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

28th May 1714

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Currently Held: Harvard University Library

LL ref: OA171405281405280003

1st March 1714


Having enlarg'd upon all these Heads and Particulars, I concluded at this, as at other times before, with such pressing Exhortations to the Condemn'd Persons, as I thought most conducive to the begetting in them a true Sense and sincere Repentance of their Sins; together with a Spirit of Love to GOD, and their Neighbour, and a due Concern for their own Souls. Thus I endeavour'd to perswade them to redeem the Time they had mispent, and to call upon GOD for Grace, by the Power of which they might recover themselves, and be brought out of their Spiritual Death, and made alive to GOD; that so their Temporal Death in this World (which was approaching) might be a happy Passage to their Eternal Life in that to come.

When I had them under Examination in private, such of them as are now appointed for Execution, gave me the respective Accounts of themselves, which follow.

1. Andrew Harper< no role > , Convicted and Condemn'd upon four Indictments, for several Robberies by him committed on the QUEEN's Highway near Kensington ; viz. for taking 8 s. in Money from Mr. Michael Biddulph< no role > , and 14 s. from Mr. Francis Woodhouse< no role > , with other Money, and half a Guinea from other Passengers, in the Cirencester-Stage-Coach, on the 1st of March last , about six a-Clock in the Morning: Also, for stopping the Gloucester-Coach about the same Place and Time, and taking 40 s. in Money from Mr. William Lloyd< no role > , and 20 s. and a Watch from Mr. George Cook< no role > , who were in that Coach; and not contented with the Silver, &c. he had taken from these Gentlemen, he demanded Gold also; presenting a Pistol to them to hasten their Compliance with his Desire: Upon which Mr. Lloyd gave him two Half-Guinea's. The Day before he was apprehended, he robb'd a Gentleman on Horseback of a Silver-Watch, near Tyburn ; and presently after, another Gentleman in a Coach, from whom he took some Money, near the Park-gate. He said, he was about 29 Years of Age, born in Old-street , in the Parish of St. Giles Cripplegate . At first he deny'd the Facts for which he was Condemn'd; but afterwards he own'd both his Guilt of them, and the Justice of his Sentence; and withal acknowledg'd, that he had been a very great Offender, who, besides the Sins he had actually committed himself, had brought others into his own wicked Ways, and some of them to Justice afterwards, by turning Evidence against them, for having committed some Felonies and Burglaries with him; who thereupon receiv'd Sentence of Death, and accordingly Four of them were Executed about three or four Sessions ago. He further said, That he was bred up a Sailor , and had us'd the Seas for 16 Years together, and serv'd on Board the Cambridge, Exeter, Swiftsure, and other Men of War; and, That about 18 Months ago, being discharg'd from that Service, he then began to give a mighty Latitude to his vicious Inclinations; which prov'd his own and others Ruin, and was now Matter of great Grief to him: But nothing (he said) griev'd him more, than his taking four Men's Lives away, by the Evidence he gave against them at the Old baily, in December last; because he did it, tho' with no Injustice to them, yet without any regard




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