Henry Sperring in Portland Prison

[spring1]

I've discovered that Henry was in Portland at the time of 1881 census, aged 21. He married in 1885, so left Portland between those dates. Portland's records are missing, so have spent a lot of hours on visits to Kew going through the licenses after many other avenues, but no luck so far. I can only go to Kew 2 or 3 times a year, has anyone got any other ideas as I still have a lot of bundles to go through!

[Kerrywood]

I've discovered that Henry was in Portland at the time of 1881 census, aged 21. He married in 1885, so left Portland between those dates. Portland's records are missing, so have spent a lot of hours on visits to Kew going through the licenses after many other avenues, but no luck so far. I can only go to Kew 2 or 3 times a year, has anyone got any other ideas as I still have a lot of bundles to go through!

The Criminal Registers for England and Wales (HO 27/184, as digitised by Ancestry) show a Henry SPERRING convicted of "Robbery with violence after former convictions" and sentenced at Taunton Assizes (5 February 1879) to 7 years' imprisonment.

Is this your man? Are you looking for details of the crime, or of his possible early release? If you can say a little more about what you're hoping to find out, maybe someone can suggest another source.

Kerrywood

[spring1]

I found his conviction at Kew a couple of years ago, but I'm trying to find a bit more about him as a person, so I'm hoping that his licence will maybe have a photo and hair colouring etc. Because I can't find out when he was released, so far, I have hundreds of bundles to search through at Kew for the licence. I've been trying to track him down so long that I'm afraid that I've got the wrong Henry. He's a bit slippery in many ways and abandoned my great grandmother in 1909.

[Kerrywood]

I'm trying to find a bit more about him as a person, so I'm hoping that his licence will maybe have a photo and hair colouring etc. Because I can't find out when he was released, so far, I have hundreds of bundles to search through at Kew for the licence. I've been trying to track him down so long that I'm afraid that I've got the wrong Henry. He's a bit slippery in many ways and abandoned my great grandmother in 1909.

The only other TNA source I'm aware of which may include the sort of physical description that you want is MEPO 6, which contains the Habitual Criminal Registers. I don't think searching there would be any easier though. I haven't actually checked to see if the relevant register survives for the location/date that you need, because I guess you may already have tried that source. ;)

It's very bad luck that the licence you're searching for is in the unindexed period for PCOM 3. :(
Sorry I can't help, but others may know more.

Kerrywood

[spring1]

PCOM 3 is my second home! I've tried the Habitual Criminals Register, but he's not there so it was possibly his only offence. Everytime I go to Kew I keep my fingers crossed to find him, so maybe next time I'll be lucky...!

[Hollytree]

Have you the newspaper reports of the case? If you haven't then send me a pm and I can email you the copy that I have managed to find giving the report of Henry's crime

Anne

[spring1]

I can't believe how generous everybody is with their time. I have a cutting which I got from Times online when it was free. If you have another one I'd be very grateful. I'm assuming that it would also be in a Somerset paper and intend visiting British Library or Taunton record offices next year

[Hollytree]

I have a cutting which I got from Times online when it was free. If you have another one I'd be very grateful. I'm assuming that it would also be in a Somerset paper and intend visiting British Library or Taunton record offices next year

Not sure if all libraries have the same service, but I think that if you have a library ticket you can access newspapers online free using your ticket and password. I am (luckily) doing a uni course which gives me access to lots of journals and newspapers online, which is where I found the report. Now I have saved it as a pdf....but not sure what to do to attach it. If some kind individual could enlighten me?

Anne

[spring1]

At long last I've found Henry's prison record, in PCOM 3. I couldn't shout out at Kew, but having looked through well over a hundred boxes I was very happy. I photographed the front page, but have ordered a full copy from Kew, delayed due to Easter, which I shall read very carefully. I did wonder at one time if I maybe had the wrong man, but he had red hair as well as other clinching details so I'm fairly sure it's him. Thanks to everybody for previous advice

[Kerrywood]

That's absolutely brilliant! So glad to hear that your persistence has paid off, well done! :smile5: