Missing records for Perth (General) Prison

[GeoffBoyle]

I suspect that my ancestor James Boyle (b1850, normally resident in Glasgow) was in Perth Prison for the 1881 census.
He's not at home in Glasgow with his young family and a good match for age and employment exists in the prison census.

I searched the NAS catalogues and it seems like the convict journals for 1881 don't exist, maybe they were lost or destroyed.
Can someone confirm that I'm reading NAS correctly and the records don't exist for 1881?

Without knowing which court convicted him, what's the best way to plan a search of the records for details?

[ev]

Hi , and welcome to RootsChat 

We have had a topic about this before -
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=660046.msg5057751#msg5057751

Looks like there may be a gap in the records 1879 - 1888

 


ev

[GeoffBoyle]

Thanks ev

I was afraid that might be the case, could have been a lovely bit of information.
I'd already subscribed to The Scotsman to see if anything appeared but the link to local paper archives in the thread you mentioned might turn up something.

[ecksdochter]

Hello Geoff,
     Is this the right James?
     James Boyle 30 prisoner , carting contractor , born Glasgow Lanark.
     Registration No 387.  District Perth.
     Civil Parish , Perth East Church.
     County , Perthshire.
     Address , East Church Parish of Perth.
     The General Prison for Scotland.
     Line 13.  Page 9.
     Roll cssct1881_110.
     1881 Scotland Census. Reels 1-338 General Register Office for Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland.
   

     ScotlandsPeople has a James Boyle, age 31 at Perth, Perthshire. Don't think it will be the same James unless there is a transcription error with his age. (Not unusual with difficult to read writing) Would need 6 credits to check that out.

               Regards,     Dod.

     (Added) Sorry Geoff, I misread your post. See you have this information already.
     Would prisoners be held in a local prison while awaiting trial, then on to Perth Prison after tried & convicted? If so, that narrows his conviction down to between start date of gap in records, 1879 & 1881 Census. I know people were sent to Perth Prison from all over Scotland but don't know if they were held there before trial.
     Good luck with your search.     Dod.


Edit , cut and paste from transcription site , please provide your own transcription

[Isabel H]

Just wondered if you have searched the NAS catalogue for his name? There may be trial records.