Dear All, Just discovered that Thomson Gale (Thomson Corporation) has Free For All access to its databases for one week at http://libraryweek.galedemo.com/history.htm The snag is the week ends tomorrow, 24 April. I haven't had time to search far into the databases but have extracted the Sackett entries from the Times (of London). These include obituaries of Alfred Barrett Sackett and Frank Colyer Sackett, both well known to UK researchers, but the real find is the story of a Thomas Sackett of Essex who, in 1827, was granted an eleventh-hour reprieve from execution for robbery. I haven't been able to identify this Thomas Sackett yet. The Times story, of 22 Nov 1827, starts - "Last night a respite was received at Newgate for Thomas Sackett who had been ordered for execution this day. It will be recollected that Sackett was convicted of robbing an old gentleman near the Exchange of a pocket-book, containing bills of exchange to a large amount. The Secretary of State has desired it to be distinctly understood that Sackett's life has been spared upon the ground of its having been ascertained, subsequently to his being ordered for execution, that his character up to a recent period had been unimpeached." I'll post the rest of this newspaper report tomorrow, but thought I would post this much straight away in case anyone wants to take a look at the website for themselves before the free offer expires. Newgate Prison was notorious for its ghastliness. It is gratifying to note that the right decision was made in the end, although one might have thought that the original judge, faced with an accused named Sackett, would have realised that the man must have been of good character. You can never be too careful. Best... Chris