Saltley Reformatory Inmates

Thomas Wilson

No. in Admissions Register:	153
Date of admission:	21 June 1859
Whence received:	Stafford Gaol
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	Under committal
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	Stout
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Hazel
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:	Cut on left thumb
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	13
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Walsall
Parish to which he belongs:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	-
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	A little
Writes:	A lttle
Cyphers:	None
General ability	Indifferent
Offence:	Stealing money (2s 6d)
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence:	25 April 1859
Where convicted:	Walsall
Who prosecuted:	William Letts
Where imprisoned:	Stafford
Sentence:	2 months prison, 2 years detention at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	One
Father's name:	John Wilson
Occupation	Plumber at railway works
Residence:	24 Hatherton Street, Walsall
Mother's name:	Hannah Wilson
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	No
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents:	-
Parents' wages:	26 shillings per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	2 shillings 6 pence per week
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	W Mountford, Stafford Gaol
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	-

Notes:

30 April 1859 There is a report of the offence in the Walsall Free Press and General Advertiser Saturday 30 April 1859 p.1 col.6: SHOP ROBBERY. - Thomas Watson [surname given thus], a lad about 12 years of age, was charged with stealing 2s 6d from the till of Mr William Letts, Burrows Street. It appeared the prisoner, who had been before the court several times on charges of vagrancy, had been observed by a girl taking some money out of Mr Letts's till, on the afternoon of Friday last. The girl gave the alarm, whereupon a person in the employment of Mr Letts came into the shop, and seeing the prisoner come from behind the counter, he pursued and captured him. On being brought back to Mr Letts's shop, he placed 2s 6d on the counter. The prisoner, who consented to have his case disposed of by the bench, was sentenced to two months' imprisonment at Stafford, and two years in a reformatory.

12 July 1860 Absconded with J Evans [boy 134] early in the morning. Brought back from Walsall next day.

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, and from Rev J H Sharwood with similar testimony concerning Thomas Wilson.

7 May 1861 The Minute Book reported: 780. On reading Minute 771 Mr Humphreys recommended that Pennefather be withdrawn from the list and that Wilson [boy 153] and Shuter [boy 163] be added to the other boys (Brittain [boy 111] and Lowe [boy 151]) as candidates for emigration to Canada.

6 June 1861 Absconded with 112 [Henry Boyce] and 137.[Joseph Evans]; was to have emigrated to Australia.

8 June 1861 Brought back by the Walsall police.

20 June 1861 Discharged on expiration of term.

3 December 1861 Living at his parents'. Employed by Mr Harvey, 14 Bradford Street, Walsall, brass dressing. Character good. Response given by father, John Wilson.

May 1862 Lord Lichfield informed me that he is in Stafford.

November 1862 Heard of in reply to circular - in the 3rd Company of the 39th Regiment, a member of the regimental band. Character good.

12 January 1864 Heard of at Templemare. Character 'tolerable'.

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