Convict in 1901. What had he done?

[Claire March]

I have just found out my gggf was a convict at Portland Convict Establishment in 1901.

He was born and lived in Plymouth all his life so presumably, he would have commited his crime and been tried in the area

His name is William TRACE b1861. He was free in 1898 (I assume) as that was when his youngest child was born

How can I find out what his crime was and also his punishment? Are there court records or something similar?

Hope SKS can help

Claire

[Karen Newman]

Not sure about court records.

Have you thought about newspapers? As you have quite a broad timescale (3 years is a lot of papers!), this may not be practical. Ifwhat he did was newsworthy, then it may well have been in the local paper.

Wen I wanteto find out about a murder and subsequen hanging, the Devon Local Studies Library were really helpful (they are in he same building in Exeter as the old Record Office). They had a card index filing system - they must have read through the papers and indexed it all by hand! They went straight to the murderers name and there he was.

The timescale was a different period from yours but it is worth asking them.

Also the British Newspaper Library in Colindale might be worth a try - they have a websight.

[Claire March]

Hi Karen

Thanks for that. I will give them a try. Will let you know how I get on

Claire

[Peter Goodey]

"He was born and lived in Plymouth all his life so presumably, he would have commited his crime and been tried in the area"

Plymouth and West Devon Record Office looks like your first port of call. Try A2A to check what they have.

[Isomer]

Claire

I'd be interested in finding out where prison information can be found too. My g-g-grandfather Edward Argyle and his brother Samuel were both in Portsea prison, Hampshire in 1871. They were both from Birmingham, so I think prisoners could be sent anywhere in the country as is the case now.
Samuel was evidently a very bad man, as he was in Portland in 1881, and then Dartmoor in 1891.

Hope you find something useful.

Jason

[Lindad]

The records can be found at TNA at Kew... and they make fascinating reading!

[plymouthianuk]

Hi Claire,

I am afraid I can't help with your request for information about the crime etc. but I am interested in the name William Trace.

My name is Tracey and I come from Plymouth. Having traced my family back in time I have a number of TRACE people as relatives, it seems that in many cases a Y was 'added' in about 1850. As yet I don't have a connection with your William but if you would like to persue a possible connection further then perhaps you would like to contact me off-list

Paul