No More Learning

This was opposed by the counsel for the prosecution, on account of the absence of Matthews, who, it was presumed, would become a material evidence. The counsel on both sides used all the arguments in their
oeohge
REMARKABLE PERSONS.
197
power; but the trial was deferred till the following assizes. In the interim, Mr. Gall, of the public-house in Whitechapel, resolved, if possible, to take Mat thews into custody ; and, conversing with one Mr. Smith, he told him that he had seen Matthews come out of the India-house ; when, on inquiry, it was found that he had engaged to enter into the service of the East-India Company, and was at a house in
Abel's-buildings, Rosemary-lane. Being taken into custody on a warrant, he was admitted an evidence for the crown, and the trial of Swan and Jeffries came on at Chelmsford, on the 1 1th of March, 1752, before Judge Wright.
Miss Jeffries fainted repeatedly during the trial, and was once in fits for the space of half-an-hour* The evidence of Matthews was exceedingly clear; and many corroborative circumstances arising, the
found the culprits guilty, and they received sentence of death. After conviction, Miss Jeffries acknowledged the justice of her sentence ; and said, she had deliberated on the murder for two years past, but could find no opportunity of getting it executed, till she engaged Swan in the business; and they jointly offered Matthews money to perpetrate it.
Swan, for some time, expressed great resentment at VOL. IV. 2 D
jury
198 MEMOIRS OF [George H.
Miss Jeffries’ confession; but when he learnt that he was to be hung in chains, he began to relent, and seemed at length to behold his crime in true light
enormity. On the day execution they left the prison four the morning, Miss Jeffries being placed cart, and Swan sledge. The un
happy woman had frequent fits during the journey;
but, before she came the place execution, her spirits became more composed. Swan appeared
be real penitent, and joined with the utmost ear
nestness the prayers the clergyman who attended
them. Miss Jeffries told the clergyman, that she
had been seduced by her uncle, while his wife was
living, and that had given her medicines procure
abortion two different times; though, for the truth of this we have no evidence but her own declaration.
She fainted just before she was tied up, nor had she recovered when the cart drew away.
They were executed near the six mile-stone, Epping-forest, the 28th March, 1752; and the
body Miss Jeffries having been delivered her friends for interment, the gibbet was removed
another part the forest, where Swan was hung chains.
Miss Jeffries and her uncle had not lived on the
of
on
he
of
in to
in to
on
to
of
in at a
to
of
of on
.
its
at
in
to
a
of
a of
MEMOIRS OF [George
-Qaylor, §offin
John TAYLoR having had the fortune perform
few successful cures disorders the eye, became puffed with pride and vanity, that he consi
dered himself superior any operator physician
of his time: nor was his son the least inferior his
father conceit. The latter resided many years Hatton-garden, and followed his father's profession
oculist, with considerable reputation. the year 1761, Mr. Taylor published the life his
father, with the following pompous title:–
“The Life and extraordinary History the
Chevalier John Taylor, Member the most cele brated Academies, Universities, and Societies the
Learned—Chevalier several the first Courts
the World—Illustrious (by patent) the apartments many the greatest Princes—Opthalmiater, Pon
tifical, Imperial, and Royal—to his late Majesty—to
the Pontifical Court—to the Person her Imperial Majesty—to the Kings Poland, Denmark, Sweden,
200
of
of
or
to
of of
of an
so a
in
of
of
of
in
to
in
in
in
II.
of
of of In
to
in
up
i
l,
JOANNES
TAYL, OR, MI In Optica expertissimus.
". . .
- IDI (CIU S ,
o
|
–––. . . . . ;
I'lov III
o
gkoaog ii. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 201
&c. — to the several Electors of the Holy Empire — to the Royal Infant Duke of Parma — to the Prince of Saxe-Gotha, Serenissima, brother to her Royal Highness the Princess Dowager of Wales — to the
Prince Royal of Poland — to the late Prince of Orange — to the present Princes of Bavaria, Modena, Lorrain, Brunswick, Anspach, Bareith, Liege, Salts- bourg, Middlebourg, Hesse-Cassel, Holstein, Zerbst, Georgia, &c, — Citizen of Rome, by a public Act in the name of the Senate and People — Fellow of that
College of Physicians —Professor in Optics —Doctor in Medicine and Doctor in Chirurgery, in several Universities abroad — who has been on his Travels upwards of thirty years with little or no interruption, during which, he has not only been several times in every town in these kingdoms, but in every kingdom, province, state, and city of the least consideration —
in every court—presented to every crowned head and Sovereign Prince in all Europe ; without exception, containing the greatest variety of the most entertain^ ing and interesting adventures, that, it is presumed, has ever yet been published in any country, or in any language. "
Notwithstanding this bombastic puff and quackery,
202 MEMOIRS OF [gkorge n. '
the work is nothing more than a farrago of nonsense, drawn up in the style of a novel, in which it appears he deserted his wife for eight years, and involved his son in 200/. expense by the perplexity of his affairs. By way of advertisement, the chevalier thus addresses his son: — "My Son, if you should unguardedly have suffered your name at the head of a work, which must make us all contemptible, this must be printed in as the best apology for yourself and father —
" TO THE PEINTER.
