Timeline
1830? – Estimated year of birth.
1838 – 13th October – Joseph, aged 5, and his brothers James and William, aged 8 and 3 respectively, from Whitechapel are removed to the Raine Street Workhouse by police. Their father, a tailor, was found begging on Cable Street begging and the boys recounted their mother was in a prison or workhouse.
1838 – 15th October – The boys are removed from Raine Street Workhouse by police and taken to Lambeth Street.
1855 – 12th September – Joseph Meek is committed to Mansion House for the theft of a pocket watch.
1855 – 13th November – Extract from The Evening Standard – Joseph Meek was committed for trial for having stolen a watch from Barnard Friedman, near the Clothes Exchange, Houndsditch, on Sunday.
1855 – 26th November – Joseph Meek, a married tailor aged 23 living at Ratcliff, is convicted at the Old Bailey of stealing a watch worth £1 15s from Barnard Friedman and is sentenced to 4 years. Joseph is described as having scrofula (tuberculosis) marks around his throat.
1855 – 26th November – Extract from The Old Bailey Records –
BARNARD FREIDMAN (through an interpreter). I am a glazier, and live at Castle-place, Castle-street, Whitechapel. On 11th Nov. I was going from the Exchange to Houndsditch; I had a watch in my pocket, attached to a chain—I was with a friend, who said, “”Where is your watch? “”—I looked at my pocket and saw my chain hanging, and the prisoner with my watch in his hand—I caught him by the cuff of his coat, and called, “”Police!””—he immediately dropped the watch—I held him with one hand, and stooped and picked up the watch, and delivered it to the policeman.
MICHAEL BERGER, being called, did not appear.
WILLIAM SMITH (City policeman, 656). On the afternoon of 11th Nov., I was on duty in the Clothes exchange, Houndsditch, and saw Mr. Berger take hold of the prisoner by the sleeve, and this watch dropped from his arm—I stooped, and the prosecutor picked it up at the same time, and gave it into my hand—this is it (produced), the ring has been twisted—I secured the prisoner.
GUILTY .
(The prisoner was further charged with having been before convicted.)
WILLIAM SMITH re-examined. I produce a certificate—(read: Central Criminal Court; John Collins, Convicted on his own confession, January 1854, of stealing a handkerchief from the person, having been before convicted. Confined Eighteen Months)—I had him in custody, and know him, as he was very ill, and I had to come here four Sessions running.
GUILTY. Aged 23.— Four Years Penal Servitude.”
1856 – 4th January – Joseph Meek transferred to Millbank Prison, his prisoner number is 1775.
1856 – 15th April – Joseph Meek transferred to Dartmoor Prison, his prisoner number is 3502. Like many of the prisoners of the period, Joseph suffered in the damp conditions of Dartmoor, particularly due to his TB.
1857 – 10th March – Joseph Meek transferred to Chatham Prison, his prisoner number is 794. He is described as being indifferent at first with his behaviour improving during confinement: by the end of his time here, he had at least 19 weeks being ‘Very Good’.
1859 – 6rd June – Received at Woking Convict Invalid Prison. Prisoner Number 39.
He is described as having a fair complexion with brown hair and hazel eyes and his height is 5’10. As regards to previous convictions, he is listed as having been convicted twice previously. He is a protestant and his next of kin is his wife, who lives, 3 friars Alley, upper Thames street with their child.
1859 – 25th November – Released from Woking Convict Invalid Prison.