John James Johnson - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 471 |
| Age: | |
| Whence received: | Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Visage: | - |
| Particular marks: | Blind of left eye |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission and term: | 11 May 1872 5 years |
| Late residence: | Stafford |
| Parish he belongs to: | Castle Church |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Errand boy |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing a pipe |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Not known |
| Date of sentence, by who and court: | 13 April 1872, Stafford Petty Sessions, W T Locker and E Magee |
| Where imprisoned: | Stafford County Prison |
| Sentence: | 1 month prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | One |
| Length: | 2 months |
| For what: | Stealing money |
| Father’s name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Mother's name: | Ann Johnson |
| Occupation: | Charwoman |
| Parents dead? | Father |
| Survivor married again? | No |
| Parents’ treatment of child: | Good |
| Character of parents | Good |
| Parents’ wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Not able pay |
| Parents address: | Castletown, Stafford |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
Notes:
| 20 April 1872 There is a report of the crime in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 20 April 1872 p.7 col.3: A SAD STORY - A lad named John James Johnson, aged 14 years, pleaded to guilty stealing a meerschaum pipe, of the value of 5s., the property of his mother. Ann Johnson, at the parish of Castle Church The mother made a sad statement with reference to the misconduct of her son, with whom she could do no good, he having misbehaved himself for some time in a disgraceful manner. Among other acts of his were the taking away from home of a watch and unsuccessfully endeavouring to dispose of it, and the appropriation to purposes of his own pleasure of money given to him by his mother to make purchases in town for the household. The Bench passed a sentence of a month's imprisonment, with five years' subsequent confinement in a Reformatory. |
| 1 June [no year] Licensed to work for [sentence unfinished] |
Edward Statham - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 563 |
| Age: | 10 |
| Whence received: | Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Light brown |
| Eyes colour: | Blue |
| Visage: | - |
| Particular marks: | Mole on left shoulder |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission and term: | 6 November 1876 4 years |
| Late residence: | Whittington, Lichfield |
| Parish he belongs to: | Whittington, Lichfield |
| Customary work and mode of life: | None |
| Whether illegitimate: | - |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Killing turkeys, etc |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | - |
| Date of sentence, by who and court: | 26 October 1876, Elford Petty Sessions, R Byatt and J Webb |
| Where imprisoned: | Stafford |
| Sentence: | 10 days prison (hard labour), 4 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | None |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | Daniel Statham |
| Occupation: | - |
| Mother's name: | Mary Statham |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | No |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Kind |
| Character of parents | Father been in prison. Health good |
| Parents' wages: | 16s per week |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | Fisherwick Lane, Whittington, Lichfield |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
Notes:
| 28 October 1876 There is a report of the crime in the Tamworth Herald Saturday 28 October 1876 p.3 col.2: NICE BOYS.-Two boys named Bailey and Statham, were charged with maliciously killing and destroying 13 Turkeys and 6 ducks, belonging to Charles Edward Crisp, of Willingford [error for Whittington], on the 2nd inst.-lt appeared from the evidence of the prosecutor and P C's. Hales and Garratt, that the two boys were seen loitering near the place where the poultry were kept, and on the robbery being discovered were apprehended on suspicion. When taken into custody they admitted killing the fowls, and said they tied some of them together and threw them into a pit.-Sent to prison for ten days, at the expiration of which time Statham to go to a Reformatory School for four, and Bailey for three years. order was male on. |
| 18 July 1887 Fallon [boy 602] reports that Ed Statham is working for a farmer at Whittington near Lichfield. Doing well. |
James William Jones - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 834 |
| Age: | 12 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Pale |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Hazel |
| Height: | 4 ft 2 ins |
| Particular marks: | Blue spot back of left forearm |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Slender |
| Date of admission: | 21 January 1887 |
| Late residence: | 3 court, Worcester Street, Wolverhampton |
| Parish he belongs to: | St John's, Wolverhampton |
| Customary work and mode of life: | None |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing a rule |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Bad company |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 22 December 1886; H C A Neville; Wolverhampton Police Court |
| Where imprisoned: | G M Prison Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month hard labour in prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1 (11 September 1886) |
| Length: | 1 day in prison and whipped |
| For what: | Stealing 4 leather pieces and 2 boxes of [2 illegible words] |
| Father's name: | Thomas Jones |
| Occupation: | Cab driver |
| Mother's name: | Rebecca Jones |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Well treated |
| Character of parents | Good present health, much improved. Both have been ailing |
| Parents' wages: | Father 15s per week as cabman, mother nil. One child at home, one daughter aged 17 in service |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Will be decided by the Justices |
| Parents address: | 3 court Worcester Street, Wolverhampton |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | R D D Hay, Wolverhampton |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Notes: | |
| 2 November 1889 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Jones was licensed to go out and work for Mr Loftus, Moat Street, Willenhall | |
| 10 December 1889 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Jones, Willenhall | |
| 10 June 1890 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Jones, Willenhall | |
| 1 July 1890 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Jones was licensed to go out and work for Mr Simmonds, Wolverhampton | |
| 19 August 1890 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Jones, Wolverhampton | |
| 20 January 1892 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley whilst out on licence | |
George Walter Dransfield - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1090 |
| Age: | 10 (born 28 June 1884) |
