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

22nd August 1729

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Currently Held: Harvard University Library

LL ref: OA172908222908220001

17th August 1729


THE ORDINARY of NEWGATE his ACCOUNT, Of the Behaviour, Confession, and dying Words of the Malefactors, who were executed at Tyburn, on Friday the 22d of this Instant August, 1729 .

BY Virtue of his Majesty's Commission of the Peace, and Oyer and Terminer, for the City of London and County of Middlesex: On Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, being the 9th , 10th , 11th , and 12th of July, 1729 , in the Third Year of His MAJESTY's Reign. Before the Rt. Honourable Sir ROBERT BAYLIS< no role > , Knt . Lord Mayor of the City of London ; the Rt. Honourable the Lord Chief Baron Pengelly; the Honourable Mr. Justice Reynolds; the Honourable Mr. Baron Thompson, Recorder of the City of London; the Worshipful Mr. Serjeant Raby, Deputy Recorder; and other of His Majesty's Justices of Oyer and Terminer, and Goal-Delivery of Newgate, holden for the said City and County of Middlesex.

Five Men, viz. Thomas-James Grundy< no role > , Joseph Kemp< no role > , Benjamin Wileman< no role > , James Cluff< no role > This name instance is in set 1261. , and John Pantry< no role > ; and two Women, viz. Hannah Hartley< no role > , and Susannah Frazier< no role > , were by the Jury found Guilty of capital Offences, and receiv'd Sentence of Death.

Of them, James Cluff< no role > This name instance is in set 1261. having been convicted upon a Special Verdict, after that he had been acquitted in a preceeding Sessions, for the Murder of Mary Green< no role > , was executed on Friday the 25th of July last , for the said Murder, at which Time his last Confessions were publish'd: Hannah Hartley< no role > , and Susannah Frazier< no role > , having pleaded their Bellies, and a Jury of Matrons being impannell'd, both of them were found Pregnant, and with Quick Child.

The other Four, while under Sentence, were instructed in the fundamental Article of all Religion, how that it is necessary for us to believe, that God is, and that he is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek him. I show'd them that it hath been always the Sentiment of all Men and Nations, that there is an infinite supreme Being, whom we call God, who created and in his Providence preserves all Things; and that this innate persuasion or instinct, could never by the utmost gigantick efforts of a few Sacrilegiously-wicked Men, be eras'd out of the minds of Mankind; ye, that on the contrary, the Consciences of those ungodly Sinners never fail to fly in their own Faces, and to excite in their Breasts the infernal Torments even in this Life, because of their daring attempts against God and Heaven. Then I seriously press'd upon them to believe in Christ the Son of God, equal to the Father, the true Messias, and the only Saviour of Sinners, by whom alone we can be saved from the Guilt and Power of Sin, since there is not Salvation in any other; for there is none other Name under Heaven given among Men, whereby we must be saved. From Acts 3. 19. Repent ye therefore and be converted; that your Sins may be blotted out, when the times of Refreshing shall come from the Presence of the Lord. I exhorted them to a sincere and hearty Repentance for all their Sins, and particularly those of a more heinous Nature, which (no doubt) perplex'd their Consciences, and in an especial Manner, for the great Sin of Theft and Robbery, for which they were then suffering so much Shame and Sorrow. I advis'd them to partake in Christ's Death and Sufferings, in the Blessed Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, from those Words, This do in Remembrance of me, St. Luke 22. 19. &c.

While these, and many such exhortations were made use of, as they were in Chappel, they were attentive, and those of them who could read made regular Responses. Grundy who was young and inconsiderate, at some times did not seem to be duely affected in his Devotion. Wileman always behav'd himself modestly and seriously. Kemp was Sick almost the whole Time they were under Sentence, and for several Days he appear'd like unto one at the point of Death, and was so deaf that he could scarce hear any thing; when I visited him, he desir'd me to Pray by him; and having recover'd some short time before his Death, he gave regular attendance in Chappel. While Wileman was Sick, he profest a deep Repentance, and earnestly desir'd to receive the Sacrament. Pantry was Sick most of the Time, and behav'd himself with apparent Devotion, both in Publick and Private.

Some Days before the Dead Warrant came down to Newgate, some of their Friends who were allow'd to Visit them, found means to convey to them some Implements or Tools, fit for breaking the Prison. This they attempted and succeeded so far, as to break through the Ceiling and Brickwall of Wileman's and Kemp's Cells, and to make two large Holes above the Doors of the Cells; and in the Day time, when they had an opportunity in going from one Cell to another to speak together, between Chappel Time, they had loos'd one of the large Free-stones, where it looks out to Phoenix Court. This design was prevented by a discovery upon Sunday Morning the 17th of August , upon which, Wileman, Kemp and Grundy were remov'd




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