Having stolen two oxen
belonging
Mr.
Caulfield - Portraits, Memoirs, of Characters and Memorable Persons - v3
After this trial, which was
signally defeated, greatly distinguished
with others; but never had the temerity engage again with Broughton.
George Taylor was strong able man, who, with skill extraordinary, aided by his knowledge the
back-sword, and remarkable judgment the cross buttock fall, was able contest with most his opponents. But Captain John Godfrey, his
himself
2E to 2
to
a
a
he
in
in to
to
inof of
a
he
all
of
an
in in
in. It
he
of
of
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208 MEMOIRS OF [GKORaE n.
" Treatise on the Science of Defence," was of opinion, that he was not overstocked with that necessary ingre dient of a boxer, called a good bottom ; and suspected that blows, of equal strength with his own, too much affected and disconcerted him in many of his fights.
He, however, on most occasions, came off victo rious ; and Death, the great conqueror of all, closed his career on the 21st of February, 1750,
Pli>~IC
1. . . i. '. . 1-
Lii'il. 'iLY
. . .
L
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 209
COMMONLY CALLED THE STRONG MAN.
Thomas Topham was born in London, about the
His father was a carpenter, and brought his son up to the same business, which he followed until he was about twenty-four years of age ; when, having saved a little money, he took a public-house, the sign of the Red Lion, at the corner of the City- road, opposite St. Luke's Hospital. Here he might have done well, and have saved money ; but his wife,
from her coquettish behaviour, caused them to lead a very unhappy life ; and he, in consequence, neglect ing the business of his house, shortly failed.
He had often displayed amazing proofs of his strength ; and necessity now prompted him to adopt some plan whereby he might turn this qualification to account ; to which purpose he proposed to perform in public such feats as astonished every one who heard of the undertaking; doubting the thing as im possible to accomplish. His first public exhibition
george 11. ]
year 1710.
210 MEMOIRS OF [George
was Moorfields, where
strength against that
which accomplished,
the dwarf-wall, dividing Upper from the Lower Moor
opposed his own personal young and vigorous horse, placing his feet against
fields; nor could the whipping and urging the horse on, remove Topham from his position, but com
pletly kept the animal restraint by his powerful hold. He afterwards pulled against two horses, but his legs were placed horizontially, instead rising parallel the traces the horse, was jerked from
his seat, and had one of his knees much bruised and hurt. By the strengh his fingers rolled up very strong and large pewter dish and broke seven
eight short pieces tobacco-pipe the force
his middle finger, having laid them his first and
strong tobacco-pipe under his garters, and his legs being bent, broke
pieces by the tendons his hams. -Another bowl of this kind he broke between his first and second
finger, pressing them together sideways. -He lifted table six feet long, with half-a-hundred weight
third. He thrust the bowl
hanging the end position, with his teeth,
and many other feats
price one shilling admission for each person.
holding horizontal considerable time. —These,
strength, exhibited the
of
at
a
by
to or as to
in he
of of of
ofait, aofin
of a
he
it in an
;
he
at
of
by
he
of a
onby he he
it ofa
II.
of
he
George II. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS.
211
When at Derby, he applied to Alderman Cooper
for permission to display the different feats he pro posed. The alderman was surprised at his perform ance, and requested him to strip, that he might examine whether he was made like other men; when he disco vered, that the usual cavities under the arms and hams of others were in him supplied with ligaments.
The injury he received from the two horses caused him to limp a little in his walk. He was a well-made man, but had nothing singular in his appearance. —
The performances he exhibited at Derby, where the rolling up of a pewter-dish, of seven pounds weight,
with as much apparent ease as a man rolls up a sheet of paper; holding a pewter quart-pot at arm’s length,
and squeezing the sides together like an egg-shell; lifting two hundred weight with his little finger, and
moving it gently over his head: he also broke a rope fastened to the floor, that would have sustained twenty hundred weight. Holding in his teeth a piece of leather fixed to one end of an oak-table, which had
half-a-hundred weight suspended to the feet resting upon his knees,
with the weight higher than the part
mouth. Mr. Chambers, vicar All Saints, Derby, who weighed twenty-seven stone, took and raised
and with two raised the end
held near his
of
he
he
he in
it,
of
212 MEMOIRS OF
[GeoRGE
with one hand, his head being laid one chair, and his feet another. Four persons, fourteen stone each, sat upon Topham's body, and these heaved pleasure.
At blow struck round bar iron, diameter, against his naked arm, and bent
one inch
like bow. Knowing little music, enter
tained the company Derby with Mad Tom; also sung solo, accompanied the organ St.
werburgh's church; and though performed
with judgment, yet his voice seemed infinitely more terrible than mellow, and, some instances, scarcely
human. The ostler the Virgin-inn, where Topham lodged, having insulted him, took one the spits
from the kitchen mantle-piece, bent round his neck like handkerchief, and left the ends sticking out;
the man appeared awkward his iron cravat, excite the mirth and laughter who saw the cumbrance he laboured under; nor could he extricate
himself until Topham condescended relieve him. But these were only the common-place performances, when went about purposely exhibit; way
frolic would accomplish more surprising feats. - One night, observing watchman fast asleep his box, Chiswell-street, he took both, and carrying
the load with the greatest ease, dropped the watch
in
a
it a
a
at
at
a
he
he he
by in
of
he he
to
of in
allit onof on
to
he
of
as of into
at
II.
so
in he
a
in
on a
in ithe
of
a
George II. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 213
man, box and all, over the wall of Tindall’s burying ground, leaving the man to extricate himself as well as he could. Sitting once at the window of a public house, in the same street, a butcher going by from a slaughter-house, with nearly half an ox upon his back, Topham relieved him of his load, with so much ease and dexterity, that the fellow astonished, swore nothing
but the devil could have flown away with the beef. Observing some bricklayers removing part of a scaf.
fold, previous to striking from small building, he, towards assisting them, grasped hold one the
poles rudely, that part the front wall followed his Herculean tug: the fellows conceiving had been the effects earthquake, ran without looking be hind them into adjoining field. Mr. Topham's joke had nearly proved serious consequence, for one
the poles falling hurt him severely on his side.
Accompanying West Indiaman,
with cocoa-nut,
cracking close
crack egg-shell.
Hackney-road, fellow, with horse and cart, an noyed the spectators much, attempting keep close the contending parties; Topham, who was
L. V.
acquaintance
the river, and being presented
astonished one the sailors by
his ear, with the same ease we race taking place the
his on-board
a Oa
of
W
I. to an
so
F
by a
of
a
to
on as
of
a
to
an
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of an
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2 A of it,
of of
of it
in
214 MEMOIRS OF [georgb ir.
into the road, seized the tail of the cart, and, in spite of all the fellow's exertions, in whipping his horse to get forward, drew them both back, with the greatest ease possible, to the
mortification of the man, who would have resented the indignity, but was naturally dismayed. At the
time he kept a public-house, two fellows, extremely quarrelsome, could not be appeased without fighting the landlord. Topham, to satisfy their desire, seized them both by the nape of the neck, and knocked their heads together, till they were perfectly sensible of their error, and very humbly begged his pardon.
But the greatest of all his exploits was performed in Bath-street, Cold -bath- fields, on the 28th of May, 1741, when, in honor of Admiral Vernon's taking
of Porto-Bello, he lifted three hogsheads of water,
weighing 1,836 pounds, in the presence of some thousands of persons.
The levity of his wife, and her illicit attachment to another person, were the source of much uneasiness to him ; and, unfortunately, becoming the slave to jealous passions, in a fit of frenzy, after beating her
very severely, he put a period to his own existence, in the very flower of his age, not having completed his thirty-third year.
present, stepped
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 215
The impression he left on the minds of the people in London was such, that his portrait, . displaying some one or other of his feats, was painted on various signs throughout the metropolis ; there were many- remaining, even up to the year 1 800 ; one in particular, over a public-house near the May-pole, in East Smithfield, representing him in the act of pulling against two dray-horses.
ceorge ii. ]
216 MEMOIRS OF [gsobge n.
Sean
This Frenchman was master of a smuggling-vessel, that conveyed to the different shores of England con-* •
trabandand exciseable articles; which, from the heavy customs imposed on them, rendered it a most profits- able trade to those who could, with impunity, import them free of duty. In one of these illicit trips, from Boulogne to the coast of Kent, while his vessel was hovering near Margate, for the purpose of landing his
commodities as secret as possible, it was observed by some pilots, and mistaken for a ship in distress. To this end, and with a view of rendering any assistance that might be wanting, several of these pilots took a boat, and made towards the vessel, De-la-Tour, conceiving them to be officers of the customs, with out any warning whatever, fired several shots into the boat, which killed one man, and
}®t=U=Zout.
desperately wounded two others ; and then, without attempting to
make a landing, stood out to sea.
On the boat's return to the land, with the dead
body and wounded men, the survivors reported the
: K.
***
PU or IC i. 15. -- AY
*** ** *. **)
gborge
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 217
transaction, and described the ship in the best way they could ; but, notwithstanding an armed vessel was immediately dispatched in pursuit of this supposed pirate, De-la-Tour contrived to elude the vigilance of his pursuers for a considerable length of time. The circumstance becoming widely known, every one was
made acquainted with the description of the ship; and De-la-Tour still carrying on his nefarious traffic, though he had changed the scene of his former trade, was taken, about four months after, by an English vessel, and brought to England, in order to undergo his trial for the murder. The identity of his person
being ascertained by some of the men who were in the boat at the time of the outrage, he was upon their evidence found guilty, and hanged in the year 1744.
218
MEMOIRs of
[asongs
Commley, -solettijet. and
THESE persons are associated together, account their being tried, condemned, and suffering
the same time. Mr. Townley was descended from ancient and honorable family, some centuries resi dence Lancashire, and was the son Richard
Townley, Townley-hall, that county, who was
tried for the share he had the rebellion acquitted.
Young Mr. Townley being educated
principles popery,” went abroad early
entering into the service France, distinguished himself his military capacity, particularly the
siege Philipsbourg. Coming England, 1742,
The Townley family have suffered great persecution the
account religion; the early part the reign Queen Eliza beth, one their ancestors, living Townley-hall, was compelled,
for considerable time, pay heavy monthly fine, escape im prisonment recusant, and for having suffered the celebration mass his house, before his children and domestics.
1715, but
the rigid
life, and,"
in
of
a ofof
as
of of
in in
a
*
of
in to
a
at
in
to
of
in in
of of
of
on
on of
in
at
of
ofto of
in
an at
ii.
1. i.
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 219
he associated chiefly with those of the catholic reli gion ; and it was thought that he induced many of them to take an active part in the rebellion. When the Pretender came to Manchester, Townley offered his services ; when, being accepted, he was commis sioned to raise a regiment, which he soon completed; and, from his knowledge of military tactics, might have done the royal cause much mischief, but being made a prisoner at Carlisle, he was conducted to London, in order to take his trial for high-treason.
