Faces of British crime of the XIX century

What did the petty criminals of the XIX century look like? We offer you a look at the faces of English prisoners held in a penal colony in the period 1871-1873.

These portraits show petty criminals of various stripes, convicted under the Crime Prevention Act of 1871. All the prisoners were convicted and served their time in Newcastle Prison. At that time, even young children could get a very real term. Life for the poor and the very bottom of British society was not easy then. Often, in order to feed themselves, the poor stole everything that came to hand. What is the group theft of an iron by four little girls worth?

1. James Joblin

He was charged with "unlawful infliction of injuries". He served time in a correctional colony in Newcastle.

Age (on release): 26 Height: 1.63 m Hair: light brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single

2. Jane Farrell

I stole 2 shoes. She was sentenced to 10 days of correctional labor.

Age (upon release): 12 Height: 1 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single

3. James Dewitt

Accused of deceptive extortion of money. He was sentenced to 6 weeks in prison.

Age (on release): 18 Height: 1.73 m Hair: dark Eyes: dark Place of birth: Ireland Marital status: single

4. William Harrison

Born in Durham, he worked as a porter. Accused of extorting oats by deception. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison in 1872.

Age (on release): 51 Height: 1.70 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Durham Marital status: married

5. James Donnelly

Also known as James Darley. At the age of 16, he has been in prison more than once. At that time - on charges of stealing shirts. He was sentenced to 2 months in prison.

Age (upon release): 16 Height: 1.52 m Hair: brown Eyes: brown Place of birth: Shotley Bridge Employment: laborer

6. John Reed

Accused of stealing money. In 1873, he was sentenced to 14 days of hard labor and 5 years of re-education.

Age (upon release): 15 Height: 1.49 m Hair: Light brown Eyes: gray Place of birth: Gateshead Marital status: single Employment: glassblower

7. John Novel

Crime: theft of clothing. Sentence: 14 days of correctional labor.

Age (on release): 64 Height: 1.70 m Hair: gray Eyes: blue Place of birth: Germany Marital status: married Employment: tailor

8. Thomas Watson

Crime: shoe theft. Sentence: 2 months in prison.

Age (upon release): 40 Height: 1.67 m Hair: brown Eyes: brown Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single Employment: shoemaker

9. Mary Ann Ross

Mary Ann Ross was a prostitute and was repeatedly prosecuted for stealing money. In this case, she was sentenced to 6 months in prison.

Age (on release): 34 Height: 1.57 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Edinburgh Marital status: widow

10. Thomas Tweedy

Crime: theft of money. Sentence: 4 months in prison.

Age (upon release): 20 Height: 1.63 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single Employment: day laborer

11. Agnes Stewart

Accused of stealing money.

Age (on release): 28 Height: 1.61 m Hair: brown Eyes: grey Place of birth: Edinburgh Marital status: married

12. Mary Costella

Crime: theft of money. Sentence: 15 months of imprisonment in the Newcastle correctional Colony.

Age (upon release): 27 Height: 1.55 m Hair: Black Eyes: brown Place of birth: Shotley Bridge Marital status: married

13. Mary Katarina Docherty

Crime: Stealing an iron with Mary Hanigan, Ellen Woodman and Rosanna Watson. Sentence: 7 days of hard work.

Age (upon release): 14 Height: 1.44 m Hair: red Eyes: blue Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single

14. Ellen Woodman

Crime: Theft of an iron together with Mary Katarina Docherty, Mary Hanigan and Rosanna Watson. Sentence: 7 days of hard work.

Age (upon release): 11 Height: 1.30 m Hair: Red Eyes: blue Place of birth: Durham Marital status: single

15. Mary Hanigan

Crime: Stealing an iron with Mary Katarina Docherty, Ellen Woodman and Rosanna Watson. Sentence: 7 days of hard work.

Age (upon release): 13 Height: 1.53 m Hair: brown Eyes: brown Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single

16. Rosanna Watson

Crime: Theft of an iron together with Mary Katarina Docherty, Ellen Woodman and Mary Hanigan. Sentence: 7 days of hard work.

Age (upon release): 13 Height: 1.50 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Durham Marital status: single

17. Henry Leonard Stephenson

Crime: illegal entry into houses. Sentence: 2 months in prison.

Age (upon release): 12 Height: 1.35 m Hair: Dark Eyes: brown Place of birth: Castle Eden Marital status: single

18. Patrick O'Neill

Crime: illegal entry into houses. Sentence: 18 months in prison.

Age (upon release): 19 Height: 1.57 m Hair: Brown Eyes: grey Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single Employment: bootblack

19. Ann Burns

Crime: theft of a vest. Sentence: 1 month of imprisonment.

Age (on release): 18 Height: 1.50 m Hair: brown Eyes: grey Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single

20. Margaret McCann

Crime: theft of money. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

Age (on release): 24 Height: 1.53 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single Employment: street vendor

21. James Loxley

Crime: theft of money. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

Age (on release): 22 Height: 1.72 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single Employment: stoker

22. Katarina Callie

Crime: theft of bed linen. Sentence: 3 months in prison.