" My dear and only son having respectfully re presented to me that he has composed work entitled My Life and Adventures, and requires my consent for its publication; notwithstanding, am as yet stranger to the composition, and, consequently, can be
no judge of its merit; ain so well persuaded that my son every way incapable of saying ought of his father but what must redound to his honor and reputation and, so perfectly convinced of the goodness of his heart, that does not seem possible should err in
my judgment, by giving my consent to the publication of the said work. And, as have long been employed writing my own Life and Adventures, which will,
■
in
is it
:
I
II
a
;
a
I
it,
ozonos II. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS.
203
with expedition, published, will hereafter left with all due attention the candid reader,
whether the life the father written by the son,
the life the father written himself, best deserves approbation.
“The Chevalier Taylor, Ophthalmiator, Pontifical, Imperial, and Royal.
“Oxford, Jan. 10, 1761. ”
“The above true copy the letter my father sent me. All the answer can make the bills he
sends about the town and country, that have maintained my mother these eight years, and
this present time; and that, two years since,
concerned his affairs, for which have paid near 200l. , witness my hand,
“Jo HN TAYLoR, Oculist. “Hatton Garden, May 25, 1761. ”
The Chevalier Taylor was son apothecary, residing Norwich, where was born. His father dying before was six years old, was left wholly
the care his mother, very careful, honest, and industrious woman, who continued the business of
her husband, which means she supported herself and three young children. At the age nineteen
was
of
be
by
is
a of
to
atas of
all
of he
in
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I
of
by
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do
at
or
to
be
204 MEMOIRS OF [georgb Hi
she sent the Chevalier to London, giving him thirty guineas to open his way into St. Thomas's Hospi tal, as a student in surgery, where he practised under the celebrated Cheselden, from whom he received the first rudiments of his art as an oculist.
Having arrived at the age of twenty-one, and tole rably well-skilled as a surgeon, he returned to Nor wich ; but was surprised and mortified to find the family-mansion, as he called mortgaged, by his mother, to defray the charges of his own brother's education.
He managed, however, to raise 200/. by the sale of the premises, and opened fine shop in Norwich, supplied with drugs of all sorts, from London, with an apparatus for cutting for the stone, &c. &c. He had promised his mother moiety of the 200/. , but fine furniture and other
the whole and before the doctor could open in form, he was attended with more creditors than patients. Cutting for the stone he soon laid down, as his first attempt in that way proved unsuccessful, though the process was allowed, by good judges, to be well pursued. Though he had at this time several pupils, who brought him
in round sum, yet his profuse way of living, in less-
expenses swept away
a
;
a
a
it,
GeoRGE II. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS.
205
than six months, drove him into sanctuary, where he remained till his creditors could be prevailed on to
sign a letter of license. He married a very agreeable woman, but without money; and, during his retire
ment, he got two wenches with child, while his wife was busy abroad conciliating his creditors. One of the girls was brought to bed about a fortnight before the other, and he found it no small difficulty to give security to the parish-officers. He persuaded the other, after her lying-in, being now upon the verge of a decampment, to put on boys’ clothes, attend him as his page, and fly off with him to Holland; which she did. But an accident there discovered her sex, which obliged the doctor to send her packing home again, the laws in Holland being very severe against such masqueradings.
The life of the Chevalier Taylor abounds in lewd tales of his amorous intrigues; and is written in a vein of satire, rather exposing to censure the actions of his father, than placing them in a favorable light. The desertion of his mother, and the money he states to have expended on the chevalier's affairs, probably gave rise to family quarrels.
Noticing the birth of his father, he says, “Between the hours of eleven and one, on the sixteenth day of
VOL. I. V. 2 E
206 MEMOIRS OF [gkorge ii.
August, one thousand seven hundred and three, did nature and the midwife give our matchless hero to the world ; the sun and his mother being in labour at the same time, he travelling through an eclipse, and she in travail of the illustrious doctor, who, at one
instant with the sun, began to break out from dark ness, and, as the parish-records testify, came rushing into light with him. "
The younger Taylor's life of the Chevalier, proves him rather to have been a mere mountebank than a skilful operator ; and that, for the purpose of decep tion, he trained a man to act the part of a person blind ; but at Oxford the collusion was discovered, when the doctor and his confederate were put to flight, with shame and disgrace.
The Chevalier Taylor died in 1772, aged sixty- nine.
I'l WLiC Li. l. AilY T. . . . . i. . i. ". . :a
(rKorgk tayl. ok.
George II. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS.
George Caylor, PU GIL IST.
207
GEoRGE TA y Lor, known by the name of George the Barber, sprang up surprisingly; he beat the
chief boxers his time, except Broughton, whom very injudiciously challenged before had attempted one less celebrity; the consequence was,
was obliged very soon give was certainly
ill-advised and wrong step him commence boxer by fighting the standing champion; for Taylor
was not then twenty, and Broughton was the zenith his age and art. 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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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«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.