Convict Deaths in the British Columbia Penitentiary, 1875 - 1916
Sessional Book Year: 1888
No Name Given
Cause: Phthisis
Place of Birth: China
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Sessional Book Year: 1888
No Name Given
No other details given.
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Sessional Book Year: 1888
No Name Given
Place of Birth: CAN
Remarks: Indian.
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Sessional Book Year: 1910
Roberto
BENEDETTI
CRIME: Unlawful Wounding
Place of Conviction: Fernie, BC
Date of Death: 2 Feb 1909 Age: 36
Cause: Suicide - hanging Place of
Birth: Italy
Remarks: Death Registration: B13089, 84,604. Listed age as 38. Labourer.
Coroners Inquest, 1909, file #23: need special search request.
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Sessional Book Year: 1910
Frank
CARLSON
CRIME: Stealing
Place of Conviction: Victoria
Date of Death: 28 Jan 1909 Age: 50
Cause: Congestion of lungs
Place of Birth: Sweden
Remarks: Death Registration: B13089, 84,688. Sailor.
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Sessional Book Year: 1886
CHARLEY (only one name given)
CRIME: Cutting And Wounding
Place of Conviction: Yale
Date of Death: 23 Dec 1884 Age: n/g
Cause: Phthisis
Place of Birth: CAN
Remarks: Indian.
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Sessional Book Year: 1913
Lewis
COLQUHOUM
CRIME: Robbing H.M. Mail
Place of Conviction: Kamloops
Date of Death: 22 Sep 1911 Age: 34
Cause: Phthisis
Place of Birth: Ontario
Remarks: Death Registration: B13089, 84,755. Book-keeper.
Vancouver Daily Province, 23 Sep 1911, pg.1:
LOUIS COLQUHOUN DIES IN PRISON:
END OF BANDIT WHO FIGURED IN HOLDUP WITH FAMOUS BILL MINER:
Louis Colquhoun, a bandit who figured in the public eye in 1905 in holding up a
westbound express on the CPR near Ducks, BC and the theft of the registered mail
bags, died yesterday in the New Westminster Penitentiary Hospital. Colquhoun was
a pal of Bill Miner and Shorty Dunn in the holdup. Captured by the Royal North
West Mounted Police near Kamloops Miner and Dunn were sentenced to life imprisonment
and Colquhoun was given 25 years.
Colquhoun was 34 years of age and unmarried. He came from a farm family who lived
near Clifford, Ontario and was a school teacher and later a book-keeper.
1871 Census: film C-9949, Minto Twp, d.3, p.19: COLQUHOUN: Robert, 48, SCT, farmer
(c.16, l.31); Jessie, 36, SCT; Margaret, 10, ON; Marion, 9, ON; Peter, 7, ON;
Alexander, 5, ON; Robert, 2, ON; Jessie, 2/12 Feb, ON & James, 23, SCT, no occ.
given. C. Presby.
1881 Census: film C-13259, Minto Twp, div.2, pg.81: COLQUHOUON: Robert, 56, SCT,
farmer; Jessie, 45, SCT; Margaret, 19, ON; Marrion, 18, ON; Peter, 17, ON, farmer;
Alexander, 13, ON; Robert, 11, ON; Leddie, 9, ON; Mary, 7, ON; John, 5, ON & Lewis,
4, ON. The families religion was C. Presbyterian.
91C: T-6377, Minto Twp, d.1, p.56: COLQUHOUN: Robert, 67, SCT, farmer; Jessie, 56,
SCT; Margaret, 29, ON; Jessie, 19, ON; Mary, 17, ON; Peter, 26, ON, farmer; Alexander,
23, ON, farmer; Robert, 21, ON, farmer; John, 15, ON & Lewis, 13, ON. C. Presby.
01C: T-6504, Minto Twp, d.5, p.7: COLQUHOUN: Alexander, 26 May 1869, ON, farmar
(c.16, l.30 & 31); Margaret, 26 Jul 1861, ON; Robert, 17 Sep 1871, ON, farm lab; Jessie,
27 Feb 1873, ON & Mary, 17 Aug 1874, ON. Next: COLQUHOUN: Peter, 11 May 1864, ON, farmer
(c.16, l.31 & 32). All single & Presby.
