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@regencyrelatives.bsky.social Sep 24, 2026, 8:29 PM

Martha found herself in Birmingham Borough Gaol at Winson Green, sentenced to six months’ hard labour for “simple larceny”. She was 29 years old.

#familyhistory #VictorianPrison #Birmingham

Page 29 of a Birmingham Borough Prison register for the County of Warwick, dated 4 April 1874, recording details of prisoner Martha Lawrence, number 253, under the Prevention of Crimes Act 1871. The handwritten record describes Lawrence as aged 29 on discharge, 5 feet tall, with brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. Her birthplace is given as Gloucestershire, with “Frampton on Severn” written beneath. She was married and worked as a charwoman. A distinguishing mark is recorded as a scar on her left elbow, with her ears pierced. Her address at the time of apprehension was 15 Reservoir Terrace, Birmingham. The record states that she was summarily convicted at the Police Court on 17 October 1873 of simple larceny and sentenced to six calendar months’ hard labour. On the right is a sepia prison photograph of Martha, shown seated facing the camera in a dark dress, holding a slate bearing her name, prisoner number 253 and the year 1874.

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