Samuel Williamson - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 617 |
| Age: | 13 |
| Whence received: | Stafford Gaol |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | - |
| Hair colour: | - |
| Eyes colour: | - |
| Visage: | - |
| Particular marks: | - |
| State of health: | - |
| Able-bodied? | - |
| Date of admission: | 1 August 1878 |
| Late residence: | Bilston |
| Parish he belongs to: | Bilston |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Slater |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | - |
| Offence: | Stealing fowls |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Having been encouraged by the parents |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 1 July 1878; T F Twemlow, Chairman; Staffordshire General Quarter Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison, Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month prison, 3 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | None |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | Samuel Williamson |
| Occupation: | Boiler maker |
| Mother's name: | Harriet Williamson |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Neither - both parents in prison |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Kind, but no doubt induced by them to steal |
| Character of parents | Not honest. Mother charged with the boy. Sober, good health |
| Parents' wages: | See below |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Gardeners of their own garden. Does not earn wages. Ought to pay 2s per week |
| Parents address: | When out of gaol: Queen's Gardens, Bilston |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Chief Superintendent McCrea, Bilston, Staffordshire./td> |
| Person making this return: | - |
| When and how left reformatory: | 5 Apr 1881 - discharged to his mother and brother two months prior to the expiration of his term |
Notes:
| Additional note in the Admissions Register - The father does not now follow his trade of boiler maker. I believe the mother is worst in teaching her children evil ways. |
| 6 July 1878 There is a report of the crime of the boy and his mother in the County Express; Brierley Hill, Stourbridge, Kidderminster, and Dudley News Saturday 6 July 1878 p.6 cols 3-4: EXTENSIVE FOWL STEALING AT WOMBOURNE. - William Williamson, aged 20, slater; William Dix, aged 55, puddler; Isaac Norman. 30, engine tenter; Samuel Williamson, aged 13, no occupation; and Harriet Williamson, aged 28 [should be 38], no occupation, were indicted for stealing, on the 7th of May, at Wombourne, thirty-eight fowls and two turkeys, the property John Whitehouse, at Wombourne, Mr C. Smith prosecuted; prisoners were undefended. - Emma Matthews called, stated that she was the wife of George Matthews, farm bailiff to Mr John Whitehouse, at the Church Farm, Wombonrne. On the 7th of May she locked up the poultry in the fowl-house safe, and on the following morning they were all gone, and only some feathers left. She was subsequently shown a number of fowls and two turkeys by the police, and identified them as Mr Whitehouse's property. - George Matthews, farm bailiff, said he could swear to the bodies of the fowls shown to him by the police. - James Aston, landlord of the New Inn, Wombourne, proved that the defendants drove up to his door on the night of the of the 7th. of May, and after having some beer drove away in the direction of prosecutor's farm. About four o'clock on the following morning he heard a cart returning along the road. - Thomas Creswell, labourer, at Wombourne, said he saw the male prisoners about four on the morning of the 8th with a pony and trolley (the latter covered with straw) coming from the direction of prosecutor's farm. - Edward Evans, labourer, also stated that he met the prisoners in a cart, about two miles from the prosecutor's farm. He was quite certain of their identity. - Police-constable Lightwood, stationed at Bilston, said he went to the house of Mrs Williamson, mother of the two prisoners, on the 9tb of May. William Williamson was there plucking a number of fowls. Witness asked him where the others were, and prisoner replied that "they were somewhere about the house." - Witness found them in a garret. They were shown to the prosecutor's bailiff, who identified them. In the craw of the fowls was found a quantity of white wheat, with which Mrs Matthews was in the habit of feeding them. When Mrs Williamson was taken into custody she said the fowls were her own and she fed them on Indian corn. No Indian corn was found in the craw of the fowls. - The jury found the prisoners guilty. Dix had been previously convicted of fowl stealing and Norman of felony. - They were sentenced. - Dix to seven years' penal servitude, William Williamson six months, Isaac Norman twelve months, Harriet Williamson six months, Samuel Williamson one month, and afterwards to be sent to a reformatory school. |
| 5 April 1881 Williamson left the school in company with his mother and brother and goes to Broad Lane, Bilston |