From 'Historical Atlas of Wellington County, 1906':
COLQUOHOUN, ROBERT (d.), was b. Dunbartonshire, Scot., in 1823, where he was
raised and educated. ln 1842 he came to Canada, and lived five years in the "Colquohoun
Settlement" near Morrisburg, when he came to Guelph and lived there and in Morriston
eight years. He then went to St. Mary's, where he married Jessie Grant in 1860, and they
immediately came up to Minto and purchased lot 30, con. 16, where they settled. He
started life in Canada without means, and by perseverence, energy and thrift, rose to
a position of influence and accumulated a large property, leaving at the time of his
death 300 acres of land in Minto, besides other property. Few men were more respected
than he. Of strict integrity, his word was considered as good as his bond. He was a
consistent member of the Presbyterian church, and took an active interest in its affairs.
In fact he gave his encouragement and pecuniary assistance to all worthy objects. He
never sought municipal honors. In politics he was a Liberal, and took a healthy interest
in the political questions of the day. He d. in 1901, age 77 years, while his wife d. in
1895, age 59. They had the following issue: Margaret, Mrs. (Dr.) Kerr, Peter, Alexander,
Robert, Jr.; Mrs. David Campbell, Mary, John (d. 19), and Lewis. Peter owns 140 acres, lots
31 and 32, con. 16; Alexander owns 160 acres, lots 30 and 31, con. 16, and Robert, Jr.,
owns 200 acres, lots 28 and 29, con. 16.
They are counted amongst the most substantial farmers and progressive citizens of
Minto.
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Sessional Book Year: 1895
Richard Forrester
DALY
CRIME: Embezzlement
Place of Conviction: Nelson
Date of Death: 1 Jul 1894 Age: 36
Cause: Bright's
Place of Birth: England
Remarks:
Death Reistration: B13088, 78,737. Bank clerk. C.E. Sentenced 12 May 1894
to two years.
1894 Convicts Received Report: Richard Forrester Daley, embezzlement,
b.ENG, C.E., sentenced 19 May 1893 to two years. This date conflicts
with Death Registration.
1891 Census: film T-13285, Victoria, James Bay Ward, div.1, family 190: DALY: Richard, 33,
b.South America, fmb.ENG, accountant and Eleanor, 26, b.AUS, fmb.ENG.
Anglicans.
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Sessional Book Year: 1883
Jim
DANDY
CRIME: Wounding With Intent
Place of Conviction: New Westminster, BC
Date of Death: 13 Sep 1881 Age: 46
Cause: n/g
Place of Birth: BC
Remarks: Indian.
1881 Census: C-13284, New Westminster North, 187B, p.62: DANDY: Jim, 46, BC, no
occupation give. Methodist.
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Sessional Book Year: 1883
John
DAWDRY
CRIME: Larceny
Place of Conviction: Victoria, BC
Date of Death: 26 Feb 1882 Age: 32
Cause: Heart disease
Place of Birth: ENG
Remarks:
Death Registration: B13087, 74,651.
Daily British Colonist, Victoria, 2 Mar 1882, pg.3:
A convict named John Dawdry fell dead on Sunday last while washing dishes in the
kitchen of the penitentiary from heart disease. He was sentenced in 1877 to 5
years penal servitude and would have been entitled to his discharge in a few months.
British Columbian Newspaper, New Westminster:
states he was 32 and a native of ENG.
1881 Census: C-13284, New Westminster North, 187B, p.62.: DAWDRY: John, 31,
ENG, labourer. Catholic.
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Sessional Book Year: 1898
Astanola
GEORGE
CRIME: Shooting With Intent
Place of Conviction: Kamloops, BC
Date of Death: 18 Apr 1888 Age: 25
Cause: Phthisis
Place of Birth: Canada
Remarks: Indian.
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Sessional Book Year: 1916
GIN Alias: Kim or Ung Wing
CRIME: Breaking And Entering
Place of Conviction: Vancouver, BC
Date of Death: 31 May 1914 Age: 31
Cause: Morphinomania
Place of Birth: Canton, China
Remarks:
Death Registration: B13091, 90,257. He was married, a laundryman, had been
in Canada for 10 months and in the penitentiary for 9 weeks. Buried in the BC
Penitentiary Cemetery.
