Workhouse Transgressions & Punishment Records

[Peter Goodey]

I certainly have seen newspaper reports of workhouse inmates appearing before magistrates

Yes. I suppose it was a matter of whether there was actually a crime committed or just a breach of the rules.

[ColinClarke1945]

Many thanks to all, so far, for the assistance and notes ! Wonderful.

Yes, Olliecat, I have lots on Richard's various errant ways including his assistance in the duck stealing 1850, and the ham and bacon caper in 1851 - from Ancestry, UK Archives, and Fulbourn Chronicles. Both of the other involved thieves (Marsh 1850 and Mason 1851 respectively) didn't get off so lightly - Marsh transported to VDL (Tasmania) and Mason to Western Australia. Others in the village and expanded family, including Hancock and Hart families, got 14 years or Life transportation for crimes such as taking bread and cheese.

Given the over population, and the lack of work for labourers etc., it's no wonder that the general area around Cambridge saw such an exodus heading for the various colonies when assisted passage/labour recruitment started. There wasn't a big future in stealing food.

Richard Clarke, for all his trials and tribulations as a youngster, went to Australia as a free man in Nov 1856 on the PARSEE, and in due course purchased 120 acres which he turned into a productive decent-sized farm for that pre-machinery era. (It is now a vineyard.)

Getting back on track here :-)) I will try to find what I can from CRO, hoping to see if the father, Mr [blank], is recorded. I suspect, however, that pre his mother's early death in 1845, she would be listed, and post 1845, perhaps the stepfather only. But one can hope !

Cheers,
Colin

[ColinClarke1945]

By the way, as we are on a roll here with Courts and legalities, please see this link (Post #2) about the term Referee. Who/what were they?

http://www.british-genealogy.com/for...bourn-Cambs-UK

CC

[ColinClarke1945]

Just for the record.

We have exhausted the Cambridge Workhouse records of inmates, punishments, and apprenticeships for Richard CLARKE (or HART), so it is now on to the Guardian's Minutes at CHESTERTON.

AT least I am fairly certain that Richard CLARKE was not at the Camb Workhouse.