| 18 April 1881 Received a letter from him to say that he has so much work to do that at present he is unable to pay the school a visit |
| 26 May 1881 Wrote to Williamson requesting him to return to me the book he bought from Woodward, and I would reimburse him |
| 12 June 1881 Williamson wrote to say that he has not had one single book from Woodward. His address is Broad Lanes, near the Waggon, Bilston |
| 23 June 1881 Writes to say that he is employed by his father |
| 28 June 1881 Williamson calls with his mother and gives a very satisfactory account of himself |
Henry Vickers - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 904 |
| Age: | 11 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Wakefield |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Sallow |
| Hair colour: | Dark brown |
| Eyes colour: | Brown |
| Height: | 4 ft 2½ ins |
| Particular marks: | Long cut left eyebrow; large scar left groin and left thigh; blue dot left forearm |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 4 February 1889 |
| Late residence: | 2 Stockil's Yard, St Sepulchre Gate, Doncaster |
| Parish he belongs to: | Doncaster |
| Customary work and mode of life: | None |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly (and cyphers [numbers] imperfectly) |
| Offence: | Being in a dwelling place for an unlawful purpose |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | - |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 22 January 1889; J Aphron and E Penistone; Doncaster Police Court |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Wakefield |
| Sentence: | 14 days in prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 2 (31 October 1888; 16 November 1888) |
| Length: | 1) 6 strokes; 2) 12 strokes |
| For what: | 1) Stealing boots; 2) stealing a pork pie and sweets |
| Father's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Mother's name: | Martha Vickers |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Father |
| Survivor married again? | No |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Not reported |
| Character of parents | Not reported |
| Parents' wages: | Not known |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | Doncaster Union [workhouse] |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | J B Manning, Governor, H M Prison Wakefield |
| Notes: | |
| 31 October 1888 A previous offence was reported in the York Evening Press Wednesday 31 October 1888 p.3 col.7: THEFT OF BOOTS. - At the Doncaster Borough Police Court, this morning, Richard and Henry Vickers, two young boys, were charged with stealing a pair of boots belonging to Messrs. Tyrer and Son, Baxtergate. The night before the two lads were seen in front of Messrs. Tyrer's shop. One was observed to throw his coat over some boots, and then, taking the coat, tried to carry off the boots. Later on the boots were missed. The same night the lads took a pair of new boots home, and, in answer to the mother, said a lady had given the boots to them. The mother not being satisfied brought the boots to the Guildhall. On the way one of the lads run away. The lads now pleaded guilty. Henry was ordered to receive six strokes with the birch rod. As to Richard, the mother was bound over to bring her son up for judgment when called upon. The Bench spoke of the temptation to people by hanging goods at shop doors. | |
| 1 November 1888 Another previous offence was reported in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph Thursday 1 November 1888 p.7 col.3: THEFT BY BOYS AT DONCASTER. - Yesterday at the Doncaster Borough Court, Richard and Henry Vickers, boys living in Stockil's Yard, were charged with stealing a pair of boots, the property of Messrs. Tyler and Son, Baxter gate. The boys loitered about the shop door and took a pair of boots which were hanging outside. They were met by their mother, who found the boots in the possession of Richard. The other boy said a lady had given them the boots. The mother informed the police. Defendant Richard was discharged, and Henry was ordered receive six strokes with a birch rod. | |
| 17 November 1888 Two more previous offences were reported in the York Herald Saturday 17 November 1888 p.6 col.5: DONCASTER BOROUGH POLICE-COURT. - Yesterday Henry Vickers and Daniel Fell, two young boys, were charged with stealing sweets, value 6d., from the shop of Mr. Horsfall, Hallgate. The day before Fell went to Mr. Horsefall's, and asked Mrs. Horsefall for a bun. She refused, and Fell becoming impertinent, she boxed his ears and pushed him out of the shop. After he had gone Mrs. Horsfall found that a quantity of sweets had been taken. The lads now each blamed the other. Before deciding this case the Bench determined to hear a second charge. In this case, evidence was given that on the Monday night before, the defendants went to the shop of Mr. Hickson, in Scot-lane, and lifting up the window sash, took out of the window bottom a pork pie. Defendants, who had been convicted before, were ordered to receive six strokes of the birch-rod in each case. | |
