John Armitt - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 817 |
| Age: | 11 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Hazel |
| Height: | - |
| Particular marks: | Cut on right side of forehead |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Slender |
| Date of admission: | 5 June 1886 |
| Late residence: | Sheen Hill, Longnor, near Leek, Staffordshire |
| Parish he belongs to: | Sheen |
| Customary work and mode of life: | None |
| Whether illegitimate: | Yes |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing a gold watch |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Bad company |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 9 May 1886; E J Ridgway and Joseph Sleigh; Leek Court of Summary Jurisdiction |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Sentence: | 28 days in prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1 |
| Length: | 1 day in cells, 6 strokes with birch rod |
| For what: | Housebreaking |
| Father's name: | Samuel Naden, reputed father |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Mother's name: | Sarah Ann Armitt |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Nil |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Thoroughly neglected. He was allowed to wander about, and sleep in outhouses, and beg and steal |
| Character of parents | Mother has 5 or more illegitimate children, one in prison (April) and one in a reformatory. Parents healthy but improvident |
| Parents' wages: | Not known. Could probably earn upwards of £1 per week |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | An order was made in the case of the girl, but has never been enforced |
| Parents address: | Sarah Ann Armitt, Sheen Hill, near Hartington [Sheen Hill is in Staffordshire, Hartington in Derbyshire] |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Elias William Breson, Superintendent of Police, Leek |
| Person making this return: | |
| Notes: | |
| 31 May 1884 There is a very brief report of the previous offence in the Sheffield Independent Saturday 31 May 1884 p.9 col.2: On Monday, at Leek, Frances and John Armitt, aged twelve and eight, were convicted of house- breaking. Twice last week they broke into a neighbour's house. The boy was ordered to be whipped and discharged.. The girl was sent to gaol for a month, and for five years to a reformatory. | |
| 5 December 1887 The Medical Officer reported: Conjunctivitis. Ordered lotion | |
| . | |
| 10 September 1889 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Armitt was licensed to go out and work for Mr Critchlow, Ashbourne, Derbyshire | |
| 1 March 1890 Readmitted to the School from on licence, owing to misconduct and a bad report from his employer | |
| 30 July 1890 Twelve boys absconded from Dormitory 1 by removing bars from a window and shinning down to the ground with sheets. Nine were recaptured within a few hours. One of the 3 who evaded recapture was Armitt | |
| 21 October 1890 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records that Armitt was recaptured at his home in Leek, and the report states: The police at Leek prosecuted the mother of the boy Armitt, for harbouring him, and a conviction was obtained, the woman having to pay a fine of 40s | |
| 21 May 1891 Discharged early from Saltley, on account of emigrating to Canada along with George [boy 829] | |
| 9 February 1892 The Log Book records receipt of a letter from Armitt, via Mr Gold | |
| 9 August 1892 The Log Book records receipt of a letter from Armitt, Richmond, Quebec | |
| 3 February 1894 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Armitt, Kinsey, Quebec | |
| 11 February 1896 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Armitt, Kinsey, Montreal, Quebec | |
| 10 February 1903 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Armitt, Buxton | |