Elizabeth Agnes Morrey

[lynemm]

Elizabeth Agnes Morrey gave birth to Eliza Jane Morrey in Knutsford Prison in January 1894.

I am trying to find out why Elizabeth Agnes Morrey was in prison. It could have just been because she was pregant and unmarried or it could have been something more serious.

I hope that any information I find will give me more details of her age etc. so that I can pinpoint her in earlier census.

She did get married in 1900 to John Millington. The marriage certificate states her age as 29, he is 26. I am thinking that she lied about her age to shorten the gap! Her father's name on the marriage certificate is John Morrey (deceased). His father is William Millington, Blacksmith. The marriage took place in the Parish of Audlem, County of Chester.

Does anyone know of any records for Knutsford Prison during the late 1890's? Chester Records Office did do a search on her for me but they only came up with the baptism of Eliza Jane, nothing on Elizabeth Agnes. I am hoping that perhaps someone has a copy of records from the prison for their own research and my Elizabeth Agnes is on there too.

I know what happened to her after 1894 - she had 2-3 more children in the Whitchurch Workhouse.
My main aim now is to find out where she was before 1894.

Thank you
Lynne

[ET in the USA]

Nothing specific, but I found this very interesting. Maybe, being pregnant, she broke the rules to eat better ! It probably didn't take much if you were poor and pregnant.

"Food was adequate in quantity but monotonous, a pint of cocoa and six ounces of bread for breakfast; a pint of soup, six ounces of potatoes and three ounces of meat for dinner, and six ounces of bread and a pint of gruel for supper. Not a healthy diet for long term prisoners. Imagine what the workhouse diet must have been for some inmates there to deliberately break the rules in order to be sent to prison for seven days for its better food!"

Above quoted from website below

http://www.virtual-knutsford.co.uk/frameset.php?main=/joans_jottings/jottings_prison.htm

[Mutley]

The national Archives has a reference to Knutsford Prison.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=5065268&CATLN=6&accessmethod=5

Scope and content
PRISONS AND PRISONERS - (4) Other: Knutsford Prison. Outbreak of smallpox. Disposal of prisoners infected or suspected to be infected
Covering dates 1888-1894
Availability Open Document, Normal Closure before FOI Act: 30 years

Is Morrey her previous married name or maiden name? You said she went on to have more children registered under the name Morrey before marrying John Millington. Were they all illegitimate?

[lynemm]

As far as I know, Morrey is her maiden name - none of the birth certificates have a father's name on them.

[Mutley]

Sorry, I have tried all sorts. There are several Elizabeth or Agnes that are servants but I would not know if these were her. I tried various spellings and even just initials but nothing definite.
Although the records are seemingly held at Cheshire I think you may have difficulty as this article says:
http://archive.thisischeshire.co.uk/2006/2/1/264661.html