THE
NEWGATE CALENDAR,
IMPROVED;
BEING
INTERESTING MEMOIRS
OF
NOTORIOUS CHARACTERS,
Who have been convicted of Offences
AGAINST THE^ LAJVS OF ENGLAND,
DURING THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY ; AND CONTINUED TO THB PRESENT TIME^ CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRA.NGED ;
Traitors,
Murderers,
InceudiariCvS,
llavishi rs,
Pirates,
Mutineers,
Coiners,
COMPRISING
Highwaymen,
Footpads,
Housebreakers,
Rioters,
Extortioners,
Sharpers,
Forgerers,
Pickpockets, Fraudulent Bankrupts, Mouey Droppers, Impostors,
And Thieves of every Description.
AND
Contaming a number of inUresting Cases never before published i
WITH
Occasional Remarks on Crimes and Punishments, Original Anecdotes, Moral Reflections and Observations on particular Cases ; Explanations of the Criminal Laws, the Speeches, Confessions, and
LAST EXCLAMATIONS OF SUFFERERS.
To which is added
A CORRECT ACCOUNT OF THE VARIOUS MODES OF PUNISHMENT OF CRIMINALS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD.
BY George theooore wilkinson> esq.
VOL. II.
ILontoon :
PRINTED I'Oil THOMAS KELLY, IJ, PATER N0STI:R-U0W
By W. Clowes, Northumberland Court, Strand,
■ .CO' K 1 vr J SO"! ", 1 1 1 A' 1-1. o;t ( ) ,
rm
NEWGAtE CALENDAR
-IMPROVED.
MARY YOUNO, alias JENNY DIVER,
(the head of a numerous gang of. thieves or EVERY description, AND MAY ,BE CALLED THE FE- MALE MACHEATH.)
Executed at Tyburn, March 18, 1740.
We have seldom heard of any more skilled in the various arts of imposition and robbery, than Mary Young. Her depredations, executed with undaunted courage, and artful deception, are surpassed by none which we have, as yet, met with.
Mary Young was born in the north of Ireland ; her parents were in indigent circumstances ; and dying while she was in a state of infancy, she had no recollection of them. • •
At about ten years of age she wai^taken into the family of an old gentlewoman, who had known her father and mother, and who caused her to be in- structed in reading, writing, and needle-work ; and in the latter she attained to a proficiency unusual to girls of her age.
Soon after she^had aiTived to her fifteenth year, a young man, servant to a gentleman who lived in the neighbourhood, made jfu’ctensions of love to her; but the old lady being apprized of his views, de- clared that she would not consent to their marriage, and positively forbad him to repeat his visits at her house.
Notwithstanding the great care and tenderness
K£WGAT£ CALENDAR IMPROvJiD.
she treated, Mary formed tile reso-< generous benefactor, and of dircef^Hp^’Ourse towards the metropolis of En- gland; and the only obstacle to^this design was, the want of money towards her support till she could follow some honest means of earning a subsistence.
fShe had no strong prej)osscssion in favour of the young anan, who had made a dcclaratioii of love to her; l)ut she, determining to make his passion sub- servient to the purpose she had^onccived, promised to marry him on eondition of his taking her to I^ow- don. He joyfully embraced this proposal, and im- mediately engaged for a passage in a vessel bound for Liverpool. *•
A short time before the vessel was to sail, the young man robbed his master of a gold uaitcb and eighty guineas, and then joined the com]>anion of his flight, who was already on board the shij), vainly imagining that his infamously-acquired booty would contribute to the happiness he should enjoy with bis expected bride. The ship arrived at the destined port in two days: and Mary being indisposed in consequence of her voyage, her companion hired a lodging in^ the least frequented part of the town, where they lived a short time ia the character of and wife, hut avoiding all intercourse with th^frTTflS-hbpi^ ; the man being apprehensive that measures wouT^bc pursued for apprehending him.
Mary being restored to health, they agreed for a passage ia a waggon that was to set out for London in a few days. On the day preceding that fixed for their departure, they accidentally called at a public- house, and the man being observed by a messenger dispatched in pursuit of him IVonfJ reland, he was immediately taken into custody. Mary, who a few ;iours before his apprehensfon, had received ten guineas from him, voluntarily accompanied him to the mayor’s house, where he acknowledged himself guilty of the crime alleged against him, but without giving the least intimation that she was an accessary
MARY YOUNG. S
in his guilt. He being committed to prison, Mary sent him all his clothes, and part of the money she had received from hinl, and the next day took her place in the waggon for London, In a short'tirne her companion was scot to Ireland, where he was tried, and condemned to suffer death, but his sen- tence was changed to that of transportation.
Soon after her arrival in London, Mary contracted an acquaintance with one of her country-women named Anne Murphy, by whom she was invited to partake of a lodging in -Long Acre. Here she en- deavoured to obtain a livelihood by her needle, but not being able to procure sufficient employmont, her situation in a little time became truly deplorable.
Murphy intimated to her, that she could intro- duce her to a mode of life that would prove exceed- ingly lucrative ; adding, that the most profound secrecy was required. The other expressed an anxi- ous desire of learning the means of extricating her- self from the difficulties under which she laboured, and made a solemn declaration that she would never divulge what Murphy should communicate. In the evening, Murphy introduced her to a number of men and women, asscmhled in a kind of club, near St. Giles’s. These people gained their, living by cutting off women’s jjockets, and stealing watches, &c. from men in the avenues of the theatres, and at other places of pi!l)lic resort ; and^u’ the recom- mendation of Murphy, they admitted Mary a mem- ber of the society.
After Mary’s admission, they dispersed, in order to pursue their illegiil occupation ; and the booty obtained that night chnsisted of 80/. in cash, and a valuable gold .watch. As Mary was not yet ac- quainted with the art of thieving-, she was not ad- mitted to an eqiuil sluwe of the night’s produce, but it was agreed that she should have ten guineas. iShe now regularly applied two hours every day in quali- fying herself for an expert thief, by attending to the instructions of experiwiced practitioners ; and, in a
5 KEWGATfi CALENDAR IMPROVED.
short time, she was distinguished as the most inge> nioHS and successful adventurer of the whole gang.
A young fellow of genteel* appearance, who was a member of the club, was singled out by Mary as the partner of her bed ; and* they cohabited for a considerable time as husband and.wife.
In a few months our heroine became so expert in her profession, as to acquire great consequence among her associates, who, as we conceive, distin- guished her by the appellation of Jenny Diver, on account of her remarkable dexterity ; and by that name we shall call her in the succeeding pages of this narrative.
Jenny, accompanied by one of her female accom- plices, joined the 'crowd at the entrance of a place of worsliip in the Old Jewry, where a popular divine was to preach, and observing a young gentleman with a diamond ring on his finger, she held out her hand, which he kindly received in order to assist her ; and at this juncture she contrived to get pos- session of the ring, without the knowledge of the owner ; after which she slipped behind her conjpa- nion, and heard the gentleman say, that as there w'as no probability of gaining admittance, he would re- turn. Upon his leaving the meeting he missed his ring, and mentioned his loss to the persons who were near him, adding, that he suspected it to be stoleirby‘aiiai&an whom had endeavoured to assist in the crowdTuut as the thief was unknown, she escaped.
The above robbery was considered as such an ex- traordinary proof of Jenny’s superior address, that her associates determined to' allow her an equal share of all their booties, even thqugh she was not present when they were obtained.
In a short time after the above exploit, she pro- cured a pair of false hands and aiyns to be made ; and concealing her real ones under her clothes, she put something beneath her stays to make herself appear as if she was in a state of pregnancy, she
MARY YOUNG.
/
repaired on a Sunday evening’ to the place of wor- ship ahovementioned, in a sedan chair, one of the gang going before, to procure a seat among the gen- teeler part of the congregation, .and another attend- ing in the character of ^ footman.
Jenny being seated between two elderly ladies, each of whom had a gold watch by her side, she conducted herself with great seeming devotion ; but when the service was nearly concluded, she seized the opportunity, when the ladies were standing up, of stealing their watches, which she delivered to an accomplice in an adjoining pew. The 'devotions being ended, the congregation were pr.eparing to depart, when the ladies discoverecl their loss, and a violent clamour ensued : one of the injured parties exclaimed, that “ her watch must have been taken either by the devil or the pregnant woman on M’hich the other said, she “ could vindicate the pregnant lady, whose hands, she was sure, had not been removed from her lap during the whole time of her being in the pew.”
Flushed with the success of the above adven- ture, our heroine was determined to pursue*her good fortune ; and as another sermon was to be preached the same evening, she adjourned to an adjacent public-house, where, without either pain or difficulty, she soon reduced the protuberance of her waist, and having entirely changed her dress, ^he returned to the meeting, where she had not remained long before she picked a gentleman’s pocket of a gold watch, with which she escaped unsuspected.
Her accomplices also^were industrious and suc- cessful; for on a division of the booty obtained this evening, they each»received thirty guineas. Jenny had now obtained an ascendancy over the who-le gang, who, conscious of* her superior skill in the arts of thieving, came to a resolution of yielding an exact obedience to her directions.
Jenny again assumed the appearance of a preg- nant woman, and, attended by an accomplice, as a
8
NEWGATE CAIENDAR IMPROVED.
footman, went towards St. James’s Park, on a day when the king was going to the House of Lords, and there being a great number of persons between the Park and Spring-garden^, she purposely slipped down, and was instantly surrounded by many of both sexes, who were emulous to afford her assist- ance ; but affecting to be in violent pain, she inti- mated to them that she was desirous of i*emaining on the ground till she should be somewhat recovei’ed. As she expected, the crowd increased, and her pre- tended footman anti her accomplice were so indus- trious as to obtain two diamond girdle-buckles, a gold watch, a goltl snuff-box, and two purses, con- taining altogether upwards of forty guineas.
The girdle-buckles, watcli, and snuff-box, were the following day advertised, and a considerable re- ward was offered, and a promise given tliat no questions should be asked the party who should re- store the property. Anne Murphy offered to carry the things to the place mentioned in the advertise- ment, sayitig, tlie reward offered exceeded what they would protluce by sale : but to this Jenny ob- jected, observing, that she might be traced, and the association utterly ruined. She called a meeting of the whble gang, and informed them that she was of opinion that it would be more prudent to sell the things, even at one half of their real value, than to return tfte?£ to the owners for the sake of the re- w'ard ; as, if they pursued the latter measure, they would subject themselves to great hazard of being apprehended. Her associates coincided entirely in Jenny’s sentiments : and the property was taken to Duke’s-place, and there sold to a Jew.
Two of the gang being confined to their lodgings by illness, Jenny, and the man with whom she co- habited, generally went in company in search of adventures. They went together to Burr-street, Wapping, and observing a genteel house, the man, who acted as Jenny’s footman, knocked at the door, and saydng that his inistress was on a sudden taken
MARY YOUNG.
9
extremely ill, begged she might be admitted. This was readily complied with, and while the mistress of the house and her. maid-servant were gone up stairs for such things as they imagined would afford relief to the supposed sick woman, she opened a drawer, and stole sixty guineas ; and aftei* this, while the mistress* was holding a smelling-bottle to her nose, she picked her pocket of a purse, which, however, did not contain money to any considerable amount. In tlic mean time the pretended footman, who had been ordered into the kitchen, stole six silver table spoons, a pepper-box, and a salt-cellar. Jenny, pretending to be somewhat recovered, ex- pressed the most grateful acknowledgments to the lady, and, saying slie was the wife.of a capital rner- ehant in Thames-street, invited her, in the most pressing terms, to dinner on an appointed day, and then went away in a hackney-coach, which l)y her order had been called to the door by her pretended servant.
.She practised a variety of felonies of a similar nature in different parts of the metropolis and its environs ; but the particulars of the above transac- tions being inserted in the newspapers, people were so effectually cautioned, that our adventurer was under the necessity of employing her invenfion upon the discovery of other methods of committing de- predations on the public.
The parties, whose illness we have mentioned be- ing recovered, it was resolved that the whole gang should go to Bristol, in search of adventures during the fair, which is held in that city every summer ; hut being unacquainted with the place, they deemed it good policy to admit into their society a man who had long subsistett there by villainous practices.
Being arrived at the place of destination, Jenny and Anne Murphy assumed the characters of mer- chant’s wives, thc*uew member and another of the gang appeared as country traders, and our heroine’s favourite retained his former character of footman.
Voi.. 11.
to
NEWGATE ( AI.ENOEl. niTROVEn.
They took lodging's at diflereivL inns, and agreed that, if any of them sliould Ite apprehended, the others should endeavour to procure their release hy appearing to their characters, and representing tiicin as people of reputation in London. They had arrived to such a proficiency in their illegal occupation, thiit they were almost certain of accornplisliing every scheme they suggested ; and when it was inconveni- ent to make use of words, they wore able to convey their meaning to each other by winks, nods, and other intimations.
Being one day in the fair, they observed a west country clothier giving a sum of money to his ser- vant, and licard liim direct the man to deposit it in a biircan. They followed the servant, and one of them fell down before him, expecting that he would also fall, and that, as there was a great crowd, the money might be easily secured. Though the man fell into the channel, they were not al)le to obtain their expected booty, and therefore they had re- course to the following stratagem : One of the gang asked vdiether his master had not lately ordered him to eaiTy home a sum of money ; to which the other replied in the affirmative. The sharper then told him he must return to liis master who luid purchased some goods, and waited to pay for them.
The countryman followed him to Jenny’s lodging, and being introduced to her, she desired him to be seated, saying, his master was gone on some busi- ness in the neighbourhood, but had left orders for him to wait till his return. kSIic urged him to drink a glass of wine, but the poor fellow repeatedly de- clined her offers with awkwprd simplicity ; the pre- tended footman having taught him to believe her a woman of great wealth and consequence. However, her encouraging solicitations conquered his bash- fulness, and he drank till ‘he became intoxicated. Being conducted into another lipartment he was soon fast locked in the carms of sleep, and while in that situation he wa.s robbed of the money he had
MARY YOUNG,
II
received from his master, which proved to he loo/, ITiey were no sooner in possession of the’eash than they discharged, the demand of the inn-keeper, and set out in the first stage for London,
Soon after their rt;turn to town, Jenny and her associates went to London-bridge in the dusk of the evening, and observing a lady standing at a door to avoid the carriages, a number of which Avere passing, one of the men went up to her, and under pretence of giving iicr assistance, seized both her liands, which he held till his accomplices had rifled her pockets of a gold snulF-box, a silver case, cojitaining a set of instruments, and thirty guineas in cash.
On, the following day, as Jenny and an accom- plice, in the character of a footman, were walhing through Change-alley, she picked a gentleman’s pocket of a bank-note for 200/. for which she re- ceived J30/. from a Jew, with whom the gang had very extensive connexions.
Our heroine now hired a real footman, and her la- vourite, who had long acted in that character, as- sumed the appearance of a gentleman. She hired lodgings in the neighbourhood of (’ovent-gai-dcn, that she might more conveniently attend the Ihca- tres. She proposed to her associates to reserve a tenth part of the general produce for the ’support ol such of the gang as might, through illness, be ren- dered incapable of following their iniquitous occu- pations : and to this they readily assented.
Jenny dressed herself in an elegant manner, and went to the theatre one evening when the king was to be present ; and during the performance slie at- tracted the particular attention of a young gentle- man of fortune from ’Yorkshire, who declared, in the most passioiKite terms, that she had mafic an absolute conquest of his heart, and earnestly so- licited the favour of attending her ^hoine. {She at first declined a complance, saying she Avas ucAvly married, and that the appearance of a stranger might alarm her husband. At length she yielded tu
12
VEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
his entreaty, and they went together in a hackney- coach, which set the young gentleman down in tlie neighbourhood where Jenny fodged, after he had obtained an appointment to visit her in a few days, when she said her husband would be out of town.
Upon Jenny’s joining her companions, she in- formed them that while she remained at the play- house, she was only able to steal a gold snuft-box ; and they appeared to be much dissatisfied on account of her ill success : but their good humour returned upon learning the eireumstances of the ujlventure with the young gentleman, which they had no doubt would prove exceedingly profitable.
The day of appointment being arrived, two of the gang appeared equipped in elegant liveries, and Anne Murphy appeared as waiting-maid. The gen- tleman came in the evening, having a gold-headed cane in his hand, a sword with a gohl hilt by his side, and wearing a gold watch in his pocket, and a diamond ring on his fipger.
Being introduced to her bed-chamber, she eon- trived to steal her lover’s ring ; and he had not been many minutes undressed before Anne Murphy rap- ped at the door, which being opened, she said, with an appcarqnce of the utmost consternation, that her master was returned from the country. Jenny, af- fecting to be under a violent agitation of spirits, de- sired the gentleman to cover himself entirely with the bed-clothes, saying she would convey his ap- parel into another room, so that if her husband came there, nothing would appear to awaken his sus- picion : adding that, under pretence of indisposition, she would prevail upon her. husband to sleep in another bed, and then return to the arms of her lover.
The clothes being removed, a clmsultation was held, when it was agreed by the gang that they should immediately pack up all their moveables, and decamp with their booty, wliich, exclusive of the cane, watch, sword, and ring, amounted to an hundred guineas.
Mary young.
13
The amorous youth waited in a state of the ut- most impatience till the morning', when he rang the bell, and brought the 'people of the house to the chamber-door, but they could not gain admittance, as the fair fugitive hack turned tlie lock, and taken away the key; when the door was forced open the gentleman represented in what manner he had been treated ; but the people of the house were deaf to his expostulations, and threatened to circu- late the adventure throughout the town, unless he would indemnify them for the loss they had sus- tained. Rather than hazard the exposure of his character, he agreed to discharg-e the debt Jenny hac: contracted ; and dispatched a messenger' for clothes aiul money, that he might take leave of a house of which he had sufficient reason to regret having been an inhabitant.
Our heroine's share of the produce of the above adventure amounted to 70/. This infamous asso- ciation was now become so notorious a pest to so- ciety, that they judged it necessary to leave the me- tropolis where they were apprehensive that they could not long remain concealed from justice. They pi'actised a variety of stratagems with great success in different parts of the country : but, -upon re- visiting London, Jenny was committed to New'gate, on a charge of having picked a gentleman’s pocket : for which she was sentenced to transportation.
She remained in the above prison near four months, during which time she employed a considerable sum in the purchase of stolen effects. When she went on board the transport-vessel, she shipped a quan- tity of goods, nearly sufficient to load a waggon. The property sh^ i)ossessed ensured her great re- spect, and every* possible convenience and accom- modation during the voyage ; and on her ai-rival in Virginia she disposed of her goods, and for some time lived in great splendour and elegance.
JShe soon found that America was a country where she could expect but little emolument from the
14
NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
practices she had so successfully followed iii En fjland ; and therefore she employed every art that she was mistress of to ingratiate heself into the esteem of a young gentleman who was preparing to embark on board a vessel bound for the port ot London. He became much enamoured of her, and brought her to England : but while the ship lay at (iravesend, she robbed him of all the pi-operty she could get into her possession, and, pretending an indisposition, intimated a desire of going on shore, in which her admirer acipiiesced : but she was no sooner on land than she made a precipitate reti'eat.
8he now travelled through several parts of the country, and by her usual wicked practices ob- tained many considerable sums. At length she re- turned to Loudon, but was not able to fiiul her for- mer aecomiiliees.
.She now frequented the Royal Exchange, the Theatres, London-bridge, and other places of public resort, and committed innumerable depredations on the public. Reing detected in picking a gentleman's {lockct upon London-bridge, she was taken before a magistrate, to whom she declai*ed that her name was Jane Webb, and under that name she was committed to Newgate.
On her trial, a gentleman, who had detected her in the very act of picking the prosecutor’s pocket deposed, that a person had applied to him, olferiug 60/. on condition that he should not appear in sup- port of the prosecution : and a lady swore, that on the day she committed the olFence for which she stood indicted, she saw her pi(!k the pockets of more than twenty ditt'erent peo])le. ^ The record of her former conviction was not produced in court ; and therefore she was arraigned for jjrrivately stealing ; and on the clearest evidence the J ury pronounced her guilty. The property being valued at less than one shilling, she was sentenced to' transportation.
