| No. in Admissions Register: | 69 |
| Date of admission: | 6 April 1855 |
| Weekly payments: | - |
| Age: | 15 |
| Education: | None |
| Previous employment: | Hawker |
| Crimes, how often and in what prison: | First time |
| Training in reformatory: | 29 January 1856 |
| When left reformatory: | - |
| Parentage and family: | Both? dead |
| Residence: | Birmingham St, Dudley |
| Trade of father: | - |
| With whom the boy is placed: | Mr McCorkindale [a would-be colonist] |
| Address: | - |
| Trade: | - |
14 March 1855 A report on his crime in the Worcestershire Chronicle Wednesday 14 March 1855 p.5 col.1 states: JUVENILE THIEF. – Thomas Peachy, a lad 12 years of age, was charged by Thomas Wesley for the following offence. Wesley, who is a tailor, arrived at the Dudley station on the 9th. Instant, with a parcel containing material to be made up. Prisoner, who is one of those lads who are found in abundance about railway stations, offered to carry the parcel, and it was given to him. Both then proceeded to the White Hart, when the prosecutor placed the parcel on a bench in the kitchen while he went to the bar to get something for the boy to eat. On his return to the kitchen the prisoner was gone, the parcel had been opened in that short time, and a silk waistcoat piece worth 4s abstracted. The silk was afterwards found at Mr Kendrick’s pawnshop, where it had been taken by the prisoner. Information of the theft having been received previous to his visit, he was detained till a policeman arrived. Peachy was convicted, but sentence deferred to the 16th inst., in the hope of getting him into a reformatory.
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), 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 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.
Thos Peachey [blank space] to a blacksmith in this town, his master is pleased; he is paid equal to what I was to give him…
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…
[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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