Age (upon release): 17 Height: 1.55 m Hair: Brown Eyes: grey Place of birth: Nottingham Marital status: single

23. Isabella Dodds

Crime: theft of a gold watch. Sentence: 4 months in prison.

Age (upon release): 17 Height: 1.44 m Hair: brown Eyes: brown Place of birth: Liverpool Marital status: single Employment: maid

24. Isabella Smith

Crime: theft of poultry. Sentence: 6 weeks in prison.

Age (upon release): 60 Height: 1.55 m Hair: gray Eyes: brown Place of birth: Elsdon Marital status: single Employment: day laborer for household work

25. Henry Miller

Crime: theft of clothing. Sentence: 14 days of correctional labor.

Age (upon release): 14 Height: 1.35 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Berwick Marital status: single Employment: pastry chef

26. Joshua Robson

Crime: theft of money. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

Age (upon release): 19 Height: 1.55 m Hair: Brown Eyes: gray Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single Employment: carpenter

27. Sabina Forbes

Crime: theft of money. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

Age (on release): 32 Height: 1.65 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: married

28. David Barron

Crime: stealing champagne with William Hill. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

Age (upon release): 19 Height: 1.55 m Hair: Brown Eyes: grey Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single

29. William Hill

Crime: stealing champagne with David Barron. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

Age: 28 Height: 1.67 m Hair: blonde Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single Employment: carpenter

30. Michael Clement Fisher

Crime: illegal entry into houses. Sentence: 2 months in prison.

Age: 13 Height: 1.44 m Hair: Brown Eyes: gray Place of birth: West Hartepool Marital status: single

31. Robert Bolam

Crime: Stealing clothes with William Salmon and Thomas Garraty. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

Age: 20 Height: 1.70 m Hair: brown Eyes: brown Place of birth: Gateshead Marital status: single

32. William Salmon

Crime: Stealing clothes with Robert Bolam and Thomas Garraty. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

Age: 18 Height: 1.65 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Dumfries Occupation: worker

33. Thomas Garraty

Crime: Stealing clothes with Robert Bolam and William Salmon. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

Age: 18 Height: 1.52 m Hair: Brown Eyes: gray Place of birth: Gateshead Field of employment: laborer Marital status: single

34. Edward Shevlin

Crime: theft of a coat. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

Age: 32 Height: 1.65 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Ireland Employment: laborer Marital status: married

35. Robert Carleton

Crime: theft of 2 pairs of boots. Sentence: 4 months in prison.

Age: 16 Height: 1.50 m Hair: brown Eyes: brown Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single

36. George Lamb

Crime: theft of money. Sentence: 4 months in prison. An accomplice of the Duffy brothers.

Age (upon release): 17 Height: 1.63 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single Employment: carrier

37. Peter Duffy

Crime: assault and theft. Sentence: 6 months in prison. An accomplice of his brother John Duffy.

Age (upon release): 20 Height: 1.63 m Hair: brown Eyes: brown Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single Employment: worker

38. John Duffy

Crime: assault and theft. Sentence: 6 months in prison. An accomplice of his brother Peter Duffy.

Age (upon release): 16 Height: 1.57 m Hair: Brown Eyes: gray Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single Employment: laborer

39. William Bell

Crime: theft of beef.

Age (on release): 32 Height: 1.65 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: married Employment: blacksmith

40. William Badger

Crime: theft of a watch. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

Age (upon release): 20 Height: 1.52 m Hair: Brown Eyes: grey-blue Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single Employment: shoemaker

41. George Bell

Crime: theft of a watch. Sentence: 2 months in prison.

Age (on release): 24 Height: 1.63 m Hair: brown Eyes: gray Place of birth: Hexham Marital status: single Employment: worker

42. Thomas Smith

Crime: fraud. Sentence: 3 months in prison. Accomplices: James Dewitt and William Cotter.

Age (on release): 32 Height: 1.65 m Hair: brown Eyes: gray Place of birth: New York Marital status: widower Employment: shoemaker

43. Ann Wood

Crime: theft of money. Sentence: 2 months in prison.

Age (on release): 30 Height: 1.60 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Cramlington Marital status: married

44. William Smith

Crime: theft of money and scales. Sentence: 2 months in prison.

Age (on release): 25 Height: 1.60 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Sheffield Marital status: single Employment: printer

45. Mary Erskine Christie

Crime: theft of money. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

Age (upon release): 20 Height: 1.63 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single

46. George Robb

Crime: theft of money. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

Age (upon release): 19 Height: 1.65 m Hair: brown Eyes: brown Place of birth: Scotland Marital status: single Employment: carpenter

47. Richard Bradshaw

Crime: theft of money. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

Age (upon release): 40 Height: 1.67 m Hair: Brown Eyes: grey Place of birth: Ireland Marital status: married Employment: street vendor

48. Robert Hardy

Crime: theft of ale. Sentence: 4 months in prison. Accomplices: George Ray and Thomas Pearson.

