England, Devon, Plymouth Prison Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
Plymouth Prison was built in 1849. The prison housed both male and female prisoners for a range of offences including desertion from prison, embezzlement, sodomy, drunkenness, murder, and prostitution, to name a few. By the late nineteenth century, the penal system had been studied and legislation such as the Prison Act 1898 had passed, which lead to public opinion shifting to the idea that a prison should be used to reform prisoners. Work was no longer used as punishment but to be productive. It was believed that a prisoner could reform and leave prison a better person.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * Approximate date of the event

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * When looking for an individual with a common name, look at all the search results before deciding which is the correct person
 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Devon.
 * Devon Guided Research
 * England Record Finder
 * England Research Tips and Strategies

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.