A twelvemonth had not elapsed before she re- turned from transportation a second time ; and, on
MARY YOUNG.
15
licr arrival in London, she renewed her former practices.
A lady going from Sherborne-lane to Walbrooke, was accosted by a rrianr, who took her hand, seem- ingly as if to assist her in crossing some planks that were placed oyer the channel for the conveni- (M>ce of passengers : but he squeezed her fingers with so much force as to give her great pain, and in the mean time Jenny picked her pocket of thirteen shillings and a penny. The gentlewoman, conscious of being robbed, seized the thief by the gown, and she was immediately conducted to the compter. She was examined the next day by the lord-mayor, who committed her to Newgate, and at the ensuing ses- sions, she was tried on an indictnffent for privately stealing, and the jury brought in their verdict, “ guilty in consequence of which she received sentence of death.
After conviction she seemed sincerely to repent of the course of iniquity in which she had so long per- sisted, punctually attending prayers in the chapel, aiul employing great part of her time in private de- votions. The day preceding that on which she was (executed, she sent for the woman who nursed her cliild, then about three years old, and aftei; inform- ing her that there was a person who would pay for Uie infant’s maintenance, earnestly entreated that it might be carefully instructed in the duties of reli- gion, and guarded from all temptations to wicked- ness, and then, after acknowledging that she had long been a daring offender against the laws, both of God and man, she entreated the woman to pray for the salvation of her soul ; she then took her leave, apparently deeply impressed with the senti- ments of contrition*.
On the following morning she appeared to be in a serene state of mind: but being brought into the press-yard, the exe’eutioner approached to put the halter about her, when her fortitude abated: but in a short time her spirits were again tolerably composed.
NEWGA.rj, CALENDAR IMPROVED.
She was conveyed to IVburn in a mourning-coach, being attended by a clergyman, to whom she declared her firm belief in all the principles of the Protestant religion ; and at the place of 'execution she employed a considerable time in fervent prayer. Her remains were, by her particular desire, interred in St. Pan eras church-yard.
We should always allow due force to the advice of our friends ; and if the conduct that is recom- mended to us points to happiness, what folly is it to neglect it, in order to gratify an inclination, the in- <lulgence of which will yield but a tempoi-ary grati- fication, and may prove the source of lasting sorrow.
Disgusted at the prudent conduct of the old lady, in discountenancing her amour with the footman, the unfortunate young woman, whose memoirs arc recorded in the preceding narrative, resolved to de- sert her benevolent patroness, from whom she had experienced all the tenderness of maternal alfection : and this act of indiscretion led to those crimes whicih were followed by an untimely and ignomini- ous death. Hence, then, it appears, that we cannot employ too much solicitude for avoiding a conducl that conscience cannot entirely approvCi
WILLIAM DUELL,
IVas executed for murder ; and came to life again while preparing for dissection hi Surgeons Hall.
We ai'C not acquainted with the particulars of this man’s crime and trial, but thinlf^the following short account worthy of insertion, on account of the re- markable cii'cumstauce of ibis restoration to life after exection.
This man met a bettor fate than a criminal in a similar situation in (iermany. The body of a no- torious malefactor was stretched out upon the tabic.
WILLIAM DUELL.
17
before the body of German surgeons, for dissection. The operator, in placing it in a proper position, felt life in it ; whereupon he thus addressed his bre- thren of the faculty, assembled to witness the operation :
“ I am pretty fcertain. Gentlemen, from the warmth of the subject, and the flexibility of the limbs, that by a proper degree of attention and care, the vital heat would return, and life, in consequence take place. But, when it is considered what a rascal we should again have among us, that he was hanged for so cruel a murder, and, that should we restore him to life, he would kill somebody ’else. — I say, gentlemen, all these things consWered, it is my opi- nion, that we had better proceed in the dissection.” Whether this harangue, or the fear of being disap- pointed in so sumptuous a surgical banquet as a dissection, operated on their consciences, u'e cannot tell; but certain it is, they nodded accordance; and the operator, on the signal, plunged his knife into the breast of the culprit, thereby at once pre- cluding all dread of future assassinations — all hopes of future repentance.
William Duell was convicted of occasioning the death of Sarah Griffin, at Acton, by robbing and ill-treating her, and having suffered the sentence of the law, Nov 24, 1/40, at Tyburn,, with Thomas Clock, Wm. Meers, Margery Stanton, and Eleanor Munoman, (who had been convicted of several burglaries and felonies,) be was brought to Surgeon’s Hail, to be dissected : but after he was stripped and laid on the board, ahd one of the servants was washing him in order to cut him up, he perceived life in him, and found his breath to come quicker and quicker, on which a surgeon bled him, and in two hours he was able to sit up in his chair. In the evening he was again committed to Newgate, and his sentence which might have been again inflicted was changed to transportation.
VoL. II. D
18
NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
GILBERT I,ANGLEY.
A man of svperior talents and edvcation, senteneed
to death ; which tvus remitted for transportation.
Gilbert Langley was born of Roman Catholic parents in London, where his father was an eminent goldsmith, and who sent his son to the seat of ids grandfather in Derbyshire, when he was only three years of age.
Having continued in this situation four years, his mother’s an>:iety induced her to fetch him home ; soon after which he was entered in the school of the Charter-house, vidiere he soon became a tolerably good classiciil scholar.
The father now wished to send his son abroad for further education, and that he might not fail of being brought up a strict Catholic ; but this was warmly opposed by the mothcj', through tenderness to her child ; btit her death soon left the father to act as he pleased.
The prior of the Benedictine convent at Douay being in Loudon, Langley’s father agreed for bis board and education, and committed him to the care of his new master, with whom he proceeded to Dover, sailed for Calais, and travelled thence to »St. Omers, and on the following day reached Douay, where young Langley was examined by the prior and fellows of the college, and admitted of the school.
At the end of three years ‘he became a tolerable master of the French language, . exclusive of his other literary acquirements ; so that, at the Christ- mas following, he was chosen king of the class, which is a tiistinction bestowed on one of the best scholars, wdiose business it is to regulate the public entertainments of the school.
It is the custom at Douay for officers to attend at the gates of the town, to detect any persons bring-
GILBERT LANGLEY.
i9
ing in contraband liquors, because the merchants of the place pay a lar^e duty on tiiern, which duty is annually farmed by the hif^hcst bidder.
During the Christiuns holidaj’s, Langley and three of his school-fellows (piittcd the town, to purchase a small quantity* o-f brandy at an under price; hut b( ing o! served by a soldier, who saw their l)ott]es filletl, he informed the otiicers rtf the atf.ir; vhe consequence of which was. that the young gentle- men were stopped, and :* e liquor fnui)(\ hid unoer their cassocks. They offered money for thdr re- lease ; but it was refused, and they were conducted to t he bouse of the Farmer-general.
At the instant of their arrivM, two Franciscan friars seeing them said it was illegal fo lake stud.oifs before the civil magistrates, because the suiterior < f their own college was accountable for tlieir con- duct.
Hereupon they were taken home to the prior; and the Fanner-general making liis demand of the cus- tomary fine, the prior thought it extravagant, and refused to pay it : but at length the matter was set- tled by arbitration.
Ill the Catholic colleges, the students live in a very meagre manner during the season of Lent, having little to subsist on but bread and sour wine; a circumstance that frequently tempts them to sup- ply their wants by acts of irregularity.
At this season Langley and five of his compa- nions, oppressed by the calls of hunger, deter- mined to make an attack on the kitchen ; but at the instant they had forced open the door, they were overheard by the.servants,the consequence of which was, that many furious blows were exchanged by the contending parties. •
On the following day the delinquents were sum- moned to attend the prior, who was so incensed at this outrage, against the good order of the society, that he declared they should be expelled as soon as a consistory of the monks could be held.
so
NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
But when the consistory assembled, they resolved to pardon all tlie offenders on acknowledging their faults, and promising not to renew them, except one, named Brown, who had twice knocked down the shoemaker of the college, because he had called out to alarm the prior.
The young gentlemen, chagrined at losing their associate, determined to be revenged on some one at least of the servants avIio had given evidence against them ; and after revolving many schemes, they de- termined that the man who lighted the fires should be tfie ol)iect of their vengeance, because he had struck several of them during the rencounter.
I’lns being i-esolwd on, they disguised themselves, and went to a M'ood-house adjacent to the college, and being previously provided with rods, they waited till the man came with his wheel-barrow to fetch wood, \vhcn one of them going behind him, threw a cloak over his head, which being immediately tied round bis neck, the rest stripped him, anil flogged him in the most severe manner, while he in vain, and unheard, called for assistance, our hcioes having taken care to shut the door of the wood- house.
The flagellation was just ended when the bcl! rung for the students to attend their evening exer- cise; on which they left the unhappy victim of their revenge, and repaired to the public hall.
In the mean time the poor sufferer ran into the cloysters, exclaiming, “LeDiablel LeDiableI”as if he had really thought the devil had tormented biin : and hence he ran to tl>e kitchen, where he re- counted the adventure to his fellow-servants, who dressed Ifis wounds, carried him ‘to bed, and gave him something to nourish him.
A suspicion arising that the stxidents had been the authoi’S of this ctilamity to the poor fellow, the servants communicated the circumstances of it to the prior, who promised his endeavours to find out and punish the delinquents ; and with this view
GILBERT LANGLEY.
21
went into the hall, with a look at once penetrating' and indignant: but tlie young gentlemen having bound themselves by an oath, no discovery could be made.
Young Langley, having distinguished himself by his attention to literature for the space of two years, the monks began to consider him as one who would make a valuable acquisition to their society, for which reason they treated him with singular respect • and at length prevailed upon him to agree to enter into the fraternity, if his father’s consent could be obtained.
As Langley was in no want of money, he fre- quently went into the town, to Jiabituate himself into the manners of the people, and to observe their customs. Thursday being a holiday, he and one of his school-fellows named Meynel, asked the prior permission to walk on the ramparts, which being denied, they went out without leave, and re- pairing to a tavern, drank wine till they were in- toxicated.
In this condition they went to the ramparts, where having been for some time the laughing-stock of the company, they went home to bed. Being missed at evening prayers, some of the other stnJenls apo- logised for their absence, by saying tlicy u'cre ill ; and the excuse w'as very readily admitted : but in a few days afterwards a gentleman culldU on the prior, and told him what a ridiculous figure his students had made on the ramparts.
Incensed at this violation of their duty, the prior sent for them to his chamber, and gave orders that they should be flogged with great severity. This indignity had sudi an effect on the mind of Langley, that he grew reserved and morose, and would have declined all his studies* had not one of the monks, called Father Howard, restored him to his good humour by his indulgent treatment, and persuaded him to pay his usual attention to literature.
Fatl er Howard’s considerate conduct had such an
. CALENDAR IMPROVED.
effect on Langley, that he spent the greater part of his time with that gentleman, who instructed him in the principles of logic, and was about to initiate h'ln in t' ose < f pi il p'.iy, W^hen his father wrote a letter recjuirij g tiiin to return' to his native country.
The society being unwilling t,o, lose one whom t^.ey thought V ould become a valuable ineinbor, the pri. )r wrote to England, requesting that (he youth might be permitted to coniplete his education ; but the father insisted on his return. .
Hereupon the young gentieman left the college, and proceeding by tbe way of ISt. Oiuer’s, reached Calais in two days. ' As the wind was contrary, it was some days longer before the company embarked for England, when, instead of putting into Dover, the ves^el came round to the Thames, and the pas- sengers were landed at Gravesend.
Langley having spent all his money at Calais, now affected an air of unconcern, saying that be had no English money in his possession, from his having been so long abroad ; on which one of thecompanj’^ lent him money, and on the following day he arrived at his fathers’ house in London.
When he had reposed himself some days after his journey, ihc father desired him to make choice of some profession ; on which he mentioned his incli- nation to study either physic or law: but the old gentleman, wfio had no good opinion of either of these professions, persuaded him to follow his own trade of a goldsmith. • ,
Eor the present, however, he was placed at an academy, in Chancery-lanc, that he might be in- structed in those brunches of knowledge requisite for a tradesman; but becoming, acquainted with some yoimg gentlemen of the law, he found that his father’s allowance of pocket-money was insufficient for his use ; and being unwilling that his new ac- quaintance should think that he was deficient in cash, he purloined small sums from a drawer in his fa- ther’s shop, and when he did not find any money
GILBERT LANGLEY,
23
tliore, stole some pieces of broken gold, which he disposed of to the Jeit’s.
Mr. Langley the elder, having sent his son with some plate to the honse of a gentleman in Grosve- iiOi-s(piare, the youth saw a heautifnl woman go into a shop oppdsite a pulilic-house ; on which he weal into the latter, and enquiring after her, found she had gone to her own lodgings. Having ascer- tained this, he delivered his plate, and harmed a re- solution of visiting the lady on the Sunday following.
'When the Sunday came, the old gentieinan went out, and, as the son imagined, to smoke his pipe at an adjacent public-house; and in the mCan time the sou stole seven guineas from thrive difFei'ent hags, that his father might not discover the robbery, and immediately repaired to the lodgings of the lady whom he had seen.
From her lodgings they went to a tavern, where they continued till the following day, having no idea of a detection: hut it happened that Mr. Langley, senior, instead of going to the public-house as usual, watched the son to the tavern ahoveinentioned.
On the following day the father interrogated the youth respecting his preceding conduct; and parti- cularly asked where he had been the day before. The young fellow said he had been at church, where he met with some acquaintance, who, prevailed on him to go to the tavern.
The father, knowing the falsehood of his tale, corrected his son in a severe mantier, and forbad him to dine at his table till his conduct should be reformed. Thus obliged to associate with the ser- vants, young Langley became soon too intimate with the kitcheiT-maid, and robbed his father to buy such things as he thought would be acceptable to her.
Among other things he purchased her a pair of shoes laced with gold, which he was presentiag to her in the parlour, at the very moment that his father knocked at the door. The girl instantly
24
KEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
quitted the room ; but the old gentleman interro- gating the son respecting the shoes, the latter aver- red that a lady, who said she. had bought them in the ni’ighboui hood, desired leave to deposit them at their house till the following day.
After this the father permitted' the son to dine with him as usual ; but it was not long before he catched him in a too intimate a connection with the maid servant in (he kitchen ; on which the girl was dismissed from her service, and Mr. Langley threa- tened to disinherit his son, unless he would reform his conduct.
A middle-aged woman of grave appearance was now hired as servant ; but the evil complained of was far from being cured, as an intimacy between her and the young gentleman was soon discovered by the father.
It was not long after the servant girl abovemen- tioned had been discharged before she swore her- self pregnant by the son t on which he was taken into custody by a warrant; the consequence of which was' that the father paid 15/. to compromise the affair ; after which he received the son to his favour, and forgave all the errors of his former conduct.
The death of the old gentleman put his son in possession of. a consideralile fortune, exclusive of a settled good trade ; and for the first year he applied himself so closely to business that he made a neat profit of 700I. : but he did not long continue this course of industry ; for having formerly made con- nections with women of ill-fame, particularly in the purlieus of Drury-lane, he now renewed his visits to those wretched victims to, and punishers of, the vices of men. •
A man of genteel appearance,, named Gray, hav ing ordered plate of Langley to the amount of lOO/. invited him to a tavern to drink. In the course of the conversation, the stranger said he had dealt with bis late father, and would introduce him to a lady
GILBERT LANGLEY.
25
\yho had 30,000/. to her fortune. This was only a scheme to defraud Langley, who delivered the plate, and took a draft for the money on a vintner in Bartholomew-close ; "but when he went to demand payment the vintner was removed.
On the following day the vintner’s wife w'ent to Langley, and informed him that Gray had defrauded her husband of 450/. ; and Langley being of a hu- mane disposition, interested himself so far in behalf of the unfortunate man, that a letter of license for three years was gi’anted him by his creditors.
Langley now took out an action against Gray, but was not able to find him ; when one day he was accosted by a man in Flect-stregt, who asked him to step into a public-house, and he w'ould tell him where he should meet with the defrauder. Langley complying with the proposal, the stranger said he would produce Gray within an hour, if the other would give him a guinea ; which being done., the stranger went out, but returned no more.
Exasperated by this circumstance, which seems to have been a contrivance of one of Gray’s accom- plices, Mr. Langley employed an attorney, who soon found the deliixpient, against whom an action was taken out, in consequence of which he was confined several years in the Marshalsea.
Langley now became a sportsman on the turf at Newmarket, under the instruction of a vintner in Holborn, whose niece entered into his service ; but who soon fell a victim to his unbounded passion for the sex.
Langley becoming acquainted with some young fellows in the Temple, three of them, and four women of the tfMvn, went with him to Greenwich, where they gave the ladies the slip, and took a boat to London ; but the women pursuing them, overtook them in the river^ and attempting to board their boat, afforded great diversion to the spectators: but our adventurers’ watermen rowing hard, they
Voi 11. E *Q5
36
NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
reached the Temple, and concealed themselves in one of the cljambcrs, a few minutes before the ladies landed.
Soon after this Langley made another excursion to Greenwich to visit a lady and gentleman, who having a remarkably handsome servant maid, our adventurer found means to seduce her ; the conse- quence of which was that shebec<ame pregnant, and made repeated applications to him for support : whereupon he gave her a ’considerable sum of money, and heard no more of her from that pe- riod.
Thus living in a continual round of dissipation, his friends recommended matrimony as the most likely step to reclaim him ; in consequence of which he married a young lady named Brown, with a hand- some fortune.
He had not been long married before he de- termined to borrow all the cash and jewels he could, and decamp with the property. As he had the re- putation of ]>eing in ample circumstances, he found no difficulty in getting credit for many articles of value, with which he and his wife embarked for Holland : and in the mean time his friends took out a coininiss'ion of bankruptcy against him.
When Langley came to Rotterdam, he applied to the States General for protection, in apprehension of being pursued 'by his creditors ; but the States not being then sitting, the creditors made application to Lord Chesterfield, then ambassador at the Hague, which frustrated his intention.'
In the interim his creditors found out his lodg- ings in a village near Rotterdam ; but he eluded their search, leaving his wife with ,400/. in the care of a friend ; but did not tell her the place of his re- treat, to prevent any possibility of a discovery.
After skulking from place to place, he went back to Rotterdam, and surrendered to his creditors; but found that his wife was gone with an English captain to Antwerp. On his arrival in England he
GILBERT LANGLEY.
27
was examined before the commissioners, and treated with the customary lenity shewn to unfortunate tradesmen in such circumstances.
After his affairs were adjusted he sailed to Barba- does, where he soon contracted so many debts tiiat he was glad to take his passage to Port-Royal, in Jamaica : and soon after his arrival there he went to visit a planter at some distance, who would have engaged him as a clerk.
Langley told the planter that he owed twenty dollars at Port-Royal, for which he had left his chest as a security. The gentleman instantly giving him the money to redeem it, he went to Port Royal, assumed the name of Englelield, embarked on board a man of war as midshipman, anfl came to haigland, where the ship was paid off at the expimtion of six months.
Taking lodgings at Plymouth, he paid his ad- dresses to a young lady, whom he might have mar- ried, with the consent of her father ; but being tiien in an ill state of health, he pretended to have re- ceived a summons from his friends in London, to repair immediately to that city on an important af- fair; but tliat, as soon as it was adjusted, he would return, and conclude the marriage.
On his arrival in town, he sent for a man who had formerly lived with his father, from whom he learnt that his creditors had not made any .dividend under the bankruptcy, and w'cre engaged in a law-suit re- specting a part of the property. This faithful old servant of his father told him that his wife had re- tii’ed to the North of England: and, giving him money, recommended*it to him to lodge privately in Southwark.
