| No. in Admissions Register: | 65 |
| Date of admission: | 2 January 1855 |
| Weekly payments: | - |
| Age: | 12 |
| Education: | Little |
| Previous employment: | None |
| Crimes, how often and in what prison: | 2 |
| Training in reformatory: | 24 January 1856 |
| When left reformatory: | Tailor |
| Parentage and family: | Father and Mother living |
| Residence: | 12 Alms Houses, Stratford |
| Trade of father: | Labourer |
| With whom the boy is placed: | Mr McCorkindale [a would-be colonist], on licence… |
| Address: | - |
| Trade: | - |
14 October 1852 There is a brief report of a possible earlier crime in the Banbury Guardian Thursday 14 October 1852 p.3 col.4: William Hopcraft [spelled thus], aged 11, and John Hopcraft, aged 9 years, were charged with breaking into one of the Alms Houses [at Stratford on Avon], on the 6th inst., with intent to commit a felony. The magistrates considered the age and the bad example that had been set them, and sentenced them to two months; imprisonment.
4 November 1854 There is a report of the crime which possibly brought him to the Reformatory in the Leamington Spa Courier Saturday 4 November 1854 p.3 col.6: Two lads, named Hopcroft and Stephens, were brought up, at the instance of the Churchwardens, for stealing lead from some palisading surrounding the tombs in the churchyard, on the 18th. ult. Mr W. J. Hobbes appeared for the prosecution. The boys, not being fourteen years of age, were examined under the Juvenile Offenders Acl. They pleaded guilty. A former conviction having beet proved against Hopcroft, he was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, and to be once privately whipped. Stephens, in consequence of his previous good character, the Bench considering he might have been led astray, was fined 10s., and ordered to discharged. A boy
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 4th instant, the necessary consents from the Government and Parents having been first obtained. They were accompanied by Alfred John Taylor [boy 82], 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.
In another Minute from the same meeting, it says: the Secretary reported that the Warwickshire Committee had declined to share the expense of sending the boys to Natal, but that Lord Leigh had sent £5 towards the expenses of Hopcraft, who had been paid for by his Lordship since he had been in the Institution.
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.
…
Hopcraft is with a Gunsmith. But have not seen his master. He has not done so well...
6 September 1860 The Minute Book contains this: 706. Mr Morgan laid before the Committee the following letter which was ordered to be entered on the Minutes:
Durban, 9 July 1860
Dear Sir, I have made enquiry about those boys from the Saltley Reformatory School, but have not been able to find out them all, tho’ I hope to hear more when I can get to see Miss Parkin, but she lives out of town, and I have been too busy to see her. I can inform you respecting 3 or 4 of them. James Hirons [spelled thus] is doing well. He is trading in the Zulu country… William Hopcroft [spelled thus] is an apprentice to a wagon builder, and his master gives him an excellent character and says that if they all do as well as Hopcraft there will be no cause for murmuring… I remain, yours respectfully, Edward Pickering.
[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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