Ordinary of Newgate Prison:
Ordinary's Accounts: Biographies of Executed Convicts

25th September 1713

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Currently Held: Harvard University Library

LL ref: OA171309251309250004

20th August 1713


[4]

Lake) he committed diverse Robberies and Burglaries; breaking open, and taking Goods out of four or five Houses in Essex , in the Neighbourhood where he was born, and robbing several Farmers and others on the Highway between the Green-man and Stratford . He confess'd, he had broke all the Ten Commandments, even that against Murder; for once he had resolv'd (in case of Resistance) to have committed it (though he never actually did) upon the Persons he assaulted and robbed: But as to that heinous Crime, the very next in Order and in Nature to this of Murder, viz. Adultery, he own'd, That he was highly guilty of it; and earnestly pray'd God to forgive it him, and all other his Sins, which were many and great, and for which he was not able to make any other Reparation, than to beg (as he heartily did) their Pardon whom he had any ways offended. He also readily acknowledg'd, That he was justly condemn'd; and, That he had indeed deserved this Death, as having so very lately abused the Mercy of the QUEEN'S Pardon to him, which he pleaded at the Old-Baily , on the 12th of August last . It seems, he then thought (when he receiv'd that Pardon) that by it he was discharg'd not only of the Temporal Punishment he deserved, but of all Guilt; and therefore might begin to Sin upon a new Score, and no notice taken of his former Faults; but he found his Mistake afterwards, when by the Abuse he had made of former Mercy, his present Condemnation stuck so much the closer upon him, and his Heart so much the harder and the more difficult to be melted into Repentance; of which he grievously complain'd, and upon that earnestly desired my Prayers. This ought to be a Warning to those that presumptuously make a Mock of Sin, and grosly abuse (as I know many do daily) the Mercies of God and of the Queen, shewn to them, with this gracious Intent, viz. To encourage and lead them (not to Sin, but) to Repentance and Reformation of Life.

3. George Hollingshy< no role > , condemn'd for breaking the House of Mr. William Tidder< no role > , and taking from thence an Iron Chain, and other Goods, on the 3d of March last , and for several other Felonies specify'd in the Book of Tryals, to which I refer the Reader. He said, he was about 20 Years of age, born at Mile-end near London ; that he had liv'd most of his younger Years with a Blacksmith in that Place, and work'd with him at that Trade for the space of two Years; and then rambled about London, and afterwards went to Sea, and serv'd about six Years, off and on, on board several Men of War , especially the Warspight, a third Rate, commanded by Capt. Crow; adding, that being once a Servant to the Cook of the Royal William, a first Rate, which at that time had no Commander, he took six Guineas out of a Chest in that Ship, and ran away therewith; and when he had spent all, and was reduc'd to Poverty, and urg'd on by the bad Company he kept, he betook himself to the breaking of Houses, and picking of Pockets, which he chiefly did, viz. the former at Ratcliff High-cross , and the latter in London , where he also frequently stole Things out of Shops, tho' but small matters at a time. He further acknowledg'd, That now he saw his Follies, and was made sensible both of the ill Effect of them, and of his Obligation to make what Satisfaction he could to the Persons he had wrong'd; and therefore sent for such of them as he knew, to ask their Pardon, and give them what Information he was able, that might be of use to them; as being desirous to do whatever lay in his Power to clear his Conscience, and make his Peace with God and his Neighbours (whom he had so greatly offended) before he was call'd to receive his Sentence at the dreadful Tribunal; the thoughts of which made him very much fear and tremble.

4. Thomas Turner< no role > , condemn'd for stealing a brown Gelding, out of the Ground of Mr. Ambrose Benning< no role > , on the 20th Day of August last . He said, he was 30 Years of Age, born at Thriplow in Cambridgeshire : That his chief Employment was Husbandry ; but had made it part of his Trade for these six Years past to steal Sheep and Hogs, and was for such a Fact burnt in the Hand at Cambridge about nine Months ago; and tho' his Offences had often escap'd the Notice, and consequently the Punishment of the Law, yet he found now, by his woful Experience, that Sinners do not always go unpunish'd, even in this World. He confess'd, that he was justly condemn'd, and that if God were not most merciful to him, who had been a wicked Sinner in many Ways, he should utterly perish.




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