RootsChat.Com

Is anyone looking for CHARLES GROVES, born 23rd January 1794, died June 1st 1881, Great grandfather of P. R. HAYLLEN, H. WALLIS and R. W. WALLIS/  carte de visite photo free to any descendant or relative.

Helping a prisoner of war to escape was legally a misdemeanour and very mildly punished until 1811.  In that year the offence was made a felony punishable by transportation for seven or fourteen years or for life at the court’s discretion.  (52 Geo.  III, c.  156) I would therefore have thought your ancestor would have been the subject of some record showing a conviction for felony and it would be interesting to know why he was not transported.

The persons he helped to escape were (1) Captain A. de Marconay who was captured at Flushing on 15th August 1809 and who was received at Ashby from Forton Prison, Bristol on 11th September 1809, and (2) 2nd Lt Joseph Frequin, captured at Flushing on 15th August 1809 and received at Ashby from Yarmouth on 16th October 1809.  They were parole prisoners, living in lodgings in Ashby, subject to various regulations and restrictions, but otherwise relatively free.

Helping prisoners to escape was a crime done for money, rather than out of any sympathy for French officers, and there were a few criminals who specialised in it.  One of your other correspondents refers you to a website with the text of Francis Abell's Prisoners of War in Great Britain, 1756-1815.  This is quite good on parole life, but Abell is very unreliable when he deals with the prison hulks.

I hope this helps.

Abergynolwyn

Glad to have been of some help.
Abergynolwyn

Many thanks, Orielbenfro, for your extraordinary efforts on my queries.  After putting you to so much work I feel almost ashamed to say that I already have every one of the Campbell and Hazelwood entries you mention, except for the 1873 Campbell one which isn't relevant to my research.

However,  certain of the Rowe entries, and I'm very grateful for them, are new to me.  Mary Rowe of Moncton Lane sounds a possible candidate for Mary Hazelwood though her actual age would have been about 68 if she was the Mary Hazelwood baptised in 1798.  Worth my getting the death certificate anyway.

One tiny correction for your excellent list;  I think the witness at Mary Patterson's wedding was Henry Miller rather than Mary Miller.

John Campbell, burgess from 1740 to 1761, was of Stackpole Court and the grandfather of J[ohn] Campbell, lessee of the Watch House in 1790 who was later Lord Cawdor.  I have no idea where or what the Watch House was, but I suspect it may have been the town lock-up.

Again, many thanks for your help.

Abergynolwyn