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Topic: Yatala prison records lookup please (Read 312 times)
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JasonMcF
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 33
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi, if it is possible I would like a lookup of Yatala prison records.
The lookup I am after is for my great-great grandfather Thomas FIELD. He was born in South Africa 30 Jun 1842 and emigrated to Australia with his mother on "Commodore" in 1853. He died 12 Mar 1921.
He was married twice the first time to Winifred LAWSON in Gawler, South Australia, 9 Oct 1866. The second time to (Frances) Adelaide (Ann) TAPLIN in Adelaide, South Australia 23 Dec 1876.
The story I have heard is that he was arrested for armed robbery and sentenced to death. The sentence was reduced to life and then reduced again such that he was only in jail for a few years.
The other part of the story is that while he was serving time his first wife remarried. If this is correct then he must have committed the crime/been in jail between 1866 and 1876.
I have found that it is possible to order these records in microfiche form, but maybe someone has access to an electronice form of the records if it exists  The link I found was http://www.archives.sa.gov.au/publications/orderinds.html and the title is Alphabetical index to Prisoners' registers, Yatala Labour Prison. 1866 - 1931.
Can anyone please help confirm/reject this wonderfull little story 
Thanks in advance,
Jason McFarlane
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« Last Edit: Wednesday 29 November 06 13:48 UTC (UK) by JasonMcF »
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tropicalj
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 9044
Mason and Callum
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Hello there Jason
by the link in your most interesting yarn
the records appear to be on microfische
Reference No: GRG 92/5 Special List) 4 $20.00
Alphabetical index to Prisoners' registers, Yatala Labour Prison. 1866 - 1931.
[The index gives the prisoners' names, volume and reference numbers. Cross-referencing has been undertaken; aliases and other commonly used names are shown in brackets].
[The registers are restricted for a period of Seventy-five (75) years. Please contact an Archivist at Reference and Access Services, State Records for advice.]
(Reference No: GRG 54/51 Special List) 6 $12.75
you could very well try
an ARchivist at State Records as the link suggest
or
SAGHS they more than likely would have it they do a lookup for $5.00
or try the State Library lookup service they are excellent
regards Jenn
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When you search for ancestors, you find great friends! I live in Townsville, Australia researching TOWNSEND,PINNEGAR, STRANGE, PULLEN, GRIFFIN from Wiltshire,, SHOEBRIDGE, VINALL, BRINDLE, Kent BAYLEY, Dorset,Yorkshire, HAIR, Durham, CUMMINS, BROWNLESS from Yorkshire, EDSALL, Cornwall, MORGAN, HENNESSY, BAKER, Ireland. In Australia Hennessy, Hair, Bayley, Townsend, Shoebridge, Edsall, Adamson, All Census Look Ups Are Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk |
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Dinkydidy
RootsChat Member
Posts: 168
When I WAS dinky.
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Hi Jason. I think you will find that the microfiche quoted is an INDEX only to the original records in the State Records collection. I have viewed the records and they contain in part the following:
Yatala Gaol Admission, Convict Department GRG 54/4/1 no 787
Name Thomas Field
Received 14 December 1866 from Adelaide Gaol
Conviction 27 November 1866 for assault and robbery, Supreme Court, Judge
Gwynne.
Sentence Death, commuted to imprisonment for life with hard labour.
Discharged 24 December 1975 on warrant of his excellency.
There is a great deal of other information, including a very detailed physical description (no mug shots back then!) which describes his expression as "wild, idiotic".
There is also on file a petition from his "distracted and broken hearted mother on behalf of her erring son" to the state governor, seeking clemency on account of his good behaviour. She points out that he needs to provide for his now nine year old son who has been dependent on her.
This son's birth was not officially registered, but is recorded in the Catholic Church Archives.
FIELD, Henry. Born 19 April 1867. Baptized 27 April 1867, Saints Peter & Paul, Gawler. Parents Thomas and Winifred (nee Lawson).
Winifred remarried a William Rutter in 1868 AND a Nathaniel Vickers in 1872, without any divorces or deaths occurring. (William Rutter also married again!)
Thomas remarried almost exactly a year after he was released, on 23 December 1876, and had a large family, but his son Henry seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth. No matching death or marriage records have yet come to light in S.A. nor Victoria, where some branches of the family settled.
There are extensive reports of Thomas's trial in the Adelaide Observer during November and December 1866.
I will send you a personal message with contact details for more Field info.
Didy.
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tropicalj
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 9044
Mason and Callum
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Hello there
Excellent stuff Didy
Jason should be well pleased with this information
did you go to the library for all of this
regards Jenn
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When you search for ancestors, you find great friends! I live in Townsville, Australia researching TOWNSEND,PINNEGAR, STRANGE, PULLEN, GRIFFIN from Wiltshire,, SHOEBRIDGE, VINALL, BRINDLE, Kent BAYLEY, Dorset,Yorkshire, HAIR, Durham, CUMMINS, BROWNLESS from Yorkshire, EDSALL, Cornwall, MORGAN, HENNESSY, BAKER, Ireland. In Australia Hennessy, Hair, Bayley, Townsend, Shoebridge, Edsall, Adamson, All Census Look Ups Are Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk |
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Dinkydidy
RootsChat Member
Posts: 168
When I WAS dinky.
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Hi Jenn
I got copies of the newspaper stories from the library, but all the other info is from visits to State Records, Catholic Archives etc.
My husband is Jason's great-uncle, so we are working on some of the same lines.
Didy
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