Wilkes_ml
10-08-2009, 7:17 PM
Ok, so not only did my ancestor Sarah Ann Smith (nee Batchell) desert her husband and family; her brother Richard Batchell deserted his wife and family, emigrated to the US and bigamously married again, but also brother George Batchell was also in trouble with the law.
I suspected he had been up to no good as he was in Portsea prison in 1881. Now with the criminal records available, I thought I would check to see why he went to prison, and was shocked to see that he was sentenced in 1874 to 10 years for rape.
He was living at Wingham, Kent with his wife Mary Ann in 1871. I'm not sure when he was released from prison, but he returned back to the Wingham area, as his death is registered in December quarter 1884 (Eastry registration district).
His death was probably a relief for his poor wife Mary Ann, as she remarried in 1885.
I am assuming the offence took place in the Wingham area of Kent, would it have been covered by local press, and if so, does anyone have an idea which newspaper it may be in?
I am surprised he only got 10 years in prison, another family member (different branch completely) 40 years earlier was transported just for handling stolen goods!
I suspected he had been up to no good as he was in Portsea prison in 1881. Now with the criminal records available, I thought I would check to see why he went to prison, and was shocked to see that he was sentenced in 1874 to 10 years for rape.
He was living at Wingham, Kent with his wife Mary Ann in 1871. I'm not sure when he was released from prison, but he returned back to the Wingham area, as his death is registered in December quarter 1884 (Eastry registration district).
His death was probably a relief for his poor wife Mary Ann, as she remarried in 1885.
I am assuming the offence took place in the Wingham area of Kent, would it have been covered by local press, and if so, does anyone have an idea which newspaper it may be in?
I am surprised he only got 10 years in prison, another family member (different branch completely) 40 years earlier was transported just for handling stolen goods!