Saltley Reformatory

Alfred Allen Heeks - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1107
Age:	13
Whence received:	Transferred from Woodbury Hill Reformatory [Shelsley Beauchamp, near Worcester]
Description:
Complexion:	Sallow
Hair colour:	Dark brown
Eyes colour:	Brown
Height:	4 ft 10 ins
Particular marks:	1 vacc. mark left arm; several scars middle back
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	6 November 1895 (received at Woodbury Hill Reformatory 19 October 1893)
Late residence:	Old House Farm, Whittington, Worcester
Parish he belongs to:	Whittington
Customary work and mode of life:	Farm work
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing 4s 6d and a quantity of sweets
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Not stated
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	10 October 1893; James D Holland; Pershore Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Worcester
Sentence:	10 days in prison, 5 years at a reformatory ((initially at Woodbury Hill)
Previous committals:
Number:	1
Length:	-
For what:	Stealing rick pegs and malicious damage
Father's name:	George Heeks
Occupation:	Agricultural labourer
Mother's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	-
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	Doubtful
Parents address:	Old House Farm, Whittington, Worcestershire
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	T A Handley, Superintendent, Woodbury Hill Reformatory

Notes:

14 October 1893 There is a short report of the crime that sent him to Woodbury Hill in the Worcestershire Chronicle Saturday 14 October 1893 p.3 col.1: IMPUDENT THEFTS BY BOYS. - Alfred Allen Heeks, Roland Pritchard, and Arthur Rose, young boys of Pershore, were charged with stealing 4s. 6d. and some sweets from Mr. Workman's shop on October 5. Heeks and a boy named Charles Amphlett were also charged with stealing a packet of needles from Miss Gregory's shop. Heeks who had been before the Magistrates on other charges, was sentenced to 10 days' imprisonment, and five years In a reformatory. The Magistrates deferred judgment for a fortnight in the case of Pritchard and Rose, and discharged Amphlett.

3 August 1898 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Heeks was licensed to go out and work for Pitches, Nunnery Farm, Whittington, Worcestershire

18 October 1898 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley

No. in Admissions Register:	197
Date of admission:	3 December 1860
Whence received:	Stafford Gaol
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	-
Hair colour:	-
Eyes colour:	-
Perfect vision?	Yes
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Sound intellect?	Yes
Use of all limbs?	Yes
Had cow or small pox?	Not apparent
Particular marks:	-
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	Not apparent
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	14
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Dale Street, Wolverhampton
Parish to which he belongs:	St Paul's, Wolverhampton
Customary work and mode of life:	Butcher, but irregular and slept out of doors
Schools attended:	He says Bushbury
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	A little
Writes:	-
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing a coat
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence:	-
Where convicted:	-
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	-
Previous committals and convictions:	-
Father's name:	Charles Broadbent
Occupation:	Coach painter
Residence:	Dale Street, Wolverhampton
Mother's name:	Charlotte Broadbent
Occupation:	Charwoman
Residence:	Dale Street, Wolverhampton
Father's character:	Good
Mother's character:	Good
Parents dead?	No
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Kindly
Character of parents	Good
Parents' wages:	Father 20s a week, mother 1s
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Captain Segram, Wolverhampton
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	Henry Segram, Wolverhampton
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	28 Jun 1862 - Emigrated to Canada

Notes:

7 November 1860 There is a short report of his offence in the Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser Wednesday 7 November 1860 p.6 col.4: JUVENILE DELINQUENTS.-Four incorrigibles, named Matthew Moran, Matthew Neville [boy 195], Michael Darkin [boy 196], and Thomas Broadbent [197] were charged with stealing an overcoat belonging to David Williams. Prosecutor had left the coat in his cart in Exchange Street, from whence it was stolen the by prisoners. They were each committed for one month, Moran to be subsequently detained four years in the reformatory ship Akbar, Liverpool, and the others to be sent for a similar period to the Saltley Reformatory.

11 January 1862 Absconded

21 January 1862 Fetched back from Wolverhampton

21 May 1862 Taken to Liverpool to emigrate to Canada but could not sail until the 28th.

7 September 1863 Called at the school, said he had turned sailor, had worked his passage back

1 October 1864 At home, not employed

January 1866 Said to have left the neighbourhood and gone to London

George Keeling - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	148
Date of admission:	18 August 1858
Whence received:	Stafford County Gaol
By whom brought:	Mr Mountford, Deputy Governor
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Fair
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?	Cow pox
Particular marks:	None
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	14
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Wolverhampton
Parish to which he belongs:	Wolverhampton
Customary work and mode of life:	Wood turning
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	A little
Writes:	A little
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing two brushes
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence:	4 August 1858
Where convicted:	Wolverhampton
Where imprisoned:	Stafford County Gaol
Sentence:	14 days prison, 5 years at Reformatory
Previous committals and convictions:	Stealing clogs (3 calendar months)
Father's name:	George Keeling
Occupation:	Gardener
Residence:	Brick Kiln Street, Wolverhampton
Mother's name:	Elizabeth Keeling
Occupation:	Washerwoman
Residence:	Brick Kiln Street, Wolverhampton
Father's character:	Very little known of them
Mother's character:	ditto
Parents dead?	No
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	He says good, when he worked
Character of parents:	Not known
Parents' wages:	Father earns 17s per week.
Weekly amount parents will pay	Ought to pay 1s, says Magistrates' Clerk
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Chief Constable, Wolverhampton
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	J Collins Ward, Magistrates' Clerk
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	-

