Ragged, poor and mischievous or young thieves and Street Arabs: Researching criminal children: Linda Hammond

Think your respectable family tree doesn’t include any “criminals”? Think again – and prepare to discover some of your most fascinating ancestors.
Throughout history, children found themselves labelled as criminals for acts we’d barely notice today: stealing bread when hungry, playing in the streets, or simply having nowhere to go. What seems tragic to us now has created an unexpected goldmine for genealogists – these “criminal” children generated incredibly detailed records that reveal more about family life, social conditions, and individual stories than almost any other source.
From family backgrounds and living conditions to parents’ occupations and siblings’ names, these overlooked records contain extraordinary details that census records never captured. You’ll find vivid descriptions of daily life among the working poor and stories that bring your ancestors to life in ways you never imagined.
In this presentation, you’ll discover where to find these remarkable records both online and in archives, and learn practical techniques for extracting their social and genealogical treasures. You might just find that your family’s most “shameful” characters become your most revealing research breakthroughs.

Linda Hammond is a professional genealogist and member of the Register of Qualified Genealogists. She has been active in genealogy for over 35 years as both a researcher and a lecturer. She is a member of the University of Strathclyde genealogy course faculty, where she works as a tutor for their Masters program. In addition to her teaching role, Linda frequently speaks at conferences and family history fairs, where she shares her knowledge and expertise with enthusiasts. She has published articles on her research into Reformatory and Industrial Schools in England and has just published her book on the use of Mind Mapping in genealogy.

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