An act of parliament having passed in the year 1746,
" to empower the king to remove the cause of action
against persons apprehended for high-treason, out of
the county where the crime was committed;" his
majesty granted to the judges commissions to try, in the counties of Cumberland, York, and Surrey, such rebels as had been committed to the prisons of those counties respectively.
On the 23d of June, 1746, at the Sessions held at St. Margaret's Hill, for the trials of the rebels, Colonel Francis Townley, of the Manchester regiment, was indicted for the part he had acted in the rebellion.
His counsel insisted that he was not a subject of Great Britain, being an officer in the service of the French king ; but this, the judges observed, was a cir-
georgb ii. ]
220 MEMOIRS OF [George
cumstance against him, had quitted his native country, and engaged the French service, without
the consent his lawful sovereign. Some other mo tions, equally frivolous, being over-ruled, was capitally convicted, and adjudged die. After con
manner,
George Fletcher had been linen-draper, Strat ford, near Manchester, managing the business for his mother, who, on her knees, endeavoured persuade
him not engage with the rebels; and offered him 1000l. on the condition that he would not embark
desperate enterprize; but was deaf her entreaties, and ambitious serving the Pretender,
that gave his secretary, Mr. Murray, fifty pounds
for captain's commission. Fletcher having induced man named Maddox enlist, he afterwards would
have deserted; but Fletcher produced handful
gold, and said should not want money would fight for the Pretender, which induced Maddox keep his station.
There were six others tried with Townley and Fletcher, the Surrey Sessions, and after the sentence the law was passed, they declared that they had
viction, he behaved the most reserved scarcely speaking any one but his brethren misfortune.
of a so a
at
to
to
of
in
in
II,
he
an so
of in
to
all of a
in
as
a he
if
to
he
he
to
to
at
he
to
he
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 221
acted according to the dictates of their consciences, and would again act the same parts, if they were put to the trial. When the keeper informed them, that the following day was ordered for their execution, they expressed a reslgnation to the will of God ; em braced each other, and took an affectionate leave of their friends.
On the following morning they breakfasted together, and having conversed till near eleven o'clock, were conveyed on three sledges from the New Goal, Southwark, to Kennington-common. The gibbet was surrounded by a party of the guards, and a block and a pile of faggots were placed near it. The faggots were set on fire while the proper officers were removing the malefactors from the sledges.
After near an hour employed in acts of devotion, these unhappy men, having delivered to the sheriffs some papers, expressive of their political sentiments, then underwent the sentence of the law. They had not hung above five minutes, when Colonel Townley* yet alive, was cut down, and being placed on the block, the executioner, with an axe, separated his head from the body ; his heart and bowels were then taken out, and thrown into the fire; and the other
vol. iv. 2 G
george ii. ]
222 MEMOIRS OF [georce ii.
parties being severally treated in the same manner, the executioner cried out " God save King George. " The bodies were quartered, and delivered to the
keeper of the New Goal, who buried them : the heads of some were sent to Carlisle and Manchester, where they were exposed ; but those of Townley and Fletcher were fixed on Temple-Bar, where they re
mained until within these few years, when they fell down.
Among the rest that suffered with Townley and Fletcher, on Kennington-common, July 20, 1746, was young Dawson, so pathetically recorded by Shenstone. The print of the exposure of these persons' heads is extremely scarce ; the one copied in this work is in the collection of J. Goodford, Esq. of Yeovil, Somersetshire.
S18 MEMOIRS OF [georgb ii.
These persons are associated together, on account of their being tried, condemned, and of suffering at the same time. Mr. Townley was descended from an ancient and honorable family, of some centuries resi dence in Lancashire, and was the son of Richard Townley, of Townley-hall, in that county, who was tried for the share he had in the rebellion of 1715, but acquitted.
Young Mr. Townley being educated in the rigid
principles of popery,* went abroad early in life, and, entering into the service of France, distinguished
himself in his military capacity, particularly at the siege of Philipsbourg. Coming to England, in 17*2,
• The Townley family have suffered great persecution on the account of religion; in the early part of the reign of Queen Eliza beth, one of their ancestors, living at Townley-hall, was compelled, for a considerable time, to pay a heavy monthly fine, to escape im prisonment as a recusant, and for having suffered the celebration of mass in his house, before hit children and domestics.
I
ti iv. --c i ii ,. a;:y
1i. . ,d k i.
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 219
he associated chiefly with those of the catholic reli gion ; and it was thought that he induced many of them to take an active part in the rebellion. When the Pretender came to Manchester, Townley offered his services; when, being accepted, he was commis sioned to raise a regiment, which he soon completed; and, from his knowledge of military tactics, might have done the royal cause much mischief, but being made a prisoner at Carlisle, he was conducted to London, in order to take his trial for high-treason.
An act of parliament having passed in the year 1746,
" to empower the king to remove the cause of action
against persons apprehended for high-treason, out of the county where the crime was committed;" his majesty granted to the judges commissions to try, in the. counties of Cumberland, York, and Surrey, such rebels as had been committed to the prisons of
those counties respectively.
On the 23d of June, 174,6, at the Sessions held at
St. Margaret's Hill, for the trials of the rebels, Colonel Francis Townley, of the Manchester regiment, was indicted for the part he had acted in the rebellion. His counsel insisted that he was not a subject of Great Britain, being an officer in the service of the French king ; but this, the judges observed, was a cir-
■
georgb ii. ]
MEMOIRS OF [ctEORGE ii,
cumstance against him, as he had quitted his native country, and engaged in the French service, without the consent of his lawful sovereign. Some other mo tions, equally frivolous, being over-ruled, he was capitally convicted, and adjudged to die. After con viction, he behaved in the most reserved manner, scarcely speaking to any one but his brethren in misfortune.
George Fletcher had been a linen-draper, at Strat ford, near Manchester, managing the business for his mother, who, on her knees, endeavoured to persuade him not to engage with the rebels ; and offered him
1000/. on the condition that he would not embark in so desperate an enterprize ; but he was deaf to her entreaties, and so ambitious of serving the Pretender, that he gave his secretary, Mr. Murray, fifty pounds for a captain's commission. Fletcher having induced a man named Maddox to enlist, he afterwards would have deserted; but Fletcher produced a handful of gold, and said he should not want money if he would fight for the Pretender, which induced Maddox to keep his station.
There were six others tried with Townley and Fletcher, at the Surrey Sessions, and after the sentence of the law was passed, they all declared that they had
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 221
acted according to the dictates of their consciences, and would again act the same parts, if they were put to the trial. When the keeper informed them, that the following day was ordered for their execution, they expressed a resignation to the will of God ; em braced each other, and took an affectionate leave of their friends.
On the following morning they breakfasted together, and having conversed till near eleven o'clock, were conveyed on three sledges from the New Goal, South wark, to Kennington-common. The gibbet was surrounded by a party of the guards, and a block and a pile of faggots were placed near it. The faggots were set on fire while the proper officers were removing
the malefactors from the sledges.
After near an hour employed in acts of devotion,
these unhappy men, having delivered to the sheriffs some papers, expressive of their political sentiments, then underwent the sentence of the law. They had not hung above five minutes, when Colonel Townley* yet alive, was cut down, and being placed on the block, the executioner, with an axe, separated his head from the body; his heart and bowels were then taken out, and thrown into the fire ; and the other
vol. iv. 2 G
george ii. ]
222 MEMOIRS OF [gkorce 11.
treated in the same manner, the executioner cried out " God save King George. " The bodies were quartered, and delivered to the
keeper of the New Goal, who buried them : the heads of some were sent to Carlisle and Manchester, where they were exposed ; but those of Townley and Fletcher were fixed on Temple-Bar, where they re mained until within these few years, when they fell down.
Among the rest that suffered with Townley and Fletcher, on Kennington-common, July 20, 1746, was young Dawson, so pathetically recorded by Shenstone. The print of the exposure of these persons* heads is extremely scarce ; the one copied in this, work is in the collection of J. Goodford, Esq. of Yeovil, Somersetshire.
parties being severally
Tnl: VKW VI*! ! K PtC-LJC LiiiiiAltY
H'- I. .
James Turner. (a Beggar. aged. 9b. )
George II. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 223
3. jameg Cutner.
JAMEs TURNER, a common beggar, whose sil vered locks and flowing beard gave him a patriarchal
appearance, raised a considerable sum of money by the veneration generally directed towards aged people
in distress. Turner, though an old man, was so well experienced in his profession, that he deemed it no
trifling advantage to appear still older than he really
money
this man obtained daily, it is necessary to state that
Sir Joshua Reynolds, Mr. Nathaniel Hone, and
many other celebrated painters, struck with the
singularly reverend character of his aspect, wished to make studies from his head, and solicited him to sit
to them. He, however, would not consent, unless
paid at the rate of one shilling per hour, which he asserted he always got by his profession of begging.
Sir Joshua has often introduced the portrait of Turner into his pictures, particularly in that of Count Uglioni, and his children, starved to death.
2G2
was. To form some estimate of how much
224 MEMOIRS OF [george n.
Hone, likewise, made Turner the prominent feature in his picture of the Conjuror;* and painted his
portrait as he generally appeared, in the year 1751, which was engraved by Captain Baillie, in the year
1762.
One White, a paviour, getting far advanced in
years, suffered his beard to grow to an immense size, and became the successor to Turner, in the service of portrait and historical painters. The Rev. Mr, Peters has introduced White's likeness in his pic ture of the Resurrection of a Pious Family. And Alefounder, the miniature-painter, has palmed on the public White's portrait for that of Peter the
* Some difference existing between Sir Joshua Reynolds and Mr. Hone, the latter, in revenge, painted the figure of an old man, with a magic wand, conjuring from the flames various designs from old masters, which Sir Joshua had taken for models of some of his best pictures; and had afterwards destroyed the originals. On the death of Mr. Hone, in 1784, the whole of his collection of paintings, prints, and drawings, were sold by auction, at Hutchins' rooms, in King-street, Covent-garden, when the
picture of the Conjuror was purchased for sixty guineas, by an agent of Sir Joshua's, and consigned to the same destructive element that had consumed the old masters.
oeorge ii. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 225
Wild-boy, which is engraved as such by Bartolozzi,
though there are not less than three original resem
blances of that singular person, preserved by Falconet^ Kent, and Drost.
226 MEMOIRS OF
%itijat-i, QCurpin,
RICHARD TUR PIN was the son John Turpin, farmer, Hempstead, Essex, and having received
common school-education, was apprenticed butcher Whitechapel. His early youth was dis
tinguished the impropriety
the brutality his manners; and,
of his apprenticeship, married
East Ham, Essex, named Palmer; but he had not
long been married before took the practice stealing his neighbours' cattle, which he used kill
and cut up for sale.
