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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Yorkshire (North Riding) => England => Yorkshire (North Riding) Lookup Requests => Topic started by: originQuest on Monday 05 September 16 15:17 BST (UK)
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Hi there,
I'm looking for details of a lady who was described as a prostitute, and acted as a witness in a case heard in Middlesbrough in 1887.
There is a lady of the same name who died in November 1887 aged 24. I'm not sure if this is her or not.
There is little other to add other than the crime for which she spoke out was committed in St. Hilda's parish, Middlesbrough.
Would there be any way of finding out more about this lady?
Best wishes.
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Would there be any way of finding out more about this lady?
What date was the case heard?
Given that there is no Isabella Watson in Middlesborough in 1881 plus no known birthyear or birthplace the only tenuous starting point would be the 1887 death cert but you would be hoping that an occ of prostitute was shown which may be unlikely
There is a lady of the same name who died in November 1887 aged 24.
Death reg shows her as 23 so birthyear approx 1864
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Thanks for that - the case was heard in March 1887.
It isn't much to go on is it - I suppose she could have married but would that be likely?
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Only one Isabella Watson marriage in Middlesborough but that was 1883. Whatever she did after the trial may not have been in Middlesborough.
Unless you found a census entry which specifically showed her occupation as prostitute it is very unlikely you would get more info about her.
Have you tried seeing if she is again mentioned in any newspaper reports
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I too considered she might have left Middlesbrough and started afresh - hopefully things worked out, but somehow I don't think so.
April 1884 saw her assault by a lover for drinking with another man in a pub.
July 1885 saw her brawling with another woman.
She was sent to prison for three months in October 1886 for stealing a watch along with Margaret Davies.
In March 1887 she gives evidence about a brothel in which she was working, having been there for about nine months.
Three days later, she and Margaret Davies are both in court, for two seperate assaults on them from two different men in two different public houses.
In May 1887, she was again in court with Margaret Davies for stealing £4 from a sailor.
The fact she doesn’t seem to appear in the local press after this time, suggests she is the twenty-three year old who was buried in Linthorpe Cemetery that November 1887.
What do you think?
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Seems likely. Either that or she saw the error of her ways and became a reformed character ;D
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What a sad story.