Parkhurst Prison Records

[Robinmerlot]

Whilst researching my family tree, I found that a relative (who was classed as the black sheep of the family) appears on the 1911 census as being in Parkhurst Prison, Isle of Wight. After much hunting (including; National Archives, Black Sheep Ancestry, Parkhurst Prison, local newspapers, etc.), I have drawn a complete blank in trying to find why he was in prison. Does anyone please have any ideas to help me track this down?

His known details are:-
Name: Elijah Alexander.
D.O.B.: Jun 1882.
Place of Birth: Lambourn Berkshire.
Employment: Agricultural Labourer.

Thanks in advance.


Robin

[aland]

Have you tried the London Gazette or the Times Archive, you might be able to access these through your local library internet pc free, have a look at Old Bailey online too.
Aland

[Robinmerlot]

Have you tried the London Gazette or the Times Archive, you might be able to access these through your local library internet pc free, have a look at Old Bailey online too.
Aland
Aland,

Thanks very much. I'll try them.


Robinmerlot

[Robinmerlot]

Have you tried the London Gazette or the Times Archive, you might be able to access these through your local library internet pc free, have a look at Old Bailey online too.
Aland
aland,

Tried them all, but can't find anything. Thanks very much for the suggestion. Any other ideas please?

Robinmerlot

[georgiep]

Hi
the only birth I could find was for Elijah Alexander
jun qtr 1882 Hungerford Berkshire/Hants/Wilts.
Vol 2c page 268


Georgie

[georgiep]

Woo Hoo
Got him in 1891
listed as Elizah
Newbury St Lambourne
Confusing as head of house is Hughes.
Must look further.
RG12/973/48/32
Something wrong with this cenus.

Georgie

[Browneyes]

Oooh good luck Georgiep. Glad you've had some success. If only the same person who wrote "Elizah" worked for the papers...

[georgiep]

A very good point Browneyes!

Here he is in 1901
Newbury St Lambourn Berks
Elizabeth Alexander 48 wid, field worker on farm
Elijah 19 agr labr
Walter 15 under carter on farm/horses all bn Lambourn.

1891 there was also Sarah 11 and Annie 9mnths, on page 32.
Previous page 31 has Charles Alexander 66 agr labr bn East Grafton Wilts,
big age gap to Elizabeth 41 (perhaps 2nd wife)
son John Alexander 25 both bn Lambourn
Will error to A** for Elijah & include note about Hughes (whoever they are).

I looked for Chas in 1881, son John with him 18 dghtr Sarah 1 yr but the wife is Theodosia, I'm putting this on the backburner as it doesn't find why Elijah was doing "porridge" in 1911 |snore|

Georgie

[georgiep]

Me again
Thro the National Library in Canberra I can read Gale Newspapers site of British papers but they all finish in 1900, boo hoo.
There's about 20 papers & periodicals listed.
I've no idea how to look at 1911 or thereabouts newspapers.
Sorry folks

Georgie

[Procat]

There is the Times Digital Archives which covers 1785 - 1985.

Often can be accessed through libraries.

[aland]

Local newspaper for the I.O.W. is the County Press www.iwcp.co.uk

the shop tab on the right, on the home page will give you contact details, ask if they have archives available to search.

Aland

[Robinmerlot]

To all who have been looking,

Thank you very much for your efforts. I had also found him in the census' of 1891, 1901 and 1911. The family believes he died in Jail, but we can't find a) why he was imprisoned, or b) when/how he died. I've checked, and he was not the subject of capital punishment.

I have checked the Times Digital Archives, but couldn't find anything there.

Georgie P was right about Charles being married more than once, but actually (we think) he was married 3 times (Charlotte 1857, Theodosia 1879, Elizabeth 1884).

I also think you found the right birth record. That's the one we found.

Keep the ideas coming.

Thanks again,


Robinmerlot

[Browneyes]

Convicted for bigamy?

[Robinmerlot]

No. That was his Dad!!!!!!!!

[Browneyes]

Oops...|blush| Sorry....

