A criminal in the family!!!

Annieboag2 · Post by **Annieboag2** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 4:55 pm

Hi, we have just discovered an ancestor listed on the 1871 census as a "criminal prisoner". He was out fathering children by 1873, so we presume ( hope

) it was a minor offence. Is there anyway we can find out on line( he was in the "North Prison of Glasgow-Thomas Hughes, aged 27, shoemaker from Ireland)
Or do we have to go to the archives? (I am in Salisbury )
I hope someone can point me in the right direction

Thank you!
Annie

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 5:24 pm

Hi Annie

Is there anyway we can find out on line( he was in the "North Prison of Glasgow-Thomas Hughes, aged 27, shoemaker from Ireland)
Or do we have to go to the archives? (I am in Salisbury )

I may be wrong, but as far as I remember many prison records are held at NAS (Edinburgh) - maybe try a search on their catalogues. There may be some held at Glasgow too, (Mitchell maybe?) not sure. I don't think there is any online source, but things are always changing (mostly for the better!

) so I may be out of date with that one.

Also check out:
http://www.scan.org.uk/knowledgebase/to ... _topic.htm

Best wishes
Lesley

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:31 am

Hello Annie,

If you’re interested in prison life in Glasgow around that time you could try a Google Book search http://www.google.com.au/books?hl=en for “Glasgow Prison”. Select Full View and you’ll find many full version books touching on the subject.

'Pocket Guide Through Glasgow' - Page 31 by John Menzies – (1853) http://www.google.com.au/books?id=miQNA ... 2&as_brr=1 suggests that most of the prisoners then in Glasgow prison were serving 14-60 days and that long term prisoners were sent off to Perth.

This Book looks like it could be very useful.

Alan

Annieboag2 · Post by **Annieboag2** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 10:53 am

Lesley, thank you again for your help-you are the fount of all knowledge .
Thank you also Alan, I shall have a look.
Regards
Annie