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Sessional Book Year: 1905
George
HANES
CRIME: Burglary
Place of Conviction: Soda Creek, BC
Date of Death: 18 Jul 1903 Age: 18
Cause: Tuberculosis
Place of Birth: Cariboo, BC
Remarks:
Death Registration: B13088, 81,110 - lists his age as 19. Labourer.
1903 Convicts Received Report: George Hanes, 18, sentenced to 2 1/2
years on 30 Jun 1902 at Soda Creek for burglary.
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Sessional Book Year: 1883
HARRY
CRIME: Larceny
Place of Conviction: New Westminster, BC
Date of Death: 14 Sep 1881
Place of Birth: Canada
Remarks: Indian.
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Sessional Book Year: 1912
John
HENSTRIDGE
CRIME: Breaking, Entering And Stealing
Place of Conviction: Vancouver, BC
Date of Death: 14 Jan 1911 Age: 22
Cause: Tuberculosis
Place of Birth: Broken Hill, Australia
Remarks: Death Registration: B13090, 85,940. Farmer.
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Sessional Book Year: 1914
Philip
HOPKINS
CRIME: Robbery, With Violence
Place of Conviction: Nanaimo, BC
Date of Death: 6 Mar 1913 Age: 42
Cause: Phthisis
Place of Birth: Keystone, West Virginia, USA
Remarks:
Death Registration: B13090, 88,606. Barber. He had been in prison
for 4 1/2 years. He was black and had been in Canada for 11 years. Buried
in the BC Penitentiary Cemetery.
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Sessional Book Year: 1883
JACOB
CRIME: Murder
Place of Conviction: Victoria, BC
Date of Death: 19 Feb 1882 Age: 39
Place of Birth: BC
Remarks: Indian.
1881 Census: 13284, New Westminster North, 187B, p.62: JACOB: name entered as
Jacob - Indian, 38, BC, no occupation given. Catholic.
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Sessional Book Year: 1886
JAMIE
CRIME: Burglary
Place of Conviction: Lytton, BC
Date of Death: 16 Apr 1885
Cause: Phthisis
Place of Birth: Canada
Remarks: Indian.
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Sessional Book Year: 1882
JIM
CRIME: Assault
Place of Conviction: New Westminster, BC
Remarks: no further details given
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Sessional Book Year: 1894
Cary
JONES
CRIME: Manslaughter
Place of Conviction: Nanaimo, BC
Date of Death: 4 Feb 1893 Age: 46
Cause: Heart disease
Place of Birth: Virginia, USA
Remarks:
Death Registration: B13088, 78,825. Labourer. Sentenced to the Pen. 12
May 1892 for life. Methodist.
1893 Convicts Received Report: Cary Jones, manslaughter, b.USA,
Methodist, sentenced 6 Dec 1892 to life. This date conflicts with the DR.
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Sessional Book Year: 1881
LEO
CRIME: Murder
Place of Conviction: Nanaimo, BC
Cause: Self inflicted castration and phthisis
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Sessional Book Year: 1905
James
LEONARD
CRIME: Robbery With Violence
Place of Conviction: Victoria, BC
Date of Death: 15 Jan 1904 Age: 30 Cause: Place of Birth: USA Remarks:
WR: States that he died in the Asylum for the Insane.
Death Registration: 13089, 82688: William Leonard, USA, baker, d.28 Mar 1904 of
intestinal obstruction at the Hospital for the Insane, New Westminster.
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Sessional Book Year: 1889
John
MARION
CRIME: House Breaking
Place of Conviction: New Westminster
Date of Death: 3 Mar 1888 Age: 28
Cause: Rheumatism
Place of Birth: USA
Remarks:
Death Registration: B13087, 76,172 - lists his age as 25. Stonecutter.
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Sessional Book Year: 1892
R.J.
MCNEIL
Date of Death: 19 Jul 1890 Age: 33
Cause: Heart disease
Place of Birth: Antrim Co, Ireland
Remarks:
Death Registration: 13087, 77,501: R.J. McNeil, d.19 Jul 1890, age 33.
Name was not given in Penitentiary Report only that a convict had died. His name was
found by searching the BC death registration records.
Coroners Inquest, 1890, file #38: no new data.
