Sue Mackay
22-08-2010, 4:15 PM
I came across this while transcribing BMDs from the South African Commercial Advertiser and Cape Town Mail. I thought it was quite interesting to see the list of crimes for which people were in gaol in 1855.
CAPE TOWN GAOL
Return of Prisoners in the Cape Town Gaol, 12th January 1855, 9am:
Sex: Males 56, Female 1
Nation: Cape 19; English 24; Mozambique 4; East Indian 1; French 1; Portugal 1; America 3; St.Helena 1; Denmark 1; Spain 1; Germany 1.
Under 17 years: 1
Crime: seamen for refusing duty and desertion 20; assault 8; drunkenness 2; drunk and disturbing the peace 1; theft 9; culpable insolvency 1; rebellion 2; military deserter 1; deserted servants 3; seaman for drunkenness and assault 1; runaway convict 1; housebreaking and theft 2; murder 2; disturbing the peace 1; drunk and indecently exposing his person 1; fraud 1; discharging fireworks 1.
Education: Can read and write 26; read 3; neither read nor write 28.
Total 57.
CAPE TOWN GAOL
Return of Prisoners in the Cape Town Gaol, 12th January 1855, 9am:
Sex: Males 56, Female 1
Nation: Cape 19; English 24; Mozambique 4; East Indian 1; French 1; Portugal 1; America 3; St.Helena 1; Denmark 1; Spain 1; Germany 1.
Under 17 years: 1
Crime: seamen for refusing duty and desertion 20; assault 8; drunkenness 2; drunk and disturbing the peace 1; theft 9; culpable insolvency 1; rebellion 2; military deserter 1; deserted servants 3; seaman for drunkenness and assault 1; runaway convict 1; housebreaking and theft 2; murder 2; disturbing the peace 1; drunk and indecently exposing his person 1; fraud 1; discharging fireworks 1.
Education: Can read and write 26; read 3; neither read nor write 28.
Total 57.