ITiis advice Ifefollou^ed ; and kept himself retired for some time : but pjjssing through Cheapside, he was arrested, and conducted to the Poultry Compter, where he continued many months, during which he was supported by the benevolence of the old servant abovementioned. While in the Compter he made
28
NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
some very bad connections ; and being- concerned with some of the prisoners in an attempt to escape, he was removed to Newgate, ‘as a place of greater security.
While in this prison, he fell ill of a disorder, which threatened his life; whereupon his friends discharged the debt for which he had been arrested, and removed him to lodgings, where he soon reco- vered his health.
Soon afterwards he got recommended to a captain in the Levant trade, w'ith whom he was to have sailed ; but an unhappy attachment to a woman of ill fame prevented his being ready to make the voyage.
Langley’s friends were chagrined at this fresh in- stance of his imprudence ; and soon afterwards he was arrested, ami carried to a s])ungiiig-house, where he attempted to dispatch himself by a halter ; but the rope breaking, he escaped with life. The bailiff ami his wife happening t»> be now absent, and only two maid servants in the liou.se, liangley made them both drunk, and effecting his escape, crossed the water in the Borough, where he worked some time with a colour-grimier.
Disgusted with a life alteiulcd with so much la- l>our, he contracted with the captain of a Jamaica ship, W’ho took him to tiuit island on condition of selling him as a slave ; and, on his arrival, sold him to (,'olonel Hill, who employed him to educate his children : but Langley soon running from his em- ployer went on board a ship bound to England ; but was impressed on his arrival in the Downs, put on board a man of war, and carried round to Ply- mouth.
Langley and another man havihg deserted from the ship, strolled to London, and took up their re- sidence in a two-penny lodging: but as Langley found no friends to support him, h‘e contracted with one of those persons called crimps, who used to agree with unhappy people to go as slaves to the
GILBERT LANGLEY.
29
colonies. His contract was to sail to Pennsylvania; but while the ship lay in the Thames, he and a weaver from Spitalfiel'ds made their escape, and tra- velling to Canterbury, passed themselves as Pro- testant refugees. •
Going hence to^Dover, they embarked for Calais; and after some weeks residence in that place, Lang- ley sailed to Lisbon, where he remained only a short time before he contracted debts, which obliged him to seek another residence, wherefore he went to Malaga in Spain.
His poverty was now extreme ; and while he sat melancholy one day by the sea- side, some pi’iests asked him from what country he came. He an- swered in Latin “ From England!*’
Hereupon they conducted him to a convent, re- lieved his distresses, and then began to instruct him m the principles of the Roman Catholic religion. Langley disguised his sentiments ; and after being apparently made a convert, was recommended as a page to a Spanish lady of distinction.
In this situation he continued several months ; but having an affair of gallantry with the niece to the old lady, he was compelled to make a precipitate retreat from a wind(w, and shelter himself in the house of an Irish tailor, who procured a passage for him to Gibraltar, in the first ship that sailed.
On his arrival at Gibraltar, he would have entered into the army ; but being refused, because he was not tall enough, his distress compelled him to work as a labourer, in repairing the barracks ; but he soon quitted tiiis business, and officiated as a waiter in the Tennis-Court bdonging to the garrison ; but it being intimated, to the governor that he was a spy, he was lodged in a dungeon, where he remained more than a fortniglit. •
On obtaining his discharge, he embarked on board a Npanish vessel bound to Barbary with corn . and, on his return to iSpain, applied to the monks of a convent, who charitably relieved him, and the
so
NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
prior agreed to take Iiim a voyage to Santa Cruz ; but having no great pi'ospect of pecuniary advantage in tfiis way of life, he went to Oratava, where some English merchants contributed to his support : but he soon sailed to Genoa, as he could get no settled employ at Oratava.
From Genoa the vessel sailed to Cadiz ; and Lang- ley being now appointed steward to the captain, in the course of his reading some letters, found one di- rected to Messre. Ryan and Mannock ; and having been a school-fellow \vith Mr. Mannock, he re- quested the captain’s pcrmis.slo’.i to go on shore, and was received in the most friendly manner by Mr. Mannock, wlm olfei'ed to serve him in any way within his pov\ er f when Langley said that wliat be wished was a discharge from his present situation.
Hereupon Mannock wrote to the captain desiring him to pay the steward, and dischai’ge him ; but this being refused, l.angley took a lo<!ging, to which he was recommended by his friend, who de- sired he would dine daily at his table, till he pro- curctl a passage for England. He likewise gave him money and clothes, so as to enable him to appear in the character of a gentleman.
Langle,y behaved with great regularity for some time ; but the season of a carnival advancing, he got into company with a wouuin of ill fame, with whom he spent tlie evening ; and on his return, was robbed of bis hat, wig, and a book, which he had borrowed of his friend.
On the following day, Mr. Mannock saw the book laying at a shop for sale ; which chagrined him so much, that he asked Langley for it, wdio thereupon acknowledged the whole afl’air ; and Mr. Mannock, supposing the woman w^as privy fo the robbery, he took out a wari'ant against her ; by wdiich he reco- vered his book, which he greatly esteemed.
This matter being adjusted, Langley, by the help of his friends, procured a passage for England ; but just when he was going to embark, be met with a
GILBERT LANGLEY.
31
woman, who detained him till the ship had sailed ; on which he took a boat, and passed over to St, Lncar, where he went on board an English vessel, which brought him to his native country.
On his arrival in London, he found tliat liis credi- tors, under the bankruptcy, had received ten shillings in the pound, M'llihh gave liiin reason to hope that he should have a sum of money returned to him, with wliich he proposed to engage in a small way of busi- ness ; and in that view applied to his wife’s mother fur her assistance, and also to inform him where he might find his wife ; but she positively refused to comply with either request.
Langley now gave himself up to despair, associ- ated with the worst of company, and though he had some money left him at this juncture, he dissipated the whole in the most extravagant manner.
He now made an ac(|uaintance with one Hill, a young fellow who was in sirlfflar circumstances; and having agreed to go to Paris together, they walked as far as Dover ; but, on their arrival, finding that an ewdiargo had been laid on all vessels in the port, they determined to return to London.
Being now destitute of cash, they demanded a man’s money on the highway ; but on his raying he had not any, they searched him, and took from him three farthings, which they threw away almost as soon as they had got it ; but for this offence they were apprehended on the same day, and being tried at the next assises for Kent, Avere capitally con- victed; but the sentence was changed to transpor- tation for seven years, through the lenity of the judge. •
Langley was transported in the month of Decem- ber, 1740.
33
NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
CAPTAIN HENRY SMYTHEE,
I
Executed at Eorcnester, April 12, for the
murder of the female whom he had seduced.
Henry Smythee was bronf^ht up to a sea-faring life, and succeeded his father in the command of a large merchant ship, in a foreign trade.
After he had made several voyages, a storm obliged him to put into the harbour of Pool, in Dorsetshire, where he saw a young lady, tlie daugh- ter of a merchant, to wliom he paid his addresses, and ivas in a sliort time married.- His udfe’s father dying soon after ‘their marriage, Mr. Smythee de- clined going any longer to sea, engaged in the mer- cantile business, and employed his leisure hours in rural diversions.
One day, when ouf’\vith bis gun, he wandered so far from home that he lost his way, and being very hungry, he strolled to a cottage kept by a poor widower, named Ralph Mew, who had an only daughter, equally distinguished by the elegance of her form, and the simplicity of lier manners.
Mr. Smythee requested the favour of some food ; but the countryman suspecting that he meant to take some undue advantage of him, told him he might be supplied at a public-house a mile distant. Smythee, to convince the countryman that he was no impostor, shewed him a diamond ring, a purse of gold, and his watch ; on which be was asked to sit down ; and Jane Mew, the daughter, fried some bacon and eggs for him, while her father drew some of his best ale.
After the repast, he recounted some of his ad- ventures in foreign parts ; bpt in the mean time re- garded the daughter with an eye pf desire, and be- ing struck with her superior charms, resolved to get possession of her, if possible.
On his quitting the house, the old man told him
HKNRY SMYTHEF,
33
that if he came that way another time, he should be welcome to any Ilun<r in Jiis cottage except his daughter. On the following day lie w'cnt to the cot- tage, and gave the old man a tortoise-shell sniiff- box, as a coinplimcnt for his hospitable behaviour the day before. • •
The old cottager going out, Mr. iSmythec paid his warmest addresses to the daughter, to whom he pre- sented some jewels : but she no sooner judged of his design, than she said, ‘‘ Is it thus, sir, you make returns for my fathers hospitality, and my civility? And can you be such a wretch, as to think that my poverty will make me guilty of a dishonourable action.”
(Saying this she rejected his presents with con- tenijif : v/hiie he. struck with the force of what sic 1 ;.‘d urged, remained some time speechless, and then a.ti-ibuted his conduct to the violence of his pas sion, and olferod to make her all the satisfaction in his ])ovver, by marriage.
'1 he girl luapiainting her father with what had passed, Mr. Jsmythee was permitted to pay his ad- dresses in an honourable way; but such were his ar- titicc and villainy, that his solemn vows of marriage soon prevailed over the too credulous girl; and her ruin was the conse»iuencc.
When the father found that his daughter was
pregnant, he died with grief, Iciivuig the unhappy
girl a }>rcy to the pungent sorrows of her own mind.
Distressed as she was, she wrote to her seducer, but
as he took no notice of her letter, she went to Pool,
and being tlirected to h's house, the door was opened
by Mrs. JSmythce, who demanded her business, and
said she was tli6 wife of the person for whom she
euquiretl. 'Phe poor ^irl was so shocked to find
that Mr. Smvthce bad a wife, that it was with diffi- •/ *
culty she was kep't from fainting.
When somewhat recovered, she said that she was M'ith child by Mr. Smythee, who liad seduced -her
\ OL. II. F *25
54
NEWGATE CALENPAR IMPROVED.
under promise of marriage. Hereupon the wife censured her conduct with unreasonable severity, and threatened that she should be lodged in prison if she did not immediately quit the town.
Leaving the house, the unhappy creature fainted in the street, and was soon surrounded by a number of females, who insulted her witli every term of reproach.
When she recovered her senses, she w'ent to a public-house, where she intended to have lodged ; but the landlady threatening to send for the beadle, she was obliged to quit the house.
In the interim, Mr. Smythee came to his own house, and was compelled to listen to the reproaches of his wife on the infidelity of his conduct.
After attending to this disagreeable lecture, he went out, and desired a person to call on the young woman, and appoint her to meet him at a place without the town.
The unfortunate girl met him accordingly,. What passed between them it is impossible to know ; but on the following day she was found with her throat cut, and a bloody knife laying by her. Smythee ab- sconding, it was generally supposed that he had been the murderer ; and on his return to Pool, about a month afterwards, he was taken into custody, and lodged in the county gaol.
In his defenpe at his trial, he urged that the rea- son of his absence from his family was a quarrel w'ith his wife, in consequence of the unhappy disco- very that had been made by the deceased : but as he could bring no proof of his being absent from the spot when the murder was committed, no doubt remained of his guilt, and he was sentenced to die.
After conviction, he was ^visited by several gen- tlemen, who exerted themselves to impress him with a due sense of his awful rituation. As his death approached, he became still more resigned, acknowledged the many errors of his life, and con-
CAPTAIN a. GOOD£nE, &C. 35
fessed that he deserved to undergo the I’igour of the law.
He walked to the place of execution, amidst an immense surrounding multitude : and having as- cended the cart, addressed the populace, advising them to refrain from yielding to the first impulses of temptation, *as they would wish to be preserved from the violation of the Divine laws. After the usual devotions, he drew his cap over his face, and saying, “ To thee, O Lord, I resign my soul,” he was launched into eternity.
Capt. S. GOODERE, a FRATRieiDE ; MATTHEW
MAHONY, AND C. WHITE, his accomplices in
THE MURDER OF SIR JOHN DINELY GOODERE, BART.
Executed at the Hot TVells, Bristol, April 20, 174 1.
Sir John Dinely Goodere succeeded his father. Sir Edward, in the possession of an estate of 3 000/. a year, situated near Eversham, in Worcestersliire.
His brother Samuel, the subject of this narrative, was bred to the sea, and at length was advanced to the rank of captain of a man of war.
Sir John married the daughter of a merchant, and received 20,000/. as a marriage portion ; but mutual unhappiness was the consequence of this connection: for the husband was brutal in his manners, and the wife, perhaps, not strictly observant of the sacred vow she had taken ; for she was too frequently vi- sited by Sir Robert Jasen ; and after frequent recri- minations between the married pair. Sir John brought an actkTn in the Court of Common Pleas, for criminal conversation, and 500/. damages were averred by the jury.
Sir John’s next step was to indict his lady for a conspiracy, and a conviction following, she was fined, and imprisoned a year in the King’s Bench.
SS NEV»GATE CALENHAR IMPROVE©.
He likewise petitioned fora divorce; but the matter being heard in the House of Lords, his petition was thrown out.
Sir John having no children, Captain Samuel Goodcre formed very ' anguine expectations of pos- sessing the estate ; but finding that the brother had docked the entail in favour of his' sister’s children, the captain sought the most diabolical means of revenge for the supposed injury.
While the captain’s vessel lay in the port of Bris- tol, Sir John went to that city on business ; and be- ing engaged to dine with an attorney, named Smith, Captain Goodcre prevailed on the latter to permit him to make one of their company, under pretence of being reconciled to his brother: Mr. Smith con- sented, and used his good ollices to accommodate tlic dillercnce : and a sincere reconciliation appeared to have taken place; but such was the treachery and cruelty of the captain, that he was at that time taking measures for the murder of his brother, which, as it will appear in the course of this narra- tive, was perpetrated with every circumstance of barbarity .that could aggravate so dreadful and un- natural a crime.
This visit was made on the loth of January, 1741, and the captain, having previously concerted his measures, brought some sailors on shore with him, and left them at a public-house, in watitng to seize the baronet in the evening.
Accordingly, when the company broke up, the captain attended his brother through the streets, and when they came opposite to the public-house, the seamenran out,seizedlSir JohK,and conveyed him toa boat that had been appointed to wait for his reception.
Some persons who were witnesses to this outrage would have rescued the unfo/-tunatc gentleman ; but the captain telling them that he was a deserter, and the darkness of the evening preventing them from judging by his appearance, this violation of the law was permitted to pass unobstructed.
CAPTAIN S. GOOUERE, &C.
37
As soon as the devoted victim was in the boat, he said to his brother, “ I know you have an intention to murder me, and if you are ready to do it, let me beg- that it be done hei’e, without giving yourself the trouble to take me on Jioard to which the captain said, “ No, brother, I am going to prevent your rotting on land ;• but, however, I would have you make .your peace with God this night.”
8ir John being put on board, applied to the sea- men for help : but the captain put a stop to any eflorts they might have made to assist him, by saying he was a lunatic, and brought on board to prevent his committing an act of suicide.
Wliitc and Mahony now conveyed .him to the purser’s cabin, which the captain guarded with a drawn sword, while the other villains attempted to strangle him, ndth a handkerchief which they found in his pocket, the wretched victim crying out “mur- der !” and beseeching them not to kill him, and of- fering all he possessed as a compensation for his life.
As they could not strangle him with the handker- chief, the captain gave them a cord ; with which Mahony dispatched him, while White held his hands, and trod on his stomach. The captain nqw retired to his cabin ; and the murder being committed, tUe perpetrators of it Avent to him, and told him “ the job w’as done on which he gave them money, and bade them seek their safety in flight. ’
The attorney with whom the brothers had dined, having heard of the commission of a murder, and knowing of the former animosity of the captain to Lis brother, immediately conjectured who it was that had fallen a sao’ifiee ; on which he went to (he mayor of liristel, who issued his warrant to the water-haililF, who, going on board, found that (he lieutenant and cooper*had prudently confined the captain to his cabin.
The oftender being brought on shore, was com- mitted to Newgate, and Mahony and White Lning
38
NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
taken in a few hours afterwards, were lodged in the same prison.
At the sessions held at Bristol on the 26th of March, 1/41, these offenders were brought to trial: and being convicted on the fullest evidence, received sentence of death.
After conviction, Mahony behhved in the most hai-dened manner imaginable : and when the goalers were putting irons on him, he said he should not regard dying on the following day, if he could be attended by a priest, to whom he might confess his sins. This man and White were both Irishmen, and Roman Catholics.
Captain Goodere’s time, after conviction, was spent chiefly in wuiting letters to persons of rank, to make interest to save his life ; and his wife and daughter presented a petition to the king : but all endeavours of this kind proving ineffectual, he em- ployed a man to hire some colliers to rescue him on his way to the fatal tree: but this circumstance transpiring, the sheriff' took care to have a proper guard to carry the law into effectual execution.
Captain Goodere’s wife and daughter, dressed in deep mourning, took a solemn leave of him on the day before his death. He went in a mourning- coach to the place of execution, to which his ac- complices were conveyed in a cart.
They were hanged near the Hot Wells, Bristol, on the 20th of April, 1741, within view of the place where the ship lay when the murder w'as committed.
Along with them suffered a woman, named Jane Williams, for the murder of her bastard child, who had been brought up in such a wretched state of ignorance that she knew not, until instructed by the clergyman who attended her dyinlg moments, that there is a God.
[ *^9 I
JAMES HALL,
Executed in the Strand, September 15, 1741, for murdering his master.
• •
The terror which this man evinced, after he had committed the dreadful crime for which he had suf- fered, was one principal cause of its being discovered; and we scarcely recollect an instance in which a criminal has suffered greater agony from the stings of a guilty^ conscience.
He was descended of honest parents,. of Wells, in Somersetshire, who gave him such an education as might qualify him for any ordinary rank of life.
Being unwilling to remain in the country, he came to London, and lived some time with a corn- chandler ; and after a continuation in this service, he married, and had several children : hut not living hap- pily with his wife, articles of separation were exe- cuted between them. After this he married another woman, by whom he had one child, and who visited him after his being in custody for the murder.
At the sessions held at the Old Bailey, in August 1741, he was indicted for the murder of Jofm Penny, gentleman, and pleading guilty, received sentence of death.
Mr. Penny had chambers in Clemdnts Inn ; and Hall had lived with him seven years before he com- mitted the murder ; nor had he formed any design of being guilty of the horrid deed till within about a month of its perpetration ! but having kept more company than his circumstances could afford, he had involved hkliself in difficulties, which made him resolve to murder and rob his master.
On the 7th of June, *1741, he intoxicated himself with liquor, and then determined to carry his design into execution. Mr. Penny coming home between eleven and twelve at night, Hall assisted in undres- sing him in the dining-room ; and while he was
40
NEWGATE CALENDAR, IMPROVED.
walking towards tlie bed, the villain followed him with a stick, wliieh he had concealed for the pur- pose, and struck him one blow with such forirc that he never spoke afterwards ; and continued his blows on the head till he was apparently dead.
Willing, however, to be certaiinof completing the liorrid tragedy, and to avoid detection, lie went into the dining-room, and stripping himself naked, he took a small fruit-knife belonging to his master, and returning to the chamber, cut Ids throat with it, holding his neck over the chamber-pot. Mr. I’enny bled very freely ; for wlum the bloo^was mixed with a small quantity of water, it almost tilled the pot five times ; anjd tliree of the pots thus mixed the murderer threw into the sink, and two in tlie coal- hole. He then took his master's waistcoat, which was lined tvith dufiil, and bound it round his neck, to suck up the remainder of the blood.
This being done, he took the body on his shoul- ders, carried it to the necessary, and tlirew it in head foremost ; and flying back immediately to the chambers, under the most dreadful apprehensions of mind, he took his master’s coat, bloody sldrt, the stick that he had knocked him down with, and some rags that he had used in wiping up the blood, and running a second time naked to the neecssai’y-house, threw them in at a hole on tlie opposite side of it.
The body being thus disposed of, he stole about thirty-six guineas from his master’s pocket, and writing-desk; and such was the confusion of his mind, that he likewise took some franks, sealing- wax, and other articles for wj:iich he had no use, and then he employed the remainder of the night in washing and rubbing the rooms 'with cloths: but finding it no easy matter to get out the blood, he sent for the laundress in the* morning to wash them again, telling her that his master’s nose had bled oyer night.
