Prison

[gill]

Hi,
Just found a Greenock man in one branch of the family tree, who was in prison at time of 1891 census, dont know why he was in prison.
On 1901 census, he is listed as 'lodger' at 9 William Street, Greenock, with loads of other men. Was this the address of the  prison, during that time.
any help appreciated
gill

[RJ_Paton]

Prisoners were generally described as that in the census records . The address you have given is more towards the centre of greenock and is roughly 2 miles from the prison. It may possibly have been a general lodging house or a hostel for the homeless (a state in which former prisoners often found themselves upon release)

[weemary]

Hi  wonder if your ancestor knew my ancestor -  he was also living there at that time -  The old police station used to be  around William St, behind the  Old James watt college The building still stands although empty, and has a statue of james Watt outside it

The prison was at the top of William Street, just behind where the Mid Kirk is now -  would have to look out my old greenock photos to be sure

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:James_Watt_Memorial_College.jpg

[weemary]

see you have McIlmoyle in your family.  Any chance you are related to Hugh McIlmoyle  the footballer?

[gill]

Hi weemary,
yes, Hugh McIlmoyle ex footballer is a cousin of my dads. Do you have McIlmoyle connections? Not found anyone else researching them. Well not strictly true, there are a few people researching McIlmoyle, but no connection to the ones in my tree.
regards Gillian

[weemary]

  no not my family, my husbands sister  Ann, her husband's sister is married to Ian, and I work with Roberts daughter, Carol, small world

[Ann Baker]

Hi gill

the prison records for Scotland are all held by National Archives Scotland

http://www.nas.gov.uk/

Ann