Saltley Reformatory Inmates

William Manning

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Notes:

16 April 1853 A possible report of his crime is given in the Birmingham Journal Saturday 16 April 1853 p.7 col.5. It states: A PERSERVERING JUVENILE. – An unfortunate little boy, who had several times been convicted of felony,  before the same Bench, was brought up, charged with stealing a piece of meat from a butcher’s shop, in Dale End. It appeared that, on Tuesday evening, he was taken to the police station, on a charge of having stolen some cheese, but as the person to whom it belonged refused to prosecute, the boy was discharged the same night. Early the following morning, however, he was again taken to the station on the present charge. The boy, who said his name was William Manning, laid all the burden of the charge upon a friend of his named “Jack Ragg,” whom he represented as being perpetually on the alert to entice him into mischief, and who he said had been the instigator of each of the crimes in which he had been detected. Notwithstanding his acquaintance with Jack Ragg, he was committed to the House of Correction for twenty-eight days as a rogue and vagabond.

14 December 1855 In the Reformatory Minute book it is recorder that: Mr McCorkindale [a would-be colonist] attended the committee and explained his views with reference to the proposed emigration to Natal, and it was agreed that the following boys be allowed to go to Natal on the necessary consents being obtained, viz. Williams (aged 14) [boy 68], Manning (aged 14) [boy 28], Devaney (aged 15 next May) [boy 57], Peechey (aged 16 next July) [boy 69], Hopcraft (aged 13 next May) [boy 65], Hook (aged 14) [boy 74).

The President undertook to write to the Home Secretary for his consent to the arrangement as far as concerned the boys detained under the Youthful Offenders Act, or by conditional pardon, and Mr Morgan engaged to deliver the letter personally at the Home Office.

Mr Ellis produced the consents of the boys’ parents.

Mr McCorkindale explained to the boys in the presence of the Committee the terms of their engagement and all signified their assent.

Resolved: that proper Indentures be prepared and that £8 be paid Mr McCorkindale for outfit and passage money for each boy.

22 December 1855 In the Minute Book it is recorded that: the President laid before the Committee the consent of the Home Secretary for the emigration to Natal of the four boys detained under sentence.

14 February 1856 The Minute Book records that: all the boys … except Devaney had sailed with Mr McCorkindale in the brig Portia for Natal on November 4^th instant, the necessary consents from the Government and Parents having been first obtained. They were accompanied by Alfred John Taylor [boy 83], a well-educated boy, who had been committed at the Worcester Sessions a [few?] days previously, and by James Hines, who was selected instead of Devaney.

Mr Ratcliff inspected the vessel before the boys joined, and afterwards visited them on board, where  they all expressed gratitude for the kind treatment in the Institution, and for the opportunity afforded them to emigrate. They all evinced much courage and determination to do well in their future career.

11 August 1857 The Minute Book notes a letter from Mr McCorkindale: Dunbar 10 April 1857. Sir, I have the satisfaction of informing you that all the boys from the Saltley School are well, tho’ not with the circumstances which I will fully explain next post, or you may get explained by a copy of my letter from the Rev’d Sidney Turner Redhill will put you in possession of why they left my employ. I have now been round the country twice to look after them and their interests and find everything as I could wish, all that I hear from their employers tends to assure me of their rapid and, I trust, steady improvement in morals. I do not doubt but all will write to Saltley or to their friends. I send however, an account of what each is doing, as far as I know.

…Manning is well, I hear, but have not seen him or master as they are often out and my time precious to me. He is brick making…

[For more information about Mr McCorkindale and the purpose of the trip to Natal see the Liverpool Mail Saturday 16 February 1856 p.3 col.5]

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