Thomas Lawrence - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 619 |
| Age: | 13 |
| Whence received: | Stafford Gaol |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Visage: | Long |
| Particular marks: | Slight impediment in speech |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 7 September 1878 |
| Late residence: | West Bromwich |
| Parish he belongs to: | West Bromwich |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Working in forge |
| Whether illegitimate: | - |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing money |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | - |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 26 August 1878; M L Underhill and J Barrow; Tipton Petty Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison, Stafford |
| Sentence: | 14 days prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | None |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Mother's name: | Jane Lawrence |
| Occupation: | Dress maker |
| Parents dead? | Father |
| Survivor married again? | No |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Good |
| Character of parents | Honest, sober. Health not very good |
| Parents' wages: | Very trifling, lives chiefly by means supplied by married children |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 3 Wintle Street, West Bromwich; removed to 11 Waddle Street, Glasgow |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Notes: | 13 July 1883 Licensed to Mr Gough, West Bromwich |
John Taylor - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 87 |
| Date of admission: | 31 March 1856 |
| Weekly payments: | - |
| Age: | 11 |
| Education: | None |
| Previous employment: | Gun finisher |
| Crimes, how often and in what prison: | First offence |
| Training in reformatory: | |
| When left reformatory: | 5 July 1858 |
| Parentage and family: | Mother dead |
| Residence: | Moland Street, Birmingham |
| Trade of father: | Gun finisher |
| With whom the boy is placed: | Mr Oliver |
| Address: | Old Square, Birmingham |
| Trade: | Solicitor |
Notes:
| Brother of William Taylor [88] |
| 3 March 1856 A detailed report of the crime was reported in Aris's Birmingham Gazette Monday 3 March 1856 p.4 col.5: Three youths, named John Taylor (aged 11), William Taylor (14), and Daniel Evans (14), were brought before the Mayor, W Lucy, and F I Welch Eqrs, on a charge of having been concerned in an extensive robbery of pistols from the premises of Mr Daniel Leonard, gun maker, Aston Street. It had appeared that Mr Leonard had missed a large quantity of small arms, and suspicion fell upon the prisoner, who was in his employ as an errand boy. On enquiry it was found that a considerable number of the pistols had been pledged at the establishments of Mr J Lowthine, Steelhouse Lane, and of Mr J Myers, Dale End, by the prisoners and others. The pistols thus pledged numbered forty-eight, and were of the value eight guineas. - Detective Poole disposed that he apprehended the prisoner John Taylor, who inculpated the other prisoners in the robbery. The prisoners pleaded guilty. Mr Leonard said he did not wish to press the charges, considering the extreme youth of the prisoners, but he should wish to see them be admitted into a Reformatory. - The Mayor said he would defer sentence on the prisoners John and William Taylor, in order to get them admitted into a Reformatory if practicable. The prisoner Evans was severely reprimanded by the Mayor, and discharged. |
| 6 October 1856 In the Reformatory Minute Book it is recorded: 317. John Ellis reported that the brother-in-law of John and William Taylor had made an application for them to be allowed yo go with him to New Zealand as ge was emigrating to that Colony with his wife and family. |
| Resolved: that Mr C Ratcliff investigate the statement, and if favourable to arrange for the boys to go with their brother-in-law to New Zealand, but with the understanding that £10 towards the expenses of their outfit be paid by their parents. |
| 5 November 1856 The Minute Book states: 334 on reading Minute 318 Mr Ratcliff reported that William and John Taylor are still in the Institution, their father and friends having failed in giving a sufficient contribution towards sending them abroad. |
| 21 March 1858 The Minute book reports: 493. That the Visitors for the month be authorised to arrange for the emigration of 4 or 5 boys, with a view to making vacancies for Staffordshire cases, and that their attention in the first instance be directed to the two Taylors, Welch [boy 96], and Carlton [boy 91]. |
