New book may reveal Your Ancestors in the State Penitentiary! Announcing the publication of the second volume of Tennessee Convicts: Early Records of the State Penitentiary. This volume covers records from 1850 through 1870, including more than 2,200 prisoners and their family members who are named in the original ledger volumes. During this period abolitionists, Confederate bushwhackers and Union army soldiers convicted by courts martial were among those who crowded the State Penitentiary. In addition, the regular complement of counterfeiters, horse thieves and murderers from across the state are also represented. Entries cover the entire state of Tennessee. Here is a sample listing from Roane County: Harris Cowen. Received on Nov 11, 1860. Convicted of grand larceny in Roane County and sentenced to a term of 3 years. Age: 36. Occupation: none. Birthplace: Tennessee. Discharged: Aug. 25, 1863. Notes: Discharged under Act of 1836. In prison ledger 86 as number 2218. Additional information found in ledger 87: Born and raised in Jefferson Co. Parents, two brothers and one sister live in Bledsoe Co. One sister married to Mr. Laws[?] lives in Arkansas, as does one brother. #734. For ordering information about this book please see this web page: www.angelfire.com/tn3/sherrill You may also contact the author, Chuck Sherrill, by e-mail at: books4histry@cs.com (The original volume, listing prisoners 1830-1850, is presently out of print.)