Having stolen two oxen belonging Mr. Giles,
Plaistow, he drove them his own house; two Giles's servants suspecting the robber, went
Turpin's, where they saw two beasts size agreeing
with those that had been lost. They could not iden tify their property, the hides were stripped off; but,
understanding that Turpin was accustomed dispose his booty Waltham-Abbey, they went thither, and saw the hides the stolen cattle. No doubt
[GeoRGE
his behaviour and the expiration
young woman
of
as
of
of of
aa
at
in of
to
in
to
to
on
to
II.
to
to
to ofof a
he he
in
a
of
of
in by
at
ah
AfWH. KM;* AND TL,l1. . fW iI
n
•
:'. j, . <
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 227
now remained of Turpin being the robber, and a warrant was accordingly procured for his apprehen sion ; but he, learning that the peace-officers were in search of him, made his escape from the back-window of his house, at the very moment they were entering at the door. He retreated to a place of security, and found means to inform his wife where he was con cealed ; on which she furnished him with money, when he travelled into Essex, and connected himself with a gang of smugglers. For some time he was successful, but, by the vigilance of the excise-officers, he was ultimately deprived of all his ill-acquired gains.
Thrown out of this kind of business, he joined a gang of deer-stealers, whose depredations were principally committed on Epping- forest, and the parks in its neighbourhood; but this not succeeding to the expectation of the robbers,
as a more profitable pursuit, to commence house breakers. Their plan was to fix on houses that they presumed contained valuable property: and, while one of them knocked at the door, the others were to rush in, and seize whatever they might deem worthy of theif notice. The first attack of this kind was at the house of Mr. Strype, an old man, who kept a
gkorge il]
they determined,
228 MEMOIItS OF [GEORGE IT.
chandler's shop at Watford, whom they robbed of all the money in his possession, without offering him
any personal abuse. Turpin now acquainted his asso ciates that there was an old woman at Loughton,who was in possession of seven or eight hundred pounds ; whereupon they agreed to rob her. On coming to the door, one of them knocked, and the rest forcing their way into the house, tied handkerchiefs over the eyes of the old woman and her maid. Turpin then demanded what money was in the house ; and the owner hesitating to tell him, he threatened to set her
on the fire if she did not make an immediate disco very. Still, however; she declined to give the desired information, when the villains actually placed her on the fire, where she sat till the tormenting pain com pelled her to discover her hidden treasure ; and they, taking possession of above 400/. , made their escape.
Some little time after this, they agreed to rob the house of a farmer, near Barking ; and, knocking at the door, the people declined to open it ; on which they broke it open, and, having bound the farmer, his wife, his son-in-law, and the servant-maid, robbed the house of above 700/. Turpin was so much delighted, that he exclaimed, " Aye, this will do, if it would always be so and the robbers retired
they
ckorgkh. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 229
with their prize, which amounted to above eighty pounds for each of them. This desperate gang, now flushed with success, determined to attack the house Of Mr. Mason, the keeper of Epping-forest ; and the time was fixed when the plan was to be carried into execution ; but Turpin having gone to London, to spend his share of the former booty, intoxicated himself to such a degree, that he totally forgot the appointment. Nevertheless, the rest of the gang resolved that the absence of their companion should not frustrate the proposed design ; and, having taken a solemn oath to break every article of furniture in Mason's house, they set out on their expedition. On gaining admission, they discovered an old man sitting by the fire-side, whom they suffered to remain unmo lested ; but Mr. Mason they kicked and treated in a very severe manner. His daughter escaped their notice and fury, by running out of the house, and
taking shelter in a hog-stye. After ransacking the
lower part of the house, and doing great mischief
they went up-stairs, where they broke every thing that fell in their way, and, among the rest, a china punch-bowl, from which dropped one hundred and twenty guineas ; this they made a prey of, and effected their escape. They now went to London in
VOL. iv. S h
230 MEMOIRS OF [ckorgb n.
search of Turpin, with whom they shared the booty, though he had not taken an active part in the exe cution of the villany.
On the 11th of January, 173-5, Turpin and five of his companions went to the house of Mr. Saunders, a rich farmer at Charlton, in Kent, between seven and eight in the evening, and having knocked at the door, asked if Mr. Saunders was at home. Being an swered in the affirmative, they rushed into the house,
and found Mr. Saunders, with his wife and friends,
playing at cards in the parlour. They told the company that they should remain uninjured if they made no disturbance. Having made prize ofa silver snuff-box, which lay on the table, a part of the gang stood guard over the rest of the company, while the
others attended Mr. Saunders through the house, and, breaking open his escritoirs and closets, stole above a 100/. exclusive of plate. During these transactions, the servant-maid ran
up-stairs, barred the door of her room, and called out " Thieves,"
with a view of alarming the neighbourhood ; but the robbers broke open the door of her room, secured her, and then robbed the house of all the valuable property they had not before taken. Finding some mince-pies, and bottles of wine, they sat down to
«Eoaor> ii. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS.
regale themselves ; and. meeting with a bottle of
each of the company to drink a glass of it. Mrs. Saunders fainting through
terror, they administered some drops in water to her,
and recovered her to the use of her senses.
staid in the house a considerable time, they packed
up their booty, and departed, first declaring that
if any of the family gave the least alarm within two hours, or advertised the marks on the stolen plate, they would return at a future period and murder them. Retiring to a public-house at Woolwich, where they had concerted the robbery, they crossed the Thames
to an empty house in Ratcliffe Highway, and depo sited the stolen effects till they found a purchaser to take them off their hands.
On the 18th of the same month, they went to the house of Mr. Sheldon, near Croydon, in Surrey,
brandy, they compelled
where they arrived about seven in the
They found the coachman in the stable,
his horses, and, after having secured him, they quitted the stable, and meeting Mr. Sheldon in the
him to conduct them into the house, where they stole eleven guineas, with the
jewels, plate, and other things of value, to a consider 9h8
yard, they compelled
Having
evening. attending
2;W
MEMOIRS OF [george 11,
able amount. They then returned Mr. Sheldon two guineas, and apologized for their conduct.
The next robbery they committed was upon the house of Mr. Lawrence, of Edgware, near Stanmore, in Middlesex, for which place they set out on the 4th of February, and arrived at a public-house in that village about five o'clock in the evening. From this
place they went to Mr. Lawrence's, where they arrived about seven o'clock, just as he had discharged some people who had worked for him. Having quitted their horses "at the outer gate, one of the robbers going forward found a boy, who had just returned from folding his sheep : the rest of the gang following, a pistol was presented, and instant destruction threat ened if he made any noise. They then took off his garters, tied his hands, and desired him to direct them to the door, and when they knocked to answer
and bid the servant open in which case they would not hurt him. But, when the boy came to the door, he was so terrified that he could not speak on which, one of the gang knocked, and man-servant opening the door, imagining was one of the neighbours, they all rushed in, armed with pistols. Having seized Mr. Lawrence and his servant, they threw a
it
a
it,
;
George II. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 233
cloth over their faces, and taking the boy into another room, demanded what fire-arms were in the house;
he replied, only an old gun, which they discovered and broke in pieces. They then bound Mr. Law rence and his man, and made them by the boy; and Turpin searching the gentleman, took from him
guinea, Portugal piece, and some silver; but, not
being satisfied with this booty, they forced him
conduct them up-stairs, where they broke open
closet, and stole some money and plate. This was
not sufficient satisfy them, and they threatened
murder Mr. Lawrence, each them destining him
different death, the savageness
ture prompted him. At length one
kettle water from the fire, and threw
but providentially happened not to scald him.
his own na
them took over him
hot enough
the interim the maid-servant, who was churning butter the dairy, hearing noise the house, apprehended some mischief; which she blew out
the candle, screen herself; but being found the course their search, one of the miscreants com pelled her up-stairs, where gratified his
brutal passion force. They then robbed the house the valuable effects they could find, locked the
of all
to a
a
of by go
it in
a
to
to
to as
he
of of
sit
in
be it
:a toato
on a in
of to
In
of
«34 MEMOIRS OF [okorok ii.
family into the parlour, threw the key into the garden, and took their plunder to London.
The particulars of this atrocious
presented to the king, a proclamation was issued for
the apprehension of the offenders, promising a pardon to any one of them who would impeach his accom plices, and a reward of fifty pounds was offered, to be paid on conviction. This, however, had no effect; the robbers continued their depredations as before ; and, flushed with the success they had met with, seemed to bid defiance to the laws.
On the 7th of February, six of them assembled at the White-bear Inn, in Drury-lane, where they agreed to rob the house of Mr. Francis, a farmer, near Mary-le-bone. Arriving at the place, they found a servant in the cow-house, whom they bound fast, and threatened to murder him if he was not perfectly
silent. This being done, they led him into the
stable, where finding another of the servants, bound him in the same manner. In the interim Mr. Francis happening to come home, they presented their pistols to his breast, and threatened instant des truction to him, if he made the least noise or opposi tion. Having bound the master in the stable with his servant*, they rushed into the house, tied Mrs. Fran
robbery being re
they
REMARKABLE PERSONS.
cis, her daughter, and the maid-servant, and beat them in a most cruel manner. One of the thieves stood as a sentry, while the rest rifled the house, in which they found a silver tankard, a medal of Charles the First, a gold watch, several gold rings, a consider able sum of money, and a variety of valuable linen, and other effects, which they conveyed to London.
Hereupon a reward of 100/. was offered for the apprehension of the offenders ; in consequence of which, two of them were taken into custody, tried
and convicted on the evidence of an accomplice, and hanged in chains ; and, the whole gang being dis persed, Turpin went into the country to renew his
georgb ii. ]
on the public.
On a journey towards Cambridge, he met a man
genteelly dressed, and well mounted; and expect ing a good booty, he presented a pistol and demanded his money. The person he stopped happened to be King, a celebrated highwayman, who knew Turpin ; and, when the latter threatened instant death, if he did not deliver his money, King burst into a fit of laughter, and said, " What ! dog eat dog ? —come, come, brother Turpin ; if you don't know me, I know you, and
shall be glad of your company. "
depredations
236 MEMOIRS OF [georcb it.
These brethren in iniquity soon struck a bargain, and immediately entering on business, committed a number of robberies ; till at length they were so well known, that no public-house would receive them as
Thus situated, they fixed on a spot between
guests.
the King's-oak and the Loughton-road, on Epping Forest, where they made a cave, which was large enough to receive them and their horses. This cave was inclosed within a sort of thicket of bushes and brambles, through which they could look, and see passengers on the road, while themselves remained unobserved. From this station they used to issue, and robbed such a number of persons, that at length the very pedlars, who travelled the road, carried fire arms for their defence: and, while they were in this retreat, Turpin's wife used to supply them with
necessaries, and frequently remained in the cave during the night.
