A CONVICT IN THE FAMILY

Finding a ‘missing’ PARSONS in prison on a census return after a long time searching was a turn up for the books. He was, ironically, on my ‘most wanted’ list. He had become one of those difficult family members who are born and then seem to become unidentifiable in later census returns yet not "killed off. Now I know more about him – his physical appearance, his character - than those in my direct line. His is a sad story, for this character, Joseph Parsons, did not have the best start in life. His mother died when he was just 8 years old and his prison record reveals that he was afflicted with a hip disease, "a cripple", his left leg shorter than his right leg. His behaviour in prison was troublesome which invariably meant he was often punished and it seems he had a stubborn streak running through him that some would say was a characteristic that still runs in the family.

Joseph Parsons was born in North Somerset in the middle of the 19^th century, the penultimate child until his father remarried. Following the death of his uncle, the family re-located to Taunton where his father was employed as a worker for the GWR. Tragically, his mother died of a lung disease and less than 2½ months later, his father remarried a neighbour, a much younger woman twelve years his junior who came with a young child from a previous relationship.

For the next thirteen years Joseph saw the family expand and to a lesser degree, shrink. His older siblings left home for the reasons all members of a family in this age did and his stepmother gave birth to new half brothers and sisters with monotonous regularity. It is often difficult to track a single male between census returns and Joseph was no different. When I did eventually find him, he had gone from being a teenage general labourer to a prisoner.

One Saturday in March 1869, Joseph Parsons stood before the Justice, namely the Honourable Sir John Barnard Byles, Knight. Three days previously, Joseph had committed an act of arson. A warrant had been issued on the day of the crime and he had been taken into custody that very same day. Joseph pleaded guilty and was convicted of arson. The speed of the unfolding events suggests there were witnesses to his crime.

The indictment read:

The Jurors for our Lady the Queen upon their Oath that

Joseph Parsons late of the Parish of Taunton St James in the County of Somerset

on the twentysecond day of March in the Year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty nine

with force and arms at the Parish aforesaid in the County aforesaid unlawfully maliciously and jealously did set fire to a curtain Barn then situate and then being in the possession of Robert Keats unto items then and there to aspire Against the form of the Statute in such case made and founded.

And the Jurors aforesaid upon their Oath aforesaid do further present that the said Joseph Parsons afterwards to wit, on the same day and the year aforesaid with force and arms at the Parish aforesaid unlawfully maliciously feloniously did set fire to a curtain Outhouse there situate and then being in the possession of the said Robert Keats with intent thereby then and there to impede against the Peace of Our said Lady the Queen her Crown and Dignity.

Before sentence was passed, the Court had to examine the record to ascertain and consider any previous convictions. There was a previous conviction. Almost three years previously, Joseph Parsons was found guilty of stealing a coat and had served 21 days hard labour. The sentence of this court was 5 years penal servitude. Two months later the prisoner was removed from Taunton to Millbank. In November that same year he was moved once again, this time to Parkhurst.

The documentation makes interesting reading.

Joseph Parsons could read and write "imperfectly"; his religion was Church of England; his father’s name, address and occupation was recorded. There then followed a physical description of the prisoner

Complexion: Fair

Hair: Sandy Brown

Eyes: Hazel

Height: 5ft 1½ in

Description of Person: Crippled

Peculiar Marks on body: Scar left side of chin, Brown mark on front of neck, left hip out of joint- left leg short, anchor on left hand - Blue ring.

He underwent a medical examination on his arrival at Millbank and a note was made that he was crippled in his left leg and in brackets was further clarification - "hip disease". His state of general heath was deemed to be "good" and his aspect and physical condition was "healthy". His weight on arrival and discharge from Millbank was 120 lbs. He had not suffered from rheumatism, smallpox or epilepsy and the comment "unknown" was entered in answer to the column enquiring if he had suffered from typhus and scarlet fever. He had been vaccinated.

Documents from the date of his committal onwards followed him from prison to prison and they show that he was not a model prisoner. He was frequently punished and there is a history of the forfeits he ran up during his incarceration. His general character and conduct ranged from "indifferent" to "bad". Joseph made no progress at school and his prison trade began with him working in the prison Shoemaker’s shop then, for a brief spell, he was a picker and then he reverted to the Shoemaker’s shop again.

The records show a long list of his prison offences. He seems to have been in trouble almost every month at the beginning of his sentence. For the last quarter of the first year of his incarceration, when he was in Millbank he was punished for

Fighting;

Refusing to attend School;

Refusing to work and Insolence.

In Parkhurst there was more of the same

Idleness, insolence etc;

Refusing to go to Chapel;

Answering his officer improperly;

Disobedience and Insolence;

Refusing to work;

Talking and using abusive language;

Idleness in the Shoemaker’s shop;

Using threatening language to the Officers;

Having 2 pieces of cleaning fluid concealed on him and telling a falsehood;

Insolence and putting bad work into Police boots – for that he had to pay for

the damage done;

Talking in his cell;

Laughing and talking in Chapel;

Shouting and singing in the sep: cells;

Disrespectful conduct on parade;

Attempting to exercise when not entitled and using improper language;

Laughing and talking in the Shoemaker’s shop.

He made various petitions to the Governor of Parkhurst which were recorded along with the response to the petition

Dec: To work outside for a week – Yes;

Jan: To work at the Pump for a fortnight – Yes;

Apr: To leave the Shoemaker’s Shop – No;

Oct: To work outside for a week – Yes;

Dec: About his exercise – Inquiry;

Feb: Says his jacket is thin – To be inspected;

Feb: About his report in Jan – Informed;

Feb: About the gruel – Heard;

Mar: To have special letter – Improves To grant;

Apr: To grow his hair – Yes if due;

May: Why have not 9 am class? – Not due

Jun: To see the Director – Yes;

Jun: To write special letter prior to discharge – Yes;

Jul: To know the date of discharge – Informed.

The information that Joseph wrote letters proved to be rewarding, for a note was made of the address of the recipient. The first letter was written to his brother-in-law in Taunton nine months before his release. He received a reply thirteen days later. The second letter was written twelve days before his release under license from Parkhurst to someone I had never heard of in Compton Bishop. Investigation proved that the recipient was in fact his uncle. Unfortunately I had found an entry in the burial register which I had ascribed to Joseph’s aunt. I had effectively "killed her off" in the year when she had in fact married. She went on to live for another 55 years!

Joseph had two visitors while he was in Parkhurst. Unfortunately, their identities are not revealed. The first visit took place 7 months after his arrival in Parkhurst. The second visitor arrived a month before his release.

He was given another medical before he left Parkhurst. Again his disability was noted and the only notable change in this second examination was that his weight had dropped. On arrival he had been 123 lbs; on discharge his weight had fallen to 112 lbs. He seems to have been in fairly good heath during his incarceration. He received treatment four times; twice for an abscess , once for catarrh and once for an ulcer.

After serving four years and 4 months, Joseph was released on licence. The conditions were