Monmouth Assizes

[JeanettefromAus]

Hello, I have been going around in circles trying to find where I can find the records of the Monmouth Assizes of my ancestor John Jones. He was tried at Monmouth Lenten Assizes on 29th March 1823 for stealing a sheep. He was found guilty and sentenced to life.He was born in Abergavenny about 1800. He arrived in Port Jackson Australia on 5th March 1824 aboard the Guildford.
I will be in Wales in late June or July and just want to know where to find the records. Everything online says it is somewhere else. Thankyou far any assistance, sincerely Jeanette Hahn

[Bristol]

Hi Jeanette
Not sure if I can help you but will give it a go and make some enquiries, I can be contacted at (bronwyn DOT fraley AT rutc DOT ac DOT uk)

[Coromandel]

Hello Jeanette and welcome to the forum!

The records of the Monmouthshire Assizes are not in Wales, I'm afraid, but at The National Archives in Kew, among the records of the Oxford assize circuit. This research guide (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/assizes-criminal-1559-1971.htm) gives an introduction to the various types of record that have survived and this one (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/assizes-key-criminal-1559-1971.htm) gives catalogue references, county-by-county. Though it appears that there are surviving depositions for the period you're interested in, it also sounds from the catalogue entry for ASSI 6 (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=3&CATID=816&SearchInit=4&SearchType=6&CATREF=assi+6) as if they may have been heavily weeded: 'they relate mainly to murder and more serious cases although after 1956 a wider selection is included.'

There may be other relevant material locally. For example, according to David Hawkings' Criminal Ancestors, the Monmouthshire County Record Office in Cwmbran has records for Monmouth Gaol; some of these (chaplain's journal and surgeon's book) appear to cover the period of interest.

Hope this helps:)

[Ladkyis]

Check with what is now called the Gwent Record Office because they are in the throes of moving and their opening hours are seriously curtailed as they pack up the contents of the strong room and prepare to move to Ebbw Vale this summer. I suspect that they will not be functioning properly until September at least.

[Coromandel]

Check with what is now called the Gwent Record Office because they are in the throes of moving...

Oops! Thankyou Ladkyis for updating my rather antiquated info on the record office's name.

I still think of the English and Welsh counties as they were on a wooden jigsaw I had as a child, and haven't quite caught up with the new names and shapes. (And I don't think the jigsaw had Scotland on it at all, so I'm hopeless on Scottish counties, old or new!)

[JeanettefromAus]

Dear Coromandel, very useful information, thanks. Still need more time to look at it all, cheers Jeanette