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

20th November 1727

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Currently Held: Harvard University Library

LL ref: OA172711202711200002

1st July 1727


To those who are desirous to know the last Confessions and Behaviour, the following Account is a brief Narative.

JOHN TURNER< no role > , was indicted for assaulting Thomas Air< no role > , Esq ; on the Highway on the first of July last , taking from him a Purse, value 1 d. and 3 Guineas and a half in Money.

John Turner< no role > , about 26 Years of Age, descended of honest Parents, who had been People of good Repute in Cornwall : His Parents gave him good Education, but his Father dying when he was young, instead of continuing at Schools, as he said was intended, he was put Apprentice to a Peruke Maker in the City of Exeter ; having serv'd most of his Time, after many Disobligations to his Master, at last he robb'd him of a considerable Sum of Money and ran away, but his Master being a near Relation did not prosecute him: He came to London and follow'd his Business, behaving himself honestly and soberly in the Places where he serv'd, so that the Neighbourhood conceiv'd a good Opinion of him; but his Coveteousness and Ambition to appear more fine than his Circumstances wou'd allow, hasten'd his Ruin; for in order to attain his Aim, he went to rob on the Highway, which Course, as he said, he follow'd only six Weeks before he was apprehended, having gone out only four Times, and made but a very small Purchase in all his Adventures. He said, it never enter'd into his Mind to murder or kill any Body, but what Money he got he offer'd it back to the injur'd Party, if they wou'd own they had more need of it than he; thus did he treat whom he robb'd with Civility. He appear'd to be a young Man of a civil complaisant Temper, whence it was, that his Acquaintance commonly call'd him, Civil John; others say, that he got this Appellation from the Gentlemen whom he robb'd, because of the civil Usage he gave them, for he told them that his Name was John: He complain'd that the World gave him a much worse Character than he deserv'd, and altho' he own'd himself to have been a great Sinner, yet he deny'd that ever he was notoriously wicked in those Vices, to which Men of his Profession are addicted. He could not be induc'd to make particular Confessions, only he acknowledg'd the justness of his Sentence according to Law, and said that he was willing to die, chearfully submitting to the Will of God, as a just Punishment for his Sins; he was always very devout in Chappel and appear'd to be a true Penitent, complying fervently with the Prayers, and receiving Instructions with great Earnestness. The Night before the dead Warrant came down, he had a violent fit of Illness, yet notwithstanding, he attended publick Devotion two or three Times, till he cou'd not walk any more, and in the Hold he continu'd very devout and penitent, expressing a great Desire after the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and seem'd very sorrowful that he had formerly neglected it. He died in Peace with all Mankind, expressing a strong Hope and Confidence of obtaining the Pardon of his Sins and eternal Life, through the Merits of Jesus Christ our only Saviour.

JOHN JOHNSON< no role > , was indicted for High-Treason, in counterfeiting the current Coin of this Kingdom; in particular thirteen half Crowns, eighteen Shillings and five Six-pences, which he made of Pewter, Lead, and other mix'd Metals, which he endeavour'd to put off for good and lawful Money of Great Britain.

JOHN JOHNSON< no role > , (as he said) about 50 Years of Age, was born of honest Parents, in Nottinghamshire , who being mean People, gave him little Education at School, so that he could not read much. When of Age, he was put Apprentice to a Taylor , and coming to London he married, and lived many Years in good Reputation. Not keeping his Health in Town, he went with his Family to Lincolnshire , where his Wages being but small, he found himself straiten'd to maintain a growing Family. After racking his Wit and Invention, a certain Acquaintance of his in the Country communicated to him the Art of coining Money, as the easiest way to supply his Necessities. Having provided himself in Moulds, Crucible, and other Utensils, proper for his Purpose; he said, that he far excell'd his Teacher and Adviser in the Art and Dexterity of making Money. He said, that being thus provided in Instruments, he coin'd his Money so dextrously, that by the sight no Man could discover the Difference betwixt the King's Coin and his. Having made sufficient Quantities he endeavour'd with an Accomplice whom he entrusted with the Secret, to put off his counterfeited Coin, but with indifferent Success; for (as he said) he never put off but two Six-pences, which he spent in Geneva; for immediately after that he was taken up upon his paying two bad Half-Crowns for a pair of Shoes; upon which, he discover'd his two Accomplices and confess'd all. He lamented much for the Ruin he had brought upon his Wife and Family, two of his Children having died while he was in Prison, the third Child with his Wife being cast upon the Parish, although it was his sinful Anxiety for them made him fall upon such a desperately wicked Course. In the former part of his Life he had liv'd innocently and virtuously, for what was visible to the World, both in a single and married State, he and his Wife having frequently taken the Sacrament in Company. I endeavour'd to convince him of the greatness of his Sin, which as it proceeded from a distrust of the all sufficient Providence of God, so the Sin was so much greater in him, who knew better things, as also




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