Criminal Career Of Sarah Bowles *Updated January 2024*

Sarah was baptized 1847 the eldest daughter of Robert and Eliza Bowles [nee Croxon] of Marlow. Robert was a fruiterer. She grew up in Hatches Row, Dean Street.

1860- 13 years old. Sentenced to two weeks in jail then two years in Bedfordshire reformatory school for stealing a feather bolster, a lace veil and some fake flowers from the shop window of Jane Edmunds in Marlow High Street. Must have got out early from the reform school as in less than two years she was about again in Marlow. The court blamed her situation on bad "home training" and thought it best to remove her from the "pernicious influences with which she had unfortunately been surrounded." 

1861- 13 years old going on 14 and working as a needlewoman. Spent 5 weeks in jail for obtaining 5 cups and other articles from Thomas Dukes, china dealer of West Street in Marlow Buckinghamshire under false pretences. To see these premises as they are today and to read more about the Dukes family see this post.

1862- fined for stealing turnip tops from a field. Age 14 to 15. Plead guilty.  It was stated then she had previously been jailed twice. She was convicted with a number of other teenage girls. 

1866- Acquitted of stealing 4 shillings 9 pence from a Marlow High Street shop till. She was then a needlewoman. Though she had been seen coming out from behind the counter of the unguarded shop and the till had been opened the exact amount supposed to have been stolen could not be sworn to by the shopkeeper Robert Hayes Smith who obviously didn't know what was or wasn't in the till at the time. Sarah had been prosecuted for the amount of coins found in her pocket on the presumption that she must have just stolen them. Sarah was probably up to no good that day behind the counter but that was one poor prosecution case! No wonder she was not found guilty. More on the interesting Robert Hayes Smith in this post.

1866- jailed for four months for stealing two pairs of boots and a flannel petticoat from pawnbroker Alfred Batting of Marlow late the previous year. She apparently hid the articles under her crinoline, and came back twice. Also accused of stealing some silver coins that he'd left on a shelf behind the till. Sarah sold one of the pairs of boots to someone who unfortunately went on to pledge them at the same pawnbroker they'd been stolen from, which lead to Sarah's arrest. Aged about 19 (although one source put her as 15)

1867- charged with stealing a silk cloak and mantle from William Reddington in High Wycombe. Jailed for 9 months.

*Sarah was then absent from Marlow census or other records for some years. She had returned by 1911. Worked as a ironer in a laundry late in life. There were some "Sarah Bowles" convictions during her absence but these were her sister in law of that name or others **

1913- Aged about 66. Jailed for two months for obtaining groceries from two shops in Maidenhead under false pretences. She pretended to be taking the food for a wealthy Maidenhead lady who had an account at the shops On her first visit she obtained salt pork, cheese, bacon, and butter then later the same day she obtained sausages, sugar, tea and cake from a different assistant. She was then of 120 Dean Street. She was arrested while waiting for the Marlow train in the waiting room of Maidenhead station with the goods in her basket. She offered no defence but pleaded her age in mercy. She had however previously been cautioned at the same court for obtaining charitable donations under false pretences. At her trial the policeman says that if only Sarah would give up her stealing some family members in Maidenhead would be pleased to give her a home. 

Notes:

Needle women were very lowly paid. 

The sort of records and resources that survive can tell us a lot about what Sarah did wrong but what she did right in her life may leave no visible trace for us who are looking back at her life today. She was a convicted criminal but if she was also a loving daughter, a loyal friend, a skilled worker or a caring sister we can never know it. Let us just remember she may have been many things.

Researched and written by Charlotte Day. 

©Marlow Ancestors.

**To find other people in this blog use the Person Index option on the menu**

Sources:

South Bucks Standard 13th March 1913. Windsor and Eton Express 20th July 1861. Oxford Chronicle 6th January 1866. Latter two in British Library Archives.

South Bucks Free Press 29 December 1865, courtesy of Jane. 

Crime research of Jane Pullinger.

Census, my transcription from microfilm. Census information always remains Crown Copyright.