1819? – Estimated year of birth.
1819 – 30th May – Richard Upton is baptised in Bromsgrove, son of Richard and Mary Upton.
1837 – 16th October – Richard Upton, aged 18 and with imperfect reading and writing, is tried at the Worcester County Sessions and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and twice whipped for larceny.
1837 – 16th October – Extract from the Worcester Journal – “Richard Upton, 18, nailor, for stealing 4s. 9d., the property of Mary Wythes, at Bromsgrove— Twelve months’ imprisonment, first and last fourteen days solitary, and to be twice whipped.”
1839 – 6th May – Extract from the Worcester Chronicle – “Committed to the County Gaol, George Ellins, Esq. Richard Upton, charged with stealing a cake of bread, the property of William Callow, at Bromsgrove”
1839 –1st July – Richard, aged 20, is tried at the Worcester County Sessions sentenced to 7 years transportation for stealing a loaf of bread as well as for having a previous felony.
1839 – 10th July – Extract from the Worcestershire Chronicle – “Upton, Richard, nailor, charged with stealing, on the 27th of April last, at Bromsgrove, one cake of bread, value 1s. 6d., the property Wm. Callow. — Seven years’ transportation.”
1839 – 20th July – Received on the Ganymede prison hulk at Chatham, prisoner number 5699. He is latterly transferred to the Eurylas but retains the same prison number.
c. 1828 sketch of the HMS Eurylas, by John Sell Cotman, marine and landscape artist
1840 – 2nd April – Sent to Bermuda. Received on the Coromandel prison hulk and given the prison number 1212. His behaviour whilst there was very good.
1846 – 15th April – Returned to England. Imprisoned at York prison hulk in Gosport, prison number 2019.
1846 – 19th April – Letter from Her Majesty’s Commissioner granting a free pardon to Richard Upton.
1846 – 25th April – Released from York prison hulk.
1847 – 27th June – Married to Mary White, daughter of William White, in Bromsgrove.
1848 – 5th March – Mary Upton is buried in Bromsgrove.
1851 – census – Richard Upton, aged 31 and working as a nailor, is living with Lucy Upton, aged 21, in Bromsgrove.
15th December 1855 – Richard Upton committed in West Bromwich.
1855 – 22nd December – Extract from the Staffordshire Advertiser – “Richard Upton, returned convict, was on Saturday committed for trial, for stealing two sovereigns from Benjamin Colley, smith at the Hope Works.”
1855 – 31st December – Richard Upton, a married with one child, 36-year-old labourer, was tried at General Quarter Sessions of the Peace and was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment after having been found Guilty of theft from the person.
1856 – 5th January – Extract from the Staffordshire Sentinel and Commercial & General Advertiser – “Richard Upton, for stealing two sovereigns, the moneys of his master, Benjamin Colley at West Bromwich, was sentenced to four years’ penal servitude; the prisoner having pleaded guilty to a previous conviction in 1841.”
1856 – 10th March – Removed from Stafford Gaol, where he had been held during trial, and transferred to Millbank Prison.
1856 – 14th April – Transferred to Pentonville Prison, his prisoner number is 6595. He is described as being Good during his stay.
1857 – 27th March – Transferred to Chatham Prison, his prisoner number is 854. He is described as being Very Good during his stay.
1859 – 6th May – Received at Woking Convict Invalid Prison. Prisoner Number 55.
He is described as having a ‘long’ dark complexion with brown hair and blue eyes and his height is 5’2 and his body slender. In addition, his notes state he has lost the front teeth of his upper jaw and has cut marks on top half of his back, likely due to the whipping he received for his 1837 crime of theft. He is noted as being married with 1 child and protestant. His next of kin is his mother, Mary Upton, living in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.
1859 – 30th December – Released from Woking Convict Invalid Prison
1860 – 14th August – Committed in Bromsgrove and moved to Worcester Gaol where his behaviour was Good.
1860 – 18th August – Extract from the Worcester Journal – “Richard Upton, of this town, nailor, was charged with stealing a woollen shawl, value 5s., the property of Mr. William Bolding, of the Dog and Pheasant Inn, on the 8th inst. He was taken into custody by P.B. Rowley and the shawl traced to his possession. Committed to Sessions. Defendant has been three times previously committed; in 1837, for twelve months, in 1830, to seven years’ transportation, and in 1856 to four years’ penal servitude.”
1860 – 16th October – Richard Upton, nailor aged 41, convicted of larceny at Worcester Assizes and sentenced to 8 years penal servitude.
1860 – 27th October – Transferred to Wakefield Prison, his prisoner number is 6034. He is described as being Very Good and on the Class 1 diet.
1861 – 10th July – Transferred to Portland Prison, his prisoner number is A.723. Interestingly he is listed as being married but with no children, despite the next prison record stating he had children. His behaviour in this prison was Very Good and his progress at school, Slight.
1861 – 22nd November – Boarded the transport ship, Lord Dalhousie, to be taken to Gibraltar.
1861 – 12th December – Arrived in Gibraltar and given the prisoner number 3644. Richard Upton is now listed as being married with 2 children, his wife Mary Upton living in Peaches Lane, Tividale, Staffordshire. His behaviour in Gibraltar was Exemplary.
1866 – 28th October – Boarded the transport ship, Syrian, to be taken back to England.
1866 – 4th November –Transferred to Millbank Prison, his prisoner number is 2571.
1866 – 21st November – Discharged on licence (licence number 19191) to Birmingham.
1867 – 28th November – Summary conviction for being a Rogue and a Vagabond, sentenced to 7 days hard labour.
1868 – 15th April – Stole mutton from Daniel Fisher, a butcher in Bromsgrove.
1868 – 21st April – Committed to Worcester County Prison.
1868 – 25th April – Extract from the Worcester Journal – “Richard Upton, a ticket-of -leave man, was charged with stealing a shoulder of mutton, 61bs., value 3s 9d the property of Mr. Daniel Fisher, butcher, Worcester street, on the ,15th April. Prosecutor stated he saw prisoner reach down a shoulder of mutton from a hook in the shop, and carry it away with him; he followed him took the mutton from him, and delivered him to PC Chapman. Prisoner, who had nothing to say was committed for trial.”
1868 – 29th June – Richard Upton, nailor for shoes, married with children and aged 51, is convicted of larceny at the Midsummer Quarter Sessions in Worcester and sentenced to 7 years penal servitude.
1868 – 28th July – Transferred to Pentonville Prison, his prisoner number is 5691. He is described as being Good during his stay.
1868 – 28th July – Transferred to Portsmouth Prison, his prisoner number is 1800. He is described as being Good during his stay. His wife, now named Lucy Upton, is living at Loveday Street, West Bromwich.
1875 – 23rd July – Released on expiration of sentence.
1881 – Census – Richard Upton, a now 62-year-old widower is living and working at the Union Workhouse, Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove. With him are members of his extended family; Edward Upton, Married aged45 and a Wrought nail maker, Florence Upton aged 9 and a Scholar, Eliza Upton aged 12, George Upton aged 14 , Sarah Upton aged 6, Mary Ann Upton aged 42 and a Wrought nail maker, Rose Upton aged 21 and a Wrought nail maker and lastly, Rhoda Upton aged 7 months.
1891 – Census – Richard Upon, aged 72 and still a nail-maker, remains at the Union Workhouse in Bromsgrove.
1894 – May – Richard Upton dies at the Union Workhouse, aged 75.