| Whence received: | Rotherham Petty Sessions |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Light brown |
| Eyes colour: | Blue |
| Height: | 4 ft 3¼ ins |
| Particular marks: | Scar marks left arm |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 07 March 1895 |
| Late residence: | 15 March Street, Thornhill, Rotherham |
| Parish he belongs to: | Rotherham |
| Customary work and mode of life: | None |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Not at all |
| Writes: | Not at all |
| Offence: | Larceny of waistcoat |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Police report - the lad has evidently got beyond the control of his parents, and has several times been brought to the police offices on charges of larceny |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 14 February 1895; H J Knight and P Rakins; Rotherham Petty Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | Not |
| Sentence: | 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1 (but on 24 December 1894 charged with stealing coke but discharged) |
| Length: | 29 August 1892 fined 10s and costs |
| For what: | Stealing 6½d |
| Father's name: | Harry Dransfield |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Mother's name: | Elizabeth Dransfield |
| Occupation: | Housewife |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Good |
| Character of parents | Good |
| Parents' wages: | Not stated |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 13 March Street, Thornhill, Rotherham |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | T Parker Rhodes, Magistrates' Clerk |
| Notes: | |
| 2 September 1892 A previous offence was reported in the South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough and Swinton Times Friday 2 September 1892 p.6 col.3: A BAD BEGINNING. - David Dransfield, a boy about seven years of :age, who was unable to look over the dock, was in custody charged with stealing from a till the sum of 6d., at Parkgate on the 26th ult. - He admitted the theft. - Laura Burton said she was a domestic servant for Mr. Jacob Gordon. fish dealer, Parkgate. - On Friday her mistress left her in charge of the shop. At about four o'clock in the afternoon a little boy called to her that a thief was in the shop. On going into the shop she missed 6½d. from the till. She subsequently saw the prisoner and asked him for the money, and he said he had not got it. but afterwards pulled it out and handed it to her. - An officer said that he received information of the theft and went after the prisoner. On arresting him he gave a wrong address, and said he had not got the money. - The father of the prisoner was called, and ordered to bring up his son for judgment when called upon. | |
| 26 December 1894 Another previous offence was reported in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph Wednesday 26 December 1894 p.2 col.6: WANTON DESTRUCTION TO PROPERTY AT NORTHFIELDLancs. David Walter Dransfield, aged 10, son of a miner, was summoned for having stolen coke belonging to the Parkgate Iron and .Steel Company (Limited) on December 17th. - Mr. Hickmott, who prosecuted, said although the defendant was so young the company were compelled to take proceedings. They occupied the sidings of the Northfield Iron Works, and the depredations which took place represented a very considerable amount. Not only had people taken the contents of the waggons, but they had actually scraped the grease from the axle-boxes. They had also chopped the bottoms of the waggon in order to get the planks for firewood. The defendant was seen handing coke out of the waggon, and when spoken to he used very bad language. - The lad had been previously in trouble, and his father gave him a bad character. The parent promised to give his son a "good licking." - A fine of 10s. and costs was imposed. | |
| 15 February 1895 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Sheffield Independent Friday 15 February 1895 p.6 col.4: A BAD LAD AT ROTHERHAM. At the Rotherham Borough Police Court, yesterday, before Messrs. H. J. Knight (in the chair), C. B. Clark, R. Jenkins, R. Dyson, S. Hall, and E. W. Hodgkinson, a little boy, aged 10 years, named David Walter Dransfield, of Monk street, Thornhill, was charged with stealing a waistcoat valued at 12s. 6d., the property of Wm. Rickett, clothier, Effingham street, on Feb. 13th. The prisoner pleaded guilty. He had tried to pawn the waistcoat at the shop of Mr. Wm. Whitaker, Effingham street, and was detained by the assistant, who had had his suspicions aroused.. He had been previously convicted for theft, and repeatedly forgiven for misconduct. - The Chairman said the prisoner was a very bad lad. He would be sent to the Workhouse for a fortnight and then to a reformatory school until he was 16 years of age. | |
| 1 February 1900 Discharged from Saltley; enlisted in the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, Bury | |
| 11 February 1902 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Dransfield, Canada | |
| 8 December 1903 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Dransfield, Bishop Auckland | |
Jude Johnson - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 419 |
| Age: | 11 |
| Whence received: | Birmingham Gaol |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Visage: | - |
| Particular marks: | Moles on chin, scar on shoulder |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission and term: | 19 January 1870 5 years |
| Late residence: | Carpenters Arms, Coventry Road, Birmingham |
| Parish he belongs to: | Manchester |
| Customary work and mode of life: | No trade |
| Whether illegitimate: | - |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing a brooch and ring |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Not known |
| Date of sentence, by who and court: | 6 January 1870, Moor Street, J Phillips and C Ratcliff Esqs |
| Where imprisoned: | Borough Prison |
| Sentence: | 14 days prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | None known |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Mother's name: | Sarah Johnson |
| Occupation: | Hawker |
| Parents dead? | Father |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | - |
| Character of parents | - |
| Parents' wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 18 Parsonage, Blackfriars, Manchester (supposed) |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | G Glossop |
| Person making this return: | - |
Notes:
| [no date] Letter from his mother: Kind Sir, please address for me, no. 18 Parsonage, Blackfriars, Manchester. Kind Sir, lately I have got to hear a child of mine, name of Jude Johnson is with you. If it meets with your kind approbation to let me know if he is with you or not. He was taken from me 5 years ago by his sister. I have now heard she lately died in Leeds. Kind Sir, this comes from a heart broken mother. Will you kindly allow my child to write to me. Just let me know the term he is with you, for I shall ever feel grateful to you for this favour of grateful to you for this favour. I remain Yours respectfully, Sarah Johnson. |