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Ancestry.co.uk has launched online the registers of 1.4 million individuals across England and Wales who were indicted for trial from the late 18th to the late 19th centuries.

The England and Wales Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 (1791 to 1804 are for Middlesex only) are taken from 279 original paper volumes held at The National Archives (series HO 26 and HO 27). They document trials and sentences for crimes ranging from murder and highway robbery, through petty theft and fraud, to minor cases of bad language and scrumping (stealing fruit from orchards).

The registers show details of the crime, the full name and date of birth of the accused, the location of the trial and the judgment passed.

You can search the trial records for free, but there is a charge to download images of the original documents.

Infamous names in the registers

• Dr Thomas Neill Cream, a doctor sentenced to death in 1892 for poisoning several people. He was one of the main Jack the Ripper suspects - his final words were 'I am Jack…'
• George Lyon, a highwayman who, according to local legend, was completely inept. Once, his pistol failed while he attempted to rob a coach in the rain because his gunpowder was wet. He was sentenced to death in 1815
• Isaac 'Ikey' Solomon, widely considered to be the inspiration for the Dickens' character Fagin. He gained notoriety for his crimes, escape from arrest and high-profile recapture and trial - finally being sentenced to 14 years' transportation at the Old Bailey in 1830
• Roderick McLean, who attempted to assassinate Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle. He was found 'not guilty, but insane' and lived out his remaining days in Broadmoor Asylum