Childhood crime appalled many of the luminaries of the Victorian era, not least Charles Dickens who highlighted the problem in Oliver Twist (1837–1839). As more migrant workers flooded into the cities, the juvenile crime rate rocketed. Unsurprisingly, poverty was the driving force and many children became pickpockets just to put food in their stomachs, often joining gangs like Fagin’s. Those who were convicted were thrown into filthy, overcrowded gaols alongside adult felons. Imagine such a fate befalling one of your ancestors.
Mary Jones is a writer from Llandudno in Conwy, North Wales, who has published genealogy-based mystery novels under the pseudonym MK Jones. She became fascinated by family history 25 years ago, and has delved deep into her Irish roots.
“My mum’s maiden name was Josephine Collins,” Mary explains. “She was widowed young and took up a few hobbies after Dad died, including genealogy. I decided to help her,
