| No. in Admissions Register: | 192 |
| Date of admission: | 23 November 1860 |
| Whence received: | Stafford Gaol |
| By whom brought: | - |
| On what terms: | - |
| Friends interested in him: | - |
| Description: | |
| Height: | - |
| Figure: | - |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Perfect vision? | Yes |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Sound intellect? | Yes |
| Use of all limbs? | Yes |
| Had cow or small pox? | Not apparent |
| Particular marks: | Burn on right leg |
| Cutaneous disorder? | No |
| Scrofulous or consumptive? | Not |
| Subject to fits? | No |
| Age last birthday: | 14 |
| Illegitimate? | No |
| Birthday: | - |
| Birth place: | - |
| Has resided: | Hanley |
| Parish to which he belongs: | Stoke upon Trent |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Forge lad at ironworks |
| Schools attended: | - |
| By whom and where employed: | |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Not at all |
| Writes: | Not at all |
| Cyphers: | |
| General ability: | - |
| Offence: | Stealing a pair of boots |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Bad company |
| Date of sentence: | 1 November 1860 |
| Where convicted: | Longton |
| Where imprisoned: | - |
| Sentence: | 21 days prison, 4 years detention at Saltley |
| Previous committals and convictions: | Vagrancy (14 days) |
| Father's name: | Michael Merryman |
| Occupation: | Bricklayer's labourer |
| Residence: | MilesBank, Hanley, Potteries |
| Mother's name: | Mary Merryman |
| Occupation: | - |
| Residence: | - |
| Father's character: | - |
| Mother's character: | - |
| Parents dead? | - |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Good |
| Character of parents | Good |
| Parents' wages: | 14s a week |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Ought to pay 1s a week |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Samuel Cole, Hanley |
| Relatives to communicate with: | - |
| Person making this return: | J R Rose, Magistrates' Clerk, Hanley |
| Estimate of character on admission: | - |
| Character on discharge: | - |
| When and how left the Reformatory: | - |
[Surname written as Maryman in Admissions Register]
3 November 1860 There is a report of his crime in the Staffordshire Sentinel and Commercial and General Advertiser Saturday 3 November 1860 p.6 col.3: STEALING BOOTS. - Joseph Merriman [first name given thus], 14, was charged, and pleaded guilty to stealing a pair of boots, value 8s, the property of Henry France, bootmaker, Lamb Street, Hanley. The boots were missed from the prosecutor's shop on the 17th of October, and two days later they were taken to be pledged at Mr Holmes' pawnshop, Burslem, but as he could give no satisfactory account as to how he obtained them, he was given into custody. He was sentenced to be imprisoned for twenty-one days, and then to be sent to a Reformatory for three years [Admissions Register says 4 years].
14 January 1861 Absconded with Callagan [boy 190]
2 April 1861 The Reformatory Minute Book reported that: 770. Resolved: that Mr Humphreys be requested to communicate with the magistrates at Hanley respecting the boy Merryman.
16 July 1861 The Minute Book recorded: 794. On reading Minute 758 Mt Humphreys reported that Callagan had been recovered after absconding, but not Merryman.
8 October 1861 The Minute book recorded: 806. On reading Minute 794, The Superintendent reported that Merryman had been taken into custody at Longton and brought back yesterday [the Admissions Register noted that he was: brought back by the Hanley police in a miserable state of rags and ill looks]. The Committee examined the boy.
It was resolved: that the Superintendent: be instructed to take Merryman before the Magistrates at Aston for punishment for absconding...
9 October 1861 Given in charge to the police to be presented for absconding. Magistrates declared themselves unable to commit him to prison on account of the information being laid after 6 months from the time of the offence.
5 November 1861 The Minute book recorded: 818. The Superintendent reported that the Magistrates at Erdington took a technical objection to committing Merriman to prison, and that he is now at Saltley.
Resolved: that application be made for transferring him to the Akbar.[a training ship reformatory at Liverpool]
8 November 1861 Ran off from his work and was caught by farmer Handiman. Sent him to Erdington and followed there. The magistrates remanded him to the next meeting for me to get his original commitment from Stafford.
14 November 1861 Committed to Warwick Gaol for 6 months.
3 December 1861 The Minute Book recorded: 833. The Superintendent reported that Merriman ran away again and had been committed to Warwick House of Correction for six weeks for absconding.
25 December 1861 Brought back from Warwick. Was very discontented and disordered.
13 January 1862 Ill using the other lads, etc, until January 13th when he went off through the sitting room window with the connivance of the servants.
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