I have a GGGrandfather (Thomas Gregory 1847-1916) who does not appear to be in the 1891 census but is with his family in Masborough listed as 'head' in 1881 and then in the 1901 he is a convict in Rochester Prison. My general query to this board is whether it is unusual for someone who has committed a crime to be incarcerated so far away from his home town. He died in Masborough in 1916. I am of course making an assumption that his crime was committed in Rotherham and may well be wrong about this. I have searched the quarter sessions in Wakefield without any joy. And the fact that he is missing from the 1891 census makes a possible court date within a 20 year time span 1881 to 1901.
Has anyone any experience of visiting Kew and searching prison records?