[georgiep]

Love the replies, you guys make me chuckle!!
I think you had better open a bottle of Merlot Robin....:)

Georgie

[georgiep]

Lo tis me again
I've a couple of links from a friend.
I'll send a pm as not sure of protocol.

Georgie

[Robinmerlot]

Dear all,

Just to let everyone know that today I spent 3 hours at the Berkshire Record Office in Reading going through the Quarterly Petty Sessions records. I found reference to an assault charge against Elijah Alexander (aged 14) in January 1897, for which he was sentenced to 3 weeks hard labour and 3 years in Reformatory School (equivalent of Borstal). Unfortunately, this gets me no closer to finding why he was in Parkhurst in 1911, but the records officer advised me that to be sentenced to Parkhurst probably means that he was brought up in front of the Assizes Courts. The records for these are held at Kew, so that's probably another day out for me.

Thanks and keep trying,


Robinmerlot

[Jane Gee]

I have found the following at the National Archives showing records for Elizah Alexander COR/N/3/45/9 6/11 191 at Berks RO
Is this something that actually relates to 1897 or is it something later?
Hope it helps.
Jane

[Robinmerlot]

Jane,

I'm sorry to show my ignorance (but I'm new to archive hunting), but I've no idea how to follow up on the reference you've given me, or comment on whether it is relating to 1897. It bears no resemblance to any references I saw at the Berkshire Records Office yesterday, but that probably means nothing.

I've tried to put the reference into the National Archive website search facility, but don't seem to be getting anywhere.

Can you give me any more help/advice?

Thanks

Robinmerlot

[Browneyes]

Re Jane's post.

National Archives site
"Search the Archives"
"Access to Archives"
Put 'COR/N/3/45/9' in search box
Scroll down to first item

[Robinmerlot]

Browneyes & Jane Gee,

Thank you very much for your help. I think we're getting somewhere now.

It looks like there are 3 documents of case papers held at the Berkshire Records Office within the 1912 Catalogue of Coroner's Records for the Newbury County Division (sounds ominous), mentioning Elizah Alexander (a common mis-spelling of Elijah) of West Shefford (which is very close to Lambourn).

I will get back in contact with the BRO and try to get to this information.

Getting closer, thanks again.


Robinmerlot

[Robinmerlot]

All,

It turns out that the coroner's report which mentions Elijah Alexander is not about the right Elijah Alexander. Bizarrrely, it refers to the uncle of the Elijah I was looking for (his father's brother). The inquest was because this Elijah Alexander (aged 75) fell into the well in his garden and drowned. So it is very interesting for our family history, but gets us no closer to the reason why his nephew was in Parkhurst at the time.

I'll keep digging.

Robinmerlot

[georgiep]

Hi Robinmerlot
Sorry to read about the old boy.
Thanks for the update.
Shucks...
All the best mate with your search.
Please keep us posted.

Georgie

[Reb10]

Hello Robinmerlot,

I believe you & I are searching for the same convict!! I have just discovered my Elijah Alexander in the 1911 in Parkhurst prison, too!

|jumphappy

Elijah's Mother Elizabeth was a Spackman by birth and she is my 3xGt Aunt.
What is your connection?

I have a friend who is hoping to go to the National Archives soon and she thinks she might be able to find something out about Elijah.

If you pm me your email address, I'll keep in touch and let you know what she finds...

Regards,
Rebecca.|wave|

[Robinmerlot]

We have now discovered that Elijah joined the army on the 24th November 1915, but was discharged without seeing active service on the 8th August 1916 (epilepsy). This tells us that he must have been out of Parkhurst by 1915, and that he couldn't have died in Prison (unless he went in again after his stint in jail).

Still searching.


Kind regards,


ROBINMERLOT

[Robinmerlot]

Dear all,

Thank you for your interest and help.

Thanks to help from Rebecca (REB10) we have discovered 3 unpleasant misdemeanours committed by Elijah on young children. The last of which resulted in him being sentenced to 7 years in Parkhurst. Not a nice man!!!!

We still haven't found out how or when he died but I think we can close this thread now.


Thanks again to all.


Kind regards,



Robinmerlot