VPRS 513 Clothing Possessed by Prisoners Upon Admission (1877-1894); Matron's Book (c1887-1891)

Full description

Two series are housed within one volume: Clothing Possessed by Prisoners on Admission, and the Matrons Book.

The Clothing series was used to record the items of clothing confiscated from prisoners upon their admission to Castlemaine Gaol, and to record the prisoners receipt of the clothing upon their transfer/discharge. Under the Rules and Regulations pursuant to the Statute of Gaols 1864, prisoners gave up their clothing, money and valuables on admission. They were placed in store and held by the prison until the time of their discharge.

Columns in the volume record: Gaol No, Local No, Name and date received at Castlemaine, Clothing possessed by prisoner on admission. In the last column all articles of clothing belonging to the prisoner are described and the prisoners signature or mark appears below the description. When/if the prisoner is transferred or discharged, there appears an entry reading something like: Received my clothes all correct and in good order (date) (signature).

This series also records other information about prisoners for whom there are entries. For example, the prisoner's sentence is often recorded in the Name and date received column. As this series records the date the prisoners clothing was confiscated and the date the clothing was received by the prisoner, it also incidentally records the prisoners admission and discharge dates.

The Matrons Book records the quantities and items of stock received by the Gaol (eg, womens bonnets, aprons, dusters, sheets). Each rned off by William Sutton, the senior warder at Castlemaine at this time, who was responsible for (amongst other things) stores, tools and furniture.

This series was previously registered with the title Clothing Book.