Photograph - Female Penitentiary No.6 Ham Lane Plymouth

[Bill93185]

Hello again,

I have a question regarding why my grandmother actually was placed into Female Penitentiary?
I understand it was a Penitentiary, however what I have read it was a reasonable place at that time.

Where could I determine the reason why, and date she was interned?

Thanks for any assistance.
Bill
See attachment.

[ShaunJ]

Just to be clear these female "penitentiaries" in UK were charitable institutions, and nothing to do with the judicial system.

Previous thread on the topic of Plymouth penitentiary: https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=486879

[ShaunJ]

This from the time of the 1881 census. Western Morning News, 11 April 1881:

[Bill93185]

Hi ShaunJ
Thank you for your quick response.
The article you provided was excellent. Allot of reading.

The females came from various places and families. "They might have been a "fallen woman" or just be judged to be in "moral danger" to be sent to such a place"

In Eliza's case she may needed to leave her large family and her loss of mother at a young age. Her father may not have the income (labourer) to keep the family together.

I would never really know why she was accepted in the Penitentiary.

Below are some details that may give a reason for leaving home???

Eliza's large family
Eliza age 9 at 1871 Census
She lived with her father James 38 (a labourer), mother Mary 39, four brothers Thomas 14, John 12, James 6, Abraham 3, and a sister Hanna 9.  Reasonably large family.

Death of Eliza's mother
Eliza at age 14 her mother Mary passed away in Sept 1878 in Devon at the age of 47.

Eliza's Marriage
Eliza married Thomas CROKE in Plymouth, Devon, on 4 Feb 1887 when she was 22 years old. And had a successful marriage.

Thanks for your help, cheers from Australia