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

17th June 1723

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Currently Held: Harvard University Library

LL ref: OA172306172306170001

30th March 1723


THE ORDINARY of NEWGATE his ACCOUNT, Of the Behaviour, Confession, and last dying Words of the two Malefactors, that were Executed at Tyburn, on Monday the 17th of June, 1723 .

AT the Proceedings on the KING'S Commission of the Peace, and Oyer and Terminer, &c, Held at Justice-Hall in the Old Baily; before the Right Honourable Sir GERRARD CONYERS< no role > , Knight, Lord Mayor of the City of London; the Right Honourable the Lord Chief Justice King, the Honourable Mr. Justice Eyre, and Mr. Baron Page, John Raby< no role > , Esq; Deputy-Recorder, and several of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace; which Commission was open'd on Thursday the 30th Day of May last , Four Men were found Guilty of Capital Offences, and receiv'd Judgment accordingly.

While they lay in that sad Estate, being carry'd twice a-Day to Prayers, Joseph Chapman< no role > and William Parsons< no role > , could only lament their Unhappiness, and acknowledge the Justice of God, who, as they had neglected the Performance of their Duty, while Strength and Ability was theirs, where now, by severe Sickness, render'd incapable of setting about that great Work, which they at last found was so incumbent upon them. But fortunately they both receiv'd the Favour of the Government upon Condition of Transportation, altho' the other two, (viz. William Hawskworth< no role > and John Tyrrel< no role > ) had a great deal of Passion and Resentment; (they being the only Men that had entertain'd Hopes and Expectations of Life;) upon finding that the Clemency of their Superiours, was not fallen upon them: Yet they in a short time compos'd themselves, and apply'd themselves to the Observance of their Duty, as before; William Hawksworth< no role > not having once miss'd the Prayers in the Chappel, from the time of his Entering into his Troubles to the time of his Execution; but nevertheless, he could not by any means be induced to look upon himself as a Murderer; constantly asserting, that the Death was accidental; but he submitted to the Hand of God, and




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