| No. in Admissions Register: | 558 |
| Age: | 11 |
| Whence received: | Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Dark |
| Hair colour: | Light brown |
| Eyes colour: | Brown |
| Visage: | - |
| Particular marks: | - |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission and term: | 4 October 1876 5 years |
| Late residence: | Longton |
| Parish he belongs to: | Longton |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Potting |
| Whether illegitimate: | - |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Not at all |
| Writes: | Not at all |
| Offence: | Stealing pies |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Neglect of parents |
| Date of sentence, by who and court: | 4 September 1876, Longton Petty Sessions, R H Hawley and J H Goddard |
| Where imprisoned: | Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | One |
| Length: | 6 strokes |
| For what: | Stealing jewelry |
| Father's name: | John Davenport |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Mother's name: | Hannah Davenport |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | - |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Good |
| Character of parents | Father drunken |
| Parents' wages: | 24s per week |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | 2s per week |
| Parents address: | Locketts Lane, Longton, Staffordshire |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
9 September 1876 There is a lengthy report of the crime in the Staffordshire Sentinel and Commercial and General Advertiser Saturday 9 September 1876 p.6 col.1: JUVENILE DELINQUENTS. - Four boys named William Rowbotham, John Davenport. Herbert Meigh, and Samuel Davenport, eleven and twelve years of age, were charged with stealing a quantity of tape of the value of 3s.and two pork pies of the value of 4d. Hannah Maria Wakefield, wife of John Wakefield, refreshment house keeper, Stafford-street, stated that on the afternoon of Friday she laid a tray of pork pies on her counter, and covered them over with newspaper. She went out of the shop, and thinking she heard some one there shortly afterwards, she returned and found one of the Davenports in the shop. He asked for something that he knew she did not keep. She told him to be off. as she new he was after something that did not belong to him. She discovered when he had gone that two pies were missing. The other defendants, as well as some other boys were with him. About a quarter of an hour afterwards Rowbottom entered the shop. and was about taking a sponge cake from the window. when she put in an appearance. She caught him and detained him until a police officer arrived, after which the other hoys were taken in custody. More than once she had been robbed by them. - Hannah Wild, shopkeeper, Marsh-street, stated that on Thursday some boys came into her shop. One of them was Samuel Davenport, who asked for some cakes. While she was getting the cakes two bundles of tape were taken from the counter. P.S. Harding testified that when he had arrested Rowbottom he went in search of the other boys. When he had seized the four of them he questioned Rowbottom as to who was with him when the pies were stolen. He said both the Davenports were with him, and one of them took a pie. Samuel Davenport said Meigh was one of the party and that Rowbotton took the tape. Frequent complaints had been made to the police of a gang of juvenile thieves, of whom the prisoners were the ringleaders. - Both the Davenports had previously been convicted of felony, and in addition to being imprisoned one day had been flagged. Their father, who appeared, said he thought a month's imprisonment would do his boys good, as he could not manage them. Upon being told by the clerk that if his sons were sent to a reformatory he would have to contribute towards their maintenance. Davenport said he did not wish them to be sent there. Each of the sons of the the last named were sent to a reformatory, to remain there until they attain the age of sixteen; Rowbottom and Meigh were each ordered to receive twelve strokes with a birch rod.
10 October 1876 His father was soon summoned for failure to pay maintenance on his two sons, as reported in the Staffordshire Sentinel Tuesday 10 October 1876 p.4 col.1: John Davenport, collier, whose two sons were sent to a Reformatory some weeks age for having stolen some tape, was summoned to show cause why should not contribute towards their maintenance. An order of 2s was made in respect of each child.
24 April 1881 Davenport writes to say that he is going on alright (see letters} [not attached to Admissions Register]
29 April 1881 Writes to say that his father has set him up in a business of his own
25 May 1881 Received a letter from Sol [Samuel] in which he says he is doing satisfactory. He is a good correspondent. Wrote to him to say that I received such good news with a great deal of pleasure
2 June 1881 Writes from 2 Sutherland Place, Longton. Is doing well
3 August 1881 Sent express
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