On the following day the guilty wretch strolled from place to place, unable to find rest for a mo-
JAMES HALE.
41
meot any where ; and all his thoughts being engaged in concealing the muixler, wliich he hoped was ef- fectually done, from the place where he had secreted the body.
On the Friday following, he went to Mi*. Wooton, his master’s nephew, on a pretence of inquiring for Mr. Penny, who he said had quitted the chambere two days before, and gone soiuewdiere by water ; so that he was afraid some accident had happened to him.
Mr. Wooton was so particular in his enquiries after his uncle, that Hall was exceedingly terrified at his questions, and knew not what answer to make to them. After this he went twice every day to Mr. Wooton, to enquire after his master, for ten days ; but lived all the while in a torment of mind that is not to be described.
So wretched was he, that finding it impossible to sleep in the chambers, he got his wife to come and be with him : and they lay in Mr. Penny’s bed : but still sleep was a stranger to him.
At length Mr. Wooton had Hall taken into cus- tody, on a violent suspicion that he had murdered his uncle. On his first examination beforg a magis- trate, he steadily avowed his innocence ; but being committed to Newgate, he attempted to escape : this, however, was prevented : and a few days after- wards he confessed his guilt before some relations of the deceased.
We have already mentioned that he pleaded guilty on his trial ; and have now to add that, after sentence was passed on him, he was exceedingly contrite and penitent, and confessed his guilt in let- ters to his friends!
On the day before hig death he received the sa- crament, with all apparent signs of that penitence, which was necessary to prepare him for the dreadful scene that lay before him.
He w^s hanged at the end of Catherine-street, in VoL. II. 0 *96
42 NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
the Strand, and his body afterwards hung in chains at Sheephei’d’s Bush, three miles beyond Tyburn Turnpike, on the road to Acton.
The following is a letter ^yhich he wrote to his wife, the night preceding bis execution :
*
** My Dear,
Twelve o’clock, Sunday niglit.
" I am very sorry wc could not have the liberty of a little time by ourselves, when you came to take your leave of me ; if we had, I should have thought of' many more things to have said to you than I did ; but then I fear it would have caused more grief at our parting. I am greatly concerned that I am obliged to leave you and my child, and much more in such a manner, as to give the world room to re- flect upon you on my account ; though none but the ignorant will,, but rather pity your misfortunes, as being fully satisfied of your innocency in all respects relating to the crime for which I am in a few hours to suffer.
“ I now heartily wish, not only for my own sake, but the injured person’s, your’s and my child’s, that I was as, innocent as you are, but freely own I am not, nor possibly can be in this world ; yet I humbly hope, and fully trust, through God’s great mercy, and the merits of my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, to be happy in the next.
“ After I parted with you I received the holy sa- crament comfortably, whicli Mr. Brpughton was so good as to administer to me, who has also several times before taken a great deal of pains 'to instruct me, and so has some others of his acquaintance, by whose assistance, and my own endeavours, I hope God will pardon all ray sins for Christ’s sake, and admit me into his heavenly' kingdom.
“ My dear, some of my latest prayers will be to God to direct and prosper you and my child in all good ways, so long as he pleases to let you live here on earth j that afterwards he may receive you both
HENRY COOK.
43
to his mercies to all eternity. I hope I shall wil- lingly submit to my fate, and die in peace with all men. Tliis is now all the comfort I can give you in this world, who living was, and dying hope to remain,
“ Your loving and most affectionate husband,
JAMES HALL.”
HENRY COOK,
(murderer and horse-stealer.)
Executed at Tyburn, December l6, If 41, for high- way robbery.
Few have had so long a career in villainy as this man, who committed more robberies, singly, than Wild, Turpin, or Hawke. He was for a long time the terror of travellers, but particularly in Essex ; and his history contains many curious and daring exploits. •
He w’as at last overtaken by the hands of justice, and his long career, and hair-breadth escapes served only to increase his guilt, and consequently to ren- der him worthy of a more severe punishment.
Cook was the son of respectable parents in Houns- ditch, who having given him a decent education, was apprenticed to a leather-cutter, with whom he served his time, and then his lather took the shop of a shoemaker at 8tratford, Essex, in which he placed his son.
Having some knowle^lge of the shoemaking busi- ness, he was soon well established, and married a young woman at l^tratford, by whom he had three children, before he commenced highwayman.
However, it was not long after his marriage, be- fore the associating with bad company, and the ne-
44
NEWGATE CAtENDAR IMPROVED.
gJect of his business, involved him so far in debt, ttiat he was obliged to quit his house in apprehen- sion of the bailiffs.
He was afterwards obliged wholly to decline busi- ness ; and having taken up goods in the name of his father, he w as ashamed to make application to him for relief in his distress.
Among the idle acquaintance that Cook had made at Stratford, was an apothecary named Young, who was concerned with him in robbing gardens and fish-ponds, and in stealing poultry. 'I’he persons robbed, offered a reward for apprehending the of- fenders ; and Cook having been known to sell fowls at Leaden-hall-market, a warrant was granted to take him into custody ; 1 ut naving notice of it, he concealed himself two inontlis'at the house of a i*e- lation at (irays, in Essex.
During this retreat it was determined not to exe- cute the warrant ; but Cook learning that a bailiff at Stratford had vowed to arrest him if be could be found, he sent the officer a lettei’, advising him to consult his own safety, for be would blow his brains out if he should meet him.
This threat effectually intimidated the bailiff: and Cook having dissipated all his cash, went to Strat- ford, where he found a man so intimate with his wife, that he became enraged in the highest degree, and taking several articles of furniture with him, he went to London, and sold them.
This being done, he went to the house of a relation in Shoreditch, wdiere he was treated with civility while his money lasted ; buk when that was nearly gone there was no farther appearance of friendship ; and being now driven to extremity, ffie went to Moor- fields, where he purchased a pair of pistols, and having procured powder and ball, went towards Newington, in his way to which* he robbed a man of fifteen shillings, and returned to London.
Thus embarked in the high road to destruction, he determined to continue his ^nogerous trade ; and
HENRY COOK.
4&
on the following day went to Finchley Common, where he stopped a gentleman, the bridle of whose horse he seized, and. ordered him to dismount on pain of death. The .rider complying, Mms robbed both of bis money and horse : but he offered the highwayman thi*ee guineas if he would send the horse to an inn at 8t. Albans, which he promised to do ; but afterwards finding tliat he had. a valuable acquisition in the beast, he failed to restore him.
This robbery being committed, be crossed the country to Eiifield-chace, and going to a publie- house where ite was known, said that he wished to bide himself lest he should be arrested..
Having continued here two days, he proceeded to Tottenliam, where lie robbetl a gentleman of about six pounds, aiid leaving his horse at an inn in Bi- shopsgate-street, he went to his kinsman’s in iShore- ditch, where lie was interrogated I'especting his pos- sessing so much money : but he would give no satis- factory answer.
On the following day he went on the St. Alban’s road, and liaving robbed the passengers of a stage- coach of eiglit pounds, he went to Enficld-chace, to the Itouse he had frequented before ; buj while he was there, he read an advertisement in which his horse was so exactly described, that he determined to abscond : on wdiich he went to Hadley Common, near Barnet, where he robbed a gentleman, and taking his horse, gave the gentleman his own.
8oon after this he went to an inn at Mims, where he saw a gentleman whom he had formerly robbed, and was so terrified by, the sight of the injured party, that be ran to the stable, took his horse, and gal- lopped off with'fhe utmost expedition.
On the road between Mims and Barnet, he was met by eight men on horseback, one of whom chal- lenged the horse he rode, saying that a highwayman had stolen it from a gentleman of his acquaintance.
Our adventurer rejilied, that he had bought the horse at the Bell, in Edmonton, of which he could
46
NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
give convincing proofs ; on wliich the whole com- pany (ieterrnined to attend liim to that place ; hut when he came near Edmonton, he galloped up a lane, where he was followed by all the other parties ; and finding himself in danger of being apprehended, he faced his pursuers, and presenthig a pistol, swore he would fire, unless they retreated. Some coun- trymen coming up at this juncture, he must have been made prisoner, but night advancing, he quitted his horse, and took shelter in a wood.
When he thought he might safely leave his lurking- place, he hastened to London, and going to the house of his relation in Shoreditch, he was chal- lenged with having committed robberies on the highway : but nothing could be learnt from the an- swers he gave.
Having dissipated his present money, he went again upon Finchley Common. His late narrow escape, however, made such an impression on his nnnd, that he suffered several persons to pass unat- tacked^but at length robbed an old man of his horse and five pounds, though not till after it was dark.
Soon afterwards he met a gentleman, whom he obliged to change horses with him : but in a few minutes the gentleman was stopped by the owner of the stolen horse, who said a highwayman had just robbed him o.f it. Enraged at this, the gentleman swore the place was infested with thieves : however, he delivered the horse, and walked to London.
Cook riding to his old place of resort near the Chace, remained tViere three days ; but seeing the horse he had last stolen advertised, he rode off in fear of discovery ; and had not proceeded far, be- fore he was seized by the owner of' fhe horse, assisted by thr.ee other persons, w'hq conducted him to New- gate.
At the next Old Bailey sessions he was indicted for stealing this horse ; but acquitted, because the owner would not swear to his person.
ISoon after his discharge, he returned to his former
HENRY COOK.
47
practices, but his affairs with his creditors having’ been by thus time adjusted by his friends, he lived at Stratford with his wife, and committed his depreda- tions chiefly on Epping Forest.
• Having acquired a booty of 30/. he shewed it to a journeyman he^cept, named Taylor, and asked him how he might employ it to the best advantage, in buying leather; but Taylor guessing how it had been obtained, offered to go partners with his master in committing robberies on the highway ; and the base contract M'£is instantly made.
They now stopped a great number of coaches on the borders of the Forest ; but acted with such an uncommon degree of caution, that they were for a long time unsuspected. The neighbours being at length terrified by such repeated outrages on the puldie peace, a Captain Mawley took a place in the basket of the Colchester coach, to make discoveries; and ('ook and Taylor coming iip to demand the mo- ney of the passengers, Taylor u'us shot through the head ; on which Cook ran to the captain, and rob- betl him of bis money, on threatening instant death in case of refusal.
The carriag'-c driving on. Cook began to search his deceased companion for his money ; but some of the neighbours coming up, he retired behind a hedge to listen to « heir conversation ; and having found that some of tlieni knew the deceased, tind intimated that he bad been accompanied by Cook, he crossed the fields to London.
Having spent three days in riot and dissipation, he went to his rclatioq in IShoreditch, whom he re- quested to go to .‘Stratford to inquire the situation of affairs there. When his relation returned, he told him there were several u^airants issued against him, and advised him to go fo sea.
This he promised to do, but instead thereof, he bought a horse, and rode to 'Brentwood, in Essex, where he heard little conversation but of Cook, the famous highwayman of Stratfoid ; and on the next day, he followed a coach from the inn where be had
48
KEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
put up, and took about thirty pounds from the pas- sengers.
Cook now connected himse,lf with a gang of des- perate highwaymen in London, in conjunction with whom he stopped a coach near Bow, in which W'ere some young gentlemen from a boarding-school. A Mr. Craikshanks riding up at this instant, one of the gang demanded his money ; but as he hesitated to deliver it, another of them knocked him down, and killed him on the spot ; after which the robbers went to a public-house near Ilackney-marsh, and divided the spoils of the evening.
Cook continued but a short time with this gang; but going to a house at Newington Green, sent for a woman with whom he had cohabited ; who threatened to have him apprehended, unless lie would give her some money; and though he had but litde in his possession, he gave her a guinea, and promised her a farther sum, lest she should carry her tin-cats into execution.
Oppressed in mind by contemplations on his crimes, and particularly on reflecting on the murder of Mr. Cruikshanks, he went to St. Albans, where he assuiped a new name, and worked as a journey- man shoemaker for about three weeks; when a high- wayman being pursued through the town, the terrors of his conscience on the occasion were such, that he hastily left the shop, and ran across the country, towards Woburn, in 13edfordshire.
In his way to Woburn he robbed a farmer of 50/. and his horse, and bade him sue the county. The farmer soon raised the hue and cry; but Cook escaped for the present, and riding as far as Birming- ham, took lodgings at a public-hoiase, and disposed of his horse.
Cook had now taken on him the name of Stevens ; and the landlord of the house where he lodged tel- ling him that there was a shop to let, he took it, and entered into business as a shoemaker. He now hired one Mrs. Barrett, as his house-keeper: but she soon became his inor« intimate companion : and
HENRY COOK.
49
accompanied him to horse-races, and other places of public diversion, where his little money was soon dissipated.
'i'huB situated, he tqld his house-keeper that he had an aunt in Hertfordshire, who allowed him an hun- dred per annum, which he received in quarterly payments ; and that he would go to her for his mo- ney. Under this pretence he left her, and went to Northampton, and from thence to Dunstable, near which place he robbed a farmer of his horse and 16/. and then rode to Daventry.
yVt this last place he met with a Manchester dealer, going home from London ; and having spent the evening together, they travelled in company next day, and dined at Coventry. Cook having an in- tention of robbing his fellow-traveller, intimated that it would be proper to conceal their money, as they had a dangerous road to travel ; and putting his own money into his boot, the other put a purse of gold into his side-pocket.
Prosecuting their journey till they came to a cross-road. Cook demanded his companion’s money on pain of immediate death : and having robbed him of thirty-live guineas, he travelled inynediately to Birmingham ; and Mrs. Barrett imagined he had been supplied by his aunt, agreeable to the story he had told her.
He now carried on trade as usual; ‘but as often as he was distressed for cash, he used to ha\’e recourse to the road, and recruited his pockets by robbing the stages.
At length a Londqn trader coming to Birming- ham, asked Cook how long he had lived there: which terrified hhn so that he quitted the place, and travelled towards London, and near Highgate rob- bed a gentleman, nam(?d Zachary, of his hoi’se and money.
On his stolen horse he rode to Epping Forest on the following day ; and having robbed a gentlelnan,
VoL. ir. H *26
so
NEWGATK CALENDAR IMPROVED.
returned to London by the way of Stratford at which place he spoke to a number of his old acquaintance ; but was not imprudent enough to quit his horse.
Going to a house he had frequented at Newing- ton-green, he sent for his relafion who lived near Shoreditch, who advised him to niqke his escape, or he would certainly be taken into custody. On this he w'ent to Mims : and his relation visiting him. Cook begged he would sell five watches for him : but the other declined it, recommending him to dis- pose of them himself in London.
On the following evening, when it was almost dark, he rode, towards town, and observing a chaise behind him, permitted it to puss, and followed it to the descent of the hill towards Holloway. There were two gentlemen in the chaise, whose money Cook demanded : but, instead of complying, they drove on the faster; on which he fired, and wounded one of them in the arm : but the report of the pistol bringing some peojile towards the spot, he galloped off, and went to Mims, his old place of retroaf.
Coming to London, next day, to sell his watches, he was seen in Cheapside by a woman who knew him, and followed him to Norton Falgate, where, observing him to go into a public-house, she went and procured a constable, who took him into cus- tody, and found on him five watches, and about o/. in money.
On his examination before a magistrate, Mr. Za- chary, whom he robbed near Highgate, swearing to the identity of his person, he was committed to Newgate ; but not before he had offered to become evidence against some accom'plices he pretended to have had ; but this offer was rejected.
He now formed a scheme to murder the keepers, and to make his escape ; but being detected, he was confined to the cells , and being brought to his trial at the Old Bailey, was capitally convicted.
After sentence of death, he for some time affected , a gaiety of behaviour : but when the warrant for
ROBERT RAMSEY.
ai
his execution arrived, he was so struck with the idea of his approaching’ fate, that it occasioned convul- sive fits, and he never afterwards recovered his health.
He was hanged with John Hudson, for hoi’se- stealing ; Patrick Bourne, for a burglary ; and Mary Harris, for stripping and robbing a child of about ten years of age.
ROBERT RAMSEY,
(highwayman and a singular cheat,)
Executed at Tyburn, on the Idthof June, 1742.
This notorious adept in the art of knavery was born of respectable parents near Grosvenor-squarc, and apprenticed to an apothecary, after being liberally educated at Westminster school. His master’s cir- cumstances becoming embarrassed, Ramsey left him, and went into the service of another gentleman of the same profession.
He now became a professed gamester. The bil- liards and hazard-tables engrossed bis time; and his skill being great, he often strij)ped his.companions ; but the money he thus obtained, he dissipated in the most extravagant manner.
Having made an acquaintance with one Carr, they singled out a clergyman who frequented the coffee-house they used, ,as a proper object to impose upon : and having ingratiated themselves into his good opinion, Ramsey took the opportunity of Carr’s absence to tell the clergyman that he had a secret of the utmost consequence to impart : and the clergyman having promised secrecy, the other said that Carr was in love with a young widow, who vi'as very rich, and inclined to marry him ; but that the match was opposed by her relations.
£3
NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
He added that the lady herself was averse to be ing married at the Fleet, even if she could escape the vigilance of her relations so far as to reach that place. The clergyman listening to the story, Ram- sey offered him twenty guineas to marry tlie young couple; and it was agreed that tlip parties should meet at a tavern near the Royal Exchange on the following day.
Ramsey, having told Carr what had passed, went to the clergyman the next morning ; and observing that if tlic lady took her own footman he might be known, said he would disguise himself in livery, and attend the priest.
This being done, a hackney-coach was called for the clergyman, and Ramsey getting up behind it, they drove to the tavern, where rich wines were called for, of which Ramsey urged the clergyman to drink so freely that he fell asleep, when Ramsey picked his pocket of his keys.
The gentleman awaking, inquired for the couple that were to be married ; on which Ramsey, calling for more wine, said he would go in search of them ; but immediately calling a coach, he went to the clergyman’s lodgings, and producing the keys, said he had been sent by the gentleman for some papers in his cabinet.
The landlady of the house, seeing the keys, per- mitted him to search for what he wanted ; on which he stole a diamond ring of the value of 40/. aiid about a hundred pounds in money, and carried off some papers.
This being done, he returned to the clergyman, said that the young people Vould attend in a short time, and desired him to order a genteel dinner : but this last injunction was unnecessary ; for thepai'son had taken previous care oh it ; and while he was at dinner, Ramsey said he would go and order a dia- mond, and a plain gold ring, and would return im- mediately.
He had not been long absent when a jeweller
ROBERT RAMSEY.
93
brou,i!;ht the i*ings, which he said were for a baronet and his lady who were coming’ to be married. The clergyman asked him to drink the healths of the young couple; and’ just at this juncture Ramsey came in, and told tl)b jeweller that he was instantly wanted home J:)Ht that he must return withotit loss of time, as his master’s arrival was immediately ex- pected.
The. jeweller was no sooner gone than Ramsey, taking up the diamond ring, said that he had brought a wrong one, and he would go back and rectify the mistake. In the interim the jeweller finding that he had not l>ecn wanted at home, bega.n to suspect tliat some undue artifice had been used ; on which he hurried to the tavern, and thought himself happy in finding that the parson had not decamped.
Having privately directed the waiter to procure a constable, he charged the clergyman with defraud- ing him of the rings. The other was naturally astonished at such a charge; but tlie jeweller in- sisted on taking him before a magistrate ; where he related a tale that, some days before, those rings had been ordered by a man whom he supposed to be an accomplice of the person now charged: but the clergyman being a man of fair character, sent for some reputable people to bail him ; while the jeweller returned home cursing his ill fortune for the trick that had been put on him. •
London being an unsafe place for Ramsey longer to reside in, he went to Chester, where he assumed the character of an Irish gentleanan, who had been to study physic in Holland, and was now going back to his native country. During his residence at Chester he insinpated that he was in possession of a specific cure for the gout ; and the landlord of the inn he put up at being ill of that disorder, took the medicine ; and hifj fit leaving him in a few days, he ascribed the cure to the supposed nostrum.
