Was William Willson your ancestor's Goaler

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Hertford

Last year Mike asked about WILLSON, Gamels Hall, Rush Green, Little Amwell, circa 1850, where in 1841 the farmer was William Willson. William went on to be the governor of Bishops Stortford workhouse. 

Prisons

Now Ian has asked about John Byde Willson, whose father was the same William Willson. It turns out that the Willson family were governors of Hertford Goal and Bridewell for about 80 years, starting with a Cornelius Willson who was appointed in 1756. For more information on the Willson family and the Hertfotd prison see WILLSON, Governors of Hertford Goal, 1756-1838

Hertfordshire Criminals in Bedford Goal

Samuel Jones was born in Tring in 1816 and in 1838 he was 5 feet 9½ inches high, had brown hair, hazel eyes, and had a scar on his upper lip. 

And how do we know this? 

Samuel was in Bedford Goal having committed for highway robbery, and was later put on board the Fortitude, at Chatham, on the way to Australia. This information comes from the Bedfordshire Goal Register which is currently being put online by BLARS. For more examples see Some Tring Criminals.