1890 Sessional Paper: Convicts Received Report: R.J. McNail sentenced
to 3 years on 1 May 1888 for uttering the same well knowing it to be
false. b.Antrim, Presbyterian
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Sessional Book Year: 1910
Paul
NEWMAN
CRIME: Breaking, Entering, And Stealing
Place of Conviction: Nanaimo, BC
Date of Death: 29 Sep 1908 Age: 49
Cause: Heart failure
Place of Birth: Sudbury, ON
Remarks: Death Registration: B13089, 83,371. Teamster.
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Sessional Book Year: 1911
John
PARKER
CRIME: Manslaughter
Date of Death: 12 Nov 1909 Age: 20
Cause: Pneumonia
Place of Birth: Kanaka
Remarks:
Death Registration: B13090, 85,291. Lists his place of birth as Hawai Island.
Labourer.
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Sessional Book Year: 1906
Joseph
PEEL
CRIME: Housebreaking And Theft
Place of Conviction: Nelson, BC
Date of Death: 11 Mar 1905 Age: 24
Cause: Uraemia Place of Birth: Canada
Remarks: Indian.
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Sessional Book Year: 1914
Johnnie
PETER
CRIME: Murder
Place of Conviction: Nanaimo, BC
Date of Death: 31 Jan 1913 Age: 53
Cause: Tuberculosis
Place of Birth: Keeper Island, BC
Remarks: Indian.
Death Registration: B13090, 88,780 (entered as Johnny Peters). Labourer.
He had been in prison for 8 1/2 years. Buried in the BC Penitentiary Cemetery.
Daily Province, Vancouver, 1 Feb 1913, pg.32:
DEATH OF INDIAN CONVICT:
Johnny Peter, in the penitentiary for manslaughter, died yesterday of tuberculosis.
He had been in the penitentiary for about 20 years.
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Sessional Book Year: 1909
John
ROSS
CRIME: Forgery
Place of Conviction: New Westminster, BC
Date of Death: 10 Jun 1907 Age: 35
Cause: Bronchial Asthma
Place of Birth: London, England
Remarks: Death Registration: B13089, 83,409. Clerk.
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Sessional Book Year: 1886
SAM
CRIME: Killing Cattle
Place of Conviction: New Westminster, BC
Date of Death: 3 Apr 1885
Cause: Phthisis
Place of Birth: Canada
Remarks: Indian.
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Sessional Book Year: 1886
Ah
SAM Alias: Ah Mow
CRIME: House-breaking
Place of Conviction: Victoria, BC
Date of Death: 5 Sep 1884 Age:
Cause: Phthisis Place of Birth: China
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Sessional Book Year: 1904
SAMIEN
CRIME: Murder
Place of Conviction: Clinton
Date of Death: 23 Aug 1902 Age: 20
Cause: Scrofula Place of Birth: Bella Coola, BC
Remarks: Indian.
Death Registration: B13088, 81,328 - lists his age as 22.
1901 Census: T-6429, New Westminster, B.C. Pen., d.6, p.4: SAMIEN: b.1881 (no
day/month), age 20, b.BC, Indian
1899 Convicts Received Report: Samien, 17, b.CAN, labourer, RC, sentenced at Clinton
on 30 May 1898 for murder for life.
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Sessional Book Year: 1914
Joseph
SMITH
CRIME: Assault, With Intent To Steal
Place of Conviction: Vancouver, BC
Date of Death: 31 Jan 1913 Age: 24
Cause: Executed for murder of a guard
Place of Birth: England
Remarks:
Death Registration: B13091, 90,419. Sailor. He had been in
prison since 8 Mar 1911. Buried in the BC Penitentiary Cemetery.
Daily Province, Vancouver, 7 Oct 1912, pg.1:
GUARD KILLED BY DESPERADOES WHO TRY ESCAPE:
H. Wilson and Joseph Smith tried to escape. They first struck Guard W.F. Craig over
the head with a hammer and then disarmed three other guards. Another guard opened
fire on the pair and a gunfight followed in which Wilson was wounded and Guard J.H.
Joynson, who was shot twice by Wilson, died.
Smith was sentenced a year ago to a ten year term for squirting acid
in a man's eyes during a Main St., Vancouver jewellry store robbery.