| 7 April 1858 The Minute book states: 501. Mr Ratcliff reported that application had been made for the sanction of Government for the Emigration to Canada of the two Taylors [this boy and his brother William, boy 88] and Welch [boy 96], whose fathers had consented, and of Carlton [boy 91], with respect to whose parents Mr Carter is making enquiries at Liverpool. |
William Wilkes - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 868 |
| Age: | 15 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Birmingham |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Blue |
| Height: | - |
| Particular marks: | Mole on right breast |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 14 December 1887 |
| Late residence: | Tower Street, Dudley |
| Parish he belongs to: | Dudley |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Iron shearing |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing (and pledging) 2 pairs of boots |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | "Bad company" and a lack of parental control |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 5 December 1887; W E Walker and Joseph Hall; Dudley Police Court |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Birmingham |
| Sentence: | 10 days in prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 4 |
| Length: | 1) 14 days; 2) 14 days; 3) 14 days; 4) 14 days |
| For what: | 1) Obstruction; 2) obstruction; 3) obstruction; 4) receiving stolen goods |
| Father's name: | Isaac Wilkes |
| Occupation: | Boiler maker |
| Mother's name: | Mary Wilkes |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Reported good |
| Character of parents | Nothing reported |
| Parents' wages: | About 30s weekly, when in work |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Not yet assessed |
| Parents address: | 2 court 14 house Tower Street, Dudley |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Superintendent Wilcox, Council House, Birmingham |
| Person making this return: | M Elliott, Clerk to Visiting Committee, H M Prison Birmingham |
| Notes: | |
| 12 March 1887 A previous offence was reported in the Dudley Mercury, Stourbridge, Brierley Hill, and County Express Saturday 12 March 1887 p.5 col.4: YOUTHS' DEPREDATIONS. - George Cooke (17), Bourne Street, and William Wilkes (14), Tower Street, were charged with breaking into a fruit warehouse belonging to Joseph Maisey, and stealing a quantity of oranges and figs. - It was stated that during Sunday night, the prosecutor's warehouse was broken into, and a large quantity of fruit and nuts stolen. - Cooke was further charged with breaking into the same warehouse, on Wednesday night, and stealing about 100 oranges and other fruit. - Cooke bore a bad character, and was committed for trial, and Wilkes was fined 20s. and costs. | |
| 10 December 1887 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Stourbridge, Brierley Hill, and County Express Saturday 10 December 1887 p3 col.6: A GANG OF YOUNG THIEVES. - ...William Wilkes (14), labourer, Tower Street, Ernest Cutler (14), office boy, Abberley Street, and John Green (16), Okeywell Street, were charged with stealing a pair of boots, the property of Henry Menoe High Street. The boots were taken from a rail outside the shop widow. Green pleaded guilty, and stated that they were all implicated. The prisoners, with two other boys named Maliyani (15), and West (10), were further charged with stealing a pair of hoots from the shop door of the executors of the late Isaac Collins. Mr. Berradale (Magistrates' Clerk) slated that the prisoners were a gang of young thieves. - Wilkes was ordered to be detained for 10 days, and then to be sent to a reformatory for five years; Cutler was sentenced to 14 days' hard labour; West 21 days and Maliyani 14 days. - Green was committed to take his trial at Quarter Sessions. | |
| 4 June 1890 Absconded from the School with Cutts [boy 903], Buxton [boy 887], and Cooper [boy 854]. Recaptured 6 June at Stafford | |
| 26 March 1891 Discharged early from Saltley, on account of emigrating to Manitoba, Canada, with Hodgkiss [boy 780] | |
| 11 October 1892 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Wilkes, Manitoba | |
Thomas Tyers - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1124 |
| Age: | 15 (born 1 May 1880) |
| Whence received: | Aston Petty Sessions |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Light |
