Harrowers - poaching and court case

[Steven1314]

Hi whilst at library at weekend I came across and article from 1880 in which 2 men - Andrew and Robert Harrower were accused of poaching then assaulting the gamekeeper at Gartmorn Dam near Alloa.

Would anyone know how I find out any more information to see if Andrew is from my family tree?  I did hear from a relative that Andrew was regularly in trouble for poaching.

Also the case went to court and they received 3 months hard labour - is there anyway or anywhere I can go to get more information on the case?

If I could find a date of birth of Andrew from say a court file I could then verify whether he is my great great grandfather

Thanks

Steven

[behindthefrogs]

You didn't name your source.  In cases like this there are three possible sources.  The court records, the prison records and the local newspapers.

The former two will often give you an age and sometimes an aqpproximate address.  The details of the actual court case might give you more detail either in an actual record or in a newspaper report. 

David

[Steven1314]

Hi David it was in the Alloa Advertiser I think on 9th November 1880 and also the Alloa Journal - I looked them up at the library but wondered if you can obtain any information through the local court

Steven

[Steven1314]

Hi it looks like my only option is to visit the National Archives in Edinburgh.  Can't think of anything else - does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

Steven

[Yorkslass]

Hi Steven,

Found this in the Glasgow Herald, October 8, 1880. Says the Harrowers are cousins, which may give you a lead.

Hope it's not the same as you already have....

Yorkslass

[Steven1314]

Hi Yorkslass it was the same but great to get it in newspaper format and thank you

Is there a website where you managed to get this?  I wondered if there was anything around November 1880 when the case went to the Sheriff Court in Alloa?

Thanks

Steven

[Yorkslass]

Hi Steven,

The website I use is online via my local library - "19th Century British Library newspapers" - they only have the "main" Scottish papers on there - the Glasgow Herald, the Aberdeen Journal, Dundee Courier and Caledonian Mercury.

I did a search on both Andrew and Robert Harrower, but the one I posted was the only one that came up, I'm afraid.

Yorkslass

[Steven1314]

Thanks for looking might try the local library myself

Steven

[Steven1314]

Great result today the National Archives came back with some information on the court case and also that the year after in 1881 the mother and 2 daughters were also charged as they tried to assualt a magistrate coming to serve papers against the son for borrowing money and not paying it back.

They charge a £15 fee to search to see if they can find any papers etc

What a result

Steven