| 7 January 1889 Vickers was involved in an offence that was reported in the Sheffield Evening Telegraph Monday 7 January 1889 p.3 col.2: EXTENSIVE TILL ROBBERIES AT DONCASTER. - To-day at the Doncaster Borough Court Margaret Fell, 8, and Daniel Fell, 10, were charged with stealing money from a till. The facts were somewhat extraordinary. - It appeared that on Tuesday morning the female went to a shop in Hallgate and took from 30s. to 40s. from a bowl. Daniel Fell and Henry Vickers, a boy 11 years of age, were with her, and after giving them some of the money they bought two knives and three purses, and then proceeded by train to Lincoln. At Lincoln they rode about on the tramway, and the driver noticing that they had a lot of money, gave information to a policeman. The prisoners ran away, but Vickers remained and went with the officer to the Railway Station, where they met the prisoners, who had got tickets for Doncaster. On getting to Doncaster the three children were met at the station and taken to the police office. Vickers said that since then Fell's father came to him with a hatchet in his hand and threatened what he would do at him if he said anything. - Superintendent Gregory said that a great many till robberies had been committed by the female. Twelve months ago she was charged with robbing a till and was let off. Last week she stole a number of articles from a shop; she had robbed another till twice, getting 11s. and 12s; and she got 4s. from a tea shop in the same street. She had acknowledged to him that she had got lots of money. Asked if she had admitted giving her parents anything, Mr. Gregory said no, but the boy had gone home with a new pair of boots once, and they ought to have got to know where the money came from. - The father persisted in interrupting the witnesses, and was removed from the court. - Both prisoners pleaded guilty to the charge. Margaret was discharged with a caution on promising to be a better girl in future, and Daniel Fell, who had been before the Bench previously, was ordered to receive six strokes with a birch rod. The father was censured for threatening the boy Vickers and cautioned. | |
| 26 January 1889 The crime that sent him to Saltley was briefly reported in the York Herald Saturday 26 January 1889 p.11 col.1: DONCASTER. - MORE TILL ROBBING BY JUVENILES. - On Tuesday, at Doncaster, Henry Vickers (10), Daniel Fell (10), and Thomas Lamb (12), all old offenders, though young, were charged with being on the premises of Mrs. Hebb, St. James-street, Doncaster, for an unlawful purpose. The magistrates ordered the lads to be imprisoned for 14 days, and then to go to a reformatory for 5 years. | |
| 31 May 1892 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Vickers was licensed to go out and work for Mr Ward, Yardley Road, Birmingham | |
| 23 May 1893 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Vickers was licensed to go out and work for the Midland Railway Company, Doncaster | |
| 3 February 1894 Sentence expired whilst on licence, discharged from Saltley | |
| 9 June 1896 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Vickers, Barlby, Selby, Yorkshire | |
| 13 October 1896 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Vickers, Barlby, Yorkshire | |
| 8 December 1896 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Vickers, Selby, Yorkshire | |
| 9 February 1897 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Vickers, Selby, Yorkshire. (Doing well and saving money) | |
| 14 December 1897 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Vickers, farm labourer, Gateforth, Yorkshire. (Employer dead. Now working for the son, Thinking of changing his place) | |
Joseph Hunt - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1160 |
| Age: | 14 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Birmingham |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Pale |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Brown |
| Height: | 4 ft 7 ins |
| Particular marks: | Tattoo mark back left forearm |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 21 July 1897 |
| Late residence: | 10 court 2 house Vaughton Street, (written over 1 court 5 house Cheapside), Birmingham |
| 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 9 fowls' eggs |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | - |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 8 July 1897; T M Colmore, Stipendiary; Victoria Courts, Birmingham |
| Where imprisoned: | Winson Green [Prison], Birmingham |
| Sentence: | 14 days hard labour in prison, 3 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1 (March 1896) |
| Length: | 14 days |
| For what: | Stealing cakes |
| Father's name: | Thomas Hunt |
| Occupation: | Brass dresser |
| Mother's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Mother (father cohabits with Hannah Wilson) |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | - |
| Character of parents | Unknown |
