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Search criminal records
If your ancestors ran into trouble with the law, follow Richard Holt’s advice to…
Poverty was a major problem in the 19th Century and lots of people turned to crime as a way of feeding their families and making ends meet. As a result, one of the most common crimes was theft, otherwise known as larceny. Conditions in prisons were generally better than the workhouse, and if caught for petty crimes our ancestors would at least be housed and guaranteed regular meals.
Browse Criminal Registers
One of the key sources for finding criminal ancestors in England and Wales are the Criminal Registers that were kept by the Home Office. These list everyone in the prison system who were awaiting trial by jury at Quarter Sessions and Assizes, and therefore includes those who were acquitted as well as found guilty.