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: OA173903143903140016

22nd February 1739


when I had my Liberty, bt did to the utmost of my Power; I don't want any Money of you, for I have Money enough from my poor unfortunate Sister; I have something to reveal to you, and then I shall dye happy, if I see you, and forgive all the World, as I hope for Forgiveness in the next World; I sent to you before I was cast a great many Times, but you never come nigh me. O Lord turn your hearden'd Heart, to come to me! as for the false Reports of the World to you, they are raised to prevent your coming: But Lord God who knowest every Word and Action, send that the Gates of Heaven may shut up against me, and never shew me Mercy, if I have been guilty of what you have been told, since I was with you last in Woodstreet-Compter; consider within yourself, whether you have done as you ought to have done; if I was the biggest Rogue in the World, and the greatest Stranger, you could not have slighted one more; I look upon you, as my own Flesh and Blood, and if you be so slighting, whom I never offended, how do you think I can think God will shew me Mercy; If you don't, O Lord turn the Heart of this Woman, turn the Heart of her O Lord, it is all my Cry O Lord, to bring her nigh to me, that I may reveal my Mind to her, or else if you don't come, I shan't die in Peace; in your coming, I shall forgive all the World, as I hope for Forgiveness thro' the Merits of Jesus Christ; I shall say no more at present, but your coming will make me easy in my Mind.

From your dying Husband before God.

William Udall< no role > This name instance is in set 1292. .

P. S. When you come I will give you a Note where your Rings are which brought me to this unhappy Fate.

I William Udall< no role > This name instance is in set 1292. , was cast for my Life, Feb. 22, 1738-9 . To whom God grant true Repentance.

Now in my lone Cell do I lie,

I'm cast and am sentenc'd to die:

Of all my old Friends I take leave,

For now I expect no Reprieve.

Tho' my Life was so wickedly spent,

Yet I hope that in Peace I shall die,

And that I shall truly repent,

And live with the blessed on High.

To Mrs. Udall, at Mrs. Foster's, in Seacole Lane.

John Adamson< no role > This name instance is in set 1241. 's Account of Himself.

I Was born at Lynn , in the County of Norfolk , and am now about 21 Years old. My Father was a Taylor, and dy'd when I was but two Years of Age. When I was three Years old, I was taken from my Mother by an Aunt, who kept a Tavern in the same Town; by her I was brought up, and she would have given me a good Education, if I would have received it; but she never could get me to learn so much as to read one Chapter in the Bible. As therefore she had little hopes of me, she would have bound me Apprentice to a Captain of a Ship, but I refused at that Time to go to Sea. Afterwards my Mind altered, and I was desirous to go, but then she would not agree I should. Upon this I determin'd to come up to London , and happening to hear that one Mr. Barnard, a Silversmith in Gutter-Lane , had sent to his Brother at Lynn, for a Country Boy; I offered myself to Barnard's Brother, and he sent me up to London , and I liv'd eleven Months with Mr. Barnard, then I left him (for not being us'd to work, I could not settle myself to it) and I went down again to Lynn , but my Aunt would not receive me, so I continued about the Town for some Time, and at last I went to her for some Money to carry me to London again. Accordingly she gave me 20 s. and I came up to Town again, without knowing where to go to; but having a little Acquaintance with Mr. Walgrave, who work'd Journey-work at Mr. Barnard's while I was there; I went to him, and lived with him about eleven Months, and went of Errands for him; at last he took me 'Prentice, and I serv'd about four Years of my Time, when being either out of my Senses, or the Devil having too much Power over me, I was tempted to commit the Fact for which I dye; I attempted to know the Child three Times, and believe it was three Months between the first Time and the last. I acknowledge to have deserv'd Death, and that being brought acquainted with lewd Women by my Fellow-prentice, I got the foul Disease; and now it is my unhappy Fate to dye, I freely forgive my Master and Mistress, and all the World; and I hope my Fellow-prentice and all other young Men will take Warning by my unhappy Death, and shun the Crimes which have brought me to this shameful End.




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