Edward Ward - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 930 |
| Age: | 13 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Brown |
| Height: | 5 ft 1 ins |
| Particular marks: | Small mole back of neck |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 20 September 1899 |
| Late residence: | Rolleston on Dove, near Burton on Trent |
| Parish he belongs to: | Rolleston |
| Customary work and mode of life: | None |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing a tame rabbit |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | - |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 20 August 1899; Alex Crossman and Sydney Evershed; Burton on Trent |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month in prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1 |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | Stealing fowls at Sudbury, Derbyshire |
| Father's name: | William Ward |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Mother's name: | Fanny Ward |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Mother |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Has no mother and appears to be neglected |
| Character of parents | Father reported as of good character |
| Parents' wages: | £1 per week |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Not assessed |
| Parents address: | Rolleston |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Notes: | |
| 22 August 1889 There is a report of the crime in the Burton Chronicle Thursday 22 August 1889 p.7 col.4: ROBBERY BY A ROLLESTON BOY. - Edward Ward (13), of Rolleston, was charged with stealing a tame rabbit, of the value of 1s, the property of Thomas Wagstaffe, on the 13th inst. - The prisoner, carrying a string bag, was seen to emerge from that portion of the premises of the prosecutor (who also resides at Rolleston) where several rabbits were kept, and later on one of the number was missed. When interviewed at his own home by Sergeant Walker the prisoner, after having denied all knowledge of the affair, admitted that he took the rabbit from its pen. - A previous conviction was recorded against the boy, who, the Bench were informed, had been neglected, and he was now sent to gaol for a month, with a view to afterwards being transferred to a reformatory and there detained for five years. | |
| 9 August 1890 The Medical Officer reported: Sore throat. Convalescent by 17 August | |
| 20 May 1893 Discharged from Saltley by order of the Home Secretary on account of enlisting | |
| 11 December 1894 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Ward, King's Royal Royals, Isle of Wight | |
| 24 April 1896 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Ward, Jullundur, India | |
| 8 December 1896 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Ward, Jullundur, India | |
| 12 October 1897 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Ward, soldier, Mauritius. (Speaks of being shipwrecked (60th Rifles). Regrets leaving this school. Has always been a bit of a grumbler) | |
| 30 May 1900 The Log Book report records receipt of 2 letters from Ward, Field Force, Natal [the Boer War was underway at this time] | |
| 31 July 1900 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Ward, South Africa | |
| 8 October 1901 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Ward, South Africa | |
| 11 February 1902 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Ward, South Africa | |
William Mitchell - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1186 |
| Age: | 14 (born 14 March 1884) |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Lincoln |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh/pale |
| Hair colour: | Light brown |
| Eyes colour: | Brown |
| Height: | 4 ft 7½ ins |
| Particular marks: | Nil |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 21 October 1898 |
| Late residence: | 52 St Leonard's Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire |
| Parish he belongs to: | Stamford |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Errand boy |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Embezzlement of money |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Bad companions |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 15 October 1898; Henry Knott; Stamford Petty Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Leicester |
| Sentence: | 7 days in prison, 3 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | Nil (previously cautioned) |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Mother's name: | Sarah Mitchell |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Father |
| Survivor married again? | No |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Good |
| Character of parents | Very respectable woman, has brought up a large family |
| Parents' wages: | Not known - earns a living by keeping lodgers |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | - |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Notes: | |
| 17 October 1898 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Lincolnshire Echo Monday 17 October 1898 p.3 col.4: A BOY'S EMBEZZLEMENT. - On Saturday, at Stamford Borough Police Court, before Mr. H. Knott and other magistrates. William Mitchell, 14. the son of a widow living in the town, was charged with embezzling 11s. 4d. the moneys of his employers. Messrs. Dolby Bros., printers and booksellers. It was the defendant's duty to take newspapers around to customers in the morning, and he had received payment from several persons which he had not accounted for. He had been twice warned by his employers. - The boy was sent to a reformatory for three years. | |
| 24 July 1901 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Mitchell was licensed to go out and work for Mr Eayrs, St Margaret Street, Stamford | |
| 20 October 1901 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley | |
| 15 July 1902 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Mitchell, Stamford | |
| 9 December 1902 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Mitchell, Stamford | |
| 14 April 1903 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Mitchell, Stamford | |
| 9 February 1903 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Mitchell, Stamford | |
| 14 June 1904 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Mitchell, Stamford, Lincolnshire | |
| No. in Admissions Register: | 535 |
| Age: | 15 |
| Whence received: | Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Visage: | - |
