Was my ancestor a criminal?

[Ruskie]

This Lancashire account even includes the insults used
( I think )

 

[Rosinish]

Henry Gardiner (1841-96). born Great Cornard, Suffolk and lived there until some time in the 1870s when he moved to Jarrow with his wife and family.

The records for Suffolk mention Henry Gardiner in three trials - 19 October 1863 Larcency (guilty), January 1866 Larceny by Servant (guilty) and March 1875 Felony as Receiver (acquitted).

What was his occupation & address (usually included in newspaper reports) & are good possible identifiers?

This may help as there are a few pointers - (Suffolk Chronicle 15 August 1863)

It's possible his reason for relocating to Jarrow had something to do with his 'past'

Annie

[Rosinish]

This entry states Great Cornard, maybe more helpful?

I think on both occasions the thefts were from employers?

Bury and Norwich Post 12 December 1865

Annie

[Ruskie]

The one who is 24 in 1866 fits age wise to be your Henry Gardiner.

[brigidmac]

The 1866 record Henry Gardiner was imprisoned for 12 months ..hard labour
1863 for 4 calender months
Could that be the same Henry Gardiner who was acquitted of felony by receiver in 1875

Ancestry doesn't seem to have petty session records  for Suffolk

Was your ancestor married. are their any children born in years he would have been in prison ??
 Is he the ag lab in 1871 with wife Esther and children aged 9 ,7 .6 + 3 ?

# answering my own question ..yes children's names and ages correspond with the 1881 widower

[Sandrafamilytree]

The indexes were all i could get up but if you register on the below link you can obtain 3 searches free before having to pay for them.

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/

Published: Saturday 24 October 1863
Newspaper: Norfolk News
County: Norfolk, England

Henry Gardiner, was charged with having, on the 7th of August last embezzled the sum of 165., the property of Mr. Robert Butcher, coal ...
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Published: Wednesday 17 January 1866
Newspaper: Essex Standard
County: Essex, England

Henry Gardiner, 24, labourer, was indicted for stealing 8 bushels 21 pecks of peas, and 9 bushels 3A pecks of barley, the property of ...
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Published: Saturday 27 March 1875
Newspaper: Bury Free Press
County: Suffolk, England

.....probability, the prisoners would have been out of Two cases he would call their attention to those of Alfred Newman and Henry Gardiner. He had read the depositions, and unless there were other witnesses, could not say they ought to send them for trial here ...

Thank you very much for the information and advice. My local library offers free access to the British Newspaper Archive so I'll check that out in more detail as a resource. 

[Sandrafamilytree]

Henry Gardiner (1841-96). born Great Cornard, Suffolk and lived there until some time in the 1870s when he moved to Jarrow with his wife and family.

The records for Suffolk mention Henry Gardiner in three trials - 19 October 1863 Larcency (guilty), January 1866 Larceny by Servant (guilty) and March 1875 Felony as Receiver (acquitted).

What was his occupation & address (usually included in newspaper reports) & are good possible identifiers?

This may help as there are a few pointers - (Suffolk Chronicle 15 August 1863)

It's possible his reason for relocating to Jarrow had something to do with his 'past'

Annie

Hi Annie

Henry was an Agricultural Labourer and he lived in Canhams Road, Great Cornard with his parents. In 1861 he married and by 1871 he lived in Newton Road, Great Cornard. By 1877 he was in Jarrow because a daughter was born there in that year.

I did wonder whether his past might have prompted the relocation but then I do have many relatives from other parts of the family tree who moved to the North East from Norfolk and Suffolk, presumably in search of work. While in Jarrow his wife died young and a daughter died too. He remarried and emigrated to Canada.

I'm thinking I could look for other Henry Gardiners born around the same time and in the same locations and then try to rule them out as possible Henrys from the newspaper reports, if appropriate.

Thank you for replying to me. 

[Sandrafamilytree]

The 1866 record Henry Gardiner was imprisoned for 12 months ..hard labour
1863 for 4 calender months
Could that be the same Henry Gardiner who was acquitted of felony by receiver in 1875

Ancestry doesn't seem to have petty sessions for Suffolk

Was your ancestor married are their any children born in years he would have been in prison ?? Is he the aglab in 1871 with wife Esther and children aged 9 ,7 .6 + 3 ?

Yes, that's him.

That is a really good suggestion, about comparing children's births with possible absence in prison.

I must admit, I misread the prison sentence. I thought it was one month's hard labour. (12 months...  )

He had a son born in the first quarter of 1865 and a daughter born in the final quarter of 1867, so that would certainly fit.

[Sandrafamilytree]

This entry states Great Cornard, maybe more helpful?

I think on both occasions the thefts were from employers?

Bury and Norwich Post 12 December 1865

Annie

Thank you very much for posting the cutting. That is certainly plausible that it is my relative.

It's a bit sad to think so... but I do like the way the newspaper report is so detailed. It is like listening to a village gossip!

If it's him, my son will be interested to know. He's a bit bored with my family tree hobby so he needs my ancestors to be celebrities or have a bit of a shady past to grab his attention.