| No. in Admissions Register: | 148 |
| Date of admission: | 18 August 1858 |
| Whence received: | Stafford County Gaol |
| By whom brought: | Mr Mountford, Deputy Governor |
| On what terms: | - |
| Friends interested in him: | - |
| Description: | |
| Height: | - |
| Figure: | - |
| Complexion: | Fair |
| 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? | Cow pox |
| Particular marks: | None |
| Cutaneous disorder? | No |
| Scrofulous or consumptive? | No |
| Subject to fits? | No |
| Age last birthday: | 14 |
| Illegitimate? | No |
| Birthday: | - |
| Birth place: | - |
| Has resided: | Wolverhampton |
| Parish to which he belongs: | Wolverhampton |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Wood turning |
| Schools attended: | - |
| By whom and where employed: | - |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | A little |
| Writes: | A little |
| Cyphers: | - |
| General ability: | - |
| Offence: | Stealing two brushes |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Bad company |
| Date of sentence: | 4 August 1858 |
| Where convicted: | Wolverhampton |
| Where imprisoned: | Stafford County Gaol |
| Sentence: | 14 days prison, 5 years at Reformatory |
| Previous committals and convictions: | Stealing clogs (3 calendar months) |
| Father's name: | George Keeling |
| Occupation: | Gardener |
| Residence: | Brick Kiln Street, Wolverhampton |
| Mother's name: | Elizabeth Keeling |
| Occupation: | Washerwoman |
| Residence: | Brick Kiln Street, Wolverhampton |
| Father's character: | Very little known of them |
| Mother's character: | ditto |
| Parents dead? | No |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | He says good, when he worked |
| Character of parents: | Not known |
| Parents' wages: | Father earns 17s per week. |
| Weekly amount parents will pay | Ought to pay 1s, says Magistrates' Clerk |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Chief Constable, Wolverhampton |
| Relatives to communicate with: | - |
| Person making this return: | J Collins Ward, Magistrates' Clerk |
| Estimate of character on admission: | - |
| Character on discharge: | - |
| When and how left the Reformatory: | - |
4 August 1858 There is an interesting report of his life just before his conviction in the Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser Wednesday 4 August 1858 p.6 col.3: THE ADVENTURES OF A WEEK. - A smart little fellow, named George Keeling, who it was stated had been five times before the Magistrates, and played truant four times from the Ragged School, was brought before the Magistrates. Mr J Stainton, the master of the school, who had apprehended Keeling, produced his diary, which contained the following entry: - "This morning (July 26th), during my round through the town, I met with the boy, George Keeling, who has not been home or slept in a bed since he left here on the 20th instant. He says his mother beat him, so he left, and joined two boys named Turton and Roberts, when Turton took a small loaf of bread from a shop in Bell Street. Keeling continued: 'I slept the first night near Sparrow's forge. The next day Turton and me got several jobs, and slept near Sparrow's again. On the third day we lived by begging, and slept as before. Fourth day, Turton, Tranter, and I stole two brushes from a stall in the Market Hall. We sold one to Mrs Steel's lodgers for 2d, the other we gave to a boy for some food, and slept as before. On the 5th day a man gave us a small loaf, and Turton went and fetched (stole) a piece of bacon out of a shop in Horsley fields. He slept in a lodging house in Berry Street. On the 6th day, Turton, Jack, and me went to the Whitmore Reans, and stole some potatoes out of a field. We took about 4 lbs, which we boiled in Drake's lodging house, and we slept in a cart in a yard in Berry Street. On the 7th day I was caught by the schoolmaster too soon before I could do anything.' " Keeling admitted having stolen the brushes referred to in the above statement. MR LEIGH, in remanding the prisoner for a week, for the purpose of ascertaining whether he could be accommodated st Saltley, observed that the facts elicited showed that boys in the prisoner's position were living day to day by theft, and preparing themselves for a life of crime. People objected, he continued, to paying a county rate to support these boys in a proper institution, overlooking the fact that thy were paying for their maintenance in another way.
8 January 1861 The Reformatory Minute Book reported: 744. …A letter from Messers Mowbray and Lowe was read, containing a satisfactory account of the conduct of George Keeling…
1 March 1862 Out on leave to work for Mr Perks, Monmore Green, Wolverhampton
Letter dated same:Dear Sir, I now take my pen in hand. I write these few lines to you hoping to find you in good health as it leaves me quite well, at present, thank God for it. I have got a job at the striking at Mr Perks' forge, Monmore Green, Wolverhampton. Sir, I arrive home quite safe. My father and mother both send their kind love to you and the Mrs. I found it quite difficult to find a place at first (two days). I was taken into the works by a man I know and I soon got a place.
5 March 1861 The Minute Book states: 760. Mr Humphreys to apply to West's [boy 121] and Keeling's [boy 148] fathers to know what arrangement can be made for their future employment, if the Committee should be disposed to discharge them.
2 April 1861 The Minute Book reported: 773 As regards George Keeling, Rev Mr Williams undertook to investigate about his parents at Wolverhampton.
20 May 1862 Heard from, says he is working at brass founding for his brother in law
4 June 1861 The Minute Book stated: 787. On reading Minute 773 Mr Williams reported that Keeling's father is not a proper person to receive the boy on leaving the school.
2 January 1863 In penal serviture at Wakefield [from?] July 1862
22 January 1866 Heard of his enlistment in the 24th Regiment. Letter dated 20 Jan 1866 headed Nursery and Seed Merchant, High Green, Wolverhampton. Sir, I have made enquiries respecting Keeling's lad. It appears he enlisted in the 24th about 3 weeks ago. His daughter [Keeling's father's, presumably] we spoke about is married and is doing well. I remain, sir, respectfully, Richard Lowe.
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