Having taken a ride as far as Bungay, in Suffolk, they observed two young women receive fourteen pounds for corn ; on which, Turpin resolved to rob them of the money. King objected, saying, it was a
pity to rob such pretty girls ; but Turpin was ob stinate, and obtained the booty. Upon their return
-
george ii. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 237
home, on the following day, they stopped a Mr.
Bradele, of London, who was riding in his chariot
With his children. The gentleman seeing only one robber, was preparing to make resistance, when King called to Turpin to hold the horses. They took from this gentleman his watch, money, and an old mourn ing ring ; but returned the latter, as he declared that its intrinsic value was trifling, yet he was very unwil ling to part with it. Finding that they readily parted with the ring, he asked them what he must give for the watch: on which King said to Turpin, "What say ye, Jack? " a name by which he always called him, " here seems to be a good honest fellow ; shall we let him have the watch? " Turpin replied, " Do as you please on which, King said to the gentleman, "You must pay six guineas for it: we never sell for more, though the watch should be worth six and thirty. " The gentleman received the watch back, and promised that the money should be left at the Dial, in Birchin-lane, where they might receive and no questions would be asked.
Not long after this, Turpin was guilty of mur der, which arose from the following circumstance: reward of 100/. having been offered for appre hending him, the servant of gentleman, named
VOL. IV.
2 I
a
it, a
236 MEMOIRS OF [george u.
Thompson, went out with a higgler, to try ifthey could take this notorious offender. Turpin seeing them approach near his dwelling, Mr. Thompson's man having a gun, he mistook them for poachers ; on which he said, there were no hares near that thicket : " No," said Thompson's servant, " but I have found a Turpin ;" and presenting his gun, required him to surrender. Hereupon Turpin spoke to him in a
friendly manner, and gradually retreated at the same time, till having seized his own gun, he shot him dead on the spot, and the higgler ran off with the utmost precipitation.
This transaction making a great noise in the neigh bourhood, Turpin went further into the country, in search of his old companion King; and, in the mean time, sent a letter to his wife, to meet him at a public- house at Hertford. The woman attended according to this direction; and her husband coming into the house soon after she arrived, a butcher, to whom he owed five pounds, happened to see him ; on which he
said, " Come, Dick, I know you have money now and if you will pay me, it will be of great service. "
Turpin told him that his wife was in the next room; that she had money, and that he should be paid immediately: but while the butcher was hinting
george 11. 3 REMARKABLE PERSONS.
that the person present was Turpin, and that they might take hiin into cus
tody after he had received his debt, the highwayman made his escape through a window, and rode off with
the greatest expedition.
Turpin having found King, and a man named
Potter, who had lately connected himself with them, they set off towards London in the dusk of the even ing ; but, when they came near the Green Man, on Epping-forest, they overtook a Mr. Major, who riding on a very fine horse, and Turpin's being very much
jaded, he obliged the rider to dismount, and exchanged horses. The robbers now pursued their journey towards London, and Mr. Major going to the Green Man, gave an account of the affair; on which it was
that Turpin had been the robber, and that the horse which he had exchanged must have been stolen. It was on a Saturday evening that this rob bery was committed ; but Mr. Major being advised to print hand-bills immediately, notice was given to the landlord of the Green Man, that such a horse as Mr. Major had lost had been left at the Red Lion, in Whitechapel. The landlord going there, deter mined to wait till some person came for it; and,
sbout eleven at night, King's brother came to pay for 9I2
to some of his acquaintance,
conjectured
240 MEMOIRs of [George
the horse, and take him away; which was immediately seized, and conducted into the house,
Being asked what right had the horse, had bought it; but the landlord examining
which had his hand, found button of the handle, half broken off, and the name
said whip
the end Major
the remaining half. Hereupon was given into custody constable; but was not supposed was the actual robber, he was told should have his
liberty,
he said that
for the horse
there, saw King, who drew pistol, and attempted fire but flashed the pan; then endeavoured
pull out another pistol, but could not, got entangled his pocket. At this time, Turpin was watching short distance; and riding towards the spot, King cried out, “Shoot him, we are taken;”
which Turpin fired, and shot his companion, who called out, “Dick, you have killed me,” which the
other hearing, rode off full speed. King lived week after this affair, and gave information that
Turpin might marsh; and,
had been there
found house near Hackney
would discover his employer; whereupon stout man, white coat, was waiting
Red-lion-street. The company going
inquiry,
the night that rode off, lamenting
was discovered that Turpin
on
on a in be
of
in
to
he
he
it
a
to
on
itat at
he
on
to onhe it,
if atinit ahe
he a
a in
a aas
a
to
he
II.
or
he
he
as it
of at
he he
in
a
George II. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 24l
that he had killed King, who was the most faithful associate he ever had in his life. -
For a considerable time did Turpin skulk about the forest, having been deprived of his retreat in the cave,
since he shot the servant of Mr. Thompson. On the examination of this cave, there were found two shirts, two pair of stockings, a piece of ham, and part of a
bottle of wine. Some vain attempts were made to take this notorious offender into custody; and, among the rest, the huntsman of a gentleman in the neigh bourhood went in search of him with bloodhounds, Turpin perceiving them, got into a tree, under which the hounds passed, to his inexpressible terror, so that
he determined to make a retreat into Yorkshire.
he stole some horses, for which he was taken into custody; but he escaped from the constable, as he was con ducting him before a magistrate, and hastened to Welton, in Yorkshire, where he went by the name
of John Palmer, and assumed the character of a gen. . tleman. He now frequently went into Lincolnshire,
to steal horses, and either sold or exchanged them in Yorkshire. He often accompanied the neighbouring gentlemen on their parties of hunting and shooting; and one evening, on a return from an expedition of
Going first to Long Sutton, in Lincolnshire,
242
the latter kind, his landlord.
MEMOIRS OF
wantonly shot On this, Mr. Hall,
[George
cock belonging neighbour, said,
“You have done wrong shooting your landlord's
cock,” while Irritated lord
which, Turpin replied, that would stay
loaded his gun, would shoot him also.
this insult, Mr. Hall informed the land what had passed, and application being made
some magistrates, warrant was granted for the apprehension the offender; who being taken into
custody, and carried before bench justices, then assembled the quarter-sessions Beverley, they demanded security for his good behaviour, which being unable unwilling give, was committed Bridewell.
On inquiry, appeared that made frequent journeys into Lincolnshire, and his return
always abounded money, and was likewise pos
session
was trates,
several horses; that was conjectured
horse-stealer and highwayman. consequence, went him
The magis the following
had lived, substance,
day, and demanded whom was, where and his employment. He replied
“That about two years ago had lived Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, and was by trade butcher;
but that having contracted several debts for sheep that
in
of
of
by
a
at
in
he
he
he
he in a
to
he to
it on
on he
a if
a
in
he
he so to to
a
a he
in
in
he
to he
to 11.
it
at or
of
at
of
oeorgeii. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 243
The magistrates not being satisfied with this tale, com missioned the clerk of the peace to write into Lin
colnshire, and make the necessary inquiries respecting the supposed John Palmer. The letter was carried by a special messenger, who brought an answer from
a magistrate in the neighbourhood, importing that John Palmer was well known, though he had never carried on trade there : that he had been accused of sheep-stealing, for which he had been in custody, but had made his escape from the peace-officers ; and that there were several informations lodged against him for horse-stealing. Hereupon the magistrates thought it prudent to remove him to York-castle, where he had not been more than a month, when two persons from Lincolnshire came and claimed a mare and foal, and likewise a horse, which he had stolen in that county. After he had been about four months in prison, he wrote the following letter to his brother in Essex :—
"Dear Brother, York, Feb. 6, 1739. M I am sorry to acquaint you that I am now under
If
proved rotten, he was obliged to abscond. "
** confinement in York-castle, for horse-stealing.
M I could procure an evidence from London to give
244 MEMOIRS OV [GEORGE II.
" me a character, that would go a great way towards " my being acquitted. I had not been long in this
" country before my being apprehended, so that it " would pass off the readier. For heaven's sake, my " dear brother, do not neglect me ; you will know " what I mean, when I say
" I am, your's,
"John Palmer. "
The brother refusing to pay the postage of the letter"* returned it to the post-office ; and Mr. Smith, a schoolmaster, who had taught Turpin to write, acci
immediately recognised his hand* on which he carried the letter to magistrate, who breaking open discovered that the supposed John
Palmer was no less than the real Richard Turpin. Hereupon the magistrates of Essex dispatched Mr. Smith to York, who immediately selected Turpin from all the other prisoners in the castle; and, with another gentleman, afterwards proved his identity on his trial. The rumour that Turpin was prisoner in York-castle, was no sooner circulated than per sons flocked from all parts of the country to take
view of the noted highwayman, and debates ran very high, whether he was the real person or not.
dentally seeing
a
a
it
it,
a
George II. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 245
Among others who visited him was a young fellow who pretended to know the famous Turpin, and having regarded him a considerable time, with looks of great attention, he told the keeper he would bet him half-a-guinea that he was not Turpin; on which the prisoner, whispering the keeper, said, “Lay him the wager, and I’ll go your halves. ”
When this notorious malefactor was brought to trial, he was convicted on two indictments, and received sentence of death. After conviction, he wrote to his father, imploring him to intercede with a gentleman and lady of rank, to make interest that his sentence might be remitted; and that he might be transported.
The father did what was in his power; but the notoriety of his character was such that no
persons
would exert themselves in his favor. He
lived in the most gay and thoughtless
conviction, regardless of consideration futurity,
and affecting make jest
awaited him. Not many days before his execution, he purchased new fustian frock and pair pumps,
order wear them the time of his death; and on the day before, hired five poor men, ten shillings
each,
follow the cart mourners. He gave hat
bands and gloves several other persons; and left L. IV.
manner after
the dreadful fate that
V O
in
K2
as
at a of
all
a
to
to
he to
a at
a
to
of
of
246 MEMOIRS OF [GEORGE II.
ring, and some other articles, to a married woman in Lincolnshire, with whom he had been acquainted.
On the morning of his death he was put into a cart, and drawn to the place of execution, followed by his mourners as above-mentioned ; in his way he bowed to the spectators with the most astonishing indif
ference and intrepidity. Arriving at the fatal tree, he ascended the ladder; when his leg trembling, he stamped it down with an air of assumed courage, as if he were ashamed of discovering the least signs of fear. Having conversed with the executioner about half-an-hour, he threw himself off the ladder, and expired in a few minutes.
