Simon CHEW, Born 21/02/1833, Rodborough

[BAC3]

Hello,

Simon CHEW was born at Rodborough on 21/02/1833 the son of Thomas CHEW and his wife Elizabeth (nee HORTON).   However, the 1841 Census has him placed in Wheatenhurst Union Workhouse alongside, it is assumed, his mother and a brother Samuel aged 11 and sister Mary 15.There is no evidence of the father, although the 1851 Census shows the mother widowed and another possible brother Thomas, aged 26.

Despite fairly extensive research I am unable to find any trace of Simon CHEW after 18/10/1853 when he was released early from Dartmoor Prison,    Can anyone help please

The CHEW name seems popular in Gloucester

BAC3

[Milliepede]

Is he the same person down for transportation 7 years on the 1850 prison record?

I guess not if he was released from Dartmoor in 1853!  Or is that where he was transported to?

[Milliepede]

Just to clarify is John Simon Chew for whom there are also prison records a different person?

Yours might have changed his name if he "came good" afterwards 

[BAC3]

The Home Office decided to commute the transportation sentence of 7 years and eventually he served time at Parkhurst, Portsmouth and Dartmoor Prisons until his early release in 1853.

John Simon CHEW is problematic in that I have researched him but the records are unhelpful and aside from his DOB being given as 1835 his criminal record does not specify that he had previous convictions, which is a normally standard indictment.................and thus he appears to be a different person unless someone can  "thankfully" prove otherwise

Thank you for replying

BAC3

[Bookbox]

There are records on FindMyPast showing that Simon CHEW and John Simon CHEW are the same person. Database England & Wales, Crime, Prisons & Punishment, 1770-1935. See especially the documents dated 1857 in HO 18/363.

Lengthy reports in the Cheltenham Chronicle of the committal proceedings (13 Jan 1857) and the assize hearing (7 April 1857) confirm that. These can also be accessed at FindMyPast, or via the British Newspaper Archive.
http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

[Capetown]

National Archives

18 November 1853

Licence number 188: Simon CHEW alias Simon TEW
Convicted of Stealing a glass fountain after a previous conviction of felony at the Quarter Sessions at Gloucester, Gloucestershire, 1 January 1850.
Then aged 14 years and by trade a labourer.
Sentence: 7 years' transportation.
Licence granted: 18 November 1853, for early release from Dartmoor Prison.


----

There are John TEW marriages at Gloucestershire at later dates...  TEW baptisms/marriages/burial also in Gloucestershire

[BAC3]

Hello Bookbox,

Thank you for your message, I am extremely grateful.

Sadly, I am not an FindMyPast Subscriber and in the circumstances will formally transcribe your message into my PhD work as "evidence" that Simon CHEW and John Simon CHEW are one and the same person.....with the following question in my mind still remaining to be answered.   Why do the official Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial Registers, 1567 -1970 and Non-Conformist Baptisms Index, 1739-1987 not mention a "John Simon"    I assume he may have "added John" to confuse the authorities

The joys of genealogy

BAC3

[Bookbox]

Sadly, I am not an FindMyPast Subscriber

A subscription isn't required. The images can be accessed by purchasing a few online credits at FindMyPast, if that's possible for you.

I assume he may have "added John" to confuse the authorities

Calendars of prisoners and court records show that a change of name was common practice amongst habitual offenders.

[BAC3]

Thank you Bookbox,

I have obtained the "leads"  that you referred to.

It has been suggested that he went to Canada and maybe the appropriate RootsChat board will again provide the right answers.

BAC3