As frequently as he returned from Holland , so frequent it was his Custom to invite a Number of his Gang to a Treat, in which he was always verygenerous; and it was at one of these Treats he had the Title given him of Sir John, which he carried with him to the Gallows.

At every publick Entertainment, or Shew of any Sort, he was always present; either an Installation, a Clergy's Sons Feast, or any such publick Meeting; he was sure to make one, and sure too to make it worth his while, as the News-Papers soon after testified in the Rewards offered for Watches, &c. lost at those Places, of which he or his Agents generally had a good Share.

In Length of Time his Face began to be pretty well known, and he obliged to appear somewhat more reserved, especially as there happened unluckily for him a Quarrel between one of his Out-Scouts; whom he had cheated out of a Gold Repeating Watch he had stolen from Lady H -. This Chap, whose Name was W -, was so much vexed at losing what he had ventured his Life for, that he was determined at all Events to Squeak, as they call it; which made Sir John, as he knew it was in his Power to hang him, to think of providing for himself; and therefore, as by his going to and from Holland several Times, he had learned the Business of a Sailor, he enter'd himself on Board the Leost off Privateer, Captain Fielding, who had the good Fortune to take Eight Martinico Men, which turned out such extraordinary Prizes, that Pidgeon's Share amounted to between 3 and 400 l.

After his Return from Cruizing, hearing that his Companion W - had been transported, he began again to follow his old Trade, and frequented the Passage leading out of Spring-Garden into the Park; was there generally on Sunday Evening, then being the greatest Concourse of People: His Method was commonly to go with three or four in Company; two of 'em was to be coming out of the Park a-breast, while the others were entering in; and just at that narrow Passage, when a sufficient Number of People were gathered together, who found it impossible by their Obstruction to get backward or forward, Sir John set to work, and whatever he got he immediately handed to his Wife, who generally followed close to him, and she handed to her Maid; so that it was three deep in an Instant, that if it had been miss'd by the Loser, he would of Course have fixed on the Person most near to him, which has been frequently Sir John's Case, when nothing being found upon him, and he genteely dress'd, the Person whose Pocket he had but that Instant pick'd, has been obliged to ask his Pardon. In such Cases the Maid's Instructions were immediately to get off with what she had received; but it no Suspicion happen'd, to stay till her Master went, and then to follow. He has frequently gotten three or four Watches of an Evening in this Manner, till at length he was taken on the Information of his Maid, and capitally convicted.

His Wife also since his Confinement was taken up for robbing a Shoemaker's Shop of a Parcel of Shoes, tried at the Old Bailey, and sentenced for Transportation, which Sentence has been since put in Execution, and she gone abroad.