Timeline
1825? – Estimated year of birth.
1850 – William Greaves is imprisoned for 6 weeks in Maidstone Gaol on a Misdemeanour charge.
1852 – William Greaves is imprisoned for 6 months in Great Yarmouth on a Felony charge.
1854 – 16th January – William Greaves is convicted of Simple Larceny, at the Adjournment General Quarter Sessions for Westminster, and sentenced to 6 months in prison. He is sent to Coldbath Fields Prison.
1855 – William Greaves is summarily convicted for 14 days, for being a rogue. No place of confinement is given, but it can be inferred it was in London, given to the offences prior and post this conviction.
1855 – 1st November – Committed to Marylebone Police Court on a charge of stealing a coat and other associated articles. Whilst awaiting sentence, he is kept at the Clerkenwell House of Correction.
1855 – 1st November – William Greaves, a single 25-year-old labourer, was tried at the Adjournment General Quarter Sessions for Westminster and was sentenced to 4 years after having been found Guilty of stealing a coat and other articles.
1856 – 5th January – Transferred to Millbank Prison. He is given the prisoner number 1827, his behaviour is Very Good. His next of kin is Mr. Bee, living at 6 Old Kent Road and he is a Class 1 prisoner. He is described as having made good progress in school and his prison trade is that of a tailor.
1856 – 25th November – Transferred to Dartmoor Prison. He is given the prisoner number 3841 and his behaviour is described as being Very Good. It is also listed that he is a Class 1 prisoner.
1856 – 30th December – In his license it mentions that on this day he received “A slight injury to leg whilst at work”. The injury is likely greater than “slight”, owing to a letter sent by the Government in 1859, granting a shortened sentence on license.
1858 – 18th July – Transferred to Chatham Prison. He is given the prisoner number 1576, his behaviour is Very Good and his prison trade is that of a labourer.
1858 – 27th March – Transferred to Chatham Prison. He is given the prisoner number 872 and his behaviour is described as being Very Good.
1859 – 29th January – Letter from Waddinton, assistant to Secretary of State Spencer Walpole, to Governor of Chatham Prison.
“Sir, I am directed by Mr Secretary Walpole to authorize you to submit the name of William Greaves in Chatham Prison for release on license. One month before the expiration of his sentence in consideration of the injury he received on the Public Works as reported in your letter of the 24th inst. I am yours, J.H. Waddington”
1859 – 6th May – Removed from Chatham Prison and transferred to Woking Convict Invalid Prison. Prisoner Number 49.
He is described as fair complexioned with light brown hair and hazel eyes, his height is 5’5 and his body type is slight. He is noted as having a scar on his back and as being Protestant. His next of kin is his uncle, Mr. Bee, living at King Street, Old Kent Road.
1859 – 4th October – Released from Woking Convict Invalid Prison on license owing to leg injury received on public works. His license number is 7920 and his destination is the Discharged Prisoner’s Aid Society for Emigration to North America.