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

23rd December 1713

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Currently Held: Harvard University Library

LL ref: OA171312231312230003

19th September 1713


November last. Her former Fact (which she committed about 2 years ago, and received Sentence of Death for, in December 1711,) was her stealing several yards of Muslin out of Mr. Warman's Shop. She said, she was about 33 years of age, born at Blackburn in Lancashire : That about 8 years since she came up to London , and was a Servant in several worthy Families, where she at first behav'd herself very honestly: But about 6 years ago falling into wicked Company, she soon learn'd to be wicked too, and committed diverse Felonies in stealing Goods out of Mercers Shops and others, in and about London and Westminster ; some of which Felonies being clearly prov'd upon her, she was burnt in the Hand for them. All this she own'd, and withal confess'd, she had led a very lewd Life, and had for these 6 years past kept Company with Richard Keele< no role > (one of her Fellow-Convicts) who was a marry'd Man, and she at the same time Wife to another. But to palliate this Crime, which I represented to her (as it really was) most enormous, she told me, That as her Husband had left her, and Keele's Wife had left her Husband, and given her Leave to live with him, she thought she might lawfully do it. In this sad Circumstance of complicated Wickedness in a double Adultery, which (by her own Confession) she was guilty of, I gave her the best Advice I could; applying the Remedy of the Gospel to her sick Soul, and endeavouring to make her sensible of this her heinous Sin, so as she might repent of it as she ought. Upon which she express'd great Sorrow, and said, She had been a wicked Sinner, and wished she had dy'd when under Condemnation before; for then she could have repented more easily: She should not have been under such hard Circumstances: She should not have abus'd so much Mercy, nor have had so many Sins to answer for, as now she had. When she was first under Sentence of Death, she obtain'd a Reprieve, which afterwards turned to a Pardon; and in June 1712, she pleaded to that Pardon, which was upon this Condition, That she should go to the Workhouse in Clerkenwel , and there be kept to hard Labour for two Years. But there being no room for her, when she was carry'd thither, they brought her back again to Newgate , where she remain'd a Prisoner till August last; at which time she pleaded to a free Pardon, and so was discharged, but not reformed; for some few Months after that, she committed the Fact which her Life must pay for.

2. Richard Keele< no role > , condemn'd for abetting and assisting Charles Houghton< no role > and William Lowther< no role > in the Murther of Edward Perry< no role > , a Servant to Mr. Bowman, Keeper of the Bridewel, or Workhouse in Clerkenwel , on the 19th of September last . He deny'd his being guilty of this horrid Fact; saying, he had no intent to do that Mischief, but so far from it, that he did what he could to prevent it: Yet acknowledged God was just in inflicting such a Punishment upon him, for he had been a Loose and Wicked Liver, though not so bad as the World had represented him. Upon this I put him in mind of his being once try'd for, and convicted of Blasphemy, and another time of a Felony; for which latter Fact, he was sent to that Workhouse, where Charles Houghton< no role > , William Lowther< no role > , with himself and others made a Riot, in which Houghton was killed upon the Spot, himself and Lowther much wounded, and Edward Perry< no role > , (mention'd before) received some mortal Wounds, of which he dy'd not long after: All which being fully proved at his Tryal, it was in vain for him now to deny it. To this he answer'd, That what I said was true as to the Fact it self, but it was not chargeable upon him, protesting that he was clear of it; because he had no such Design, as to oppose the Officers of that Prison in the discharging their Duty, tho' he thought it a heavy thing to have Irons put upon him, and be obliged to hard Labour besides. This is all the Confession I could get of him concerning this Matter. As to other Sins he felt his Conscience loaded with, he declared them to me; telling me he had been very much addicted to Swearing, Cursing, Profanation of the Lord's Day, Drinking, Whoring, &c. and that he had, for these six years pass'd, kept Company with a Woman that was not his Wife, viz. Arabella Thomas< no role > , of whom I gave an Account just now. He said, he was about 33 years of age, born at Rumney in Hampshire , and brought up at Winchester , where he learn'd the Art of making Perriwigs , and then came up to London , and kept a Perriwig-maker's Shop at Rotherhith for 6 years together: But some Difference arising between him and his Wife, they parted; and that proved the Cause of his going astray, and having to do with another Woman, and one too that had an Husband; but he did not then consider, What great Crime that was: Of which I now endeavour'd to make him sensible, by shewing him from Scripture, viz. 1 Cor. 6. 9. and other places; That as no Murderer, so no Fornicator, nor Adulterer shall inherit the Kingdom of God. To which he reply'd, How then can I be saved? This is enough to cast a Man into despair. Upon this I shew'd him, That if he truly repented, God would be so merciful to him, as to pardon all his Sins, and save his Soul. And here I gave him particular Instructions for his Encouragement to apply himself to God for Grace, that he might be deliver'd from the Wrath to come, &c.

3. William Lowther< no role > , condemn'd for the same Fact of Murder, in assisting the forenamed Richard Keele< no role > and Charles Houghton< no role > in the Commission thereof. He said, That indeed he oppos'd the Officers in that Workhouse, to which they were sent to be kept to hard Labour, when they offer'd to put him and the rest in Fetters; but intended no Mischief, so that what happen'd there, was not by his Fault; and if in the Fray and Hurry he was then in, he did hurt any Body, or did any thing which he should not have done, he was very sorry for it, and asked Pardon, which though he did not expect in this World, yet he hoped to receive it in the next; being much concern'd that he had not lived that Life, which he should have lived; and that Swearing, Drinking, Whoring, Sabbath-breaking, and the like, had been (for sometime pass'd) his common Practice, into which he was inticed by keeping bad Company when Abroad, and particularly in Newgate , where being a Prisoner for Debt about two years since, he had then so much Conversation with Felons and other Wicked




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