1805? – Estimated year of birth.
1855 – 20th February – John Pilling is convicted of stealing fixtures with accomplice Thomas Walls, at the Intermediate Quarter Sessions in Manchester, and sentenced to 6 months in prison.
1855 – 26th December – Committed in Manchester for stealing 30 lbs. of lead.
1855 – 27th December – John Pilling, a 50-year-old married bricklayer, is convicted of Larceny of fixtures, at the General Quarter Sessions in Manchester, and sentenced to 4 years in prison.
1856 – 8th March – Transferred to Millbank Prison. He is given the prisoner number 2288.
1856 – 14th April – Transferred to Pentonville Prison. He is given the prisoner number 6590 and his behaviour is described as being tolerable. It is also listed that he is on the Class 2 diet.
1857 – 27th March – Transferred to Chatham Prison. He is given the prisoner number 857. His behaviour on the whole is described as Very Good.
1859 – 6th May – Removed from Chatham Prison and transferred to Woking Convict Invalid Prison. Prisoner Number 52.
He is described as fresh complexioned with light brown hair and grey eyes, his height is 5’4. He is noted as having extensive tattoos and scars, including a blue scar on each eyebrow, blue dots on the back of his left wrist, the letters “JP”, a blue anchor and 6 blue dots above his left elbow and part of an anchor on his right arm right arm. Prisoner 53, George Frith, also hailed from Manchester and had similar tattoos. In addition, on John Pilling’s body, there were several white scars on both arms, a mole under his right breast and 2 moles on his right shoulder. He is listed as being protestant and having a child with his common law wife, Sarah Miller, who is listed as his next of kin living at 9 BK Lister Lane, Halifax.
1859 – 26th December – Released from Woking Convict Invalid Prison