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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Devon => England => Devon Lookup Requests => Topic started by: neil.meek on Monday 16 November 15 17:47 GMT (UK)
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I'm looking for information about John Lockhart Morton who was sentenced to four year penal servitude in 1859 and sent to Dartmoor Prison in March 1860. I cannot find him any where after that date and wonder whether he died in Dartmoor. If so, where would his death by registered?
I have found a John Morton death registered in March 1860 in Launceston but have no way knowing if its is him.
Any suggestions please?
Neil
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Hi and welcome to Rootschat
Dartmoor would probably have come under the Totnes Registration District. Although the Launceston RD covered a small part of Devon - it mainly covered Cornwall
http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/reg/districts/launceston.html
Where was he born and what was his birthyear
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Dartmoor Prison comes under the Tavistock RD ( i had a record from there for 1854 last week)
John comes up several times on findmypast if you have a sub there. One record in the PCOM3 reference is mentioned on the national archives site with a date of 31 October 1862 so that would appear to rule out the 1860 death
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If you have an Ancestry Worldwide subscription his name comes up on their Biography & Genealogy Master Index (BGMI)
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If you have an approximate date of birth and birthplace the 1861 census might have him listed. Do you have him on the 1851 census?
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He was released on licence from Dartmoor in 1862, as already posted in reply #2 above ...
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10592121
... so almost certainly there in 1861 too. Dartmoor Prison uses initials only in the 1861 census. There is one J.L.M., male, aged 34, unmarried, merchant, born Scotland, who may fit the bill.
RG 9/1458 folio 114 page 26 (folio corrected, sorry)
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He was released on licence from Dartmoor in 1862, as already posted in reply #2 above ...
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10592121
... so almost certainly there in 1861 too. Dartmoor Prison uses initials only in the 1861 census. There is one J.L.M., male, aged 34, unmarried, merchant, born Scotland, who may fit the bill.
RG 9/1458 folio 114 page 26 (folio corrected, sorry)
Well, I learn something new every day. I didn't know Dartmoor prison only listed initials on the 1861 census.
So, tracking back from his release in 1862 I found a record on oldbaileyonline for 4 July 1859:
" JOHN LOCKHART MORTON (32), was indicted for feloniously forging and uttering a bill of exchequer for 500l., also a bill of exchequer for 485l. 10s., with intent to defraud; to which he PLEADED GUILTY ."
With an approximate birth year of 1827, born in Scotland, he might be traceable on the 1871 census.
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There is a John L Morton Midlothian Land Agent on the 1851 census
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Your fella was sentenced not long after transportation of convicts ceased, the prisons in the UK were then overflowing and some prisoners were often released early. If he had been convicted a couple of years earlier he would have most likely ended up in Australia :o
Licence number 12043: John Lockhart Morton.
Caption order and prison record from when he was convicted of feloniously forging and uttering a forged acceptance of a bill of exchange at the Central Criminal Court at London, Middlesex 4 July 1859.
Then aged 32 years and by trade a merchant.
Sentence: 4 years penal servitude.
Licence granted 31 October 1862 for early release from Dartmoor prison.
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Your fella was sentenced not long after transportation of convicts ceased,
Transportation to Western Australia continued officially until 1868, though in much reduced numbers. In the case of John Lockhart Morton there is a specific recommendation in the caption order (PCOM 3/116) that the prisoner 'may not be selected for removal from the country at present'.
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My thanks for all your prompt replies about John Lockhart Morton. (He was born 1827 in Midlothian, Scotland). I'm so pleased to learn that he didn't die in Dartmoor Prison!
A great website!!
Regards to all
Neil
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If you have access to the worldwide ancestry there are some electoral records on there in 1912 and 1913 and a death record for a John Lockhart Morton
Edit: Its for a William John Lockhart Morton so probably not yours but they come under
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980 in Wimmera, Victoria, Australia 1912 & 1913, and
Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985 for a death between 1916 and 1925.
I do not access to fuller details
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I don't have access to the worldwide ancestry for the electoral records in 1912 and 1913 and a death record for a John Lockhart Morton. Could you quote the records please?
Thanks
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Hi sorry to but in on someone else's question, but I have a question on similar lines. I haven't been on this site for ages, but have in recent times returned to researching the family tree. My partner's G grandmother married a man called John Stowell, who I understand was a chemist. Whilst searching I found a John Stowell in the 1911 census in Dartmoor Prison (hence my interest in the question)It says he was a convict and a chemist. He was born in 1863 which would be about the right age for our John Stowell. How can I find out more information, and whether it is the same man. I am not paid up to either Ancestry or Findmypast. I am a member of myheritage and familysearch.org but can't find how to access prison records.
I'd be glad of any help,
Mary