Daily Province, Vancouver, 1 Feb 1913, pg.32:
States that Joseph Smith was hung. He was the 23rd person executed in New Westminster
and the first at the penitentiary. On 5 Oct 1912 Smith and Herman Wilson had tried
to escape but in a gunfight that ensued a guard was killed and Wilson was wounded.
Wilson died 29 Oct 1912.
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Sessional Book Year: 1909
George
ST PAUL
CRIME: Murder
Place of Conviction: Kamloops, BC
Date of Death: 18 Feb 1908 Age: 37
Cause: Tuberculosis
Place of Birth: Canada
Remarks: Indian.
Death Registration: B13089, 83,464. Labourer.
1902 Convicts Received Report: George St Paul, 30, sentenced to 14 years on 23 May
1901 at Kamloops for murder. Received at Pen. 14 Jun 1901.
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Sessional Book Year: 1916
Clarence
THOMPSON
CRIME: Stealing With Violence
Place of Conviction: Vancouver, BC
Date of Death: 3 Feb 1915 Age: 44
Cause: Arterio Sclerosis
Place of Birth: Halifax, NS
Remarks:
Death Registration: B13091, 91,724: Miner. He had been in prison since 16
Nov 1911. Listed as age 44, married and born Halifax. Buried in the BC Penitentiary
Cemetery.
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Sessional Book Year: 1884
TOBY
CRIME: Manslaughter
Place of Conviction: Victoria, BC
Date of Death: 20 Feb 1883 Age: 32
Cause: Phthisis
Place of Birth: British Columbia
Remarks: Indian.
British Columbian, New Westminster Newspaper, 24 Feb 1883. p.3:
- states he died of consumption; name spelt Tobey.
1881 Census: C-13284, New Westminster North, 187B, p.62: TOBEY: name entered as
'Tobey - Indian', 30, BC, no occupation given. Catholic.
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Sessional Book Year: 1910
John B.
WESTON
CRIME: Horse Stealing
Place of Conviction: Vernon, BC
Date of Death: 25 Jan 1909 Age: 29
Cause: Suicide - cut throat
Place of Birth: USA
Remarks: Death Registration: B13090, 85,516. Labourer.
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Sessional Book Year: 1884
WILLIAM
CRIME: Assault With Intent
Place of Conviction: New Westminster, BC
Date of Death: 1 Mar 1883
Cause: Phthisis
Place of Birth: Canada
Remarks: Indian.
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Sessional Book Year: 1914
Herman
WILSON
CRIME: Robbery, With Violence
Place of Conviction: Fernie, BC
Date of Death: 29 Oct 1912 Age: 22
Cause: Bullet wound of lung and septic pneumonia.
Place of Birth: Toronto, ON
Remarks:
Death Registration: B13090, 87,434. Waiter. Son of J.O. Wilson of Eau
Claire, WI, USA. He was in the penitentiary for 2 months and is buried in the BC
Penitentiary Cemetery.
Daily Province, Vancouver, 7 Oct 1912, pg.1:
GUARD KILLED BY DESPERADOES WHO TRY ESCAPE:
H. Wilson and Joseph Smith tried to escape. They first struck Guard W.F. Craig over
the head with a hammer and then disarmed three other guards. Another guard opened fire
on the pair and a gunfight followed in which Wilson was wounded and Guard J.H. Joynson,
who was shot twice by Wilson, died.
Daily Province, Vancouver, 30 Oct 1912, pg.1:
CONVICT DIED OF BLOOD POISONING:
Herman Wilson, highway robber, shot 5 Oct by Guard Elson, during an attempted escape.
Guard Joynson had also been killed (by Wilson).
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Sessional Book Year: 1889
Ah
WONG
CRIME: Assault With Intent
Place of Conviction: New Westminster, BC
Date of Death: 11 Oct 1887 Age: 28
Cause: Suicide - hanging
Place of Birth: China
Remarks:
Daily British Columbian, 13 Oct 1887, p.4:
States Ah Wong suicided by hanging at the penitentiary. He was sentenced on the 11
May 1883 to ten years for assaulting a railway construction foreman at Port Hammont.
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Sessional Book Year: 1881
Ah
WOON
CRIME: Wounding With Intent To Do Bodily Harm
Place of Conviction: Nanaimo, BC
Place of Birth: China
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