Timeline
1839? – Estimated year of birth in Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland.
1841 – James Ritchie, aged 4, is living with his father Charles, aged 25, his mother Mary, aged 25, his sisters Janet and Ann, 8 and 12, and brother Charles aged 1. They live on Centre Street in Gorbals, Glasgow, Lanarkshire.
1841 – James Ritchie, aged 14, is working as a cotton picker and living with his father Charles, a hand loom weaver aged 39, his mother Mary, a weaver aged 38, his sisters Ann and Aligh, weavers aged 20 and 16 respectively Janet and Ann, 8 and 12, and brothers Jeremy, James and John aged 18, 6 and 4. They live at 58 Rose Street, Gorbals, Glasgow.
1854 – 22nd April – Extract from the Paisley Herald and Renfrewshire Advertiser – Thomas Wilson, James Ritchie, Edward (or Michael) Connally alias Connelly, William Hanlan, theft.
1854 – 24th April – Thomas Wilson, James Ritchie (aged 16), Edward Connally and William Hanlan, alias Langwell, were taken to court charged with theft. The prosecutor gave up the case and the verdict was ‘Assoilzied simpliciter and dismissed’ i.e. acquitted unconditionally and found Not Guilty.
1855 – 4th July – James Morrison and his accomplice James Ritchie stole a handkerchief from a junior clerk, James Robertson, in Trongate, Glasgow.
1855 – 18th July – They are both committed to Glasgow Prison to await sentencing.
1855 – 25th September – James Ritchie, a 16-year-old foundry worker, living at Rose Street, Gorbals was found guilty of theft, habit and repute, and due to having a previous conviction.
1855 – 26th September – Extract from the Glasgow Herald – James Morrison and James Ritchie were accused of having, on Wednesday the 4th of July last, stolen a handkerchief from the pocket of Mr. James Robertson, jun. clerk, while in Salt-market Street, aggravated by previous conviction. Morrison pleaded guilty and Ritchie not guilty, and the case against the latter went to proof. After trial, he was found guilty as libelled, and both prisoners were sentenced to 4 years’ penal servitude.
1855 – 29th September – Extract from the Paisley Herald and Renfrewshire Advertiser- James Morrison and James Ritchie were charged with theft, habit and repute and previous conviction. The immediate offence charged against the prisoners in this case was the picking of a handkerchief from the pocket of a clerk named James Robertson, while in Trongate, Glasgow, Morrison pled guilty, and Ritchie not guilty. After trial of the latter, both of them were sentenced to four years’ penal servitude.
1855– 27th December – James Ritchie transferred to Millbank Prison Prison, his prisoner number is 1731. He is transferred with James Morrison but they are given different cells. He is described as being single, roman catholic, can read and write imperfectly and has no identifiable features or marks. His next of kin is his father Charles Ritchie living at Ruther Glen Road, Glasgow.
1856 – 15th April – James Ritchie transferred to Dartmoor Prison, his prisoner number is 3496. He is described many times as being indifferent, likely due to his compromised health which is listed as being ‘rather delicate’.
1857 – 10th March – James Ritchie transferred to Chatham Prison, his prisoner number is 793. His behaviour here is very good and his health dramatically improved. He is further described as being ‘stout’.
1859 – 6rd June – Received at Woking Convict Invalid Prison. Prisoner Number 37.
He is described as having a dark complexion with dark brown hair and black eyes and his height is 5’6. As regards to previous convictions, he is listed as having been convicted one time previously.
1859 – 25th September – Released from Woking Convict Invalid Prison.