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

14th March 1739

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Currently Held: Harvard University Library

LL ref: OA173903143903140006

26th December 1738


2. John Adamson< no role > This name instance is in set 1241. , 20 Years of Age, born at Lynn , in the County of Norfolk , of honest Parents, his Father a Trader and Sea-faring Man, dyed and left him young, and John was left to the Care of the Mother, who gave him but little Education at School, nor much Instruction in Christian Principles. When he was of Age, his Mother got him into a Tavern at Lynn , where he serv'd as a Drawer for some Years, and was pretty sober, and perform'd his Duty when Time allowed him, 'till in Process of Time, his natural Inclination (with which he readily complied) too much appeared, for he grew very fond of lewd Women, and gave himself up to excessive drinking. Being weary of a Country Life, and desirous of seeing London , he some Years ago came to Town, and having neither Friends nor Acquaintance here, he was put to great straits how to live, and did what he could for subsistance, and to keep him from starving; but notwithstanding all his Industry, he was reduced to extremity and want, when Mr. Walgrave, a Silversmith , in St. Martins le Grand , out of Charity and Compassion, supposing him an honest young Fellow, and capable of learning his Art, took him Apprentice about four Years ago; here he learn'd his Business, and pleased his Master, and might have got his living very well, had not his vicious Prospensity for lewd Women driven him into Misfortunes; for he had not been above a Year in his Service, before he got the foul Disease, and his Master was so good, that he employ'd and pay'd a Surgeon for curing him, twice; all this he himself confess'd. As to the particular Fact for which he was tried and convicted, he acknowledged the same fully and freely, and that in that Affair, he was very ungrateful to Mr. Walgrave, who was a kind Master to him, and had done him many Favours. For this he declar'd himself very much grieved and sorrowful, begging Pardon of God and Man for his great Offence and heinous Crime, in abusing an innocent Child, infecting her with the foul Disease, and putting her in imminent Danger of her Life. He alledg'd at first, that he only once attempted the Crime; but afterwards, he own'd the Charge as given in Evidence against him, only he did not acknowledge some Circumstances, which its not proper to mention; and he complain'd a little of his Master, for cudgelling him into a Confession of the whole, and in the mean Time promising to deal favourably with him, upon a full Discovery. I told him, he had given him the utmost Provocation, and had no Reason to complain of his Usage. He own'd the Justice of his Sentence, and that he suffered most deservedly. A great Part of the Time he was sick, and did not attend in Chapel; when he grew a little better he came constantly to Chapel, and appear'd devout and serious; he was miserably poor and naked, neither was there any body to relieve him: He seem'd to me to be foolish, or a little craz'd; but he declar'd himself penitent, that he believ'd in Christ, and was in Peace with all the World.

William Udal< no role > This name instance is in set 1292. , was indicted for assaulting Thomas Thorn< no role > on the King's Highway, putting him in Fear, &c. taking from him a Silver Watch, with a tortoiseshell Case, value 40 s. a Hat, value 2 s. a brass Seal, value 2 d. and 4 s. in Money, December 26 .

William Udal< no role > This name instance is in set 1292. , was a second Time indicted for assaulting John Bradford< no role > , on the King's Highway, putting him in Fear, &c. taking from him a Hat, value 1 s a drugget Coat, value 5 s. and 5 s. in Money, December 26

3. He was 22 Years of Age, born of reputable Parents, in Clerkenwell Parish, who gave him good Education, and taught him to read, write and cast Accompts. They gave him all the Instructions necessary to fit him for the World; he was sometime at the Charter-house School , and at Mr. Groves's in Red-lion-street , and when he was of Age, his Father bound him Apprentice to an eminent Watch maker in Leadenhall street , and he serv'd some Part of his Time honestly, and with approbation; afterwards he set up for himself, and would have done very well, as he was a very good Hand in his Business, had he not been devoted to idle Company, and too much addicted to gaming, drinking and other Vices. He once was about to marry a Wife, who was a Woman of Credit; but she discovering that he kept Company with Raby, lately executed for the Highway, and that he was suspected of following the same Courses, he was forbid the House, and in revenge upon himself, he associated with a common Woman of the Town, with whom he liv'd in a Bawdy-house, near Cheapside ; this Woman with others of her Kind, he blam'd for all his Misfortunes. He was a very vicious, extravagant Youth, and spent and let fly his Money after a strange Manner, having run out above 400 l. of his Father's Money. He had been often taken up for Debt, and was detain'd in the Marshalsea Prison when he, and Mann the Evidence against him, broke out and made their Escape; this being one of his last Exploits When he dyed, he owed 400 l to several Persons; he was also often imprison'd for Robberies, in Bridewell , Newgate , and other Places, and had




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