theophilus nicholson vanished & arrest record

[Lesley Robertson]

I have merged message #40 with the previous thread as we do not allow more than one thread from the same member about the same person. It is frustrating if someone spends time answering a query, only to find the same information on another thread.

[witchniche]

ok, understood, but i'm only missing one piece of the puzzle now.... an arrest record for sometime between 1838 and 1841.... and he's done!!! i appreciate all the hardword you sleuths put into this.

[Lesley Robertson]

Have you tried the newspapers of the time?

[Megan Roberts]

ok, understood, but i'm only missing one piece of the puzzle now.... an arrest record for sometime between 1838 and 1841.... and he's done!!! i appreciate all the hardword you sleuths put into this.

Having read through this thread (quickly) my guess is that he was jailed for being in debt. Below is a link to a National Archives guide, and you will see from that that insolvent debtors could be jailed indefinately -until they settled their debts.

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/...lvent-debtors/

[witchniche]

yes, i have the bankrupty notices, the sale of the land after his death... i need to work this out.

1831, bankruptcy, his father in law, Wm. Gibson, is one of two assignee's.
1835, his last child is born, Burstwick
1836, father in law, Wm. Gibson is listed in some directory, Burstwick.
1837, he applies to the masonic lodge in Owthorne, where his sister lives.
1838, two of his boys die in the Paull workhouse. and he's paying membership dues to the lodge in Owthorne
1839, he pays dues to the lodge for the two first quarters.

Assumptions or theory.
1836-7, father in law dies
1836-7, he flees to Owthorne, maybe for protection from the lodge?
1839, when the dues stop, he is incarcerated?

[witchniche]

yes i've searched the national archives and east riding archives online only.

that is my assumption as well, he couldn't pay off the bankruptcy and went to jail..

[Megan Roberts]

With regards to the Masons you could try the Freemason family history links to see if that adds to the story.

https://museumfreemasonry.org.uk/fre...family-history