Ramsey having gone by the name of Johnson in this city, now dressed himself as a physician, and
54
KEWGATE CALEM>AR rMPROVED.
having printed and dispersed hand-bills, giving an account of many patients whose disorders had yielded to his skill ; and promising to cure the poor without expense, no person doubted either the character or abilities of Dr. Johnson.
A young lady who was troubled .with an asthma became one of Ids patients ; and Ramsey presuming that she possessed a good fortune, insinuated him- self so far into her good graces that she would liave married him ; but that Imr uncle, in whose hands her money was, happened to come to Chester at that jnneture.
The young lady acquainted the uncle with the proposed niarriage; on which the old gentletnan observed that it would be imprudent to marry a man with whose circumstances and character she was wholly unacquainted ; on which she consented that the necessary inquiries should be made; but to this her consent was reluctantly obtained, as she was entirely devoted to her lover.
.Hereupon Ramsey put into her uncle’s hand co- p'es of scvei'al letters which he said he had written to some people of tiistinction, who would answer for his cb,aracter. Ry this fincss he hoped to get time to prevail on the lady to marry him privately, wliich, indeed, she would readily have done, but through fear of oflending l.'er uncle.
During thi.s situation of afi'airs, while Ramsey was walking without the city, he happened to see the clergyjnen abovementioned, whom he had so much injured in London ; on which he hastily re- tired to a public house in (JUj'ster, and sent a person to Park-(jate, to inquire when any ship would sail for Ireland: and the answer brm:ght was, that a vessel would sail that very night.
On receiving this intelligence, Ramsey went and drank tea with the young huly ; Und taking the op- portunity of her absence from the room, he opened a drawer, whence he took a diamond ring, and fifty guineas, out of eighty which were in a bag.
ROBERT RAMSEY.
S5
Some little time afterwards he asked the lu5yS:a spend the evening at his lodgings, and play a ^me at cards ; and having obtained lier consent, they spent some time wifli apparent satisfaction : but Ramsey going down stairs returned in great haste, and said that her nincle was below. As she appeared frightened by this circumstance, he locked her in the room, first giving lier a book to read, and said that if her uncle should desire to come up, he would pretend to have lost the key of the door.
The intent of this plan was to effect his escape while she was confined ; and having got on board 'the ship the same evening, he sent her a letter, of which the following is a copy :
“ Dear Madam,
" I doubt not but you will be extremely surprised at the sudden disappearance of yonr iover: but when you begin to consider what a dreadful preci- pice you have escaped, you will bless your stars. By the time this comes to hand, 1 shall be pretty near London, and as for the trifle I borrowed of you, I hope you will excuse it, as you know I might have taken the whole, if I would ; Imt you see there is still some conscience among us doctors.
“ The ring I intend to keep for your sake unless the hazard-table disappoints me, and 4f ever fortune puts it in my power, 1 will make you a suitable re- turn : but till then, take this advice, never let a strange doctor possess your affections any more.
“ I had almost forgot to ask pardon for making you my prisoner ; but I doubt not, but old Starch- face, your uncle, .would detain me a little longer, if he could find me! Adieu.
' “ R. JOHNSON.”
»
'riiis letter he committed to the care of a person wno was to go to Chester in a few days ; and in the interim Ramsey reached Dublin, where having dis-
5b
■NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
sipa^ed his money in cxtravaj^^ance, he embarked in a ship bound to Bristol, whence he travelled to London.
On his arrival in the metropolis, he found his younger brother, who had likewise supported himself by acts of dishonesty ; and the two'bTothers agreed to act in concert.
His brother was a snuff-box maker, and they now went out together genteely dressed, early in the morning, in order to commit their depredations, when they found the door of a genteel house open ; and while the servant woman was washing the steps, or gone on a short errand, leaving the door ajar, one of them slipt in, and seized the plate on the side-board, or whatever he eoulu Jay his hands on, while the other remained to prevent surprise; and then he would receive and run off with the prize while the actual robber, with apparent unconcern, walked off another way.
They committed a variety of rol)bcrics in con- junction, confining their depredations chiefly to the stealing of plate; but we proceed to the nai rative of that for which Ramsey suffered the utmost rigour of the law. ‘
Having taken a previous survey of Mr. fJlyn’s house at the corner of Hatton-Ciarden, tlie brothers broke into it in the night, and carried oft’ a quantity of plate; but hand-bills being immediately circu- lated, they were taken into custody while offering the plate for sale to a Jew in Duke’s Place. The lord mayor, on examining the prisoners, adniitted the younger brother an evidence against the elder.
At the next sessions at the Old Bailey it was an affecting scene to behold the one btothcr giving evi- dence against the other, who was capitally con- victed, and received sentence of death.
After conviction Ramsey scemfcd to entertain a pwper idea of the enormity of the offences of which he had been guilty ; and in several letters to per- sona whom he had robbed, be confessed ins crimes.
ROBEKT RAMSEY.
57
and entreated their prayers. He did not flatter himself with the least hope of p,ardon; sensible that his numerous offences jnust necessarily preclude him from such favour.
A letter, which he wrote to a friend at Bristol, contains the following- pathetic expressions: “ O blame me not ; I am now by the just judgment of God and man under sentence of death. Whatever injuries I have committed, with tears in my poor eyes, I ask forgiveness. Oh ! my friend, could you but guess or think what agonies I feel, I am sure you would pity me : may my Father, which is in heaven, pity me likewise !”
At the place of execution Ramsey made an affect- ing address to the surrounding multitude ; entreat- ing the younger part of the audience to avoid gaming, as what would infallibly lead to destruc- tion.
After the customary devotions on such melan- choly occasions, he was turned off, and the body having hung the usual time, was conveyed in a hearse to Giltspur-street, whence it was taken and decently interred by his friends, at the expiration of two days from the time of his execution. •
On the same gallows with Ramsey were also executed James Boquois and Joseph Allen, for highway robberies ; Mary Page, for stealing goods ; William Quaite, a drummer in the guards, for a robbery committed in St. James’s Park; and John Glew Guilliford, for returning before the expiration of his sentence, from transportation, of whom we can find no particulars.*
V0L.>II.
I
58
NEWr.ATK CALENDAR IMPROVED.
JONATHAN BRADFORD,
Ji'as executed at Oxford, upon presumptive eindenee, for the murder of Christopher Hayes, Esq. ivhose death he had premeditated, but was innocent of the charge for tvhich he suffered.
The following' is one of those lamentable cases which we fear have too frequently occurred, and should be a warning to all who have the life of a suspected individual at their disposal, to be parti- cularly cautions in trusting to presumptive evidence Jonathan Bradford kept an inn at the city oi Oxford. A gentleman (Mr. Hayes) attended by a man-servant, one evening put up at Bradford’s house, and in the night, the former was found murdered in his bed, and the landlord apprehended on suspicion of having committed the barbarous and inhospita- ble crime.
The evidence given against him was to the follow- ing effect : Two gentlemen who had supped with Mr. Hayes, and who retired at the same time to their respective chambers, being alarmed in the night, with a noise in his room, and hearing groans, as of a wounded man, they got up in order to dis- cover the cause ; and found their landlord, with a dark lantern, and a knife in his hand, in a state of astonishment and horror, over his dying guest, who almost instantly expired.
On this evidence the jury convicted Bradford, and he was executed. If we are to determine upon the life or death of a man, here was resumptive evi- dence sufficient for that purpose. *On a trial at Nisi Priifs, ami between personal right and wrong, the July are often directed by the judge to take into consideration presumptive evidence, where positive proof is wanting ; but in criminal charges, it never should, unsuj>poricd by some oral testimony, or
MARTIN NOWLAND. 59
ocular demonstration, be sufficient to find a verdict against the accused.
The facts attending this dreadful tragedy, were not fully brought to* light, until the death-bed con- fession of the murderer, when "we must all endea- vour to make bur peace with God,
]SIr. Hayes was a man of considerable property, and greatly respected. He bad about him when his sad destiny led him under the roof of Bradford, a considerable sum of money; and Bradford knowing this, determined to murder and rob him. For this horrid purpose he proceeded with a dark lantern and a carving-knife, intending to cut' the throat of his guest, while he was asleep ; but what must have l)ecn his astonishment and confusion, when he foiuid his victim already murdered, and weltering in his blood.
The wicked and faithless servant had also re- solved to murder his master; and had just com- mitted the hori’id act, and secured his treasure, the moment before the landlord entered for the same purpose ! ! !
MARTIN NOWLAND,
J'xehilcd (it Tyhitrn, on the lAth of Fehuiiry, 1742, for high treason.
'^I’liE offence for which this man suffered, is in the highest degree criminal, and should be held in the utmost detestation by every loyal subject; and in this instance tlTc extreme depravity which this man showed, in endavouriug to seduce British soldiers from their allegiiincc, is cqnrdlcd only by the gross absurdity of the manner in w'hieh the traitorous de- sign was attempted.
This traitor was a native of Ireland, and while a youth was decoyed from his parents, conveyed to
6o
JJEWGATfi CALENDAR IMPROVED.
Dunkirk, and entered into the regiment of Dillon. In this station he continued fourteen years, at the end of which time he was sent to London, to enlist men into the French service ; u,nd was promised a promotion on his return, as a reward for the dili- gence he might exert.
On his arrival in London he endeavoured to con- nect himself with people of the lower ranks, whom he thought most likely to be seduced by his artifices : and one day going on the quays near London-bridge, he met with two brothers, named Meredith, both of them in the army, but who occasionally worked on the quays, to make an addition to their military pay. ^
Having invited these men to a house in the Bo- rough, he treated them with liquor, represented the emoluments that would arise from their entcriuj- into the French service; and among other things, said that, exclusive of their pay, they would receive four loaves of bread weekly.
When they were thus refreshed, Nowland pre- vailed on them to go to his lodgings in Kent-strect, where he farther regaled them, and then he said he hoped they would enter into the service. They ex- pressed their readiness t© do so ; and said they could aid him in enlisting several other men, if he would spend the evening with them at a public-house in the Strand. *
This proposal being assented to, they took him to a famous ale-house near the Savoy, called the Coal- hole, when Nowland was terrified at the sight of several soldiers of the guardg; but the Mcreditlis saying they were their intimate acquaintance, the parties adjourned to a room by thomselves. Here the brothers asked Nowland how much they were to receive for enlisting, which he told them would )e four guineas ; and that he was' commissioned to pay their expenses till they should join the regi- ment.
The intention of the brothers seems to have been
MARTIN NOWLAND.
6l
to obtain some money of Nowland ; but finding it was not in his power to advance any while they re- mained in England, one of them went to the Ser- jeant at the Savoy, .informing him of what had passed, and asked him how he nmst dispose of Nowland. The'Shrjeaut said, he must be detained for the night, and taken before a magistrate on the following day.
On his return to the public-house, Nowland pro- duced a certificate, signed by the lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, as a proof that he was actually in the service of France. He likewise said that the soldiers must dispose of their clothes, ahd purcliasc others, to prevent tlieir being detected at Dover; and he repeated his promise of the bounty-money, and other accommodations proper for a soldier, on their reaching the regiment.
When the RJerediths, and the other soldiers, had drank at Nowland’s expense till they were satisfied, they conveyed him to the round house, and on the following day, took him before a magistrate, to whom, after some hesitation, he acknowledged that be had been employed to enlist men for tlie Irish brigades in the service of France.
Inquiry being made respecting his accomplices, he acknowledged that a captain belonging to his re- giment was in London, and that some, other agents were soon expected in the kingdom : on which be was informed that he should be admitted an evidence if he would impeaqh his accomplices. He replied, “ that he was a man of honour, and would never be guilty ©f hanging any other person to save his own life.”
He was committed to Newgate in consequence of this confession, and being brought to his trial, he was convicted at t\ie following sessions at the Old Bailey, and received sentence of death.
Nowland being of the Roman Catholic persuasion, it is not possible to give a particular account of his behaviour after conviction ; as he declined holding
62
NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
any correspondence with the ordinary of Ncwg’ote. When he came to tlie fatal tree, he performed his devotions in his own way, and being exeented. his body was carried to iSt. Giles’s, and soon afterwards buried in St. Pancras church-yard, by some of his lloiuau Catholic friends.
JOHN JENNINGS,
Executed at York, hi the year 1742, on a charge of robbery ^of which he was innocent.
This unfortunate man w'as the victim of his master, who sacrificed him in order to screen himself from the veni!:eaucc of the law. He was a waiter at the Bell Inn, near Hull, in Yorkshire, kept by a vilhiin of the name of James Brunei.
A robbery had lately been committed on the high- way, on an old man, a reputed miser ; and Avho, for gi’eatcr safety, generally carried a bag of gold about him. The old man, soon after being robbed, casu- aually went into the Bell ; and going up to the bar, saw Bi’uncl, the landlord, with one of his guineas in his hand, and some shillings, which he was pay- ing away to a carriei’, which were all marked, so that he could identify them. He consequently sus- pected that the landlord was the robber, and related the circumstance to some other persons in the house.
Brunei overheard the conversation, and to secure himself, instantly formed find executed a design to impute the robbery to his waiter^ Jennings, who had gone early to sleep, in a state ot intoxication. To this wicked end, he went to his bed, and put the purse, taken from the old man, with the greater part of its contents, in the unfortunate man’s pocket, without waking him ; and (hen coming down to the company, told them, that he believed he had found the thief. “ I have,” continued the villain, long
ROBERT FULLER.
63
suspected Jennings, one of my waiters, and about five hours ago I gave him a guinea to get changed ; he came back in liquor^ and gave me a guinea, which I am sure is not the §aine I gave him. lie then produced the guinea, which being marked, was claimed by the old man. It was now proposed that Jennings should be searched, which was done, and the purse being found upon him, he was committed, tried, condemned, and executed.
Brunei, being afterwards convicted of another robbery, confessed this, which, had he acknow- ledged before, he would have prevented the execu- tion of an innocent man, and might have saved him- self from the additional guilt incurred by the com- mission of the second.
ROBERT FULLER, .
Convicted of shooting Mr. Dailey, and pardoned.
June sessions, 1/43.
We record the following case in order to shew the extreme care which should be taken in swearing to the identity of a prisoner. The juiy were so far du- bious, that they recommended the subject of this narrative to the royal clemency ; but as there was no proof of his really being the offender, we think they ought to have acquitted him, and not to have involved him' in the disgrace of a conviction,
At the sessions held at the Old Bailey in the month of May, 1744, Robert Fuller, of Harefield, in Middlesex, wets* indicted for shooting at Francis Bailey, with a gun loa(led with powder and small stones, and demanding his money, with intent to rob him.
Mr. Bailey deposed, that as he was returning to Uxbridge market, he saw a man near Harefield sitting on a stile, having a gun in his hand ; that he
64
NEWGATE calendar IMPROVED.
jumped off the stile, seized the horse^s bridle, clapped the gun to Mr. Bailey's body, and threatened to shoot him. Mr. Bailey said, “ That will do you no good? nor me me neither j” he then put his hand repeatedly into Bailey’s pocket; hut the latter would not submit to be robbed, and rode off : on which Fuller immediately shot at him, and wounded him in the right arm, so as to break the bone in splin- ters ; and many stones, and bits of the bone, were afterwards taken out of the arm : nor did the pro- secutor recover of the wound till after languishing near twenty w'eeks.
The prisoner, however, had not an opportunity of robbing Mr. Bailey, as his horse took fright and ran away at the report of the gun.
Tlie substanee of Mr. Bailey’s further deposition was, that this happened about seven o’clock in the evening, on the 24th of February ; but that, as it was a clear star-light night, he had a full view of the prisoner, wdioin he had known before.
Bailey was now asked, if he had ever been ex- amined before any justice of the peace in relation to the fact ; to which he answered in the negative. He was then asked, if he had never charged the crime on any other person except the prisoner which he steadily denied the having done.
In contradiction to which, a commitment was produced, in which Thomas Bowry was charged with assaulting Francis Bailey, wdth an intent to rob : and this Bowry was continued in custody on the affidavit of Mr. Mellish, a surgeon, that Mr. Bailey was so ill of the wound he had received, that he could not come to London without danger of his life: but Bowry was discharged aVthe gaol delivery at the end of the sessions for June, 1743.
The copy of Bowry’s commitnient was then read, and authenticated by Richard Akerman, clerk of the papers to his father, the then keeper of Newgate.
On this contradictory evidence the ciuiraeters of both parties w'erc inquired into, when that of the
PATRICK BOl/RKE, &C.
65
prosecutor appeared to be very fair, that of the pri- soner rather doubtful.
Upon considering- the whole matter, the jury gave a verdict that he was ’guilty, but on account of the circumstance abpye mentioned, relating to the com- mitment of Bowry for the same offence, on Bailey’s oath, they recommended the prisoner to the court, as a proper object of the royal clemency and he was accordingly pardoned.
PATRICK BOURKE, and GEORGE ELLIS,
Executed at Tyburn, February 20, 1745, for sheep-
stealing.
By an act of Parliament passed in the fourteenth year of the reign of King George 11. for the secu- rity of farmers and graziers, it is thus enacted :
“If any person or persons, after the first day of May, 1741, shall feloniously drive away, or in any manner, feloniously steal any sheep, or shall wil- fully kill one or more sheep, with intent to steal the whole, or any part of the carcases, the person or persons so offending, shall suffer death, without benefit of clergy.’*
This law denounces the punishment of death to any person offending against it, and though the crime is frequently committed, few are executed for sheep-stealing, as the^ law is seldom put in force owing to the humanity of the judges or the prose- cutors, who, probably consider that the offence is committed in consequence of the calls of hunger, and dread of starving. * The offence of these men were not however of that description, as they de- stroyed whole flocks, in order to get possession of the fat, and deserved as severe a punishment as any other robbers
K
6f
tiewgate calendar improved.
Patrick Bourke, and George Ellis, were indicted at the sessions held at the Old Bailey in Decembei, 1 744, for killing fifteen ewe sheep, the property of John Messenger, of Kensington, with intention to steal part of the carcases, to wit, the fat near the kidneys.
Mr. Messenger deposed, that he had lost fifteen ewes ; that their throats were cut, their bellies rip- ped open, and the fat taken out ; and likewise said, that he had lost twenty-seven lambs, which were taken out of those ewes ; and deposed, that the pri- soners both confessed the crime before 8ir Thomas Devil on the Tuesday following : aud that Bourke acknowledged they sold the fat to a tallow-chandler, for forty- one shillings and two-pence halfpenny.
Richard Twyford proved the finding the sheep ripped open, and the fat taken out ; and that the lambs were dragging by the sides of them : and sw ore that the prisoners had owned the taking the gates from the farm to pen the sheep up.
Joseph Agnew'^, a constable, swore that Ellis came to him ; and after having told him of a quarrel be- tween him and Bourke, who had given him two black eyes, he acknowdedged that he had been con- cerned with him in the commission of the crime abovementioned. Heicupon the constable took with him three watchmen, and going to Bourke’s lodgings, seized him in bed, and found a clasp-knife, laying on the ground near the feet of the bed, on which was some fat, which likewise remained when the knife was produced in court on the trial.
Bourke, in his defence, said, that he was kept drunk by the constable, in order to induce him to make a confession; but this not bein^ credited by the jury, and there being other proofs of the fact having been acknowledged, they were capitally convicted, and received sentence of death.
At the summer assizes in 17^7, for the county of Lincoln, a deaf and dumb man, called Matthew Pullen, was indicted for shecp-«tealing. The court
tVILLlAM CHETWYNP.
67
ordered a jury to be impanuelled, not to try him for larceny, but to inquire whether he stood mute by the act of Providence, or through obstinacy. It was proved by his father-in-law, and some neigh- bours, that from his infancy he was deaf and dumb, and the jury theMfore brought in their verdict, " that he stood mute by the act of God,” and he was dis- charged in gaol delivery.