The spectators of the execution seemed to be much affected at the fate of this man, who was distinguished by the comeliness of his appearance. The corpse was brought to the Blue Boar, in Castle-gate, York, where it remained till the next morning, and then interred in the church-yard of St. George's parish, with an inscription on the coffin, bearing his age, and the initials of his name. The grave was made remark ably deep, and the people who acted as mourners took such measures as they thought would secure the body : yet, about three o'clock on the following morning,
some persons were observed in the church-yard, who
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 247
carried it off; and the populace, having an intimation whither it was conveyed, found it in a garden belong ing to one of the surgeons of the city. Having reco vered the coffin with the body, they laid it on a board, and, after carrying it through the street, in a trium phant manner, filled it with unslacked lime, and buried
it in the grave where it had been before deposited. Turpin suffered at York, on the 10th of April,
george ii.
signally defeated, greatly distinguished
with others; but never had the temerity engage again with Broughton.
George Taylor was strong able man, who, with skill extraordinary, aided by his knowledge the
back-sword, and remarkable judgment the cross buttock fall, was able contest with most his opponents. But Captain John Godfrey, his
himself
2E to 2
to
a
a
he
in
in to
to
inof of
a
he
all
of
an
in in
in. It
he
of
of
he he
208 MEMOIRS OF [GKORaE n.
" Treatise on the Science of Defence," was of opinion, that he was not overstocked with that necessary ingre dient of a boxer, called a good bottom ; and suspected that blows, of equal strength with his own, too much affected and disconcerted him in many of his fights.
He, however, on most occasions, came off victo rious ; and Death, the great conqueror of all, closed his career on the 21st of February, 1750,
Pli>~IC
1. . . i. '. . 1-
Lii'il. 'iLY
. . .
L
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 209
COMMONLY CALLED THE STRONG MAN.
Thomas Topham was born in London, about the
His father was a carpenter, and brought his son up to the same business, which he followed until he was about twenty-four years of age ; when, having saved a little money, he took a public-house, the sign of the Red Lion, at the corner of the City- road, opposite St. Luke's Hospital. Here he might have done well, and have saved money ; but his wife,
from her coquettish behaviour, caused them to lead a very unhappy life ; and he, in consequence, neglect ing the business of his house, shortly failed.
He had often displayed amazing proofs of his strength ; and necessity now prompted him to adopt some plan whereby he might turn this qualification to account ; to which purpose he proposed to perform in public such feats as astonished every one who heard of the undertaking; doubting the thing as im possible to accomplish. His first public exhibition
george 11. ]
year 1710.
210 MEMOIRS OF [George
was Moorfields, where
strength against that
which accomplished,
the dwarf-wall, dividing Upper from the Lower Moor
opposed his own personal young and vigorous horse, placing his feet against
fields; nor could the whipping and urging the horse on, remove Topham from his position, but com
pletly kept the animal restraint by his powerful hold. He afterwards pulled against two horses, but his legs were placed horizontially, instead rising parallel the traces the horse, was jerked from
his seat, and had one of his knees much bruised and hurt. By the strengh his fingers rolled up very strong and large pewter dish and broke seven
eight short pieces tobacco-pipe the force
his middle finger, having laid them his first and
strong tobacco-pipe under his garters, and his legs being bent, broke
pieces by the tendons his hams. -Another bowl of this kind he broke between his first and second
finger, pressing them together sideways. -He lifted table six feet long, with half-a-hundred weight
third. He thrust the bowl
hanging the end position, with his teeth,
and many other feats
price one shilling admission for each person.
holding horizontal considerable time. —These,
strength, exhibited the
of
at
a
by
to or as to
in he
of of of
ofait, aofin
of a
he
it in an
;
he
at
of
by
he
of a
onby he he
it ofa
II.
of
he
George II. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS.
211
When at Derby, he applied to Alderman Cooper
for permission to display the different feats he pro posed. The alderman was surprised at his perform ance, and requested him to strip, that he might examine whether he was made like other men; when he disco vered, that the usual cavities under the arms and hams of others were in him supplied with ligaments.
The injury he received from the two horses caused him to limp a little in his walk. He was a well-made man, but had nothing singular in his appearance. —
The performances he exhibited at Derby, where the rolling up of a pewter-dish, of seven pounds weight,
with as much apparent ease as a man rolls up a sheet of paper; holding a pewter quart-pot at arm’s length,
and squeezing the sides together like an egg-shell; lifting two hundred weight with his little finger, and
moving it gently over his head: he also broke a rope fastened to the floor, that would have sustained twenty hundred weight. Holding in his teeth a piece of leather fixed to one end of an oak-table, which had
half-a-hundred weight suspended to the feet resting upon his knees,
with the weight higher than the part
mouth. Mr. Chambers, vicar All Saints, Derby, who weighed twenty-seven stone, took and raised
and with two raised the end
held near his
of
he
he
he in
it,
of
212 MEMOIRS OF
[GeoRGE
with one hand, his head being laid one chair, and his feet another. Four persons, fourteen stone each, sat upon Topham's body, and these heaved pleasure.
At blow struck round bar iron, diameter, against his naked arm, and bent
one inch
like bow. Knowing little music, enter
tained the company Derby with Mad Tom; also sung solo, accompanied the organ St.
werburgh's church; and though performed
with judgment, yet his voice seemed infinitely more terrible than mellow, and, some instances, scarcely
human. The ostler the Virgin-inn, where Topham lodged, having insulted him, took one the spits
from the kitchen mantle-piece, bent round his neck like handkerchief, and left the ends sticking out;
the man appeared awkward his iron cravat, excite the mirth and laughter who saw the cumbrance he laboured under; nor could he extricate
himself until Topham condescended relieve him. But these were only the common-place performances, when went about purposely exhibit; way
frolic would accomplish more surprising feats. - One night, observing watchman fast asleep his box, Chiswell-street, he took both, and carrying
the load with the greatest ease, dropped the watch
in
a
it a
a
at
at
a
he
he he
by in
of
he he
to
of in
allit onof on
to
he
of
as of into
at
II.
so
in he
a
in
on a
in ithe
of
a
George II. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 213
man, box and all, over the wall of Tindall’s burying ground, leaving the man to extricate himself as well as he could. Sitting once at the window of a public house, in the same street, a butcher going by from a slaughter-house, with nearly half an ox upon his back, Topham relieved him of his load, with so much ease and dexterity, that the fellow astonished, swore nothing
but the devil could have flown away with the beef. Observing some bricklayers removing part of a scaf.
fold, previous to striking from small building, he, towards assisting them, grasped hold one the
poles rudely, that part the front wall followed his Herculean tug: the fellows conceiving had been the effects earthquake, ran without looking be hind them into adjoining field. Mr. Topham's joke had nearly proved serious consequence, for one
the poles falling hurt him severely on his side.
Accompanying West Indiaman,
with cocoa-nut,
cracking close
crack egg-shell.
Hackney-road, fellow, with horse and cart, an noyed the spectators much, attempting keep close the contending parties; Topham, who was
L. V.
acquaintance
the river, and being presented
astonished one the sailors by
his ear, with the same ease we race taking place the
his on-board
a Oa
of
W
I. to an
so
F
by a
of
a
to
on as
of
a
to
an
a
it
of an
he in an
2 A of it,
of of
of it
in
214 MEMOIRS OF [georgb ir.
into the road, seized the tail of the cart, and, in spite of all the fellow's exertions, in whipping his horse to get forward, drew them both back, with the greatest ease possible, to the
mortification of the man, who would have resented the indignity, but was naturally dismayed. At the
time he kept a public-house, two fellows, extremely quarrelsome, could not be appeased without fighting the landlord. Topham, to satisfy their desire, seized them both by the nape of the neck, and knocked their heads together, till they were perfectly sensible of their error, and very humbly begged his pardon.
But the greatest of all his exploits was performed in Bath-street, Cold -bath- fields, on the 28th of May, 1741, when, in honor of Admiral Vernon's taking
of Porto-Bello, he lifted three hogsheads of water,
weighing 1,836 pounds, in the presence of some thousands of persons.
The levity of his wife, and her illicit attachment to another person, were the source of much uneasiness to him ; and, unfortunately, becoming the slave to jealous passions, in a fit of frenzy, after beating her
very severely, he put a period to his own existence, in the very flower of his age, not having completed his thirty-third year.
present, stepped
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 215
The impression he left on the minds of the people in London was such, that his portrait, . displaying some one or other of his feats, was painted on various signs throughout the metropolis ; there were many- remaining, even up to the year 1 800 ; one in particular, over a public-house near the May-pole, in East Smithfield, representing him in the act of pulling against two dray-horses.
ceorge ii. ]
216 MEMOIRS OF [gsobge n.
Sean
This Frenchman was master of a smuggling-vessel, that conveyed to the different shores of England con-* •
trabandand exciseable articles; which, from the heavy customs imposed on them, rendered it a most profits- able trade to those who could, with impunity, import them free of duty. In one of these illicit trips, from Boulogne to the coast of Kent, while his vessel was hovering near Margate, for the purpose of landing his
commodities as secret as possible, it was observed by some pilots, and mistaken for a ship in distress. To this end, and with a view of rendering any assistance that might be wanting, several of these pilots took a boat, and made towards the vessel, De-la-Tour, conceiving them to be officers of the customs, with out any warning whatever, fired several shots into the boat, which killed one man, and
}®t=U=Zout.
desperately wounded two others ; and then, without attempting to
make a landing, stood out to sea.
On the boat's return to the land, with the dead
body and wounded men, the survivors reported the
: K.
***
PU or IC i. 15. -- AY
*** ** *. **)
gborge
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 217
transaction, and described the ship in the best way they could ; but, notwithstanding an armed vessel was immediately dispatched in pursuit of this supposed pirate, De-la-Tour contrived to elude the vigilance of his pursuers for a considerable length of time. The circumstance becoming widely known, every one was
made acquainted with the description of the ship; and De-la-Tour still carrying on his nefarious traffic, though he had changed the scene of his former trade, was taken, about four months after, by an English vessel, and brought to England, in order to undergo his trial for the murder. The identity of his person
being ascertained by some of the men who were in the boat at the time of the outrage, he was upon their evidence found guilty, and hanged in the year 1744.
218
MEMOIRs of
[asongs
Commley, -solettijet. and
THESE persons are associated together, account their being tried, condemned, and suffering
the same time. Mr. Townley was descended from ancient and honorable family, some centuries resi dence Lancashire, and was the son Richard
Townley, Townley-hall, that county, who was
tried for the share he had the rebellion acquitted.
Young Mr. Townley being educated
principles popery,” went abroad early
entering into the service France, distinguished himself his military capacity, particularly the
siege Philipsbourg. Coming England, 1742,
The Townley family have suffered great persecution the
account religion; the early part the reign Queen Eliza beth, one their ancestors, living Townley-hall, was compelled,
for considerable time, pay heavy monthly fine, escape im prisonment recusant, and for having suffered the celebration mass his house, before his children and domestics.
1715, but
the rigid
life, and,"
in
of
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of
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to
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of of
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ofto of
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an at
ii.
1. i.
