report of the crime in the Walsall Observer, and South Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 15 May 1886 p.5 col.6: ROBBERY FROM THE PERSON AND WILFUL DAMAGE. - Henry Benton, Rollingmill-street; John Andrews, Rollingmill-street, and George Sanders, Brineton-street, lads whose ages ranged from 12 to 15 years, were charged with stealing 2s. 2½d. from a little boy, named Charles Craddock, in Bridgeman-street, on Monday night. - The little fellow said the lads came to him and took the money out of his pocket, and tore his clothes in doing so. He did not know them, and was not talking to them. - Detective Higgins stated that he apprehended prisoners on the night in question, charging them with the offence One of them said Sanders took the money, which they spent sad divided amongst them. Witness took them to the station and locked them up. - Andrews and Benton were then charged, in conjunction with John York, another lad of about the same age, with entering the brickworks of Mr. Henry Boys, Queen-street, and breaking two laths, value 6d, on the 29th ult. - William Marlow stated that he saw the prisoners go into the place and break the laths with an iron bar, but be could not say which of the prisoners had the bar in his hand. - Geo. Wilcox, foreman to Mr. Boys, stated that a great deal of damage had been done by lads getting into the works for the purpose of sleeping there by trampling amongst the bricks. - The charges were all dealt with as one case. - Mr. Newman said, to use a common phrase, prisoners were "fly to any game." They were intelligent lads. and not mere dummies, and he sincerely wished they would devote their talents to legitimate and honest purposes, as by so doing they would make good men. It was difficult to know what to do with them. - Prisoners were each sentenced to 14 days in gaol, and to be afterwards detained in a reformatory for three years.

26 January 1889 The Register of Boys on Licence reports that York was licensed to go out and work for Mr Southam, Walsall

26 May 1889 Sentence expired. Discharged from Saltley whilst out on licence

14 April 1890 The Reformatory Committee Log book report records receipt of a letter from York, Walsall

19 August 1890 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from York, Walsall

10 February 1891 The Log book report records receipt of a letter from York, Walsall

9 June 1891 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from York, Walsall

28 April 1892 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from York, Pontypool, Monmouthshire

9 August 1892 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from York, Pontypool, Monmouthshire

Thomas Rooke - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1073
Age:	11 (born 26 December 1882)
Whence received:	H M Prison Birmingham
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Light brown
Eyes colour:	Brown
Height:	4 ft 1½ ins
Particular marks:	7 vacc. marks left arm
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	7 July 1894
Late residence:	17 court 8 house Park Lane, Aston
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	-
Whether illegitimate:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Offence:	Stealing a tame fowl
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	27 June 1894; R S Yates and R Peyton; Aston Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Birmingham
Sentence:	12 days hard labour in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1
Length:	1 day and 6 strokes
For what:	Stealing a mail cart
Father's name:	James Rooke
Occupation:	Labourer
Mother's name:	Mary Rooke
Occupation:	Housewife
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	Unknown
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	-
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):
Person making this return:	R Peyton

Notes:

28 June 1894 There was a report of the crime in the Warwickshire Herald Thursday 28 June 1894 p.5 col.5: THEFT OF A FOWL. Thomas Rooke (11), and James Rooke (8), school boys, 32 court, 5 house, Park Lane, were charged with stealing from the premise 6, Sutton Street, on the 22nd inst., one live fowl, value 2s., the property of John P. Rothwell, veterinary surgeon. Thomas Rothwell, son of the prosecutor, spoke to finding the prisoners in the fowl house about seven o'clock on the date in question, and one of the fowls dead. Prisoners had a large stick.-Stanley Spencer Reddy, 4, Sutton Street, corroborated, and said he caught the prisoner Thomas Rooke and handed him over to the police.- Police-constable Jas. Painting said the last witness gave the prisoner Thomas Rooke into his custody at Aston Cross about 7 pm., on the 22nd inst. Witness went to the prosecutor's house and found a dead fowl in the yard. In reply to the charge Thomas said James asked him to come in and get an egg. James had been there before. James hit the fowl on the head and killed it. James said, "You hit the fowl as well as me. You hit it four times on the head with the stick, and then I hit it twice." Thomas said, "Yes, I did." On searching Thomas witness found on him a small, dark lantern, two candles, a box of matches, and some cigarettes, Witness asked him what he was going to do with the lantern, and he said he was going to act the policeman. - James said Thomas kept striking the fowl till it was dead, and then he jumped on it. - Questioned as to where he got the dark lantern Thomas said he got it from James, who said he took it from a brewhouse in Sutton Street. [In Birmingham a brewhouse was a small building containing a large bowl over a fireplace, often used for washing] - Thomas was sentenced to 10 days' imprisonment and five years in a reformatory and James was remanded till Friday.

6 July 1899 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley