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

19th December 1684

About this dataset

Currently Held: Harvard University Library

LL ref: OA168412198412190003

14th October 1684


Months past pronounced against, her was now ordered to Dye. She had been formerly Condemned for that Notorious and Presumptuous Crime in Stealing the Lord Chancellours Mace, about 8 years since together with Sadler, who suffered for the same: But she was then saved by Transportation, as upon her late sentence by pleading her Pregnancy. She was Transported together with one Renneger a Gold-smith one of the accomplices in the said Fact who was over Familiar with her, and indeed she had brought not only him but several others into Felonies Uncleanness, and other Crimes which they too late repented of After the time limited for her Transportation was expired, she returned into England, where she followed her old Trade of Deceit and Robbery, and was said to be Marryed to one John Smith< no role > , alias Ashburnham< no role > the High way man that hangs now in Chaines at Stanford-Hill , at whose Death he particularly desired of the Ordinary, that he would advise her to bethink her selfe of her condition in that he was very certain she would follow him, some time or other to that fatal Place where he breathed his last. Which Dying request of the Prisoner the Ordinary hath very often since performed, and observed that some short time after, the usually resorted to Chappel and seemed to be very attentive, yet afterwards grew remiss tell now she was summoned by the Warrant for her Execution, according to her late Sentence, since when the Ordinary hath endeavored to make her sensible of the State of Sin she lay under, she was first very Stubborn and Contumacious yet by degrees the nearer she approached her last fatal Hour she began and particularly on Tuesday and Wednesday to Weep and Lament her habituated profaneness seeming willing to be directed in her preparations for Death tho she would not by any means be brought to any express and particular account of her very sinful Life; somtimes pretending that she had taken care the same should be otherwise Published, or to such effect; so that he can but slenderly report of the signs of any true: Repentance in her, tho he hopes the Best, that before her last Exit she will truly consider her wretched Condition.

IV. Daniel D?Coiner< no role > , who was Indicted for Clipping our English Coin, as also Coining of several Guineys, half Guineys, Mill'd Crowns, and half Crowns, which he usually exposed at an under Value: The Evidence against him being very plain that he had been guilty of the Fact: and also divers Instrument proper for his Business, found at his House, and the Mettal from which he wrought the same, which was produced. He had nothing to offer for himself why Sentence should not pass against him, but that he had been a Discoverer of others: To which the Court returned that he had been the first that drew them in, and taught them their Trade, and so ought not to plead the same in his Favour; and thereupon was Sentenced according to Law.

The account which the Prisoner gave of his Conversation was, that almost 20 Years since, a Gentleman who was Tutor to a Person of Quality encouraged him in erecting a School about Turnham-Green , wherein he Taught the French Language, and gained a considerable Livelyhood thereby: Notwithstanding which, he sell into bad Company, and thereby into great mispence of Money, so that his School failing, him, he betook himself at last to the Art of Guilding. by which he could earn 5 s. a Day; and came to that Proficiency therein, that he acknowledged he could sublimate Inseriour Mettal into the Resemblance of the Noblest, yet said, he never abused this Art to the Imbasement of his Majesties Coin, or the Counterfeiting any Guineys as he was Accused of. To which the Ordinary replied he could give no Credit to this Denial, for that the Crime was sufficiently proved against him, and his own Confession besides to corroborate the Truth thereof; and thereupon acquainted him with the greatness of his Crime; how greatly the same was detrimental to all Trade in general, and more particularly made HighTreason by the Laws at England: To which he said he discovered several Transgressors of this Nature, and thereupon hoped for Mercy; Tho he ackowledged he had in many things acted against the Checks of Conscience and inward Convictions; in as much as Evil had been present with him, to beset and hinder him from performing that Good which the Spirit of God Excited him unto; And so gradualy became addicted to many Vices, but hoped that through his Repentenee thereof he should be Sayed by Faith in Christ; Merits. The Ordinary, hereupon advised him to look narrowly to his own Heart; for that the same was Deceitful above all things, and therefore it was his chiefest Course to beg of God that his Infallible Spirit would guide him in the trying the




View as XML