Saltley Reformatory Inmates


Robert Enshaw Wilson

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No. in Admissions Register: 162
Date of admission: 2 January 1860
Whence received: Stafford County Gaol
By whom brought: Reverent E W Daw, Assistant Chaplain
On what terms: Under committal
Friends interested in him: -
Description:  
Height: -
Figure: -
Complexion: Pale
Hair colour: Brown
Eyes colour: Hazel
Perfect vision? Yes
State of health: Generally very good
Able-bodied? Yes
Sound intellect? Yes
Use of all limbs? Yes
Had cow or small pox? Cow pox
Particular marks: None
Cutaneous disorder? No
Scrofulous or consumptive? No
Subject to fits? No
Age last birthday: 13
Illegitimate? Yes
Birthday: -
Birth place: -
Has resided: Clarkes Bank, Leek
Parish to which he belongs: Supposed to be Macclesfield
Customary work and mode of life: Worked in the silk
Schools attended: -
By whom and where employed: -
State of education:  
Reads: Nil
Writes: Nil
Cyphers: -
General ability: -
Offence: Stealing handkerchiefs, a cap, a bag and 9s in money
Circumstances which may have led to it: No apparent reason
Date of sentence: 21 November 1859
Where convicted: Leek Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned: -
Sentence: 6 weeks prison, 5 years detention at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions: Stealing a watch (3 months)
Father's name: Samuel Smith (stepfather)
Occupation: Hawker
Residence: Clarkes Bank, Leek
Mother's name: Harriet Smith
Occupation: -
Residence: Clarkes Bank, Leek -
Father's character: Considered honest and sober -
Mother's character: Considered honest and sober -
Parents dead? Father
Survivor married again? Yes
Parents' treatment of child: He had left them for 2½ years, except one month
Character of parents: Good – stepfather in bad health
Parents' wages: Very little, from his bad health
Amount parents agree tp pay: Nothing
Superintendent of police (to collect payments): Superintendant Thomas Wollaston, Leek
Relatives to communicate with: -
Person making this return: Governor County Prison, Bedfordshire
Estimate of character on admission: -
Character on discharge: -
When and how left the Reformatory: -

Notes:

26 November 1859 There is a brief report of his offence in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 26 November 1859 p.2 col.5: A youth of the name of Robert Henshaw Wilson, about 13 years of age, pleaded guilty to stealing two handkerchiefs, a cloth cap, a money bag, and 7s in money from the house of Mr John Ainsworth, of Leek, on the 14th inst, and was committed to Stafford Gaol for six weeks, and to a Reformatory for five years.

5 April 1861 Absconded after supper

6 April 1861 Fetched back from Leek

5 November 1861 The Reformatory Minute Book recorded: 819. The Superintendent reported that a boy (H Wilson) [initials should be R E] absconded on the 31st October, taking a watch which he had been entrusted with to take to the watchmaker's. [The Admissions Register notes Absconded from market, taking with him Dodwell's watch which he had injudiciously sent by him to have a new glass. Dodwell did it without my knowledge.]

Resolved: that the usual means be adopted for his apprehension.

May 1862 Heard of his apprehension and committal to Parkhurst from Chester.

December 1863 Just out of prison; at work but character doubtful

January 1865 Gone to sea - nothing else known.

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