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 219
he associated chiefly with those of the catholic reli gion ; and it was thought that he induced many of them to take an active part in the rebellion. When the Pretender came to Manchester, Townley offered his services ; when, being accepted, he was commis sioned to raise a regiment, which he soon completed; and, from his knowledge of military tactics, might have done the royal cause much mischief, but being made a prisoner at Carlisle, he was conducted to London, in order to take his trial for high-treason.
An act of parliament having passed in the year 1746,
" to empower the king to remove the cause of action
against persons apprehended for high-treason, out of
the county where the crime was committed;" his
majesty granted to the judges commissions to try, in the counties of Cumberland, York, and Surrey, such rebels as had been committed to the prisons of those counties respectively.
On the 23d of June, 1746, at the Sessions held at St. Margaret's Hill, for the trials of the rebels, Colonel Francis Townley, of the Manchester regiment, was indicted for the part he had acted in the rebellion.
His counsel insisted that he was not a subject of Great Britain, being an officer in the service of the French king ; but this, the judges observed, was a cir-
georgb ii. ]
220 MEMOIRS OF [George
cumstance against him, had quitted his native country, and engaged the French service, without
the consent his lawful sovereign. Some other mo tions, equally frivolous, being over-ruled, was capitally convicted, and adjudged die. After con
manner,
George Fletcher had been linen-draper, Strat ford, near Manchester, managing the business for his mother, who, on her knees, endeavoured persuade
him not engage with the rebels; and offered him 1000l. on the condition that he would not embark
desperate enterprize; but was deaf her entreaties, and ambitious serving the Pretender,
that gave his secretary, Mr. Murray, fifty pounds
for captain's commission. Fletcher having induced man named Maddox enlist, he afterwards would
have deserted; but Fletcher produced handful
gold, and said should not want money would fight for the Pretender, which induced Maddox keep his station.
There were six others tried with Townley and Fletcher, the Surrey Sessions, and after the sentence the law was passed, they declared that they had
viction, he behaved the most reserved scarcely speaking any one but his brethren misfortune.
of a so a
at
to
to
of
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II,
he
an so
of in
to
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if
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he
to
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he
to
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REMARKABLE PERSONS. 221
acted according to the dictates of their consciences, and would again act the same parts, if they were put to the trial. When the keeper informed them, that the following day was ordered for their execution, they expressed a reslgnation to the will of God ; em braced each other, and took an affectionate leave of their friends.
On the following morning they breakfasted together, and having conversed till near eleven o'clock, were conveyed on three sledges from the New Goal, Southwark, to Kennington-common. The gibbet was surrounded by a party of the guards, and a block and a pile of faggots were placed near it. The faggots were set on fire while the proper officers were removing the malefactors from the sledges.
After near an hour employed in acts of devotion, these unhappy men, having delivered to the sheriffs some papers, expressive of their political sentiments, then underwent the sentence of the law. They had not hung above five minutes, when Colonel Townley* yet alive, was cut down, and being placed on the block, the executioner, with an axe, separated his head from the body ; his heart and bowels were then taken out, and thrown into the fire; and the other
vol. iv. 2 G
george ii. ]
222 MEMOIRS OF [georce ii.
parties being severally treated in the same manner, the executioner cried out " God save King George. " The bodies were quartered, and delivered to the
keeper of the New Goal, who buried them : the heads of some were sent to Carlisle and Manchester, where they were exposed ; but those of Townley and Fletcher were fixed on Temple-Bar, where they re
mained until within these few years, when they fell down.
Among the rest that suffered with Townley and Fletcher, on Kennington-common, July 20, 1746, was young Dawson, so pathetically recorded by Shenstone. The print of the exposure of these persons' heads is extremely scarce ; the one copied in this work is in the collection of J. Goodford, Esq. of Yeovil, Somersetshire.
S18 MEMOIRS OF [georgb ii.
These persons are associated together, on account of their being tried, condemned, and of suffering at the same time. Mr. Townley was descended from an ancient and honorable family, of some centuries resi dence in Lancashire, and was the son of Richard Townley, of Townley-hall, in that county, who was tried for the share he had in the rebellion of 1715, but acquitted.
Young Mr. Townley being educated in the rigid
principles of popery,* went abroad early in life, and, entering into the service of France, distinguished
himself in his military capacity, particularly at the siege of Philipsbourg. Coming to England, in 17*2,
• The Townley family have suffered great persecution on the account of religion; in the early part of the reign of Queen Eliza beth, one of their ancestors, living at Townley-hall, was compelled, for a considerable time, to pay a heavy monthly fine, to escape im prisonment as a recusant, and for having suffered the celebration of mass in his house, before hit children and domestics.
I
ti iv. --c i ii ,. a;:y
1i. . ,d k i.
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 219
he associated chiefly with those of the catholic reli gion ; and it was thought that he induced many of them to take an active part in the rebellion. When the Pretender came to Manchester, Townley offered his services; when, being accepted, he was commis sioned to raise a regiment, which he soon completed; and, from his knowledge of military tactics, might have done the royal cause much mischief, but being made a prisoner at Carlisle, he was conducted to London, in order to take his trial for high-treason.
An act of parliament having passed in the year 1746,
" to empower the king to remove the cause of action
against persons apprehended for high-treason, out of the county where the crime was committed;" his majesty granted to the judges commissions to try, in the. counties of Cumberland, York, and Surrey, such rebels as had been committed to the prisons of
those counties respectively.
On the 23d of June, 174,6, at the Sessions held at
St. Margaret's Hill, for the trials of the rebels, Colonel Francis Townley, of the Manchester regiment, was indicted for the part he had acted in the rebellion. His counsel insisted that he was not a subject of Great Britain, being an officer in the service of the French king ; but this, the judges observed, was a cir-
■
georgb ii. ]
MEMOIRS OF [ctEORGE ii,
cumstance against him, as he had quitted his native country, and engaged in the French service, without the consent of his lawful sovereign. Some other mo tions, equally frivolous, being over-ruled, he was capitally convicted, and adjudged to die. After con viction, he behaved in the most reserved manner, scarcely speaking to any one but his brethren in misfortune.
George Fletcher had been a linen-draper, at Strat ford, near Manchester, managing the business for his mother, who, on her knees, endeavoured to persuade him not to engage with the rebels ; and offered him
1000/. on the condition that he would not embark in so desperate an enterprize ; but he was deaf to her entreaties, and so ambitious of serving the Pretender, that he gave his secretary, Mr. Murray, fifty pounds for a captain's commission. Fletcher having induced a man named Maddox to enlist, he afterwards would have deserted; but Fletcher produced a handful of gold, and said he should not want money if he would fight for the Pretender, which induced Maddox to keep his station.
There were six others tried with Townley and Fletcher, at the Surrey Sessions, and after the sentence of the law was passed, they all declared that they had
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 221
acted according to the dictates of their consciences, and would again act the same parts, if they were put to the trial. When the keeper informed them, that the following day was ordered for their execution, they expressed a resignation to the will of God ; em braced each other, and took an affectionate leave of their friends.
On the following morning they breakfasted together, and having conversed till near eleven o'clock, were conveyed on three sledges from the New Goal, South wark, to Kennington-common. The gibbet was surrounded by a party of the guards, and a block and a pile of faggots were placed near it. The faggots were set on fire while the proper officers were removing
the malefactors from the sledges.
After near an hour employed in acts of devotion,
these unhappy men, having delivered to the sheriffs some papers, expressive of their political sentiments, then underwent the sentence of the law. They had not hung above five minutes, when Colonel Townley* yet alive, was cut down, and being placed on the block, the executioner, with an axe, separated his head from the body; his heart and bowels were then taken out, and thrown into the fire ; and the other
vol. iv. 2 G
george ii. ]
222 MEMOIRS OF [gkorce 11.
treated in the same manner, the executioner cried out " God save King George. " The bodies were quartered, and delivered to the
keeper of the New Goal, who buried them : the heads of some were sent to Carlisle and Manchester, where they were exposed ; but those of Townley and Fletcher were fixed on Temple-Bar, where they re mained until within these few years, when they fell down.
Among the rest that suffered with Townley and Fletcher, on Kennington-common, July 20, 1746, was young Dawson, so pathetically recorded by Shenstone. The print of the exposure of these persons* heads is extremely scarce ; the one copied in this, work is in the collection of J. Goodford, Esq. of Yeovil, Somersetshire.
parties being severally
Tnl: VKW VI*! ! K PtC-LJC LiiiiiAltY
H'- I. .
James Turner. (a Beggar. aged. 9b. )
George II. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 223
3. jameg Cutner.
JAMEs TURNER, a common beggar, whose sil vered locks and flowing beard gave him a patriarchal
appearance, raised a considerable sum of money by the veneration generally directed towards aged people
in distress. Turner, though an old man, was so well experienced in his profession, that he deemed it no
trifling advantage to appear still older than he really
money
this man obtained daily, it is necessary to state that
Sir Joshua Reynolds, Mr. Nathaniel Hone, and
many other celebrated painters, struck with the
singularly reverend character of his aspect, wished to make studies from his head, and solicited him to sit
to them. He, however, would not consent, unless
paid at the rate of one shilling per hour, which he asserted he always got by his profession of begging.
Sir Joshua has often introduced the portrait of Turner into his pictures, particularly in that of Count Uglioni, and his children, starved to death.
2G2
was. To form some estimate of how much
224 MEMOIRS OF [george n.
Hone, likewise, made Turner the prominent feature in his picture of the Conjuror;* and painted his
portrait as he generally appeared, in the year 1751, which was engraved by Captain Baillie, in the year
1762.
One White, a paviour, getting far advanced in
years, suffered his beard to grow to an immense size, and became the successor to Turner, in the service of portrait and historical painters. The Rev. Mr, Peters has introduced White's likeness in his pic ture of the Resurrection of a Pious Family. And Alefounder, the miniature-painter, has palmed on the public White's portrait for that of Peter the
* Some difference existing between Sir Joshua Reynolds and Mr. Hone, the latter, in revenge, painted the figure of an old man, with a magic wand, conjuring from the flames various designs from old masters, which Sir Joshua had taken for models of some of his best pictures; and had afterwards destroyed the originals. On the death of Mr. Hone, in 1784, the whole of his collection of paintings, prints, and drawings, were sold by auction, at Hutchins' rooms, in King-street, Covent-garden, when the
picture of the Conjuror was purchased for sixty guineas, by an agent of Sir Joshua's, and consigned to the same destructive element that had consumed the old masters.
oeorge ii. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 225
Wild-boy, which is engraved as such by Bartolozzi,
though there are not less than three original resem
blances of that singular person, preserved by Falconet^ Kent, and Drost.
226 MEMOIRS OF
%itijat-i, QCurpin,
RICHARD TUR PIN was the son John Turpin, farmer, Hempstead, Essex, and having received
common school-education, was apprenticed butcher Whitechapel. His early youth was dis
tinguished the impropriety
the brutality his manners; and,
of his apprenticeship, married
East Ham, Essex, named Palmer; but he had not
long been married before took the practice stealing his neighbours' cattle, which he used kill
and cut up for sale.