There being no punishment for the deaf and dund), any more than for those that are proved non compos mentis, the actions of both ought to be kept under restraint. This deaf and dumb sheep-stealer, must certainly have been conscious that he was doing wrong when he stole his neighbour’s sheep, and it seems unreasonable that he should escape without some punishment, as such a precedent may prove very injurious in its consequences, for it implies that any person who is deaf and dumb is at liberty to steal sheep with impunity.
WILLIAM CHETWYND,
(a school-boy of the celebrated academy or
SOHO-Sai’ARE,)
Tried for the murder of his schoolfellow, and con- victed manslaughter ', a very remakable case, and by a special verdict left to the opinion of the twelve judges.
To the following ’interesting, but distressing narra- tive, we particularly solicit the attention of the young ; hoping, that th*e example of this unhappy youth, may warn* them of the evil consequences of passion, and the danger of indulging resentment when provoked by their companions.
This unfortunate young gentleman was educated
68
NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
at the academy in Soho-square, and was aboui 18 years of age at the time the event happened.
At the sessions held in the Old Bailey in October, 1743, he was indicted for the murder of Thomas Rickets, then in the nineteenth year of his age, and was likewise indicted on the statute of stabbing.
Mr. Chetwynd being in possession of a piece of cake, Rickets asked him for some of it, on which he gave him a small piece ; but refusing to give him a second, which he desired, he cut olF a piece for him- self, and laid it on a bureau, while he went to lock up the chief part of the cake for his own use.
In the interim Rickets took the cake which had been left on the bureau, and when Chetwynd re- turned and demanded it, he refused to deliver it ; on which a dispute arose, and Chetwynd having still in his hand the knife with which he had cut the cake, wounded the other in the left side of the belly.
Hannah Humphreys, a servant in the house, com- ing at that time into the room. Rickets said, that he was stabbed, and complained much of the pain that he felt from the wound ; on which Humphreys said to Chetwynd, ‘‘ You have done very well to which the latter replied, If I have hurt him, I am very sorry for it.”
The wounded youth being carried to bed, lan- guished three.days under the hands of the surgeons, and then expired. In the interim, Chetwynd, terri- fied at what had happened, quitted the school ; but as soon as he heard of the deatli of Rickets, he went to a magistrate, to abide the equitable decision of a verdict of his countrymen ; and he was brought to his trial at the time and place aboyementioned.
llie counsel in behalf of the prisoner acknowledg- ed the great candour of the gentlemen who were concerned for the prosecution, iq their not endea- vourfng to aggravate the circumstances attending the offence. They confessed the truth of all that had been sworn by the witnesses ; but insisted, in hcbalf of the accused party, that though his hand
WILLIAM CHETWYNIJ. 69
might have made an unhappy blow, his heart was innocent.
The following is thie substance ot their arguments on the case: They ^aid that the fact could not amount to muri^ef at common law, which Lord Coke defines to be “ an unlawful killing another man aforethought,” either expressed by the party, or im- plied by the law. They said, that in this case, there was not the least malice, as the young gentlemen were friends, not only at the time, but to the close of Ricket’s life, when he declared that lie forgave the other.
They said, that it being proved that' there was a friendship subsiting, it would be talking against the sense of mankind to say the law could imply any thing contrary to what was plainly proved. That deliberation and cruelty of disposition, make the essential difference between manslaughter and murder ; and they quoted several legal Jiuthoritics in support of this doctrine.
One of their arguments was urged in the follow- ing words : “ Shall the young boy at the bar, who was doing a lawful act, be said to be guilty of mur- der ? He was rescuing what was his own : the wit- nesses have told you, that after he had given Rickets a piece of cake, Rickets went to him for more ; he denied to give it him : he had a right to keep his cake, and the other had no right to take it ; and he had a right to retake it.
“ There are cases in the books which make a dif- ference between murder and manslaughter. If a man takes up a bar of iron, and throws it at ano- ther, it is murder; and the difference in the crime lies between the’ person’s taking it up, and having it in his hand: Chetwynd had the knife in his hand, and upon that a provqcation ensues, for he did not take the knife up ; if he had, that would have shewn an intention to do mischief. It may be doubted, whether or no when he had this knife in his hand for a lawful purpose, and in an instant struck the
70
NEVVfiATE t ALENUAR IMPROVED.
other, whether he considered he haii the knife in his hand ; for if in his passion he intended to strike with his hand, it is not a striking with the knife.
That it was to be considered, whether there was not evidence to except this case ffoni the letter of the statute i, Jame I.”
The other arguments of counsel were to the fol- lowing purpose :
“ At the beginning of the fray. Rickets had a knife in his hand; and it m^is one continued act. And another question is, whether there was not a struggle; here was the cake taken, and in endea- vouring to get it again, this accident happens ; at the first taking of the cake, it is in evidence, that Chetwynd was not forced to extend his arms, unless the other was coining to take it from him, and then a struggle is a blow.
“ This act of the l James I. was made for a par- ticular purpose : on the union of the two kingdoms, there were national factions and jealousies, when wicked persons, to conceal the malice lurking in their hearts; would suddenly stab others, and screen themselves from the law, by having the act looked upon as the result of au immediate quarrel. That this statute has been always looked upon as a hard law, and therefore always construed l)y the judges, in favour of tire prisoner. That when the fact only amounts to manslaughter at common law, it has been the custom of the court to acquit upon this statute.
“ The counsel for the crown, in reply, ■ submitted it to the court, whether (since the only points in- sisted on by way of defence for the prisoner, were questions at law, in which the jury, were to be guided by their opinion,) the facts prove'd and admitted did not clearly, in the first place, amount to murder at common law ; and in the second place, whether there could be the least doubt in point of law, but that the case was within the statute of l James f.
“ Upon the first it was admitted, that to consti- tute murder there must be malice.
WIJLLIAM CHgTWYND. 71
“ But it was argued, that malice was of two kinds, cither expressed and in fact, or implied by law.
“ But when one person kills another without pro- vocation, it is murder, because the law presumes and implies malice from the act done. And there- fore, whenever any pei'son kills another it is murder, unless, some sufficient provocation appear. But it is not every provocation tliat extenuates the killing of a man from murder into manslaughter. A slight or trivial provocation is the same as none, and is not allowed in law to be any justification or excuse for the death of another. And therefore no words of reproach or infamy, whatever prov'oking eireum- staiioes they may be attended with ; no affronting gestures, or deriding postures, however insolent or malicious, are allowed to be put in balance with the life of a man, and to extenuate the offence from murder to manslaughter.
“ For the same reason, no sudden quarrel upon a sudden provocation, shall justify such an act of cruelty as one man’s stabbing another, tliough it be done immediately in the heat of passion. As if two persons, playing at tables, fall out in their game, and the one upon a sudden kills the other with a dagger ; this was held to be murder by Bromley, at Chester assizes.
“ In like manner, no trespass on lauds or goods shall be allowed to be any excuse for one man’s at- tacking anotlier in such a manner as apparently en- dangers his life, and could not be intended merely as a chastisement for his offence ; because no violent acts beyond the proportion of the provocation re- ceive countenance from the law.
And, therefore, if a man beats another for tres- passing upon his goods or lands, and docs not de- sist, he will be jqstified by law ; because what he does is only in defence of bis property, and no more than a chastisement to the offender.
“ But (says the Lord Chief Justice Holt,) if one man be trespassing upon another, breaking his
72
NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
hedg'es, or the like, and the owner, or his servant, shall upon sigh t thereof, take up a hedge stake, and knock him on the head, that' will be "murder; be- cause it is a violent act beyond the proportion of the provocation.
“ That applying the rules of law to the present case, it was plain, that the violent act done, bore no proportion to the provocation. All the provocation given was taking up a piece of cake, which is not such an offence, as can justify the prisoner’s attack- ing the person who took it up, with an instrument, that apparently endangered his life, or rather car- ried certain death alon^' with it.
“ On the second indictment it was said, that the counsel for the prisoner had in efFect*contended, that the statute i James I. sliould never be allowed to comprehend any one case whatsoever, or extend to any one offender, which would entirely frustrate that statute ; since it was only made in order to exclude such persons who stabbed others upon the sadden, from the benefit of clergy : and was intended as a sort of correction to the common law, by restrain- ing such offenders through fear of due punishment, who were emboldened by presuming on the benefit of clergy, allowed by the common law. But if it is to exclude none from their clergy, who at common law would have been entitled to it, it can never have any effect, and may be as well repealed.
“ And if the statute is to have any force or effect at all, there can be no doubt but it must extend to the present case. It is expressly within the words : Mr. Rickets was stabbed, having then no weapon drawn in his hand, and not having before struck the person who stabbed him. It is plainly within the in- tention; which is declared' in the preamble to have been in order to punish stabbing or killing upon the sudden, committed in rage, or any other passion of the mind, &c. and therefore it was submitted to the court, whether upon the facts proved and not de- nied, the consequence of the law was not clear
MARTHA TRACT. 73
that the prisoner was guilty within both indict ments.”
Mr. Baron Reynolds and Mr. Recorder, before whom the prisoner was tried, taking notice of the points of law that had arisen, the learned arguments of the counsel, arid the many cases cited upon this occasion, were of opinion, that it would be proper to have the facts foimd specially, that they might be put in a way of receiving a more solemn determi- nation.
A special verdict was accordingly agreed on by all parties, and drawn up in the usual manner, \v/. by givingatruestateof the facts as they appeared in evi- dence, and concluding thus : “ We find that the de- ceased was about the age of lo, and Mr. Chetwynd about the age of 15 ; and that of this wound the de- ceased died on the sgth of the said September ; but whether upon the whole, the prisoner is guilty of all, or any of the said indictment, the jurors submit to the judgment of the court.”
In consequence of this special verdict, the case was argued before the twelve judges, who deemed Chetwynd to have been guilty of manslaughter only ; whereupon he was set at liberty, after being burnt la. the hand.
MARTHA TRACY,
Executed at Tyburn, February l6, 4b, /or a street
robbery.
The melancholy Yate of this unfortunate woman is another instance of the naisery occasioned by that li- centiousness, which, is of all vices the most destruc- tive of the happiness of females, and so disgraceful to the British metropolis.
This much injured woman was a native of Bristol, Von. 11. n
74
NKWCAl'K CALENDAR IWPltOVl iJ.
and descended from poor pat ents, who educated her in the best manner in their power, (retting a pmce in the service of a merchant, >vhen she was siKteen years of age, she lived with rhim three years, and then came to London.
Having procured a place in a house wliere lodg' ings were let to single gentlemen, and being a girl of an elegant appearance, and fond of dress, she was liable to a variety of temptations.
Her vanity being even greater than lu'r l)eauty, she at lengtli eoneeived that she had made a <'on quest of one of the gentlemen lodgers, and was foolish enough to think he would marry her.
With a view of keeping alive the, passion s!ie thought she had inspired, she sought every prefenee of going into his chamber, and lie having some de- signs against her virtue, j)urchtised her some new clothes, in whicli sliewent to church on tlie follow- ing Sunday, where she was observed by her mist re.ss.
On their return iVoin chnrcb, her mistress stiictiy inquired how she came to be possessed of such fine clothes ; and Iiaving learnt the real state of the case, she was discharged from her service on t he Monday morning.
As she still thought the gentleman intended mar- riage, she wrote, to liiui, desiring he would meet her at a . public-hoxisc ; and on his attending, she wept incessantly, and complained of the treatment sfie liad met with from her mistress, which she attrilmled to the presents she. had received from liim.
The seducer advised her to calm her spirits, and go into lodgings which he would immediately pro- vide for her, and where he could securely visit her till the marriage should take place.
Deluded by this artifice, she went that day to lodge at a house in the Strand, which lie said was kept by a lady who was related to him. In this place he visited her on the following and several successive days; attending her to public places, and making her presents of elegant clothes, which effectually
MARTHA TRACY
'>'5
flattered lier vanity, and lulled asleep the small re- mains of her virtue.
It is needless to say that her ruin followed. After a connection of a few months, she found him less frequent in his visits; and informing him that she was with child, demanded that he would make good his promise of marriage: on which he declared that he bad /never intended to marry her, and that he would not maintain her any longer; and hinted that she should seek another lodging.
On the following day the mistress of the house told her that she must not remain there any longer, unless she would pay for her dodgings- in advance, which being unable to do, or perhaps unwilling to remain in a house where she had been so unworthily treated, she packed up her effects, and removed to another lodging.
When she was brought to bed, the father took away the infant, and left the wretched mother in a very distressed situation. Having subsisted for some time, by pawning her clothes, she was at length so reduced as to listen to the advice of a woman of the town, who persuaded her to procure a subsist ence by the casual wages of prostitution.
Having embarked in this horrid course of life, she soon became a eomtnon street-walker, and experi- enced all those calamities incident to.so deplorable ,i situation. Being soirictimes tempted to pick pockets for a subsistence, she became an occasional visitor at Bridewell, where her. mind grew only the more corrupt by the conversation of the abandoned wretches confined in that place.
The crime for which she forfeited her life to the violated laws of* lier country, was as follows :
At the sessions held at the Old Bailey, in the month of January, 1745, she was indicted for rob- bing William Humphreys of a guinea on the king’s highway.
Passing at riiidnight, near Northumberland-house SB the Strand, she accosted Mr. Humphreyr, who
jr6 NEVVGATK CALENOAR IMPROVED-
declining to hold any correspondence with her, two fellows with whom she was connected came up, and one of them knocking him down, they both ran away ; when she robbed him ^6f a guinea which she concealed in her mouth : but Mr, Humphreys seiz- ing her, and two persons coming. up, she was con- ducted to the watch-house, where the guinea was found in her mouth, by the constable of the night.
She was indicted for this offence at the sessions held in the Old Bailey, January 1745, and on her trial it was proved tliat she had called the men, one of whom knocked down the prosecutor; so that there could be no doubt of her being an accomplice with them ; whereupon the jury brought her in guilty.
After conviction she behaved with the greatest propriety, apparently under a proper sense of her former guilt, and died a sincere penitent, lamenting that pride of heart which had first seduced her to destruction.
MAITHEW HENDEKiiON,
Executed in Oxford- atrett^ Ftb.'lb, for one of
the most premeditated and cruel murders in our whole Calendar-.
In this man’s mind wehnd an extraordinary instance of the struggle between conscience and revenge. His mistress, however she might overstep the cha- racter of her sex, and disgrace him by a blow, did not deserve piuiishment at his hands.
He was the son of honest parents, and born at North Berwick, in Scotland^ where he was educated in the liberal manner customary in that country.
Sir Hug^h Dahyraple, being a member of the Bri- tish F^rliament, took Henderson into his service, when 14 years of age, and brought him to Loudon.
MATTHEW H£NDER«OK.
77
Before he was 19 years old, lie married one of his master’s maids ; but Sir Hugh, who had a great re- gard for him, did not dismiss him, though he was greatly chagrined at this circumstance.
Some few days before the commission of the mur- der, Sir Hugh liUving occasion to go out of town for a month, summoned Henderson to assist in dressing him : and while he was thus employed. Sir Hugh’s lady going into the room, the servant casu- ally trod on her toe. She said not a word on the occasion, but looked at him with a degree of rage, that made him extremely uneasy.
Wlicn Sir Ilngh had taken his leave, she demanded of Henderson, why he had trod on her toe ; in an- swer to which he made many apologies, and ascribed the circumstance to mere accident; but she gave him a blow on the ear, and declared that she would dis- miss him from her service.
Henderson said, it would be unnecessary to turn him away for he would go without compulsion ; but reflecting that her passion would soon subside, he continued in his place ; and was used with as much kindness as if the accident had not taken place.
Offended at the insult that had been offered him, Henderson began to consider how he should be re- venged, and at length came ti) the fatal resolution of murdering his mistress.
For the particulars of this barbarous deed, we refer to his confession in Newgate, taken in writing by the ordinary, the day before his execution.
He first expresses a lively and suitable sense of his condition, and calls God to witness, that this account contains the truth, the whole tiiitfa, and nothing but the truth. "
He says he was born. In the town of North Ber- wick, in Scotland, and was 19 years of age ; his fa- ther was still living, and accounted a very honest, industrious man ; his education was the best his fa- ther could afford, and his character, before this fact, blameless ; his mother has been dead several years.
NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
which he mentions with satisfaction, because as she loved him tenderly, he believed this affair would cer- tainly have broken her heart. .
He hud lived with his master five years, about thcee years in Scotland, and two years in London, and declares no servant could be 'Better used than he was, and that he never had the least dislike to the deceased, for that she was a lady of great huma- nity, and greatly respected by all her servants ; and his master a most woi’thy gentleman.
On March 25, 17 iG, about eleven at night, Mary Plat t, the maid-servant, told him, she would go and see her husband, and he said she might do as she ])leased : she went, and took the key to let herself in again ; he shut the door after her, and M^ent and cleaned some plate in the kitchen. From thence he went up into the back parlour, where he used to lie, and let down his bed, in order to go to sleep. He pulled off his shoes, and lied nj) his hair with his garter, and that moment the thought came into his head to kill his lady. lie went <lown stairs into the kitchen, and took a small iron cleaver, and came into his bed-chamber again, and sat dowai on his bed about twenty minutes considering whether he should commit the murder. His heart relented, and he thought he could not do it, because he had never received any ‘affront ; he however concluded to do it, as there was none in the house but the deceased and himself.
He Avent up to the first lauding place on the stairs, and after tarrying a minute or two, came doAvn. shocked at the crime he wfis about to perpetrate. He sat down on his bed for a littje while, and then went up again, as far as the dining-room, but was again so shocked that he ‘Could not proceed, and came down again, and sat on his. bed some minutes, and had almost determined within himself not to commit the murder ; but, he says, the devil was very busy with him, and that he was in such agonies as cannot be expressed. He went up again as far as
MAITHEW HENHKRSOV, 79
Ibe first wiadow, and the watchman was going- —
past twelve o’clock.”
After the watchman had passed the door, and all was silent, he came 4‘wn two or three steps, but presently went up again as far as his lady’s rooin- door, having- the cleaver all the time in his hand ; and opened it, not being locked ; ho went into the room, but could not kill her ; he was in great fear and terror : and went out of the room, as far as the stair-head, about tlirec yards from her chamber- door, but immediately returned with a full resolu- tion to murder her.
He entered the room a .second liiiic, .wont to the bed-side, undrew the curtains, and found she was fast asleep. He went i,wit;e from the bed to (he door in great perplexity of mind, the deceased being still asleep ; he had no caudle, and believes if there had been a light, he could not have comrnitlcd (he mur- der. He continued in great agonies, but soon felt where she lay, and made twelve or fourteen motions with the cleaver, before he struck her.
The first blow he missed, but the second he struck her on the head, and she endeavoured to get out of bed on that side next the door, and when he struck her again, she moved to the other side of the bed, and spoke several words which he can’t remember. He repeated his blows, and in strugg^ling she fell out of bed next the window, and then he thought it was time to put her out of her misery, and stuuck her with all his might as she lay on the floor ; she bled very much, and he cut the curtains in several places when he missed. his blows.
All the words she said, when he struck her the third or fourth blow, were, “ O Lord, what is this !” She rattled in her throat very much, and he was so frightened, that he ran down stairs, and threw the chopping-knife into the privy.
He then went into his bed-chamber again, and sat down on his bed for about ten minutes, when k came into his head t( rob the house, w’hich he solemnly
60
NBWOATE, calendar IMPROVED.
declares he had no intention to do, before he com- initted the murder.
When he had determined tp rob the house, ne di- rectly struck a light, went into the tieccased’s bed- chamber, and took her pockets, as they were hang- ing on the chair, and took a gold 'watch, two dia- mond rings out of the drawers, with several other things, but does not remember all the particulars ; she was not dead then, but rattled very much in the throat, and he was so surprised, that he scarcely knew what he did, and would have given ten thou- sand worlds could he have recalled what he had done.
When he had taken what he thought pi'oper, he went out of the street door and fastened it with a piece of cord, and when he came into the street, he was so terrified that he could scarcely walk ; he went Into Holborn, where his wife lodged, and all the Way he went he thought his murdered lady followed him. The watchman was going — past one o’clock,” as he was going along Holborn, so that he was near a full hour in committing this most horrid deed.
