| No. in Admissions Register: | 101 |
| Date of admission: | 4 May 1857 |
| Whence received: | Stafford Gaol |
| By whom brought: | Mr Montford |
| On what terms: | Committed |
| Friends interested in him: | - |
| Description: | |
| Height: | - |
| Figure: | - |
| Complexion: | - |
| Hair colour: | - |
| Eyes colour: | - |
| Perfect vision? | Yes |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Sound intellect? | Yes |
| Use of all limbs? | Yes |
| Had cow or small pox? | Has been vaccinated |
| Particular marks: | - |
| Cutaneous disorder? | No |
| Scrofulous or consumptive? | No |
| Subject to fits? | No |
| Age last birthday: | 11 |
| Illegitimate? | No |
| Birthday: | - |
| Birth place: | - |
| Has resided: | at Longton, Staffordshire |
| Parish to which he belongs: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Colliery and vagrant: |
| Schools attended: | None |
| By whom and where employed: | at Longton |
| State of education | |
| Reads: | No |
| Writes: | No |
| Cyphers: | - |
| General ability: | - |
| Offence: | Stealing at Longton |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Association with other bad boys |
| Date of sentence: | - |
| Where convicted: | Stoke Police court |
| Sentence: | 3 months in prison, 4 years at Saltley |
| Where imprisoned: | Stafford Gaol |
| Previous committals and convictions: | 18 |
| Father's name: | Patrick Finn |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Residence: | Mass Foul, Longton, Staffordshire |
| Mother's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Residence: | - |
| Father's character: | - |
| Mother's character: | - |
| Parents dead? | Mother dead |
| Survivor married again? | No |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Not harsh |
| Character of parents: | Honest and sober |
| Parents' wages: | 9 or 10 shillings per week |
| Weekly amount parents will pay: | - |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Relatives to communicate with | - |
| Person making this return: | John R Rose |
| Estimate of character on admission: | Of very unpromising appearance, ill spoken of |
| Character on discharge: | - |
| When and how left the Reformatory: | - |
25 October 1856 There is a brief report of a previous offence in the Staffordshire Sentinel and Commercial and General Advertiser Saturday 25 October 1856, p.4, col.6: …George Bianchi for three months, and John Finn for one month, the two latter to be once whipped, for stealing 18 yards of Scotch towelling, value 5s, from the shop door of Messrs Jackson, drapers, Market Street, Longton, on the 15th instant. Mr J Downs, confectioner, saw them near the window a short time before, and Mr Gilbert, Mr Jackson's assistant, proved the loss of the stuff. It was afterwards found in the house of Elizabeth Mitcheson, by police constables Lovesey and Wetton, who apprehended the prisoners, and she is committed for trial for receiving it, knowing it to have been stolen.
22 May 1857 absconded and was at large until 26th July when I fetched him home.
3 June 1857 The Reformatory Minute Book states (after a list of the boys then in the Reformatory): …Of the above boys, those marked with a star will remain at the School. All those so marked are at school this day with the exception of Finn, No. 101, who has absconded and is supposed to be concealed by his father.
11 Aug 1857 The Minute Book says: 473. Mr Humphreys reported that 16 inmates now in the School; that John Finn who absconded some weeks since had been captured at Longton, Staffordshire, and had returned to the Institution.
11 January 1858 absconded before daylight in company with 129 [George Miller] .
14 January 1858 heard from Longton that he was caught yesterday.
18 January 1858 convicted at Stoke upon Trent for stealing pies and sentenced to Stafford for 21 days and a whipping.
8 February 1858 fetched from Stafford by the gardener; looks as impertinent as ever.
22 July 1858 absconded in company of Bentley and Owen [boys 139, 146] at the instigation of G Bolt [boy 110] who pretended to go with them but stopped at the hedge.
23 July 1858 apprehended at West Bromwich and brought back 24 July with Bentley.
3 May 1860 The Reformatory Minute Book records: 674. The following boys were reported by the Superintendent as suitable for recommendation to situations or emigration though their term of detention is unexpired: Drake [boy 138], Smith [boy 123], Blick [boy 136], Finn, Bentley [boy 139], Francis [boy 130]
677. Smith and Finn are anxious to go to sea. An inquiry to be made from their parents, if agreeable.
3 December 1860 his brother came for him and as he has been steady for more than 2 years, I let him out on leave.
3 May 1861 discharged.
23 October 1861 Attached note: Sir, I beg to inform you that John Finn, who was discharged from Saltley about last November was yesterday received here for three months for stealing a shirt at Hanley. Finn and three other lads committed with him. He says that he did not know the shirt was stolen but the lad who stole it was going to pawn it. The thief, he states, was the witness against him and was thus discharged. He also says that he has been working in the pits for the last six months at 12 shillings per week but now the winter has stopped the work and he cannot get another job. He has never been able to get work at shoemaking. I am, sir, yours [can't read word]….. Montford [probably the Deputy Governor of Stafford Gaol]
October 1864 in Stafford prison.
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