No. in Admissions Register: 198
Date of admission: 11 December 1860
Whence received: Stafford Gaol
By whom brought: -
On what terms: -
Friends interested in him: -
Description:
Height: -
Figure: -
Complexion: Fair
Hair colour: Dark Brown
Eyes colour: Hazel
Perfect vision? Yes
State of health: Good
Able-bodied? Yes
Sound intellect? -
Use of all limbs? Yes
Had cow or small pox? Cowpox
Particular marks: -
Cutaneous disorder? No
Scrofulous or consumptive? Not apparent
Subject to fits? No
Age last birthday: 12
Illegitimate? No
Birthday: -
Birth place: -
Has resided: Wednesbury
Parish to which he belongs: Wednesbury
Customary work and mode of life: Finishing railway carriage wheels
Schools attended: -
By whom and where employed: -
State of education:
Reads: Imperfectly
Writes: Imperfectly
Cyphers: -
General ability: -
Offence: Stealing victuals
Circumstances which may have led to it: -
Date of sentence: -
Where convicted: -
Where imprisoned: -
Sentence: 14 days prison, 5 years detention at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions: -
Father's name: Henry Bennett
Occupation: Stock taker
Residence: Mill Street, Wednesbury
Mother's name: Ann Bennett (stepmother)
Occupation: -
Residence: -
Father's character: -
Mother's character: -
Parents dead? -
Survivor married again? -
Parents' treatment of child: -
Character of parents -
Parents' wages: 22s a week
Amount parents agree to pay: Father pleads inability to pay anything, but magistrates think 1s per week-
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):     Inspector Blayney, Wednesbury
Relatives to communicate with: -
Person making this return: -
Estimate of character on admission: -
Character on discharge: -
When and how left the Reformatory: -


Notes:

1 December 1860 There is a report of his offence in the Staffordshire Advertiser 1 December 1860 p.7 cols.6-7: AN UNHAPPY STEPSON. - Zachariah Bennett, a wretched looking youth. 13 years old, was charged with breaking into the house of Hannah Lloyd at eight o'clock on the morning of that day week, and stealing a handkerchief and some meat, of the value 3s. It was stated by Mr. Sheldon, who knew the family to which the prisoner belonged, that they were all in a miserable state owing the neglect of a stepmother. The father had married a young wife, who paid more attention to her own family than to his. The prisoner's father came into court, and appeared to be a decent man. but did not manifest much regard for the condition or position of his son. The stipendiary magistrate (Mr. Partridge) said the lad was to be pitied very much, and in order to do him as much good as possible he order him to taken care of for a long period. He must be convicted and sent to prison for fourteen days, and afterwards go to the Saltley Reformatory for five years, ant the father would be made to contribute to his support during that time.
 
10 December 1865 Licensed to work under the care of his father, Henry Bennett, Pikehelve Street, Goldshill, West Bromwich
 
December 1864 At Goldshill, doing well
 
January 1868 At Goldshill, doubtful, not convicted
 
November 1869, At Goldshill, good
 
27 July [no year] letter from an employer: Mr Beaver, Zachariah Bennett has been in our employment since January and has conducted himself honestly and industriously and we have no fault to find with him. George Brockelows