He put what things he had taken into a box at his wife’s lodgings, who asked him what he did there at that time of the night, and several other ques- tions ; to all which he answered, it Was no business of hers ; he solepjuly declares his wife and every other person entirely innocent and ignorant of the fact.
He did not stay here more than a quarter of an hour; and then returned to his master’s; but by endeavouring to break the string with w'hich he had fastened the door, he shut himself out, so that he was obliged to wait till the maid came home, which was about six o’clock ; he told her that he had been to get some shirts that were mending, and had locked himself out.
The maid, on opening the windows, first below, and then above, by degrees discovered that there had been a robbery, and by some blood on the stairs; suspected her lady was killed. She told him, from
• MATTHEW HBNHERSOy.
81
time to time what things she missed as she went about the house, and lastly, with the blood on the stairs ; on which he desired she would go into her lady’s room, and see if it was really so ; she con- sented, and he went to the door with her, she came out presently, crying out, “ It is so ! it is so !” He then went and acquainted a gentleman who was ne- phew to his master, that somebody had broke into the house, and he suspected the maid, who had been out all night, and took her before the justice first, who thought proper, on hearing her examination, to send for him. lie was very ready to go, and de- clares he had no thought of escaping, though he had great opportunity so to do.
He at first denied the facts, and accused two inno- cent persons; but being very much confounded by the cross questions then put to him, he at length confessed tlie fact. He appeals to all that knew him for the irreproachableness of his life before this happened, and again declares himself alone guilty of, and privy to the murder, and that he was not prompted by either malice or interest, and never thought of committing so dreadful a crime, till a quarter of an hour before the perpetration of it.
Considering the manner in which this murder was committed, the sex and station of the person mur- dered, and the obligations of the musderer, it is one of the most horrid and aggravated that has ever oc- curred, and presents a striking instance of the agi- tation attending a man’s first act of villainy, and of the ten’ors which haunt the conscience of the mur- derer. •
The above solemn declaration is most extraordi- nary, and is a famentable proof of the wickedness and weakness of man, when unassisted by the grace of God, and of tjie diflSculty of resisting the sug- gestions of our evil passions, especially revenge, and should lead us to be particularly cautious in guard ing against the Very first temptation.
VoL. II. M
*27-
8?
NSW'GATK CAI^EKDAR IMPROVED.
HENRY SIMMS.
Executed at Tyburn, after returning from transpor- tation, for highway robbery.
Disobedience to parents generally leads to an igno- minious fate. This man, losing his father at a ten- der age, ought to be doubly grateful to his grand- mother, who took the care of him upon herself; instead of which, we shall find him, while yet a boy, robbing his benefactress.
Henry Simms was born in the parish of St. Mar- ti u’s-in-th e-fields, London, and was soon, as we have already observed, a helpless orphan. His grand- mother, who was a dissenter, sent him first to a school kept by a clergyman of her own persuasion ; but as he frequently lan away, she placed him at an academy in St. James’s parish, where he became a proficient in writing and arithmetic, and was likewise a tolerable Latin and French scholar.
Before the boy had completed his tenth year, he gave a specimen of his dishonest disposition. His grandmother taking him with her, on a visit to a tradesman’s house, he stole twenty shillings from the till in the shop ; which being observed by the maid-servant, she informed her master; and the money being t’ound on the youth, he was severely punished.
He now began to keep from home on nights, and associated with the vilest of company, in the pur- lieus of St. Giles’s. His companions advising him to rob his grandmother, he stole 17/. from her, and taking his best apparel, repaired to'S>t. Giles’s, where his new acquaintance made him drunk, put him to bed, and then robbed him of*his money and clothes.
On his waking he covered himsClf with some rags he,found in the room, and after strolling through the streets in search, of the villains, went into an ale- house, the landlord of which, hearing his tale, inter
HENRY SIMMS.
SS
ceded with his grandmother to take him again under her protection. To this, after some hesitation, she consented ; and buying a chain with a padlock, she had him fastened during the day-time to the kitchen- grate, and at night he slept with a man who was directed to take care that he did not escape.
After a month of confinement he had his liberty granted him, and new clothes purchased, with which he immediately went among some young thieves who were tossing up for money in St. Giles’s. On the approach of night they took him to a brick- kiln near Tottenham-court-road, where they broiled some steaks, and supped in concert ; and were soon joined by some women, who brought some geneva, Avith which the whole company regaled themselves.
Simms, falling asleep, was robbed of his clothes ; and when the brick-makers came to work in the morning, they found him in Ins shirt only; and while they were conducting him towards town, he was met by his grandmother’s servant, who was in search Of him, and conveyed him to her house.
Notwithstanding his former behaviour, the old lady received him kindly, and placed him with a brceches-maker, Avho having corrected him for his ill behaviour, he ran away, and taking his best clothes from his grandmother’s house in her absence, sold them to a Jew, and spent the qioney in extra- vagance.
The old gentlewoman now went to live at the house of Lady Stanhope, whither the graceless boy followed hei‘, and being refused admittance, he broke several of the windows. This in some measure, compelled his grandmother to admit him ; but that very night he lobbed thehoase of as many things as produced him nine pounds, which he carried to a i)arn in Marybonc-fields, and spent it among his dissolute companions.
For this offence he was apprehended, and, after some hesitation, confessed where he had sold the effects. From this time his grandmother gave him
84
K£WCAT£ CALBKDAR IMPROVJCD.
up as incorrigible ; and being soon afterwards appr^ bended as a pickpocket, lie was discharged for want of evidence.
Simms now associated with, the worst of com- pany ; but after a narrow escape on a charge of be- ing concerned in sending a threatening letter to extort money, and two of his comrades being trans- ported for other olFcnces, he seemed deterred from continuing his evil courses ; and thereupon wrote to his grandmother, entreating her further protec- tion.
Still anxious to save him from destruction, she prevailed on a friend to take him into his house, where for some time he behaved regularly ; but get- ting among his old associates, they robbed a gentle- man of his watch and money, and threw him into a ditch in Marybone-ficlds : when some persons acci- dentally coming up, prevented his destruction.
■ Two more of Simms’s companions being now transported, he hired himself to an inn-keeper as a driver of a post-chaise ; and after that lived as pos- tillion to u nobleman, but was soon discharged on account of his irregular conduct.
Having received some wages, he went again among the thieves, who dignified him with the title of Gcn- tlenmn Hurry ^ on account of his presumed skill, and the gentility of his appearance.
Simms now b’ecame intimately acquainted with a woman who lived with one of his accomplices, in revenge for which the /ellow procured both him and the woman to be taken into custody on a charge of felony ; and they were committed to Newgate ; but the court jiaying no regard to the credibility of the witnesses, the prisoner^ were acquitted.
Soon after his discharge, Simms robbed a gentle- man of his watch and 17/. on Blackheath; and nkewise robbed a lady of a considerable sum neui the same spot. Being followed to Lewisham, he Was obliged to quit his horse, when he presented two pistols to his pursuers; by which he intimi
HENRY SIMMS.
mid^ted them so us to effect his escape, though w}th the loss of his horse.
Repairing to London, he bought another horse, and travelling into Northamptonshire, and putting up at an inn at Towcester, learnt that a military gentleman had hired a chaise for London ; on which he followed the chaise the next morning, and kept up with it for several miles. At length the gentleman observing him, said, “ Dont ride so hard, sir, you’ll soon ride away your whole estate to which Simms replied, “ Indeed I shall not, for it lays in several counties and instantly quitting his horse, he rob- bed the gentleman of 102 guineas.
He now hastened to London, and having dissi- pated his ill-acquired money at a gaming table, he rode out towards Hounslow, and meeting the postilr lion who had driven the aboveinentioned gentleman in Northamptonshire, he gave him five shillings, begging he would not take notice of having seen him.
A reward being at length offered for apprehending Simms, he entered on board a privateer ; but being soon weary of a sea-faring life, he deserted, and en- listed for a soldier. Wliiie in tliis station he knocked out the eye of a woman at a house of ill fame ; for which he was apprehended, and lodged in New Prison.
Soon after this. Justice De Veil admitted him an evidence against some felons, his accomplices, who were transported, and Simms regained bis liberty.
Being apprehended for robbing a baker’s shop, he was convicted, and beipg sentenced to be transported, was accordingly shipped on board one of the trans- port vessels, which sailing round to the Isle of Wight, he formed a plan for seizing the captain and effecting an escapd : but as a strict watch was kept on him, it wtis not possible for him to can-y tins plan into execution.
The ship arriving at Maryland, Simms was sold for twelve guineas, but he found an early opportu-
86 NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
iiity of deserting from the purchaser. Having learnt that his master’s horse was left tied to a gate at some distance from the dwelling-house, he privately decamped in the night, and rode thirty miles in four hours, through extremely bad roads ; so powerfully was he impelled by his fears. . • ’
He now found himself by the sea-side, and, turn- ing the horse loose, he hailed a vessel just under sail, from which a boat was sent to bi'ing him on board. As hands were very scarce, the captain offered him six guineas, which were readily accepted, to work his passage to England.
'riiere being at this time a war between England and France, the ship was taken by a French priva- teer ; but soon afterwards ransomed ; and 8imms entered on board a man of war, where his diligence promoted him to the rank of a ]ni(Mnpman ; but the ship had no sooner arrived at Plymouth than he quitted his duty, and travelling to Bristol, spent the little money he possessed in the most dissipated manner.
His next step was to enter himself on board a coasting vessel at Bristol, bnt he had not been long at sea before, on a dispute with the captain, he threatened to throw him overboard, and would have carried his threats into execution, if the other seamen had not prevented him. Simms asked for his wages when the ship i-eturned to port ; but the captain threatening imprisonment for his ill beha- viour at sea, he decamped with only eight shillings in his possession.
Fertile in contrivances, he jiorrowed a bridle and saddle, and having stolen a horse near a field in the city, he went once more on the higlKvay, and taking the road to London, robbed the passengers in the Bristol coach, those in another carriage, and a single lady and gentleman, and repaired to London Avith the booty he had acquired.
Having put up the stolen horse at an inn in White- chapel, and soon afterwards seeing it irdvertised, he
HENRY SIMMS.
was afraid to fetch it ; on which he stole another horse ; but as he was riding through Tyburn Turn- pike, the keeper knowing the horse, brought the rider to the ground. .
Hereupon Simms presented a pistol, and threat- ened the man with instant death if he presumed to detain him. By this daring mode of proceeding he obtained liis liberty, and having made a tour round the fields, he entered London by another road.
On the following day he went to Kingston-upon- Thames where he stole a horse ; and robbed several people on his return to London ; and the day after- wards robbed seven farmers of 18/. His next de- predations were on Epping Forest, where he com- mitted five robberies in one day, but soon spent what he thus gained among w'omen of ill fame. '
Thinking it unsafe to remain longer in London, he set out with a view of going to Ireland ; but had rode only to Barnet, when he crossed the country to Harrow on the Hill, w'here he robbed a gentleman named Sleep, of his money and watch, and would have taken his wig, but the other said it was of no value, and hoped, as it was cold weather, his health might not be endangered by being deprived of it.
The robber threatened Mr. Sleep’s life unless he w’ould swear never to take any notice of the affair ; but this the gentleman absolutely refused. Here- upon Simms said, that if he had not robbed him, two other persons would: and told him to say, “ Thomas,” if he should meet any people on horseback.
Soon after this Mr. Sleep, meeting two men whom he presumed to be accomplices of the highwayman, cried out, “ Thomas but the travellers paying no regard to him, ‘he was confirmed in his suspicions, and rode after them ; and, on his arrival at Hoddes- don Green, he found several other persons, all of them in pursuit of the highwayman.
In the mean time Simms rode forward, and robbed tlie St. Alban’s stage ; after which he went as far as Hockliffc ; but being now gi-eatly fatigued, he fell
88
NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
asleep in the kitchen of an inn, whither he was pur- sued by some light horsemen from St. AlbaiiS, who took him into custody.
Being confined for that nigkt, he was carried in the moiTiing before a magistrate, who committed him to Bedford gaol. By an unaccountable neglect, his pistol had not been taken from him, and on his way to prison he attempted to shoot one of his guards : but the pistol missing fire, his hands were tied behind him ; and when he arrived at the prison, he was fastened to the floor, with an iron collar round his neck.
Being removed to London by a writ of habeas corpus, he was lodged in Newgate, where he was visited, from motives of curiosity, by numbers of people, whom he amused with a narrative of his having been employed to shoot the king.
On this he was examined before the Duke of Newcastle, then Secretary of State ; but his whole story bearing evident marks of a fiction, he was re- manded to Newgate, to take his trial at the ensuing Old Bailey sessions.
Ten indictments were preferred against him : but being convicted for the robbery of Mr. Sleep, it was not thought necessai’y to arraign him on any other of the indictments.
After conviction he behaved with great unconcern, and, in some instances, with insolence. Having given a fellow-prisoner a violent blow, he was chained to the floor. He appeared shocked when the war- rant for bis execution arrived ; but soon resuming his former indifference, he continued it even to the mo- ment of execution, when he behaved in the most thoughtless manner. •
He was hanged at Tyburn, on the iflth of No- vember, 1747.
69
TUB
SECOND REBELLIO’N IN FAVOUR OF THE FRETENDER,
IN THE YEAR 1/45.
When England was attacked the second time by the disaffected Scotchmen, she was involved in an expensive war with France. Her ariuies were fighting under the Duke of Cumberland, in. Germany, and her fleets were employed in watching the mo- tions of their enemy, and when the rebellion broke out the king was at Hanover.
The French thinking this a favourable time to wound the internal peace of Britain, espoused the cause of the Pretender, as he appeared an excellent instrument for that purpose. The government was nut apprised of the preparations making to assist the Pretender, and the first notice which the British publict had of it, was from a paragraph in the Ge- neral Evening Post, which stated that, “ The Pre- tender’s eldest son put to sea, July 14, from France; in an armed ship of sixty guns, provided with a large quantity of warlike stores, together with a frigate of tfiirty guns, and a number of smaller armed vessels, in order to land in Scotland, where he expected to find twenty thousand men in arms, to make good his pretensions to the crown of Great Britain. He was to be joined by five ships of the line from Brest, and four thousand five hundred Spaniards were em- barking at Ferrok”
Through different channels this news was con- firmed, and created in thfe nation the utmost alarm. King George II. oif being apprised of it, instantly prepared to return ; and arrived in London on the a 1st of August, amid the acclamations of his loyal subjects, and a discharge of artUleiy.
Vot. 11. V
*23
§0 NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
The Pretender, followed by about fifty Scotch and Irish adventurers, came privately 111 roui^h Normandy, and on the 18th of July, embarked on b'^ar-l a ship of 18 g:uns, which was joifted off Bclleisle by the Elizabeth and other ships. They inteuded to have sailed north-about, and land in Uscofland. On the 20th they came up with an English fleet of me "hijn* vessels, under the convoy of the Lion man of war, of 58 guns, commanded by Captain Brett ; who im- mediately bore down upon the French line of battle ship, Mdiich he engaged within pistol-shot five hours, and was constantly annoyed by the smaller ships of the enemy. The rigging of the Lion was cut to pieces, her mizen-mast, mizen top-mast, main-yard, and fore-top-sail, were shot away ; all her lower- masts, and top-masts shot through in many places, so that she lay muzzled in the sea, and could do no- thing with her sails. ••.Thus situated the French ship.s sheered off, and the Lion could make no effort to follow them. Captain Brett had 45 men killed ; himself, all his lieutenants, the master, several mid- shipmen, and 107 foremast-rnen wounded, llis principal antagonist, the Elizabeth, with difficulty got back to Brest, quite disabled, and had sixty- four men killed 139 dangerously wounded, and a number more slightly. Slic had on board 400,000/. sterling, and arms and ammunition for several thou- sand men.
The French court pretended to be ignorant of the expedition thus miscarrying. Meanwhile, the Ca- merons, the Macdonalds, and many other clans, were in arms, in expectation of their friends from France. They came down into the low lands in parties, and carried oft’ by force, inany men to fill their ranks, and committed various disorders.
The Pretender having embarked in another ship, again sailed from France, and having eluded the English cruisers, landed with his followers on the Isle of Sky, opposite to Lochabar, in the county of Inverness, about the end of July, and took up his
REBELLION IN SCOTLAND.
91
abode at the house of a Papist priest, with whom he remained thr-.e weeks, while his emissaries were raisin;^ men for his service. At length at the head of about two thousand lie began his inarch under a standard, on whic^ was the motto, “ Tandem Tiii- UMPHAXs.” — “ length t-nwn pliant T
The reliels now marehed towards Fort Willkim, wliere the Pretender pnlilished a manifesto, which his father had signed at Rome : containing abundant jiromises to such as would adhere to his cause; two of which were, a dissolution of the union between the two kingdoms, and a payment of the national debt.
Tliis circumstance induced many of the ignorant couiitry ])eopIe to flock to his standard, till at length his undisciplined rabble began to assume the ap- pearance of an army, which struck terror to the well- tdfected wherever it came.
'J'hese transactions, however, did not pass so se- cretly, but that the Governor of Fort William in- formed the Lord Justice Clerk of Edinburgh, of all he could learn of the affair ; on which the latter dis- patched an express to the north, ordering the assist- ance of all officers, civil and military.
'I’he governor of Fort William having received these orders, dispatched two companies of 8t. Clair’s and Murray’s regiments of foot, to oppose the rebels. They were attacked by a’ far superior number of Highlanders, which they contended against, until they fired all their ammunition ; after which they were attacked in front, flank, and rear, and near half their number killed, before they sur- rendered. Captain Scott, their brave commander, was wounded ; but the rebels gave him and his re- maining officers their parole of honour, the private soldiers were sent to prison.
In the interim,’ the I.iord Justice Clerk ordered Sir John Cope, commander in chief of the forces in the south of Scotland, to march against the rebels; but in making the circuit of the immense mountains
93
NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
of Ar^yleshire, he missed the rebels ; on which he went to Inverness, to refresh his troops after the fa- tigue of the march.
The rebels proceeded to Perth, and having taken possession of that place, the Pretender issued his or- ders for all persons who were in possession of public money, to pay it into the hands of his secretary, whose receii)ts should be a full acquittal for the same.
The numbers of the rebels now greatly increased, and ill iSepteiaber the Pretender issued a proclama- tion. The provost and magistrates left the city, and others vrere immediately appointed in their room. Here the rebels were joined by the Duke of Perth, Lord George Murray, Lord Nairn, the lion. William Murray, Mr. Oliphant, and his son, George Kelly, Esq. the Bishop of Rochester, and seve- ral other Scotch gentlemen of influence, with their followers, making a formidable army.
The official papers distributed began thus : “ Charles Prince of Vi'ales, and Regent of Scotland, England, France, ami Ireland, and of the dominions tiiereto belonging.”
In the mean time General Cope sent from Inver- ness an express to Aberdeen, for the transport-vessels in that harbour to be ready to receive his troops ; and embarking on the I8th of September, he disem- barked them' at Dunbar.
During these transactions General Guest, who commanded the castle of Edinburgh, gave the ma- gistrates of that city several pieces of cannon for the defence of the place; ajid Colonel James Gar- diner repaired from Stirling to Edinburgh, with two regiments of dragoons; but learning that Genera. Cope had landed at Dunbar, which is 27 miles east of Edinburgh, he proceeded to effect a junction witk tliat general.
On the 7th another party of rebels took posses- sion of the town of Dundee, proclaimed the Pre- tender, searched for arms, and levied money on the
REBELLION IN SCOTLAND.
93
inbabitants, giving receipts for the same. They seized a ship, and steered her to Perth, supposing there M^as gunpowder on board. On the 1 1th they left Perth, and marched that day to Dumblaine, 20 miles ; but the next day only two — to Down. They crossed the Forth*al the fords of Frews, on tlie I3th, General Blakeney liaving destroyed the bridge, and directed iheir march towards Glasgow; but the next day they turned to the eastward, and marched by Falkirk to Cullington, four miles from Edin burgh.
