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

8th July 1772

About this dataset

Currently Held: Harvard University Library

LL ref: OA177207087207080004

1st July 1772


Locket< no role > was not reported, and the remaining six ordered for execution on the Wednesday following, and were accordingly executed.

Joseph Guyant< no role > This name instance is in set 1428. and Joseph Allpress< no role > were indicted for robbing the mail.

It appeared in the course of their trials, that the post-boy, with one John Thomas< no role > , was near a place called Onsfield , about seven miles from London; when one of the prisoners stopped the horses, and swore that he would blow out his brains (meaning John Thomas< no role > , supposing at first that he was the guard) if he did not alight. After he had alighted the boy was ordered to turn round, and drive in at the gate, and the other was ordered to follow. Afterwards one of the prisoners tied their hands and legs, and promised that he would not hurt a hair of their heads: Inquiring for the key of the mail cart, and finding none, he went away. Soon after the mail-cart was broke open with an axe tempered to cut iron; from whence they took several of the bags; then one of them came back and desired them to sit still till they had loaded the their horses,? and then they would come and release them, and give them five guineas. But this they never performed; for they left them in that situation until day-light, when John Thomas< no role > got himself loose, and untied the post-boy.

It appeared to the Jury, by the evidence of the witnesses called, so clear and satisfactory, that they brought in their verdict, Both guilty.

1. Joseph Guyant< no role > This name instance is in set 1428. was born in Essex of honest and industrious parents who gave him that education as their circumstances could afford, and afterwards put him an apprentice to a country working-smith . Some time after he settled at Edmonton , near Enfield , as a master in that business, where he married and endeavoured to support his family in an honest way. But he met with a lots, which he looked upon to be the first step that led him to his ruin - He had been receiving money, and as he was returning home, two men met him, tied him to a tree, and robbed him of sixty guineas and an half in gold, eight shillings and six-pence in silver, and nine-pence in copper.

He was soon after arrested for the expences of suing the county for the recovery of his money, and other debts, and became a prisoner in the county goal, and afterwards in the fleet, until he was released. Being reduced to so low an ebb, he began to go out of a night with Allpress, a deer-stealing, and this they continued doing for some time. They agreed to break into the church at Edmonton , which they did; and afterwards committed the fact for which they suffered: These were all the material things that he did acknowledge, though he had been charged with several more; and I do not find, on examination, that any credit can be given to the other charges. Being questioned, What could be the motive of his committing this last robbery? He answered, To pay his debts to the full - and to have money




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