Hi all,
I have familysearch census detail for the family both before and after Clara & John William's marriage. However, from 1901, there seems to have been some problem/s beset the family.
The quote above is from my original post & I have now stumbled across what may be the reason(s) the family began to have problems.
I have in the last couple of days started a 14 day free trial on FindMyPast & decided amongst other things to locate if possible the workhouse records for the family as mentioned in this thread. In doing so I stumbled onto something most unexpected.
John William Mott (Senior) was in 1891 a Letter Carrier (postman) & imagine my shock when I saw an entry for him in the 'Calendar of Prisons Register'!
He had committed 3 offences of "feloniously stealing post letters"!
On 16th July 1895 he stole a post letter containing a postal order for 5 shillings.
On 17th Aug 1895 he stole a post letter containing a postal order for 3 shillings.
On 29th Oct 1895 he stole a post letter containing 2 half sovereigns, one shilling & nine postage stamps.
It would appear that he was probably caught on the last one, as he was received into custody the day after (30th Oct 1895). He was tried on the 15th Nov 1895 where he pleaded guilty to 3 counts of larceny of post letters. He was sentenced to 18 months Hard Labour. It has the word concurrently in brackets after the 18 months, so not sure if this was 6 months for each offence to be served concurrently or 18 months for each.
One wonders if having six young children to feed & not enough money to do so pushed him to do this or if it something else.
After his release he was in & out of the workhouse.
John William Mott (Snr); Chorlton Workhouse; admitted 1st Dec 1896; No date of discharge shown.
John William Mott (Snr); Chorlton Workhouse; admitted 25th Oct 1897; Discharged 28th Oct 1897.
John William Mott (Snr); Chorlton Workhouse; admitted 23rd Nov 1897; Discharged 30th Nov 1897.
John William Mott (Snr & Jnr) & Emily Jane Mott; Chorlton Workhouse; admitted 1st Dec 1897; J W Mott (Snr) no date of discharge shown. J W Mott (Jnr) discharged 3rd Oct 1898 & Emily Jane Mott discharged 4th Oct 1898.
The first workhouse entry (1896) as I read it seems to say 1896 but I have several register entries for John William Mott (Snr) all for Dec 1st 1897 & I wonder if this one is also 1897.
It just goes to show, that when it comes to family history, you just really never know what you might uncover!
Kind regards
David