Genealogy Chat

I have found an ancestor registered on the 1901 Census as an inmate at Walton Prison in Liverpool; any ideas how I might find out the details of his incarceration?

Thanks; name I'm looking at is Robert Westworth, a Dentist born in Carlisle; 1901 census records show:
Westworth Robert 48 Prisoner Dentist Carlisle, Cumberland H M Prison Liverpool, Hornby Road, Walton RG13/3457/~F47 CD4 R13_3457.pdf p.93

...PS I believe he was residing in Liverpool immediately prior to his conviction

Here is a useful article about Walton:
http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/walton.html
Contact Liverpool record office to see if they have got any prison records:
http://www.liverpool.gov.uk/Leisure_and_culture/Local_history_and_heritage/index.asp

Are you sure that he was there as an inmate and not as the prison dentist?

Not sure Paul, that's what I'm trying to establish.. Census says 'prisoner'

he definitely looks like a prisoner as he is on page 19 of 48 for that institution, amongst other prisoners, officers are on pages 1 and 2 and prisoners start on page 3

He seems to have a flexible age! In the 1881 census he is 19!

And in the 1891 he is 29, so are you sure it's him in the 1901. Carlisle and dentist are correct but age is way out. Can't find his wife in 1901 either.

1891 (indexed as Westwerth)

Robert John Westwerth
Age: 29
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1862
Relation: Head
Spouse's name: Zela
Gender: Male
Where born: Carlisle, Cumberland, England

Civil parish: Kirkdale
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary
Town: Kirkdale
County/Island: Lancashire
Registration district: West Derby
Sub-registration district: Kirkdale
Robert John Westwerth 29 occ dentist
Zela Westwerth 27
Ernest A Westwerth 7
Alfred D Westwerth 5
Robert I Westwerth 3
Margaret S Westwerth 1

These are Westworth births in Kirkdale:
1883
WESTWORTH Ernest A Kirkdale Liverpool KIRK/37/65

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1885
WESTWORTH Alfred S Kirkdale Liverpool KIRK/47/57

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1887
WESTWORTH Alfred R Kirkdale Liverpool KIRK/54/29

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1888
WESTWORTH Gertrude Z Kirkdale Liverpool KIRK/62/33

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1890
WESTWORTH Margaret S Kirkdale Liverpool KIRK/69/2

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1892
WESTWORTH Frederick J Kirkdale Liverpool KIRK/81/94

its a bit of a coincidence, but a Herbert Westworth (surgeon-dentist) was alleged to have murdered his wife in December 1895 (as reported in the Liverpool Mercury on 24th Dec 1895

there is another report on 31st Dec 1895 where he is remanded into custody following a hearing of the coroners court

more reported on 15th Jan 1896 and again on 21st Jan 1896

the hearing took place on 19th March 1896

I've been able to view this via my local county council library website, using my library card number (Marcelle has a thread on tips board showing how to do this)

Births Dec 1888
WESTWORTH Gertrude Zela W Derby 8b 358

This one has to be a match with Zela as the middle name.

Marriages Jun 1918 (>99%)
Snow Percival W Westworth Marylebone 1a 1333
Westworth Gertrude Z Snow Marylebone 1a 1333

Herbert Westworth shows up on the black sheep index, but Robert doesn't.

Someone called Heather on this site has Robert Westworth in her tree. Are you in contact with her?

Think this is Zela in 1901

1901 England Census
Name: Nela Westworth
Age: 36
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1865
Relation: Boarder
Gender: Female
Where born: Birkenhead, Cheshire, England

Civil parish: Wavertree
Ecclesiastical parish: Wavertree Holy Trinity
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View Image

Registration district: West Derby
Sub-registration district: Wavertree
ED, institution, or vessel: 10
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 146
Household Members: Name Age
Robert McLean 26
Marg E W McLean 23
Florence M McLean 8 months
John Rose 15
William Rose 11
****************************Nela Westworth 36
Walter V Westworth 4

Births Sep 1897 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Westworth Walter Victor W. Derby 8b 388

Thanks everyone; truly appreciated; to clear up a few points:
Nela, Sela and Zela Westworth are all the same person; she lived until 1936 so could not have been the victim. She split from her husband (Robert J .. the prisoner) around about the same time of his incarceration, but was still alive and well. Herbert is Robert J's cousin I think. He must have been acquitted to escape the noose in 1895 and live as a widow with his 2 children (aged 12 & 10) in Liverpool 1901. Most interesting though, is there an online resource to view historic Liverpool Mercury pages, and grateful for anymore help on prison records.

I've come to this debate a bit late but my daughter, on my behalf because she lives in Liverpool and I don't, asked at Liverpool Records Office about 4 years ago for Walton Gaol records for this very person, but they had no idea where they might be.
I've been told that prison records are kept at Kew but I haven't followed this up as yet.

Hi not sure if anyone can help me?

My fiances ancestor Catherine Rice in 1911 census states she is an inmate along with many other people who are inmates, address of just Horn by Road, Walton on the hill, liverpool. The only things I can currently find at the minute is the Prison, and with being an 'inmate' i seem to think she was there.
Is there anywhere to look for more info or anyone who might know more about this?

regards
steph

Hi Steph, welcome to the boards.

It would be better starting your own thread rather than tagging onto someone elses where the family has no connection.

When you do, give as much info as you can about Catherine Rice such as when she was born, was Rice her married or maiden name, was she married, etc.

Good luck.

It's the 1901 census and it's probably the workhouse as they were described as inmates too