| Eyes colour: | Pale blue |
| Height: | 4 ft 11¾ ins |
| Particular marks: | Long cut right fore arm |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 28 February 1896 |
| Late residence: | 56 Finch road, Handsworth |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Shoemaking (has been sleeping out for 2 months past and seems to have roamed about) |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly, Standard 3 |
| Writes: | Imperfectly, Standard 3 |
| Offence: | Stealing a rug value 10s |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Of a restless disposition |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 28 February 1896; John Harvey and John Barnsley; Aston Petty Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | Not |
| Sentence: | Detained at Saltley until attains the age of 19 years |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 2 |
| Length: | 1) (June 1895 Leicester); 2) (December 1895, Nottingham) |
| For what: | 1) Stealing 20s; 2) stealing 20s |
| Father's name: | C J Peabody alias James (step-father) |
| Occupation: | Shoemaker |
| Mother's name: | Elizabeth Tyers alias James alias Peabody |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Mother has been good to the boy |
| Character of parents | Step-father is now living in adultery with a woman in Northfield Road, Handsworth, and is not honest. The mother seems respectable and there are 2 other children by the first husband and they are in service |
| Parents' wages: | The mother goes out nursing and earns a few shillings |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 56 Finch Road, Handsworth |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | Joseph Rowlands, Magistrates' Clerk, Aston |
| Notes: | |
| 13 December 1895 A previous offence was reported in the Nottingham Evening Post Friday 13 December 1895 p.4 col.4: REMANDED. - Thomas Tyers, alias Bailey, 15, was charged with embezzling 3s. 6d., 2s., and 1s. 2d., the monies of Wm. Everett, milkseller. of 17, Cobden-street, on the 9th. Prosecutor said he took the lad into his employment a week ago. On the date named he absconded, with various sums of money in his possession. He had received the money from customers. Detective Clarke gave evidence of the arrest, and the magistrates remanded the prisoner for a week, Mr. Lightfoot, C.E.T.S. missionary, undertaking to make inquiries with reference to the prisoner. | |
| 28 February 1896 The crime that sent him to Saltley was briefly reported in the Birmingham Mail Friday 28 February 1896 p.3 col.2: THEFT OF A RUG. - At the Aston Police Court to day before Dr. Harvey and Mr. Barnsley, Thomas Tyers (16) , no fixed residence, was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment and three years in a reformatory for stealing a rug from the shop of Alfred Taylor. Police- constable Titmus arrested the prisoner, who bad been in trouble before. | |
| 28 December 1897 The Medical Officer reported: Boil on thigh | |
| 13 July 1898 The Medical Officer reported: Sprained ankle | |
| 31 July 1898 Absconded. The Reformatory Committee Log Book reports: on Sunday July 31st a boy named Thomas Tyers absconded from the School. He was left alone to do the housework whilst the others were at church. Before leaving he broke open the Tailor's shop door and cupboard and provided to himself to a suit of outfit clothing. | |
| 14 February 1899 The Log Book report records that Tyers was recaptured at Gosport on 10 January 1899 and tried [in Birmingham?] by Mr Colmore on 12th January and sent to prison for 2 calendar months | |
| 11 March 1899 Tyers returned to Saltley from prison | |
| 1 May April 1899 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley | |
| No. in Admissions Register: | 27 |
| Date of admission: | 30 April 1853 |
| Weekly payments: | - |
| Age: | 14 |
| Education: | None |
| Previous employment: | Farm labourer |
| Crimes, how often and in what prison: | Warwick, 2 |
| Training in reformatory: | Shoemaking |
| When left reformatory: | 23 December 1856 |
| Parentage and family: | Father living |
| Residence: | - |
| Trade of father: | Labourer |
| With whom the boy is placed: | - |
| Address: | - |
| Trade: | - |
Notes:
| 5 November 1856 The Reformatory Minute Book records: 338 Mr Ratcliff made an application from Burrows for permission to leave the Institution. |
| Resolved: that Burrows be allowed to leave at Christmas to go to Windsor to his family to get employment |