Register of Habitual Criminals
I recently discovered a new record set on Ancestry, “The UK, Register of Habitual Criminals”. The registers were created on the release of prisoners from prisons in England and Wales between 1881 and 1925. They were created for the purpose of enabling future detection of repeat offenders. The records gave the prisoner’s name, place and date of birth, description and details of convictions and sentence. When I searched the data set I found a few familiar names known to be on the wrong side of the law, but there was one name I had not come across in this context before - James Titheridge.
In the register James was listed as born in 1854 in Eastleigh, Hampshire, 5 feet 11 ¾ inches tall, fair complexion with brown hair and blue eyes. His crime had been fowl stealing for which he served 3 months in Winchester Goal from 31 December 1895 to 30 March 1896. The records showed he had eleven previous convictions. His distinguishing features were listed as his tattoos described as “Front: woman and wreath; Back: woman, cross flags, cross swords and tree; Left forearm: heart pierced by arrow; Back left hand: ring first, second and third left fingers; Right forearm: peacock, cross, star and man holding flag”. My curiosity was aroused, and I wanted to find out more about James, this habitual criminal.
James Titheridge’s Family from Portswood
It is amazing how much you can find out about your ancestors, even ones who are just labourers, from the records now available online. With the aid of censuses, parish records, military records, GRO records and my favourite source, British Newspaper Archive, I have pieced together the story of James.
My first question was “Who was James Titheridge?” While Titheridge is a very rare surname, I had seven possible candidates for James Titheridge born within two years of 1854 in Hampshire. Research showed James was one of eleven children born to John Titheridge and Mary Ashton in the South Stoneham area of Hampshire. James’ family tree can be found at this link
James’ father, John, worked on the railways as a signalman. The family lived in the Bishopstoke and Portswood areas near Southampton. On the 1861 census 7-year-old James was living at 8 Barton Cottages, South Stoneham with his parents and siblings. On the 1871 census he was still living with his parents and sibling but now at Portswood Road, South Stoneham and he was working as a railway labourer.
In August 1870 James’ name first appeared in the newspapers, charged with being one of 6 boys who stole a live goose from the Old Priory in St Denys. He was discharged with a caution.
James’ Service in the Royal Artillery
On 26 May 1873 James joined the Royal Artillery. He served for 6 years 100days. The records show that he was a gunner who served in the 10th Brigade of the Royal Artillery, serving for over 5 years in Malta. His Chelsea Pension and Discharge Records show his conduct was fair and his name appeared on the Defaulters Register three times, but he was never court-martialled. His medical records show lots of minor medical incidents but in May 1879 he suffered from heart palpitations while in Malta. He was sent back to England in July 1879 and appeared before the invaliding board at Herbert Hospital, Woolwich in August 1879. The result of this examination concluded that his disability was permanent and he was discharged from the army on grounds of ill health. It was thought that the disability would, to a certain extent, prevent him earning his own livelihood in civil employ. He was discharged with a pension, but it only appears to have been for 18 months.
23-year-old James returned home to his parents. In October 1879 he was employed as a cleaner on the London and Southwestern Railways based at Northam Station, Southampton. In June 1880 he left the post due to ill health. On the 1881 census James was again living with his parents and siblings in Old Porstwood and was now employed as a railway porter.
Marriage of James Titheridge and Lily Bess Hand
Sometime between 1881 and 1891 James’ parents, John and Mary, moved to West Dean, Wiltshire, with John still employed as a railway signal man. It was in West Dean that James met local girl, Lily Bess Hand, who was a nurse, and was fifteen years his junior. They were married on 6 December 1890. On the 1891 census James and Lily were living in South Stoneham at 27 Andover Terrace with James now listed as a blacksmith, labourer on South Western Rail. The 1901census showed the family living at 13 Brooklyn Road, Portswood and the 1911 census showed them living at 95 Belgrave Road, Portswood.
Lily and James had 11 children
• Florence Mabel Titheridge born 1891 died 1893
• Reginald Frank Titheridge born 1892 died 1930
• Frances Ethel May Titheridge born 1893
• Florence Lily Titheridge born 1894
• Amelia Kathleen Titheridge born 1896 died 1897
• Edith Ann Titheridge born 1898
• Violet Winifred Mary Titheridge born 1899 died 1917
• Victor James Titheridge born 1901 died 1986
• Albert Edward Charles Titheridge born 1903 died 1941
• William John Titheridge born 1904 died 1978
• Frederick Sydney Titheridge born 1909 died 1989
Eight of the children survived to adulthood. Florence Mabel died age 2 and Amelia died aged less than a year. Violet was recorded as a cripple on the 1911 census and she died in 1917 age 17. The story of Amelia’s death has been written about at this link.
James’ Criminal Activity
Using the Habitual Criminal Register and British Newspaper Archive I have managed to put together the criminal activities of James. His crimes are summarised below:-
November 1881 Stealing Money, sentenced to 1 calendar month imprisonment
February 1883 Trespass in search of game, case dismissed
October 1884 Stealing a spade(worth 1s 6d), sentenced to 1 calendar month imprisonment
August 1892 Stealing a fowl sentenced to 1 calendar month imprisonment
September 1892 Stealing a saw sentenced to 21days imprisonment
October 1983 Stealing sash fasteners, sentenced to 21 days imprisonment
December 1893 Stealing a fowl, sentenced to 6 weeks imprisonment
January 1896 Stealing seven fowl (worth 14s), sentenced to three calendar months imprisonment
November 1899 Trespassing and stealing conies (rabbits) sentenced to 21 days imprisonment or £1 fine
May 1900 Trespassing in search of conies fined 30 shillings
September 1901 Trespassing in search of conies, fined £2 or a month imprisonment.
There were also 4 other poaching offences between 1882 and 1895. All the gaol sentences were served in Winchester gaol. After 1901 there appears to be no more charges brought against him - at least none have been discovered. Did he reform? or did he get better at avoiding detection when poaching?
Death of Lily Titheridge and James Titheridge
Lily died in 1914 age 45. The eldest son was 22 and the two oldest girls were married but this left James to look after 6 children Elizabeth 16, Violet 15, Victor 13, Albert 11, William 10 and Frederick 5. Nothing further is known about James. He does not appear on the 1939 register and it seems most likely that he is the James Titheridge who died in Winchester in September quarter 1936 age 83. The location of Winchester is possible as his son, John, was living in Winchester in 1939.
A Habitual Criminal?
Do I think my research has found a habitual criminal? No I don’t. Eleven of the offences were for poaching for fowl or rabbits and the others for stealing very small items. I think James, like many agricultural labourers, struggled to feed his large growing family on a labourer’s wages. He was willing to provide for them by any means at his disposal. In Victorian rural society poaching was accepted among the working classes as a normal part of rural life, often essential for survival.
