Henry Preece was born in Herefordshire in 1831, the last of 6 children born to Thomas and Susanna (nee Fox) Preece. In 1852 he was living in Mordiford, and was charged with stealing a silk handkerchief from Mrs Kings, at that time his landlady. Following an initial hearing at the Hereford Guildhall, followed by the Quarter Sessions in March 1852, he was found guilty, and sentenced to 2 months hard labour.

In July, not long after the end of his sentence, Henry married Sarah Hyde (who had been one of his witnesses in the case), and they had three children, one of these being Charles, born in 1853….

Charles moved to Gloucestershire once he had reached working age, and married Ellen Holman in Gloucester in 1880. Ellen already had a son, and they subsequently had a further 7 children as a couple, settling in Bran Green, near Newent.

In July 1892 Charles found himself in court, charged with assaulting a man from nearby Redmarley – he was found guilty, and sentenced to one month in prison, with hard labour.

Amongst Charles and Ellen’s children was Joseph Preece, born in 1884. Despite being 14, in 1898 he found himself charged with wilfully breaking a window – he was found guilty, and offered a choice – pay a fine of 18 shillings and 6 pence, or one week’s imprisonment. The family had fallen on hard times, and the fine could not be paid, so he was sent to prison in Gloucester.

Three generations of the family found themselves in trouble - and indeed sent to prison – and the most interesting aspect of all this is that they are all my direct family line! Joseph was my grandfather, although I never knew him as he died when I was 3.