Notes:

4 August 1858 There is an interesting report of his life just before his conviction in the Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser Wednesday 4 August 1858 p.6 col.3: THE ADVENTURES OF A WEEK. - A smart little fellow, named George Keeling, who it was stated had been five times before the Magistrates, and played truant four times from the Ragged School, was brought before the Magistrates. Mr J Stainton, the master of the school, who had apprehended Keeling, produced his diary, which contained the following entry: - "This morning (July 26th), during my round through the town, I met with the boy, George Keeling, who has not been home or slept in a bed since he left here on the 20th instant. He says his mother beat him, so he left, and joined two boys named Turton and Roberts, when Turton took a small loaf of bread from a shop in Bell Street. Keeling continued: 'I slept the first night near Sparrow's forge. The next day Turton and me got several jobs, and slept near Sparrow's again. On the third day we lived by begging, and slept as before. Fourth day, Turton, Tranter, and I stole two brushes from a stall in the Market Hall. We sold one to Mrs Steel's lodgers for 2d, the other we gave to a boy for some food, and slept as before. On the 5th day a man gave us a small loaf, and Turton went and fetched (stole) a piece of bacon out of a shop in Horsley fields. He slept in a lodging house in Berry Street. On the 6th day, Turton, Jack, and me went to the Whitmore Reans, and stole some potatoes out of a field. We took about 4 lbs, which we boiled in Drake's lodging house, and we slept in a cart in a yard in Berry Street. On the 7th day I was caught by the schoolmaster too soon before I could do anything.' " Keeling admitted having stolen the brushes referred to in the above statement. MR LEIGH, in remanding the prisoner for a week, for the purpose of ascertaining whether he could be accommodated st Saltley, observed that the facts elicited showed that boys in the prisoner's position were living day to day by theft, and preparing themselves for a life of crime. People objected, he continued, to paying a county rate to support these boys in a proper institution, overlooking the fact that thy were paying for their maintenance in another way.

8 January 1861 The Reformatory Minute Book reported: 744. …A letter from Messers Mowbray and Lowe was read, containing a satisfactory account of the conduct of George Keeling…

1 March 1862 Out on leave to work for Mr Perks, Monmore Green, Wolverhampton

Letter dated same:Dear Sir, I now take my pen in hand. I write these few lines to you hoping to find you in good health as it leaves me quite well, at present, thank God for it. I have got a job at the striking at Mr Perks' forge, Monmore Green, Wolverhampton. Sir, I arrive home quite safe. My father and mother both send their kind love to you and the Mrs. I found it quite difficult to find a place at first (two days). I was taken into the works by a man I know and I soon got a place.

5 March 1861 The Minute Book states: 760. Mr Humphreys to apply to West's [boy 121] and Keeling's [boy 148] fathers to know what arrangement can be made for their future employment, if the Committee should be disposed to discharge them.

2 April 1861 The Minute Book reported: 773 As regards George Keeling, Rev Mr Williams undertook to investigate about his parents at Wolverhampton.

20 May 1862 Heard from, says he is working at brass founding for his brother in law

4 June 1861 The Minute Book stated: 787. On reading Minute 773 Mr Williams reported that Keeling's father is not a proper person to receive the boy on leaving the school.

2 January 1863 In penal serviture at Wakefield [from?] July 1862

22 January 1866 Heard of his enlistment in the 24th Regiment. Letter dated 20 Jan 1866 headed Nursery and Seed Merchant, High Green, Wolverhampton. Sir, I have made enquiries respecting Keeling's lad. It appears he enlisted in the 24th about 3 weeks ago. His daughter [Keeling's father's, presumably] we spoke about is married and is doing well. I remain, sir, respectfully, Richard Lowe.

Edward Strong - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	19
Date of admission:	10 February 1853
Weekly payments:	-
Age:	14
Education:	Indifferent
Previous employment:	Errand boy
Crimes, how often and in what prison:	Birmingham, 3
Training in reformatory:	Farm labour
When left reformatory:	June 1853
Parentage and family:	Father living
Residence:	-
Trade of father:	Smith
With whom the boy is placed:	J. Sturge
Address:	Stoke Reformatory
Trade:	-

Notes:	None

Edward Jones - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	852
Age:	12
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Light brown
Eyes colour:	Light hazel
Height:	4 ft 8½ ins
Particular marks:	Wart back of right hand
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Slender
Date of admission:	23 June 1887
Late residence:	8 Thorley Street, Hanley
Parish he belongs to:	Stoke on Trent
Customary work and mode of life:	None
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Offence:	Stealing wearing apparel
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	24 May 1887; S Cole and James Lowe; Hanley Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	1 month hard labour in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	Nil
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	William Jones
Occupation:	Miner
Mother's name:	Phoebe Jones
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Well treated
Character of parents	Nothing known against them
Parents' wages:	15s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	1s per week
Parents address:	8 Thorley Street, Hanley
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	H Windle, Chief Constable, Hanley
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

16 February 1889 The Medical Officer reported: Nocturnal incontinence

21 July 1890 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Jones was licensed to go out and work for Mr Roberts, John Street, Hanley

22 June 1892 Sentence expired whilst on licence, discharged from Saltley

11 December 1894 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Jones, Hanley