Author Topic: Were Prisoners in Census Records?  (Read 503 times)

Offline familyfind

  • RootsChat Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 125
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Were Prisoners in Census Records?
« on: Wednesday 10 June 20 12:20 BST (UK) »
I am looking for a Henry Bacon (born 1834 Ardleigh) and Henry Merchant (b1826 Ardleigh) in the 1861 Census.

I now both are in prison at this time but cannot find them or the prison in the records.  According to the Millbank prison records  they were in 'Medingly' (?) Prison from 15th May 1857 until 23 Oct 1861. 

 what or where is Medingly?

Offline stanmapstone

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 25,798
    • View Profile
Re: Were Prisoners in Census Records?
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday 10 June 20 12:22 BST (UK) »
Yes prisoners were enumerated as were everyone else alive on census night.

Stan
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline stanmapstone

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 25,798
    • View Profile
Re: Were Prisoners in Census Records?
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday 10 June 20 12:27 BST (UK) »
In 1861 most prisoners were just enumerated by initials.  You need to search by initials with "prisoner" in Keyword if you are on Ancestry.
Stan
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Online rosie99

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 41,948
  • ALFIE 2009 - 2021 (Rosbercon Sky's the Limit)
    • View Profile
Re: Were Prisoners in Census Records?
« Reply #3 on: Wednesday 10 June 20 12:30 BST (UK) »
In 1861 most prisoners were just enumerated by initials.  You need to search by initials with "prisoner" in Keyword if you are on Ancestry.
Stan

Or with initials & 'prisoner' in relationship on FindMyPast
Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk


Online ShaunJ

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 24,034
    • View Profile
Re: Were Prisoners in Census Records?
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday 10 June 20 12:30 BST (UK) »
Both of them were on the Medway prison hulk in Bermuda at the time of the UK census in 1861.

They can be found in HO 8:  "Quarterly Returns of Prisoners in Convict Hulks and Convict Prisons" if you have a subscription to thegenealogist.co.uk
UK Census info. Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline familyfind

  • RootsChat Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 125
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Were Prisoners in Census Records?
« Reply #5 on: Wednesday 10 June 20 14:37 BST (UK) »
OK thanks for all your help, I am delighted that they are recognizable.
But now I am going to have to ask for help. Have tried to follow the instructions on both FindMyPast and ancestry but haven't managed to get them on either site.

Please could someone give me further help? I started in the A-Z search of 1861 and put prisoner in 'relationships', then tried various combinations of initials and parishes but didn't find them.

Unfortunately don't have 'the genealogist' so cannot see the HO8 series.

Offline stanmapstone

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 25,798
    • View Profile
Re: Were Prisoners in Census Records?
« Reply #6 on: Wednesday 10 June 20 14:42 BST (UK) »
Both of them were on the Medway prison hulk in Bermuda at the time of the UK census in 1861.

They were in Bermuda so you wont find them in the 1861 census.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Medway_(1812)
Stan
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline familyfind

  • RootsChat Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 125
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Were Prisoners in Census Records?
« Reply #7 on: Wednesday 10 June 20 15:34 BST (UK) »
thanks Stanmapstone,

I was taking Bermuda to be the ship name and Medway the place  - how easy it is to presume the wrong reason.