| Parents' wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 1 court 5 house Cheapside, Birmingham |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | W Barrow |
| Notes: | |
| 20 July 1900 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley to employment | |
| 13 August 1901 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Hunt, Birmingham | |
| George William Cotterill - Saltley Reformatory Inmate | |
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| No. in Admissions Register: | 493 |
| Age: | 14 |
| Whence received: | Birmingham |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Brown |
| Visage: | - |
| Particular marks: | Mole on neck |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission and term: | 9 April 1873 5 years |
| Late residence: | Farm Street, Birmingham |
| Parish he belongs to: | Birmingham |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Rope maker |
| Whether illegitimate: | - |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing a bottle and other articles |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | - |
| Date of sentence, by who and court: | 21 July 1873, Birmingham Police Court, T C S Kynnersley |
| Where imprisoned: | Birmingham |
| Sentence: | 21 days prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | One |
| Length: | 3 months |
| For what: | Vagrancy |
| Father's name: | George William Cotterill |
| Occupation: | Jeweller |
| Mother's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Mother |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Kind |
| Character of parents | Good |
| Parents' wages: | Not known |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | No sum mentioned |
| Parents address: | - |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
Notes:
| 29 June 1877 Licensed to work |
| 8 June 1881 Visited the school and says he was not doing very well but earning an honest living |
Joseph Massey - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 550 |
| Age: | 12 |
| Whence received: | Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Brown |
| Visage: | Long |
| Particular marks: | - |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission and term: | 16 June 1876 5 years |
| Late residence: | Stallington, Staffordshire |
| Parish he belongs to: | Stone |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Farm work |
| Whether illegitimate: | - |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing money |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Neglect of parents |
| Date of sentence, by who and court: | 16 May 1876, Stone Petty Sessions, W T Locker, St Vincent, and W F Jarvis |
| Where imprisoned: | Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | One |
| Length: | 1 day and whipping |
| For what: | Stealing bread |
| Father's name: | John Massey |
| Occupation: | Garden labourer |
| Mother's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Mother |
| Survivor married again? | No |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Not satisfactory |
| Character of parents | Honest but not steady |
| Parents' wages: | 24s per week when in work |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | 1s 6d per week |
| Parents address: | Stonefields, Stone, Staffordshire |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
| When and how left reformatory | 19 May 1881 - Emigrated to Canada |
Notes:
| 6 May 1876 There is a report of the offence in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 6 May 1876 p.5 col.5: A YOUTHFUL HIGHWAYMAN.- Joseph Massey, of Stone, aged 12 years, was brought up in custody, charged with highway robbery. It appeared that on .Saturday a little girl named Celclough, aged seven years, daughter of parents living at Fulford, was sent by her mother to fetch some articles from a shop In the village. Her mother gave her a purse containing 1s. 1½d. The prisoner met her and accosted her, telling her about a little girl who had been robbed, and then, inquiring if she had any money, he put his hand In her pocket, took out the purse, and returned it to her after having appropriated its contents The prisoner, who was convicted of theft last year, was remanded for a week with a view to his being sent to an industrial school |
| 18 May 1881 Left this morning, New Street Station for Liverpool. |
| 19 May 1881 Embarked this morning for Quebec on board the Sarmatian. Mr Humphreys accompanied him to Liverpool. The Rev. F Williams saw them off after presenting each of the four boys with a nicely bound book. |
| 15 June 1881 Massey's sentence expires this day |
| 23 June 1881 Writes to the tailor (J Blake) to say he landed safely at Quebec |
| 28 June 1881 Massey writes to say that he is employed by a Mr Nelson Pew of Drummondville, Ontario |
| 29 June 1881 Wrote to Massey |
| 27 August 1881 Acknowledged the receipt of my letter |
| 15 December 1881 Received a letter this day dated 21 November.1881 (through tailor). His address is c/o Mr N Pew, Drummondville, Ontario,/Canada |
| 2 March 1882 Received a very interesting letter this evening from Massey |