Having stolen two oxen belonging Mr. Giles,
Plaistow, he drove them his own house; two Giles's servants suspecting the robber, went
Turpin's, where they saw two beasts size agreeing
with those that had been lost. They could not iden tify their property, the hides were stripped off; but,
understanding that Turpin was accustomed dispose his booty Waltham-Abbey, they went thither, and saw the hides the stolen cattle. No doubt
[GeoRGE
his behaviour and the expiration
young woman
of
as
of
of of
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to
II.
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AfWH. KM;* AND TL,l1. . fW iI
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REMARKABLE PERSONS. 227
now remained of Turpin being the robber, and a warrant was accordingly procured for his apprehen sion ; but he, learning that the peace-officers were in search of him, made his escape from the back-window of his house, at the very moment they were entering at the door. He retreated to a place of security, and found means to inform his wife where he was con cealed ; on which she furnished him with money, when he travelled into Essex, and connected himself with a gang of smugglers. For some time he was successful, but, by the vigilance of the excise-officers, he was ultimately deprived of all his ill-acquired gains.
Thrown out of this kind of business, he joined a gang of deer-stealers, whose depredations were principally committed on Epping- forest, and the parks in its neighbourhood; but this not succeeding to the expectation of the robbers,
as a more profitable pursuit, to commence house breakers. Their plan was to fix on houses that they presumed contained valuable property: and, while one of them knocked at the door, the others were to rush in, and seize whatever they might deem worthy of theif notice. The first attack of this kind was at the house of Mr. Strype, an old man, who kept a
gkorge il]
they determined,
228 MEMOIItS OF [GEORGE IT.
chandler's shop at Watford, whom they robbed of all the money in his possession, without offering him
any personal abuse. Turpin now acquainted his asso ciates that there was an old woman at Loughton,who was in possession of seven or eight hundred pounds ; whereupon they agreed to rob her. On coming to the door, one of them knocked, and the rest forcing their way into the house, tied handkerchiefs over the eyes of the old woman and her maid. Turpin then demanded what money was in the house ; and the owner hesitating to tell him, he threatened to set her
on the fire if she did not make an immediate disco very. Still, however; she declined to give the desired information, when the villains actually placed her on the fire, where she sat till the tormenting pain com pelled her to discover her hidden treasure ; and they, taking possession of above 400/. , made their escape.
Some little time after this, they agreed to rob the house of a farmer, near Barking ; and, knocking at the door, the people declined to open it ; on which they broke it open, and, having bound the farmer, his wife, his son-in-law, and the servant-maid, robbed the house of above 700/. Turpin was so much delighted, that he exclaimed, " Aye, this will do, if it would always be so and the robbers retired
they
ckorgkh. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 229
with their prize, which amounted to above eighty pounds for each of them. This desperate gang, now flushed with success, determined to attack the house Of Mr. Mason, the keeper of Epping-forest ; and the time was fixed when the plan was to be carried into execution ; but Turpin having gone to London, to spend his share of the former booty, intoxicated himself to such a degree, that he totally forgot the appointment. Nevertheless, the rest of the gang resolved that the absence of their companion should not frustrate the proposed design ; and, having taken a solemn oath to break every article of furniture in Mason's house, they set out on their expedition. On gaining admission, they discovered an old man sitting by the fire-side, whom they suffered to remain unmo lested ; but Mr. Mason they kicked and treated in a very severe manner. His daughter escaped their notice and fury, by running out of the house, and
taking shelter in a hog-stye. After ransacking the
lower part of the house, and doing great mischief
they went up-stairs, where they broke every thing that fell in their way, and, among the rest, a china punch-bowl, from which dropped one hundred and twenty guineas ; this they made a prey of, and effected their escape. They now went to London in
VOL. iv. S h
230 MEMOIRS OF [ckorgb n.
search of Turpin, with whom they shared the booty, though he had not taken an active part in the exe cution of the villany.
On the 11th of January, 173-5, Turpin and five of his companions went to the house of Mr. Saunders, a rich farmer at Charlton, in Kent, between seven and eight in the evening, and having knocked at the door, asked if Mr. Saunders was at home. Being an swered in the affirmative, they rushed into the house,
and found Mr. Saunders, with his wife and friends,
playing at cards in the parlour. They told the company that they should remain uninjured if they made no disturbance. Having made prize ofa silver snuff-box, which lay on the table, a part of the gang stood guard over the rest of the company, while the
others attended Mr. Saunders through the house, and, breaking open his escritoirs and closets, stole above a 100/. exclusive of plate. During these transactions, the servant-maid ran
up-stairs, barred the door of her room, and called out " Thieves,"
with a view of alarming the neighbourhood ; but the robbers broke open the door of her room, secured her, and then robbed the house of all the valuable property they had not before taken. Finding some mince-pies, and bottles of wine, they sat down to
«Eoaor> ii. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS.
regale themselves ; and. meeting with a bottle of
each of the company to drink a glass of it. Mrs. Saunders fainting through
terror, they administered some drops in water to her,
and recovered her to the use of her senses.
staid in the house a considerable time, they packed
up their booty, and departed, first declaring that
if any of the family gave the least alarm within two hours, or advertised the marks on the stolen plate, they would return at a future period and murder them. Retiring to a public-house at Woolwich, where they had concerted the robbery, they crossed the Thames
to an empty house in Ratcliffe Highway, and depo sited the stolen effects till they found a purchaser to take them off their hands.
On the 18th of the same month, they went to the house of Mr. Sheldon, near Croydon, in Surrey,
brandy, they compelled
where they arrived about seven in the
They found the coachman in the stable,
his horses, and, after having secured him, they quitted the stable, and meeting Mr. Sheldon in the
him to conduct them into the house, where they stole eleven guineas, with the
jewels, plate, and other things of value, to a consider 9h8
yard, they compelled
Having
evening. attending
2;W
MEMOIRS OF [george 11,
able amount. They then returned Mr. Sheldon two guineas, and apologized for their conduct.
The next robbery they committed was upon the house of Mr. Lawrence, of Edgware, near Stanmore, in Middlesex, for which place they set out on the 4th of February, and arrived at a public-house in that village about five o'clock in the evening. From this
place they went to Mr. Lawrence's, where they arrived about seven o'clock, just as he had discharged some people who had worked for him. Having quitted their horses "at the outer gate, one of the robbers going forward found a boy, who had just returned from folding his sheep : the rest of the gang following, a pistol was presented, and instant destruction threat ened if he made any noise. They then took off his garters, tied his hands, and desired him to direct them to the door, and when they knocked to answer
and bid the servant open in which case they would not hurt him. But, when the boy came to the door, he was so terrified that he could not speak on which, one of the gang knocked, and man-servant opening the door, imagining was one of the neighbours, they all rushed in, armed with pistols. Having seized Mr. Lawrence and his servant, they threw a
it
a
it,
;
George II. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 233
cloth over their faces, and taking the boy into another room, demanded what fire-arms were in the house;
he replied, only an old gun, which they discovered and broke in pieces. They then bound Mr. Law rence and his man, and made them by the boy; and Turpin searching the gentleman, took from him
guinea, Portugal piece, and some silver; but, not
being satisfied with this booty, they forced him
conduct them up-stairs, where they broke open
closet, and stole some money and plate. This was
not sufficient satisfy them, and they threatened
murder Mr. Lawrence, each them destining him
different death, the savageness
ture prompted him. At length one
kettle water from the fire, and threw
but providentially happened not to scald him.
his own na
them took over him
hot enough
the interim the maid-servant, who was churning butter the dairy, hearing noise the house, apprehended some mischief; which she blew out
the candle, screen herself; but being found the course their search, one of the miscreants com pelled her up-stairs, where gratified his
brutal passion force. They then robbed the house the valuable effects they could find, locked the
of all
to a
a
of by go
it in
a
to
to
to as
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of of
sit
in
be it
:a toato
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In
of
«34 MEMOIRS OF [okorok ii.
family into the parlour, threw the key into the garden, and took their plunder to London.
The particulars of this atrocious
presented to the king, a proclamation was issued for
the apprehension of the offenders, promising a pardon to any one of them who would impeach his accom plices, and a reward of fifty pounds was offered, to be paid on conviction. This, however, had no effect; the robbers continued their depredations as before ; and, flushed with the success they had met with, seemed to bid defiance to the laws.
On the 7th of February, six of them assembled at the White-bear Inn, in Drury-lane, where they agreed to rob the house of Mr. Francis, a farmer, near Mary-le-bone. Arriving at the place, they found a servant in the cow-house, whom they bound fast, and threatened to murder him if he was not perfectly
silent. This being done, they led him into the
stable, where finding another of the servants, bound him in the same manner. In the interim Mr. Francis happening to come home, they presented their pistols to his breast, and threatened instant des truction to him, if he made the least noise or opposi tion. Having bound the master in the stable with his servant*, they rushed into the house, tied Mrs. Fran
robbery being re
they
REMARKABLE PERSONS.
cis, her daughter, and the maid-servant, and beat them in a most cruel manner. One of the thieves stood as a sentry, while the rest rifled the house, in which they found a silver tankard, a medal of Charles the First, a gold watch, several gold rings, a consider able sum of money, and a variety of valuable linen, and other effects, which they conveyed to London.
Hereupon a reward of 100/. was offered for the apprehension of the offenders ; in consequence of which, two of them were taken into custody, tried
and convicted on the evidence of an accomplice, and hanged in chains ; and, the whole gang being dis persed, Turpin went into the country to renew his
georgb ii. ]
on the public.
On a journey towards Cambridge, he met a man
genteelly dressed, and well mounted; and expect ing a good booty, he presented a pistol and demanded his money. The person he stopped happened to be King, a celebrated highwayman, who knew Turpin ; and, when the latter threatened instant death, if he did not deliver his money, King burst into a fit of laughter, and said, " What ! dog eat dog ? —come, come, brother Turpin ; if you don't know me, I know you, and
shall be glad of your company. "
depredations
236 MEMOIRS OF [georcb it.
These brethren in iniquity soon struck a bargain, and immediately entering on business, committed a number of robberies ; till at length they were so well known, that no public-house would receive them as
Thus situated, they fixed on a spot between
guests.
the King's-oak and the Loughton-road, on Epping Forest, where they made a cave, which was large enough to receive them and their horses. This cave was inclosed within a sort of thicket of bushes and brambles, through which they could look, and see passengers on the road, while themselves remained unobserved. From this station they used to issue, and robbed such a number of persons, that at length the very pedlars, who travelled the road, carried fire arms for their defence: and, while they were in this retreat, Turpin's wife used to supply them with
necessaries, and frequently remained in the cave during the night.
