I did some research at Kew but ran out of time before completion. I cannot return to Kew for months. Can someone help me please?
I have a prison entry for a John Bowler on the Quarterly Prisoner Returns in Chatham Prison.
The details I have are as follows:
HO 8/187 - Prisoner Returns 1871 March
HO 8/188 - Prisoner Returns 1871 June
Both identical (except for quarter):
"ATTESTED LIST OF THE CONVICT PRISON OF CHATHAM
Quarter Ending the 31st Day of March 1870
Number on the book: 8941
Name: John Bowler
Age: 17
Offence: Arson (Stack)
Conviction Where: Oxford
Conviction When: 12 July 1866
Sentence: 7PS
Surgeons Report: Healthy
Conduct during quarter: V Good
Remarks:"
Entry in HO 8/191 slightly different (June 1872):
Number on the book: 8941
Name: John Bowler
Age: 17
Offence: Arson
Conviction Where: Oxford
Conviction When: 12 July 1866
Sentence: 7PS
Surgeons Report: -----
Conduct during quarter: -----
Remarks:Licensed 6.1.72"
I am hoping that 17 was his age when he was convicted and that he was 21/22 in 1871. Can anyone look at an earlier HO8 Prisoner return, perhaps 1867-1869, and confirm the details held for him on these returns?
If someone is feeling extremely generous with their time, I would love to know more about his trial and sentencing in 1866. I managed to check the following documents with no reference to him:
ASSI 1/64 - Oxford Circuit Assizes
ASSI 3/3 - Oxford Circuit Assizes
Thanks in advance.
Mark
