Timeline
1820? – Estimated year of birth, in Southampton.
1846 – 21st April – Irving Dinning, a groom living in Marylebone, marries Mary Newell in front of his father Joseph, a carpenter, and Henry Newell who is a gardener.
1849 – 5th October – Eliza, daughter of Irving and Mary Dinning, born.
1849 – September – Eliza baptised at St Georges Church in Hulme, Manchester. Her father’s occupation is listed as a servant, and the family are recorded as living at 5 King Street.
1851 – Irving Dinning, aged 29, is living and working at Brecon Barracks, depot of 19th Reg & detachment of 4th dragon guards, as an Officer’s servant. In separate quarters, his wife Mary, aged 29, lives with their Daughter Eliza, aged 1, and their new-born son, Thomas, aged 3 months.
1855 – Irving Dinning becomes publican of The Plough in Beddington.
1855 – 13th August to 13th September– Irving Dinning owns a candle, wax and oil shop at 195 Tooley Street, Cheapside. During this period he, alongside accomplice John Cox, proceeds to steal boxes of candles from Cox’s employers.
1855 – 29th September – Extract from the Morning Post – John Cox was charged with having robbed his employers, Messrs. Warren, Stormes, Hale, and Co., of Queen-street, Cheapside, wholesale candle manufacturers, and Irving Denning was charged with having received the stolen property. Mr. Josiah Hale, a partner in the firm, said — Denning is a customer of ours, and yesterday morning he called at about 10 o’clock, and gave me an order for six dozen pounds’ weight of composite candles, six to the pound. I made out the invoice, and gave directions to our packer to pack them. That was the only order I then received. They were to be packed in one box, and should have been delivered by Cox, who is our carman. Edward Higgins, who appeared to be about 15 years of age, and is in the employment of Messrs. Hale and Co., said — l go with the cart of which Cox is the driver. I was with the cart when the goods were to be delivered at Denning’s. I saw the cart packed yesterday. There were seven boxes for the town round, and I went there with the cart as far as Topping’s wharf, in Tooley-street, and Cox sent me with some show cards, and then to the stables, and then home. Cross-examined by Cox — l met you again at St. George’s Church with a nosegay, and was with you all the day after- wards. Mr. G. Best, clerk to Messrs. Hale, said — Yesterday, in consequence of instructions which I received, I went to Tooley-street, and into a house opposite to the shop of Denning, and at about five minutes past two o’clock in the afternoon, I saw Cox, our carman, drive up to the door of Denning’s shop, and I saw Denning come out and assist him with a box, which we call a twelve-dozen box, out of the cart. They remained together in the shop about five minutes, and Cox brought out an empty twelve-dozen box, and put it on to the top of the cart. They then took another twelve-dozen box out of the cart, and carried it into the shop and left it there. Cox came out again, and got on to the wheel of the cart and took out a package, apparently a G lb. package of caudles, and took it into the shop, after which he came out, got into the cart, and drove away. I returned and gave information to my I employers. The Lord Mayor — Do you know the packages which are produced? Witness — l do. They were sent from our warehouse. I have searched our books, and I find that the first entry of a j sale to Denning was on the 13th of August, six dozen pounds of candles, for which he paid. On the 31st of August there was an entry of six dozen more, on the 31st of ; August an entry of six dozen more, on the 13th of September an entry of six dozen more, and yesterday there was an entry of six dozen more, making 24 dozen pounds’ weight ; of candles only. Cross-examined by Cox — l saw you and Denning take two boxes from the cart into his shop. I cannot say how many pounds’ weight they contained. I noticed that they i were heavy. Inspector Newnhara, of the City police, said— Last night, between seven and eight o’clock,” I went with Mr. Hale to the house of Cox, in Snows-fields, and Mr. Hale asked him how many packages he had delivered at Denning’s shop? He said, ” One box.” Mr. Hale asked him whether he was quite sure that was all he delivered to which he replied that he was. Mr. Hale then said he had been informed that Cox had delivered two boxes and a package and Cox, after at first denying the imputation, said he had left an empty box for him to keep his things in. He subsequently said the empty box was not left on that day, but on a previous day. I took him into custody, and to the station-house. I afterwards went with Mr. Hale to Denning’s shop, and asked Denning : what goods he had received from Messrs. Hale’s that day. He said one box containing six dozen of Times’ candles. I told him we had information that he had received two, and a package besides. He denied that, and I told him that I must examine the place, and in the shop I found a box, containing nine packages of candles. They were eights. Two eight packages were lying on the counter, and some were loose in the window. Denning said those eights had been sent by mistake, and he had told the carman so, and he wanted sixes, as he could not sell eights. He also said he intended to have sent them back to-morrow- morning. I asked him if he had received any sixes that day. He replied that he had not. He aferwards accompanied me into a cellar, where he found 4G packages, containing 23 dozens of sixes. Whilst in the cellar he said he had received six dozens of these yesterday, but afterwards he denied that statement, and said he meant to say he received six dozens on the last I occasion. I also found another empty candle-box, the property of Messrs. Hale, in the shop. The total quantity I found was 28 dozens, and 11lbs. and a half of candles. Two of the packages of eights had been opened, and a portion exposed for sale in the windows of the shop. On a bill file in the shop I found invoices, each of which was for six I dozen Times’ composite sixes, and corresponds with the dates referred to by Mr. Best. Cross-examined by Denning — You showed me readily all that I have referred to. The prisoners were remanded. It was stated that Denning sold Messrs. Hale’s composite candies at a rate lower than the wholesale price charged by the manufacturers.
1855 – 22nd October – Irving Dinning, a 35 year old oilman, was tried at the Old Bailey and was sentenced to 4 years after having been found Guilty of;
…stealing on 16th Aug., 288 lbs. of candles value 10l. 16s., the goods of Warren Storms Hale and another, his masters. 2nd COUNT, stealing on 13th Sept., 288 lbs. of candles of his said masters. 3rd COUNT, stealing on 27th Sept., 216lbs. of candles, value 8l. 2s., and I box, value 4s…and IRVING DINNING feloniously receiving the same.
1855 – 12th December – Irving Dinning removed from Newgate Prison, where he had been held during trial, and transferred to Millbank Prison.
1855 – 24th December – Removed from Millbank Prison and transferred to Pentonville Prison. He is given the prisoner number 6271 and is described as being protestant, as having imperfect literacy skills and is well behaved.
1856 – 30th June – Received at Portland Prison, new prisoner number 6308, and is described as having good health and no behaviour record.
1859 – 3rd May – Received at Woking Convict Invalid Prison. Prisoner Number 27.
He is described as fresh complexioned with dark brown hair and hazel eyes, his height is 5’6 and body type is slender. He is noted as being ‘Respectable’.
1859 – 31st December – Released from Woking Convict Invalid Prison.
1861 – Irving Dinning, aged 40, is working as a coachman and living with wife Mary, 39, son Thomas aged 12, daughter Eliza aged 11, William aged 9 born London and Joseph 8 months. They are living at 10 Gray Street, Tottenham Court Road, London. Thomas and Eliza’s ages have been switched around, likely an error on the census taker’s behalf.
1871- Irving Dinning, aged 51, working as a horn keeper and living with his wife Mary, aged 50, and son Joseph, aged 10. They are living at half-moon gardens, Biggs Market. Curiously, Irving lies about his birthplace here, stating it as Newcastle and not as previous, Southampton.
1884 – Irving dies and is buried in Newcastle.