CRIMINAL ANCESTORS A Guide to Historical Criminal Records in England and Wales

Hardback. It is probable that somewhere in one or other of the branches of every family at least one criminal will be found. Many of our ancestors were 'obliged' to steal for mere survival and suffered imprisonment for the most trivial offences. Criminal records are a largely untapped source of historic information, often recording not just criminals but also family members on the right side of the law: as jurors, witnesses, parish constables or victims. The numerous examples given of each of the various source materials portray vividly the tragic stories of those who found themselves at the mercy of the criminal justice system. The many detailed and often heart-rending illustrations depict the harshness and cruelty of the legal system of our past, while a case history shows the extent to which one individual criminal can be researched. The detailed work includes surveys of material held by all County and Borough Record Offices, the Public Record Office, Police Archives and other repositories. All documents are listed in the Appendices. By bringing together the location and references of all discovered historical criminal records in England and Wales which contain biographical information, this unique and fascinating book provides the essential research and reference tool which no genealogist, social historian, criminologist or the merely curious should be without. With Appendices, Bibliog., Glossary and Indices. 458pp. lge 8vo. h/back. From the library of true crime writer, Wilfred Gregg, with his personal b/plate. V. sl. browned edges, o/w Vg+ in sl. sunned Vg+ dw. A heavy book which will require additional postage.