Norwich Prison - Tillet 1881-COMPLETE

[usacheshire]

In 1871 census shows Robert Tillet, who married Susan Tidman in 1868, living in Portland Sq with son Robert and first daughter.  In 1881 Susan is a prisoner in Norwich and the children are in Swainthorpe workhouse. The eldest Robert, and two younger daughters, Mary and Alice- not the one from 1871 who probably died. By 1891 Susan reunited with Mary Ann and another daughter is in a Row house in Lakenham.   Robert the father never shows anywhere after the 1871 census, in the records I have access to.

If anyone has access to Norwich records I would like to know -What was Susan in for, and  because she describes herself as a widow in 1891, when and where did Robert the father  die.

[CaroleW]

Hi

Can't find Robert in any census after 1871

For info and tracing purposes 1871 shows his birthyear as 1846 and birthplace as Wreningham.  Occupation labourer

Nothing on the 1880 US or 1881 Canadian censuses and no death on freebmd that fits his age

[usacheshire]

Thanks , this is exactly the problem I have found. He just seems to have disappeared.  But thanks for trying.
I have the family data for his birth, his father was a miller at a couple of well known mills, and I am reasonable certain of the later information  of his children, one of whom was a Grandparent.

[peggypatch]

It is not uncommon to find that a marriage broke down and the man goes to start a new life elsewhere and changes his name to avoid being arrested for deserting his family and being forced to pay maintenance for them. After 7 years of having no news of an absconded spouse then the other could claim to be a widow/widower and legally remarry.

The records you need searching to discover what Susan was imprisoned for are the nominal registers for Norwich prison (which was in the castle at this time). They are arranged by date, so you would need to have them searched back from the date of the 1881 census until her entry is found. Once located these entries give quite a bit of useful information such as date and place of commital and trial, conviction, offence, sentence, education, age, height, colour of hair and eyes, occupation, religion, place of birth, number of previous convictions and date of discharge. Some of these registers are missing, but the ones for female prisoners between 1879 and 1883 have survived and are held at the Norfolk Record Office, so as long as she was convicted between 1879 and the 1881 census, then she should be found.

[usacheshire]

Thanks so much , this is really useful info.   Seeing Alice was age  5, when she was recorded in the workhouse census , there is a very good chance that her mother was convicted between '79 and 81.

Hopefully this is something that the Search Service at the records office can help with.

Again thank you.