Tlie following day the Pretender proceeded through the Royal Park, and took possess-ion of Ho- lyrood-house. The money in the bank of Edin- burgh, and the records in the public offices, were now removed to the castle for security, and the gates of the city were kept fast during tiie wliole day ; but five hundred of the rebels having concealed themselves in the suburbs, took an opportunity, at four o’clock the next morning, to follow a coach which was going in, and seizing the gate called the Netherbow, they maintained their ground while the body reached the centre of the city, and formed themselves in the Parliament (Mosc.
Thus possessed of the capital, they seized two thousand stand of arms, and, on the following day, marched to oppose the Royal army, under the com- mand of General Cope; and the two armies being within sight of each other, near Preston Pans, on the evening of the 20th, Colonel Gardiner earnestly recommended it to the general to attack them dur- ing the night ; but deaif to this advice, he kept the men under arms till morning, though they were al- ready greatly hthrassed.
At five in the moiming the rebels made a furious attack on the Royal army, and threw them into un- speakable confusion, by two regiments of dragoons falling back on the foot. Colonel Gardiner, with 600 foot, behaved with uncommon valour, and co- vered the retreat of those who fled; but the colonel
94
NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
receiving a mortal wound, the rebels made prisoners of the rest of the king’s troops.
Tlie following account of this disaster was issued from Whitehall, London : ,
“ By an express arrived this morning, we are in- formed that iSir John Cope, with the troops under his command, were attacked l)y the rebels on the 21st instant, at day-break, near Preston Pans, near Seaton, seven miles from Edinburgh; that the king’s troops were defeated, and that Sir John Cope, with about 450 dragoons, had retired to Lauder ; Briga- dier Fawkes and Colonel Lasselles, had got to Lau- der. The_ Earls of Landon and riume, were at Dundee with Sir John Cope.”
The loss sustained by the king’s troops was. Killed - - . - 6oo Wounded - - - 450
Taken prisoners - 520
Total - 1270
The rebels did not lose more than fifty men.
Flushed with this partial victory, the rebels re- turned in liigh spirits to Edinburgh. They now sent foraging parties through the country, with orders to seize all the horses and waggons they could find : and, in the interim, a party of the insurgents at- tempted to throw up an intrenchment on the castle- hill. Hereupon the governor, necessitated to op- pose the assailants, yet anxious for the safety of the inhabitants,, sent a messenger in the night, to inti- mate to those who lived near the castle-hill, that they would do well to remove out of danger.
As soon as it was day-light, the battery of the re- bels was destroyed, by a discharge of the great can- non from the Half-moon, and thirty of them killed, with three of the inhabitanta, who had rashly ven- tured near the spot.
The governor being greatly deficient in provisions, a gentleman ordered 50 fine bullocks to be driven into the city on a pretence that they were for the
REBELLION IN SCOTLAND.
95
use of the rebels ; and the person who drove them leaving them on the castlc-luIl, the governor and 500 men sullied forth and drove them in at the gate, while the rebels played their artillery with unremit' ting fury.
While the rebels continued in Edinburgh, whicn was about seven weeks, some noblemen and their adherents joined them; so tliat their army amounted to almost ten thousand men. They now levied lai’ge contributions, not only in Edinburgh, but through the adjacent country ; and those who furnished them received receipts, signed, “ Charles, Prince Re- gent.”
llie officers taken at the battle of Preston Pans, were admitted to their parole, but the privates were ill treated. 'I' leir allowance was only three-half- pence each per day, and their prison filthy, and des titute of accommodations. Tliis cruelty was prac- tised in order to cause them to enlist under the ban- ner of the Pretender ; besides which they were pro- mised the best treatment, new clothing, and five guineas per man, on theii' “ taking St. James's Pa- lace. One hundred aiMi twenty, oppressed by hun- ger, and tempted by the prospect of gain turned re- bels and Papists, and thus forfeited their honour and their lives ; for those that were not killed in the various engagements Avhich took place before the rebellion could be quelled, fell into the hands of their injured countrymen, and not a man of them survived.
About this time some ships from France arrived in the Forth, laden Avitli ammunition ; and a person who attended the Pretender was dignified with Che title of aiiibassador from his most Christian Majesty,
General Wade had now the command of some forces Avhich had, reached Yorkshire; and some Dutch troops being sent to augment his forces, he marched to Newcastle, with a A’iew to deter the re- bels from entering the southern part of the kingdom.
That celebrated prelate, ,the late Dr. Herring,
^6 ^’EWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVE'^
archbishop of York, cTistinguished himself gloriously on this occasion. Joining with the high-sheriff to assemble the freeholders, the archbishop prtacAed an animated sermon to them ; and then the several parties cigreed, to assist each other iu support of their civil and religious rights, ^any people in Yorkshire were prevented from engaging in the re- bellion by this spirited and well-timed conduct.
llie Lord President Forbes, and the Earl of Lou- don, acted in a manner equally zealous in Scotland. Having collected a number of the loyal Highlanders into a body, many others who would have joined the rebels were thereby deterred.
The rebels quitted Edinburgh in the beginning of November, marched to Dalkeith where they en- camped ; and a report was circulated that they pro- posed to make an attack on lierudck ; but this was only a contrivance to conceal their real designs.
In the meantime more than a thousand of the re- bels deserted, in consequence of General Wade’s publishing a pardon to such as would return to their duty as good subjects, within a limited time. Still, however, they had above eight thousand men able to boar arms, whom General Wade would have marched to attack, but his soldiers were ill of the flux, owing to the severity of the season, and the fatigues they had undergone.
Emboldened by success, and their force increased, the rebels now determined to penetrate into En- gland. On Saturday, the 9th of October, about three o’clock in the afternoon, the inhabitants ol the city of Carlisle, were thrown into the greatest alarm, at seeing a body of them on Stanwix-bank, within a quarter of a mile of thehi ; and it being market-day there, they ipixed with the country people returning home, so that it was impossible for the garrison to fire upon them ; but in less than half an hour the country people dispersed themselves, and then the garrison fired upon them, and killed seveial; but night coming on, they retreated lo a
hb:beilion in Scotland.
97
greater distance from the city and the garrison stood ail night under arms. At two in the morning a thick fog came on, which remained till twelve that day, when it cleared hp for about an hour, and then the garrison discovered the rebels approaching to attack the city’in three several parties, viz. one at Stanwix-bank, commanded by tlie Duke of Perth ; another at Shading-gate-lane, commanded l)y the Marquis of Tnllibardine, who had the artiliery ; and the third in Blaekwell-fields, where the Preten- der commanded the rest of their body facing tlie English gate. Upon discovering these three parties approaching so near the city, the garrison fired upon them, viz. thefonr-giin battery upon tlie Marquis of Tnllibardine, wlio was heard to say, “ Gentlemen, we have not metal for them, retreat which they immediately did, and disappeared. The turret guns and the citadel giuis were fired upon the Pre- tender’s division, where the white flag was displayed, wdiich was seen to fall ; and about the same time the ten-gun battery was fired upon the Duke of Perth’s division, who also retired. As tlie thick fog then came on again, the inhabitants of the city ex- pected that a general assault would be made by the rebels, and the walls were lined with men to repel it, and Sir John Pennington, Dr. Waugh, Chancel- lor Humphry Senhouse, Joseph Daire Dalston, of Acron-bank, Esqrs. with several other gentlemen of note, were all night under arms, to encourage and assist them. The militia was also drawn up at the foot of Castle-street, to be ready in case of a forci- ble attack, to relieve aful reinforce the men upon the walls. On monday morning, the fog still continu- ing thick, the garrison could not observe the situa- tion of the rebels, but •heard their pipers playing not far from the English gate. About ten o’clock a man was let down from the city walls, to recon • noitre the enemy ; and found that they were retiring towards W’arwick-bridge. In the afternoon others VoL. II. O
^6 NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
were likewise detached to observe their motions, and discovered a great number remaining about War- wick-bridge : but the Pretender, with his guard and attendants, were advanced to Brampton, where they lodged themselves that night ; and on Tuesday they remained inactive, except in feats* of rapine and plunder ; for they spent the day in hunting and de- stroying the sheep of Lord Carlisle’s tenants, and carrying off the country people s geese, and other poultry. They also seized on all the horses they could lay hands on, without any question relating to value or property ; notwithstanding they declared the design of tlieir expedition was to redress griev- ances, and correct abuses. Tuesday night the rebels slept quietly. On Wednesday morning about ten o’clock they displayed the white flag at Warwick- bridge-end, to which they were about three hours in repairing. About one o’clock the young Pretender, attended by Lord George Murray, the Duke of Perth, and sevei’al others, besides those called his guard, came to them; upon which they formed themselves, and began to march again to Carlisle, in the following order : first, two (named hussars) in Highland dresses, and high rough red caps, like pioneers : next, about half a dozen of the chief lea- ders, followed by a kettle drum ; then the Preten- der’s son, at tihe head of about lio horse, called his guards, two and two a-breast; after these a con- fused multitude of all sorts of mean people to the number, as was supposed, of about six thousand. In this order they advanced to the height of War- wick-inoor ; where they halted about half an hour, and took an attentive view of the city; from thence the foot took the lead, and so marched to Carlisle about three in the afternoonj when they began a fresh assault, and the city renewed their fire. On Thurs- day it was discovered, that the rebels had throum up a trench, which intimidated the town, and in a consultation it was resolved to capitulate, a depu- tation was sent to the Pretender, at Brampton, and
REBELLION IN SCOTLANli.
99
the town nnd castle were delivered up on Friday morning'.
During this progress and success of the rebels, the English government were not waiting the event of a battle, without making every effort to entirely quell the rebellion. The city of London, addressed the king in terms of great loyalty, and offered con- tributions for that purpose. The example of the metropolis was followed by almost every corporate body in the kingdom. The flower of the English army, as we have already ohserved. was in (icrmany ; had they, instead of the new levies then engaged, fought at Preston Pans, the issue of that battle W’ould most likely have terminated the rebellion.
The king now thought fit to send for his son the Duke of Cumberland, to command against flic rebels; and with him eight battalions and nine squadrons, returned from fighting foreign foes, to (juell a civil W'ar at home. On his arrival he immediately look the command, and soon followed his veteran troops towards the north. lie arrived in Staffordshire, at the time when the rebels had penetrated as far as the town of Derby.
Both houses of parliament now assembled, and a bill was passed for suspending the habeas corpus act for six months : by which the king wus, for that period, empowered to seize all suspected persons, and commit them to prison, without specifying the reason of such commitment.
The effects of this act were the apprehension and commitment of many ^suspected persons in both kingdoms : but it did not appear to stop the pro- gress of the rebellion.
The duke now expected a junction of the forces under General Wade, whb had marehed from New- castle to Darlington, and taking a westward course, had stationed his troops near Wetherby. The re- bels having advice of this motion, it mus proposed by some of them to march into North Wales ; but others opposed this, on the presumption that they
100
NEWGATE CALENDAR lAfPRO'l’ED.
should then be surrounded by the royal army, and compelled to surrender themselves prisoners at dis- cretion, as they should have no opportunity of re- treating- to Scotland.
They therefore determined to push (heir cause to the very utmost; and for this j>urp6s'e advanced by more rapid marches to the southward, than the king’s troops could have endured : until they actu- ally penetrated into the very heart and centre of England.
Livei-pool was not behind London in spirit aKd loyalty. The inhabitants contributed largely in as- sisting the royjil army, at this inclement season, with warm clothing, and raised several companies of armed men, wliich u^cre called the Royal Liverpool Blues. iSotne of the advanced parties of rebels having appeared in sight of the town, every prepa- ration was made to resist them. Finding at Icngtii that the Pretender bent his march by another route for Manchester, the Liverpool Blues marched in order to destroy the bridges, and thereby impede their progress. This service they effected, breaking them down at Warrington, over the river Mersey, as far as Stockport. They seized two of the rebels, whom they handcuffed and sent to Chester gaol.
Notwithstanding these impediments, the rebels crossed the Mersey at different fords, through which the Pretender waded breast-high in water. 'J’hcir numbers could not be accurately ascertained, their march being stJ-aggllng and unequal, but about 9000 appeared the aggregate. Their train of artillery consisted of sixteen field-pieces of three and fotir- pound shot, two carriages of gun-powder, a number of covered woggons, and about 160 horses laden with ammunition. Their yan-guard consisted of of about 200 cavalry, badly mounted, the horses ap- pearing poor and jaded.
On entering ihe town of Macclesfield, they ordered the usual bellman to go round and give notice, that billets must forthwith be ready for 5000 men, their
REBE/.LIO-V I\ SCOTLAXr).
101
first division, on pain of military oxcculion. The Pretender himself constantly marched on foot, at the head of two rej^rments, one of which was ap- propriated as his body-guard. Ilis dress was a light plaid, belted about with a sash of blue silk ; he wore a grey’wig, with a blue bonnet and a white rose in it. He appeared very dejected at this time. His followers were ordinary, except the two regi- ments mentioned, which appeared to have been picked out of the whole to form them. The arms of the others were very indifferent. Some had guns, others only pistols, the remainder, broad-swords and targets. They committed various depredations in their progress, seizing all the horses, and plunder- ing the houses and the farm-yards.
In this manner they progressed to Derby. At Manchester, where they raise-d a regiment, it wfis apprehended, and not without reason, that they might have reached the metropolis, the duke not be- ing fully prepared ; or, by their retrogratle motions might have missed them, as happened in the outset with Sir John Cope in the mountains of Argyleshire.
On the 28th of November, an advancetl party of rebels entered Manchester, immediately beat up for volunteers, and inlistcd several Papists and non- jurors; to whom they provilsed five guineas each, but gave them little more than white cockades, and what they called inlisting money. They then or- dered quarters to be prepared for 10,000 men. Upon the arrival of the main 'body, a detachment examined the best houses, fixed upon one for the Pretender, and Other'S for the principal officers. They ordered the bellman to go round the town, and give notice to all persons belonging to the excise, inn- keepers, &c. forthwith»to appear, and bring their acquittances and rolls, and all the ready cash they had in their hands, belonging to government, on pain of military execution. The Pretender was then proclaimed King of England, and the terrified iu- imbitauts were ordered to illuminate their houses.
102
NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
In order to deceive the Duke of Cumberland, whose army was augmenting in Staffordshire ; they sometimes gave out, that theirrout was for Chester; then to Knutsford, Middlewich, and Nantvvich ; at other times they pretended they were going into Wales. The duke, however, took "those measures which could not fail of checking their progress, should they push for London, which it was now greatly apprehended they would : and in short, the whole nation was in the utmost consternation. He concentrated the troops near Northampton, a position which the rebels could not pass by the direct road, without risking a battle. It was still apprehended that by forced marches, and by advancing with great rapidity, they meant to avoid the duke by a circui- tous rout through Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Fortunately, they trifled away much time in raising the regiments, a proposition of a Mr. Townley, who was appointed the colonel, and afterw'ards taken prisoner at C’arlisle ; for which, among many others, he was hanged, as we shall hereafter describe.
These daring traitors had despoiled the country as far as Derby, before they were convinced of the danger they incurred to themselves. Here they found that the duke was waiting for them, ad- vantageously posted, and with a fierce which they were unwilling to engage. They had actually left Derby, and taken the road to London, when they were seized with a panic which overcame them ; for they had scarcely marched a mile when they halted ; held a consultation, wheeled round, and re-traced their steps to Derby. On th'eir second visit to this already oppressed town, they levied contributions to a large amount, and threatened destruction to it un- less instantly complied with. They took what was hastily brought to them, meanly plundered what- ever fell in their way ; and departed sullen and de- jected.
From this moment they sought to regain Scotland, and by forced marches the duke pursued them.
REBELLION IN SCOTLAND.
10.1
However, their conduct in advancing was opprei^ive, but in their retreat they committed murder and wan- ton mischief; and sejzed whatever they could carry off.
The rebels in arms in Scotland had, before this, been joined by *sbmc French troops, the commander of which declared, that he invaded the British domi- nions in the name of, and for his master Louis XV.
It is high time, in our summary of this very re- markable epoch of the British history, which might fill an interesting volume, to take a view of the pro- ceedings of the gallant Duke of Cumberland. On the 6'th of December he ivas at Coventry with the horse, and the infantry were encamped upon Me- ridon Common, udiero they received the warm cloth- ing subscribed for in Loudon, Liverpool, and other towns. On tlie 9th he pushed on at the head of the cavalry, and a tliousand fresh volunteers, mounted in pursuit of the rebels, with a, view to skirmish with them until the foot came up, but they fled at their utmost speed, through Ashbourn, Leek, Mac- clesfield, Manchester, Leigh, Wigan, and Preston.
In order to enable the duke to continue his pur- suit, the gentlemen of iStaffbrdshire provided horses in order to carry the , foot soldiers. The flourishing town of Birmingham followed this laudable exam- ple, and Sir Liston Holt, of Aston-halJ, near thereto, furnished 250, sending even his coach-horses on this service : for which he received the public and private thanks of the English .commander in chief.
Field-Marshal Wade, with his detachment of the British army, was at this time at Wakefield. It had been resolved, in a council of war held on the 8th at Ferrybridge,*to march with all expedition into Lancashire, to cut off the reti’eat of the rebels back to Scotland ; but finding they had proceeded too far in their flight to effect this, he dispatched General Oglethorpe, with the cavalry, to hang upon, and harrass their rear.
The French force which landed in favour of the
104
NEWGATE CALENDAR IMPROVED.
rebels, brought with them sncli a heavy train of ar tillery, that it required about a dozen horses to dmw an eightecn-poundcr. JVith this train they advanced from Montrose to* Perth, by Brechin. They had every difficulty to encounter; the season rendered the roads extremely bad, and the country people annoyed them in all directions.
At Preston, the rebels, wearied with incessant inarches for the last three or four days, were com- pelled to halt a dtay. This being made known to the Duke of Cumberland, he redoubled bis efforts to overtake them with, his cavalry. He had been recently joined by General Oglethorpe, tvhose squa- drons had moved from Doncaster without a halt ; and in three days he gained lOO miles over snow and ice. By pushing the horses to the utmost, the duke actually entered Preston only four hours after the rear of the rebels had left it ; but was now com- pelled to halt and refresh.
On the 14th General Oglethorpe was at Garstang, and took his post on Elhilmoor, about three miles from Lancaster. The Liverpool companies arrived at Preston on the l6th, and that town sent a depu- tation of four of the principal inhabitants to his Royal Higliness, with offers to supply his troops with whatever they might stand in need of.
At Lancaster the rebels were thrown into the utmost dread on the approach of General Ogle- thorpe, with the horse, who aetually entered the town at one end, as they retreated out of the other. While the horses were feeding in the street, and the soldiers refreshing and preparing for the attack on overtaking the fugitives, the general was called back by an express announcing the invasion of the French. This intelligence proving to have had no foundation, the horse were again ordered to push on, but the rebels had got by that time so much the start, that the general could not overtake them.
At Kendal the country rose upon the retreating rebels ; they took three of their men, two women.
REBBLLIOS IN SCOTLAND.
105
and several horses; in doing which three of the people were killed. The Pretender halted at Shaj. that night, and fearing to be treated in like mannei at Penryth, he endeavoured to avoid that town, in which attempt he was met by an incredible number of incensed inhabitants on Lazenby-moor, on which they turned off to Temple Sowerby, but were hunted and galled the whole day, and at length driven into Orton. Here they could wait only to feed their horses in the street, and then set forward, having pressed a guide, but were pursued by the loyal people of Appleby and Brough, who took the Duke of Perth’s mistress and another gentlewoman, whose carriage had broke down. As a retalliation for this interruption, the rebels committed great spoliations as they passed, plundering houses and shops, de- stroying goods, and stripping men of their shoes, stockings, breeches — nay, often stripping them al- together.
After several forced marches, the Duke of Cum- berland at