Old Illinois Prison Records

[Dazzler]

I stumbled across this marvelous website to research inmates in Illinois' Alton and Joliet Prisons from the 1800's through 1975.  It is really very interesting.  There is a link to the actual data and names of inmates.  If you look at the names, the charges and the sentences you can see how much our justice system has changed over the years.  The most common crime was 'larceny'.  The sentences were short compared to nowadays also.  There is also information for the old prison at Chester....now Menard.


http://genealogytrails.com/ill/convicts/convictregister.htm  (This is the new  address for these records)

[Jims]

Wow. Assault with Attempt to Kill - 1 year.

[Dazzler]

Yes, aren't the sentences low?    And lots of pardons....I'm not sure what the larceny charges encompassed but I did see a lot for counterfeiting money....LOL

[dancer]

My goodness women were short then!!  I was looking under grator?   women's prison and most of them were under five feet.
Miss Clarinda P Mayfield Vernon Co Mo Vernon Co Mo July 1864   (physical description from another ledger: 4'8", age 16, light hair, blue eyes) Order P M G
 
 
Mrs Sarah T Waitman Jasper Co Mo Vernon Co Mo July 1864   (physical description from another ledger: 4'10", age 21, light hair, hazel eyes) "

 
 
Miss Rachel Haynie Saline Co Mo Saline Co Mo June 15, 1864 Sept 22, 1864   sent from Jefferson City, Mo
Alice Keefe St. Louis Mo St. Louis Mo Aug 21, 1864 Sept 7, 1864 Sept 22, 1864
(physical description from another ledger: 4'8", age 18, lgt hair, blue eyes)
 unconditionally
 
 
Miss Nanie or Nannie Douthill or Doulhitt or Douthill Pochahontas Ark Ironton Mo July 10, 1864   (physical description from another ledger: 4'9", age 21, light hair, blue eyes) - sent to Alton Ill Nov 12, 1864 sent from Myrtle St Prison

 
Mrs Jennie Foster Randolph Co Ark Ironton Mo July 10, 1864   (physical description from another ledger: 4'6", age 31, light hair, blue eyes)
Miss Annie E Fickle Lafayette Co Mo Lexington Mo Feb 2, 1864   (physical description from another ledger: 4'7", age 21, lgt hair, gray eyes)
Miss Eliza J Haynie Saline Co Mo Saline Co Mo June 11, 1864   (physical description from another ledger: 5', age 39, lgt hair, gray eyes) sent from Myrtle St Prison
Mrs Susanah Justice Platte Co Mo St. Joseph, Mo July 22, 1864   (physical description from another ledger: 5', age 24, lgt hair, gray eyes) sent from Myrtle St Prison
Miss Mary S Kinchelow or Kinchelorr Lafayette Co Mo Lafayette Co Mo Aug 4, 1864   (physical description from another ledger: 4'6", age 19, light hair, blue eyes)
Mrs Martha  Longacre Johnson Co Mo Johnson Co Mo Aug 9, 1864   (physical description from another ledger: 4'6", age 16, light hair, blue eyes)
Miss Nancy Longacre Johnson Co Mo Johnson Co Mo Aug 9, 1864   (physical description from another ledger: 4'6", age 44, lgt hair, gray eyes)
Miss Maggie Marshall St Louis Mo St Louis Mo Aug 21, 1864   (physical description from another ledger: 4'7", age 21, lgt hair, gray eyes)
Mrs Elizabeth Stone Lafayette Co Mo Lafayette Co Mo Aug 4, 1864   (physical description from another ledger: 4'7", age 24, dark hair, dark eyes)
Mrs Olla S Wells Laporte Co Ind Warrenton Co Mo Aug 6, 1864   (physical description from another ledger: 4'7", age 35, dk hair, gray eyes)
Miss Elizabeth M Dewitt (or Durwitt) Johnson Co Mo Johnson Co Mo Aug 15, 1864   (physical description from another ledger: 5', age 17, lgt hair, blue eyes) sent from Warrensburg Mo
Dorah L Durwitt " " "   (physical description from another ledger: 5', age 20, lgt hair, blue eyes)
Sarah J Durwitt " " "   (physical description from another ledger: 5', age 18, lgt hair, blue eyes)
NAME RESIDENCE
 WHERE ARRESTED WHEN ARRESTED WHEN ARRIVED AT GRATIOT WHEN RELEASED REMARKS
Julia F Martin Henry Co Mo Henry Co Mo Aug 27, 1864   (physical description from another ledger: 5', age 22, lgt hair, blue eyes) sent from Warrensburg Mo
Mrs Elizabeth Price Jefferson Co Mo Jefferson Co Mo Sept 14, 1864   (physical description from another ledger: 5'8", age 50, grey hair, hazel eyes) order P M G
Mrs Mary Rudder St Louis Mo St Louis Mo Sept 14, 1864   (physical description from another ledger: 5'4", age 25, lgt hair, blue eyes)
Mrs Esther Wilson           with husband Isaac F Wilson, released Sept 24, 1864 on oath and  $1000 bond
following entries from Gratiot/Mrytle ledgers, NARA M598 roll 72 - some of these have physical descriptions which are included
Miss Jane Ward Johnson Co Mo Johnson Co Mo Aug 24, 1864     5', age 

[feuxdejoie]

The link seems to be broken

[Forevermah]

The link seems to be broken

Link is not broken, website is gone!  Maybe we can find that info from another source ...

[Dazzler]

All the old Joliet and Alton prison records, and other archived records have all been incorporated at this new site:

http://genealogytrails.com/ill/convicts/convictregister.htm

I'm glad we found this because the records are interesting as well as used by people tracing their geneaology. 

[IloveDCfrombooneco]

Wow the sentencing for horse stealing was greater then that of attempted murder.

[feuxdejoie]

This is very interesting, I'm glad you found it!  Thanks!

[jenplus2]

What link do you click to see the charges, and what not. All I keep clicking on are the names 

[boricua1029]

Wow that is very intersting...and my gosh they totally put their business on there. How old they where when their parents die. How long they where in school etc.....crazy

[Crowe29]

Wow! This site is awesome! I think I found one of my fiancee's relatives...but then again, he has a kinda common name...but still...so interesting!