Age (upon release): 21 Height: 1.67 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Corbridge Marital status: single Employment: signalman

49. George Ray

Crime: theft of ale. Sentence: 4 months in prison. Accomplices: Robert Hardy and Thomas Pearson.

Age (on release): 30 Height: 1.67 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Scotland Marital status: married Employment: railway guard

50. Thomas Pearson

Crime: theft of ale. Sentence: 4 months in prison. Accomplices: Robert Hardy and George Ray.

Age (on release): 31 Height: 1.73 m Hair: brown Eyes: gray Place of birth: Hamsvau Marital status: single Employment: security guard on the railway

51. William Brenkston.

Crime: theft of four rabbits. Sentence: 1 month of imprisonment.

Age (on release): 43 Height: 1.67 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Alnwick Marital status: married Employment: laborer

52. Ann Kirk

Crime: theft of money. Sentence: 3 months in prison. It wasn't her first time in prison.

Age (on release): 35 Height: 1.55 m Hair: red Eyes: blue Place of birth: Ireland Marital status: single Employment: day laborer for domestic work

53. Phyllis Robinson

Crime: theft of money. Sentence: 1 month of imprisonment.

Age (on release): 34 Height: 1.57 m Hair: red Eyes: blue Place of birth: Alnwick Marital status: single

54. James Richley

Crime: theft of teapot stands. Sentence: 7 days of correctional labor.

Age (on release): 30 Height: 1.70 m Hair: brown Eyes: brown Place of birth: Preston Marital status: married Employment: warehouse worker

55. John Scott

Crime: theft of lead. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

Age (on release): 29 Height: 1.65 m Hair: brown Eyes: gray Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: married Field of employment: laborer

56. John Bryan

Crime: theft of lead. Sentence: 4 months in prison.

Age (on release): 29 Height: 1.67 m Hair: black Eyes: blue Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: married Employment: water carrier

57. John Richards

Crime: theft of money. Sentence: 3 months in prison.

Age (on release): 25 Height: 1.65 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Plymouth Marital status: single Employment: hatter

58. Catherine Flynn

Crime: theft of money. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

Age (on release): 34 Height: 1.55 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Ireland Marital status: married

59. Jane Kearsley

Crime: theft of bed linen. Sentence: 2 months in prison.

Age (on release): 29 Height: 1.47 m Hair: brown Eyes: gray Place of birth: Cumberland Marital status: single Employment: street vendor

60. John Grieveson

Crime: stealing pigeons. Sentence: 4 months in prison.

Age (upon release): 21 Height: 1.63 m Hair: Light Eyes: gray Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single Employment: salesman

61. Jane Carter

Crime: theft of a silver watch. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

Age (on release): 22 Height: 1.55 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: married

62. Jeev Wooster

Crime: theft of money. Sentence: 3 months in prison.

Age (on release): 39 Height: 1.55 m Hair: light Eyes: blue Place of birth: Felling

63. Robert Kraddas

Crime: theft of money. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

Age (on release): 25 Height: 1.55 m Hair: brown Eyes: brown Place of birth: Barnard Castle Marital status: single Employment: laborer

64. Charles Burns

Crime: fraud. Sentence: 3 months in prison.

Age (upon release): 19 Height: 1.65 m Hair: dark Eyes: brown Place of birth: Liverpool Marital status: single Employment: miner

65. Ezekiel Yates

Crime: tobacco theft. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

Age (on release): 35 Height: 1.65 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Penrith Marital status: married Employment: grocer

66. Alice Mullholland

Crime: theft of boots. Sentence: 3 months in prison.

Age (on release): 18 Height: 1.52 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single

67. Mary Patterson

Crime: theft of poultry. Sentence: 6 weeks in prison.

Age (on release): 25 Height: 1.60 m Hair: brown Eyes: brown Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: married

68. John Allan

Crime: theft of money. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

Age (upon release): 19 Height: 1.73 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Vark Marital status: single Employment: laborer

69. Thomas Dixon

Crime: theft of money. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

Age (upon release): 20 Height: 1.67 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single Employment: stoker

70. John Storley

Crime: theft of a tree. Sentence: 1 month of imprisonment.

Age (on release): 32 Height: 1.73 m Hair: light Eyes: gray Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single Employment: laborer

71. James Scrillinton

Crime: theft of clothing. Sentence: 14 days of correctional labor. After that, he was sent to the Market Wayton Re-education School for three years.

Age (upon release): 13 Height: 1 m Hair: Brown Eyes: gray Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: single Employment: laborer

72. John Taylor

Crime: theft of garden tools. Sentence: 1 month of imprisonment. He served another month after the first sentence.

Age (on release): 26 Height: 1.75 m Hair: brown Eyes: brown Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: married Employment: bricklayer

73. John Devine

Crime: theft of money. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

Age (upon release): 17 Height: 1.70 m Hair: Brown Eyes: grey Place of birth: Ireland Marital status: single Employment: wood carver

74. Mary Ann MccAsfree

Crime: theft of a gold wristwatch. Sentence: 4 months in prison.

Age (on release): 41 Height: 1.65 m Hair: brown Eyes: blue Place of birth: Newcastle Marital status: married Employment: street vendor