Having taken a ride as far as Bungay, in Suffolk, they observed two young women receive fourteen pounds for corn ; on which, Turpin resolved to rob them of the money. King objected, saying, it was a
pity to rob such pretty girls ; but Turpin was ob stinate, and obtained the booty. Upon their return
-
george ii. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 237
home, on the following day, they stopped a Mr.
Bradele, of London, who was riding in his chariot
With his children. The gentleman seeing only one robber, was preparing to make resistance, when King called to Turpin to hold the horses. They took from this gentleman his watch, money, and an old mourn ing ring ; but returned the latter, as he declared that its intrinsic value was trifling, yet he was very unwil ling to part with it. Finding that they readily parted with the ring, he asked them what he must give for the watch: on which King said to Turpin, "What say ye, Jack? " a name by which he always called him, " here seems to be a good honest fellow ; shall we let him have the watch? " Turpin replied, " Do as you please on which, King said to the gentleman, "You must pay six guineas for it: we never sell for more, though the watch should be worth six and thirty. " The gentleman received the watch back, and promised that the money should be left at the Dial, in Birchin-lane, where they might receive and no questions would be asked.
Not long after this, Turpin was guilty of mur der, which arose from the following circumstance: reward of 100/. having been offered for appre hending him, the servant of gentleman, named
VOL. IV.
2 I
a
it, a
236 MEMOIRS OF [george u.
Thompson, went out with a higgler, to try ifthey could take this notorious offender. Turpin seeing them approach near his dwelling, Mr. Thompson's man having a gun, he mistook them for poachers ; on which he said, there were no hares near that thicket : " No," said Thompson's servant, " but I have found a Turpin ;" and presenting his gun, required him to surrender. Hereupon Turpin spoke to him in a
friendly manner, and gradually retreated at the same time, till having seized his own gun, he shot him dead on the spot, and the higgler ran off with the utmost precipitation.
This transaction making a great noise in the neigh bourhood, Turpin went further into the country, in search of his old companion King; and, in the mean time, sent a letter to his wife, to meet him at a public- house at Hertford. The woman attended according to this direction; and her husband coming into the house soon after she arrived, a butcher, to whom he owed five pounds, happened to see him ; on which he
said, " Come, Dick, I know you have money now and if you will pay me, it will be of great service. "
Turpin told him that his wife was in the next room; that she had money, and that he should be paid immediately: but while the butcher was hinting
george 11. 3 REMARKABLE PERSONS.
that the person present was Turpin, and that they might take hiin into cus
tody after he had received his debt, the highwayman made his escape through a window, and rode off with
the greatest expedition.
Turpin having found King, and a man named
Potter, who had lately connected himself with them, they set off towards London in the dusk of the even ing ; but, when they came near the Green Man, on Epping-forest, they overtook a Mr. Major, who riding on a very fine horse, and Turpin's being very much
jaded, he obliged the rider to dismount, and exchanged horses. The robbers now pursued their journey towards London, and Mr. Major going to the Green Man, gave an account of the affair; on which it was
that Turpin had been the robber, and that the horse which he had exchanged must have been stolen. It was on a Saturday evening that this rob bery was committed ; but Mr. Major being advised to print hand-bills immediately, notice was given to the landlord of the Green Man, that such a horse as Mr. Major had lost had been left at the Red Lion, in Whitechapel. The landlord going there, deter mined to wait till some person came for it; and,
sbout eleven at night, King's brother came to pay for 9I2
to some of his acquaintance,
conjectured
240 MEMOIRs of [George
the horse, and take him away; which was immediately seized, and conducted into the house,
Being asked what right had the horse, had bought it; but the landlord examining
which had his hand, found button of the handle, half broken off, and the name
said whip
the end Major
the remaining half. Hereupon was given into custody constable; but was not supposed was the actual robber, he was told should have his
liberty,
he said that
for the horse
there, saw King, who drew pistol, and attempted fire but flashed the pan; then endeavoured
pull out another pistol, but could not, got entangled his pocket. At this time, Turpin was watching short distance; and riding towards the spot, King cried out, “Shoot him, we are taken;”
which Turpin fired, and shot his companion, who called out, “Dick, you have killed me,” which the
other hearing, rode off full speed. King lived week after this affair, and gave information that
Turpin might marsh; and,
had been there
found house near Hackney
would discover his employer; whereupon stout man, white coat, was waiting
Red-lion-street. The company going
inquiry,
the night that rode off, lamenting
was discovered that Turpin
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George II. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 24l
that he had killed King, who was the most faithful associate he ever had in his life. -
For a considerable time did Turpin skulk about the forest, having been deprived of his retreat in the cave,
since he shot the servant of Mr. Thompson. On the examination of this cave, there were found two shirts, two pair of stockings, a piece of ham, and part of a
bottle of wine. Some vain attempts were made to take this notorious offender into custody; and, among the rest, the huntsman of a gentleman in the neigh bourhood went in search of him with bloodhounds, Turpin perceiving them, got into a tree, under which the hounds passed, to his inexpressible terror, so that
he determined to make a retreat into Yorkshire.
he stole some horses, for which he was taken into custody; but he escaped from the constable, as he was con ducting him before a magistrate, and hastened to Welton, in Yorkshire, where he went by the name
of John Palmer, and assumed the character of a gen. . tleman. He now frequently went into Lincolnshire,
to steal horses, and either sold or exchanged them in Yorkshire. He often accompanied the neighbouring gentlemen on their parties of hunting and shooting; and one evening, on a return from an expedition of
Going first to Long Sutton, in Lincolnshire,
242
the latter kind, his landlord.
MEMOIRS OF
wantonly shot On this, Mr. Hall,
[George
cock belonging neighbour, said,
“You have done wrong shooting your landlord's
cock,” while Irritated lord
which, Turpin replied, that would stay
loaded his gun, would shoot him also.
this insult, Mr. Hall informed the land what had passed, and application being made
some magistrates, warrant was granted for the apprehension the offender; who being taken into
custody, and carried before bench justices, then assembled the quarter-sessions Beverley, they demanded security for his good behaviour, which being unable unwilling give, was committed Bridewell.
On inquiry, appeared that made frequent journeys into Lincolnshire, and his return
always abounded money, and was likewise pos
session
was trates,
several horses; that was conjectured
horse-stealer and highwayman. consequence, went him
The magis the following
had lived, substance,
day, and demanded whom was, where and his employment. He replied
“That about two years ago had lived Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, and was by trade butcher;
but that having contracted several debts for sheep that
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oeorgeii. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 243
The magistrates not being satisfied with this tale, com missioned the clerk of the peace to write into Lin
colnshire, and make the necessary inquiries respecting the supposed John Palmer. The letter was carried by a special messenger, who brought an answer from
a magistrate in the neighbourhood, importing that John Palmer was well known, though he had never carried on trade there : that he had been accused of sheep-stealing, for which he had been in custody, but had made his escape from the peace-officers ; and that there were several informations lodged against him for horse-stealing. Hereupon the magistrates thought it prudent to remove him to York-castle, where he had not been more than a month, when two persons from Lincolnshire came and claimed a mare and foal, and likewise a horse, which he had stolen in that county. After he had been about four months in prison, he wrote the following letter to his brother in Essex :—
"Dear Brother, York, Feb. 6, 1739. M I am sorry to acquaint you that I am now under
If
proved rotten, he was obliged to abscond. "
** confinement in York-castle, for horse-stealing.
M I could procure an evidence from London to give
244 MEMOIRS OV [GEORGE II.
" me a character, that would go a great way towards " my being acquitted. I had not been long in this
" country before my being apprehended, so that it " would pass off the readier. For heaven's sake, my " dear brother, do not neglect me ; you will know " what I mean, when I say
" I am, your's,
"John Palmer. "
The brother refusing to pay the postage of the letter"* returned it to the post-office ; and Mr. Smith, a schoolmaster, who had taught Turpin to write, acci
immediately recognised his hand* on which he carried the letter to magistrate, who breaking open discovered that the supposed John
Palmer was no less than the real Richard Turpin. Hereupon the magistrates of Essex dispatched Mr. Smith to York, who immediately selected Turpin from all the other prisoners in the castle; and, with another gentleman, afterwards proved his identity on his trial. The rumour that Turpin was prisoner in York-castle, was no sooner circulated than per sons flocked from all parts of the country to take
view of the noted highwayman, and debates ran very high, whether he was the real person or not.
dentally seeing
a
a
it
it,
a
George II. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 245
Among others who visited him was a young fellow who pretended to know the famous Turpin, and having regarded him a considerable time, with looks of great attention, he told the keeper he would bet him half-a-guinea that he was not Turpin; on which the prisoner, whispering the keeper, said, “Lay him the wager, and I’ll go your halves. ”
When this notorious malefactor was brought to trial, he was convicted on two indictments, and received sentence of death. After conviction, he wrote to his father, imploring him to intercede with a gentleman and lady of rank, to make interest that his sentence might be remitted; and that he might be transported.
The father did what was in his power; but the notoriety of his character was such that no
persons
would exert themselves in his favor. He
lived in the most gay and thoughtless
conviction, regardless of consideration futurity,
and affecting make jest
awaited him. Not many days before his execution, he purchased new fustian frock and pair pumps,
order wear them the time of his death; and on the day before, hired five poor men, ten shillings
each,
follow the cart mourners. He gave hat
bands and gloves several other persons; and left L. IV.
manner after
the dreadful fate that
V O
in
K2
as
at a of
all
a
to
to
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a at
a
to
of
of
246 MEMOIRS OF [GEORGE II.
ring, and some other articles, to a married woman in Lincolnshire, with whom he had been acquainted.
On the morning of his death he was put into a cart, and drawn to the place of execution, followed by his mourners as above-mentioned ; in his way he bowed to the spectators with the most astonishing indif
ference and intrepidity. Arriving at the fatal tree, he ascended the ladder; when his leg trembling, he stamped it down with an air of assumed courage, as if he were ashamed of discovering the least signs of fear. Having conversed with the executioner about half-an-hour, he threw himself off the ladder, and expired in a few minutes.
The spectators of the execution seemed to be much affected at the fate of this man, who was distinguished by the comeliness of his appearance. The corpse was brought to the Blue Boar, in Castle-gate, York, where it remained till the next morning, and then interred in the church-yard of St. George's parish, with an inscription on the coffin, bearing his age, and the initials of his name. The grave was made remark ably deep, and the people who acted as mourners took such measures as they thought would secure the body : yet, about three o'clock on the following morning,
some persons were observed in the church-yard, who
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 247
carried it off; and the populace, having an intimation whither it was conveyed, found it in a garden belong ing to one of the surgeons of the city. Having reco vered the coffin with the body, they laid it on a board, and, after carrying it through the street, in a trium phant manner, filled it with unslacked lime, and buried
it in the grave where it had been before deposited. Turpin suffered at York, on the 10th of April,
george ii.
