William Marjoram, fl. 1726

Gang Member turned King's Evidence

William Marjoram alias Elias Huggadie, was a member of Edward Burnworth and William Blewit's gang. His attempt to turn king's evidence to save his skin did not prevent him from eventually being transported.

Accomplice Turns King's Evidence

Marjoram was present when Burnworth murdered Thomas Ball in Southwark on 24 January 1726.¹ Following the murder a royal proclamation was issued on 12 February, offering up to £300 to anyone who assisted in the apprehension of Burnworth and his gang.² When Marjoram heard of this, he thought one of his accomplices might turn evidence against him, and decided to get in first, in the hope of a pardon and the reward. He therefore gave himself up to a constable in Smithfield and asked to be taken before the Lord Mayor. Overnight he was confined in the Wood Street Compter.

Once the news of Marjoram's surrender became public, one of his former companions, John Barton, became alarmed for his own safety. He positioned himself near Goldsmith's Hall and waited for Marjoram to be brought from the jail to the Lord Mayor. As he approached, escorted by a constable, Barton stepped forward with a pistol in his hand and cried, "Damn ye, I'll shoot ye". He fired but only grazed Marjoram, who ducked. In the confusion which followed, Barton made his escape through the crowds. When Marjoram finally reached the Lord Mayor, he made a full confession, and gave information regarding the whereabouts of John Legee, another of the gang involved in Ball's murder.³

Barton was right to fear Marjoram's arrest, for Marjoram also told the authorities where they might find him: at Black-Mary's-Hole. Following Barton's arrest, Marjoram was the principal witness in his trial in March 1726 for three burglaries that they had committed together.

Back to Top

Trial for the Murder of Thomas Ball

Marjoram was also the principal witness at the trial of Burnworth, Blewit, Emanuel Dickenson, Thomas Berry, John Legee and John Higgs or Hicks for the murder of Thomas Ball. Barton claimed he had been responsible for apprehending Legee and was therefore entitled to the reward, but according to Anthony Cracherode, HM Solicitor for the Treasury,⁴ Legee was apprehended by others, who were responding to separate information. Cracherode did concede that, as Marjoram had actually been concerned in the murder, his testimony against his accomplices entitled him to a free pardon.⁵

Back to Top

The Tables are Turned

Marjoram was released from the Wood Street Compter on Monday 5 September 1726.⁶ He was soon back in prison, however, as two weeks later, on 19th of September he was arrested for stealing a butcher's steel. No doubt recalling the crimes which he had participated in but not been prosecuted for, he was described at his trial as "an old Offender", and sentenced to death.

A week before he was due to be executed, Marjoram was reprieved. He was instead transported to Virginia. He boarded the ship Forward in October 1727 and arrived at the Rappahannock River on 14 May 1728.⁷

Back to Top

External Sources

• The National Archives (TNA), T 53/32, ff.347-55, dated 22 June 1726.
• London Metropolitan Archives (LMA), CLA/047/LJ/18/020, Landing Certificate no.28.
• Daily Post. Wednesday, February 16, 1726, issue 1996.
• Evening Post. Saturday, February 26, 1726, issue 2590.
• London Journal. Saturday, September 10, 1726, issue 372.
• The Tyburn Chronicle: or Villainy Displayed in all its Branches. 1768, vol. 2, pp. 232-52.
• Jonathan Wild in the State Papers. Notes and Queries, October 23, 1909, accessed 28 July 2009.

Back to Top

Footnotes

¹ The Tyburn Chronicle: or Villainy Displayed in all its Branches (1768), vol. 2, pp. 232-52. ⇑

² Daily Post, Wednesday, February 16, 1726, issue 1996; Evening Post, Saturday, February 26, 1726, issue 2590. ⇑

³ The Tyburn Chronicle, vol. 2, pp. 238-9. ⇑

⁴ Jonathan Wild in the State Papers, Notes and Queries, October 23, 1909, accessed 28 July 2009. ⇑

⁵ The National Archives (TNA), T 53/32, ff.347-55, dated 22 June 1726. ⇑

⁶ London Journal, Saturday, September 10, 1726, issue 372. ⇑

⁷ London Metropolitan Archive (LMA), CLA/047/LJ/18/020, Landing Certificate no.28. ⇑

Back to Top