| Particular marks: | - |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission and term: | 19 May 1875 2 years |
| Late residence: | Blynhill, Shifnal, Shropshire |
| Parish he belongs to: | Shrewsbury |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Farm work |
| Whether illegitimate: | - |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Not at all |
| Writes: | Not at all |
| Offence: | Stealing a watch |
| Circumstances which may have led to it | Not controlled at home |
| Date of sentence, by who and court: | 19 April 1875, Cannock Petty Sessions, R H Briscoe and J H Harrison |
| Where imprisoned: | Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month prison (hard labour), 2 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | None |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | Richard Davis |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Mother's name: | Margaret Davis (stepmother) |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Own mother |
| Survivor married again? | Yes |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Bad |
| Character of parents | Honest, sober, and health good [father]; stepmother drunken |
| Parents' wages: | 16s per week |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | 1s per week |
| Parents address: | Shifnal, Shropshire |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
Notes:
| 24 April 1875 There is a report of the crime in the Midland Examiner and Times Saturday 24 April 1875 p6 col.6: STEALING A WATCH.- Richard Davies, 13, was charged with stealing a watch, the property of William Carter, at Blynhill. The prosecutor is a waggoner in the employ of Mr Willcox, of the High Hill, Blynhill, where, for two months previous to the 16th inst., the prisoner was also employed. On the morning of that day the prosecutor's watch was stolen from his bedroom, and about the same time the prisoner absconded, but was afterwards apprehended at Shifnal by Police-constable [surname illegible] , and, on being questioned about the watch, he admitted that he had taken it and sold it to a watchmaker named [surname illegible] of Madeley. in Shropshire. The shop [should be 'watch'] was found at [surname illegible]'s shop. - The prisoner was sent to gaol; for a month, and a stipulation was made by the Bench that he should be afterwards sent to a reformatory for two years. |
| 19 May 1877 Should have returned to parents 10 Bell Passage, Castle Foregate, Shrewsbury [3 Chapel Lane, Frankwell, Shrewsbury crossed out], June 2nd, but as they did not send for him his needs(?), Fullerton, High Street, Shifnal sent for him and he went there today. |
| 28 May 1877 There is a letter attached to the Admissions Register from the father to his son (spelling and wording as given, punctuation added to aid clarity): Shrewsbury, May 28 1877, My dear son, I write to you in hopes to find you in good health as this leves me in at present, thanks be to God for it. My dear son, I have wrote to you before and I coudn't find you, the letters as came back to me. My dear son, we should be very happy to hear frome you and if you are coming home or if your time is up, for we have been expecting you this two or three weeks back. |
| This is to the head of the institution: Dear sir, please to let me know if my son as left the please of not. Please to let me know as soon as possible for I am very uneasy about him. I should be very much obliged to you if you will kindly let me all about him as soon as pobl [possible]. I haven't no more to say at present, but I remain your truly, Father and Frinds, Richard Davis. Please to write to: Mr Richard Davis, 11 Bell Passage, Castle Foregate, Shrewsbury. Write haist [haste?] |
|
8 August 1881 Richard Davis calls. Is in a deplorable state and says he has been out of work 6 weeks. Is tramping the streets |
Joseph Mincher - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 521 |
| Age: | 10 |
| Whence received: | Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Pale |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Visage: | - |
| Particular marks: | - |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission and term: | 17 August 1874 5 years |
| Late residence: | Stafford |
| Parish he belongs to: | Stafford |
| Customary work and mode of life: | None |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing boots |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | - |
| Date of sentence, by who and court: | 18 July 1874, Stafford County Petty Sessions, J Nugent and B Armitage |
| Where imprisoned: | Stafford County Prison |
| Sentence: | 1 month prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | One |
| Length: | 7 days |
| For what: | Stealing a fowl |
| Father’s name: | Joseph Mincher |
| Occupation: | - |
| Mother's name: | Ann Mincher |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | - |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents’ treatment of child: | Good |
| Character of parents | Good |
| Parents’ wages: | 26s per week |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | 1s per week |
| Parents address: | 2 Cope’s Buildings, Back Mills South, Stafford |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
Notes:
none
George Weaver - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 501 |
| Age: | 14 |
| Whence received: | Stafford Gaol |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Brown |
| Visage: | - |
| Particular marks: | - |
| State of health: | - |
| Able-bodied? | - |
| Date of admission and term: | 27 February 1874 5 years |
| Late residence: | Bucknall |
| Parish he belongs to: | Stoke on Trent |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Coal mining |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing a watch and guard |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Bad company |
| Date of sentence, by who and court: | 26 January 1874, Hanley Police Court, J Balguy |
| Where imprisoned: | Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | None |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father’s name: | George Weaver |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Mother's name: | Lucy Weaver |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | - |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents’ treatment of child: | Good |
| Character of parents | Honest, sober, health not good |
| Parents’ wages: | Average 10s per day |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | 1s 6d per week |
| Parents address: | Bucknall, near Hanley |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Notes: | None |